2 questions - iphone from UK and sim cards

[KindClare]

Hello. Two easy questions (I hope)

1. I plan to buy a new pay-as-you-go sim card upon arrival in Sg to put in my current phone. How long does activation take? Here in the UK it can take up to 2 days. I'm hoping to have use of my mobile sooner than that.

2. Any reason that a pay-as-you-go iPhone bought in the UK wouldn't work in Singapore? I have researched and can't find any reason, but I know there is alot of local knowledge concentrated on this forum - so hopefully you can help.

Cheers!
Clare

[durain]

Hello. Two easy questions (I hope)

1. I plan to buy a new pay-as-you-go sim card upon arrival in Sg to put in my current phone. How long does activation take? Here in the UK it can take up to 2 days. I'm hoping to have use of my mobile sooner than that.
immediately.

2. Any reason that a pay-as-you-go iPhone bought in the UK wouldn't work in Singapore? I have researched and can't find any reason, but I know there is alot of local knowledge concentrated on this forum - so hopefully you can help.
you will need to unlock your iPhone to use it on any other networks as it is SIM lock to your UK provider.

Cheers!
Clare

[nakatago]

Hello. Two easy questions (I hope)

1. I plan to buy a new pay-as-you-go sim card upon arrival in Sg to put in my current phone. How long does activation take? Here in the UK it can take up to 2 days. I'm hoping to have use of my mobile sooner than that.
immediately.

2. Any reason that a pay-as-you-go iPhone bought in the UK wouldn't work in Singapore? I have researched and can't find any reason, but I know there is alot of local knowledge concentrated on this forum - so hopefully you can help.
you will need to unlock your iPhone to use it on any other networks as it is SIM lock to your UK provider.

Cheers!
Clare

To add, please search for iphone unlocking thread started by strong eagle. How to go about it has already been discussed there.

[Strong Eagle]

^^^^^

I'd also contact your phone operator in UK about getting it unlocked. That would be the best way and they are a lot more reasonable about it than AT&T. Will probably depend on how much of a subsidized price you got and how long you've been using it.

[durain]

if you are on o2 or want to jail break, then read this...

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic65904.html

[KindClare]

OK - so even if I have a PAYG phone (basically full price) it will still be SIM locked to the UK provider? I unlocked my Nokia E71 but some of the content of the original provider remained. Never went away completely. I don't want the same with my iPhone. Probably just better off to sell mine here and get a new iphone there.

[durain]

if a mobile phone has been rebranded with the provider content, then you need to debrand it. unlocking the SIM lock will not get rid of the rebranding.

[Strong Eagle]

if a mobile phone has been rebranded with the provider content, then you need to debrand it. unlocking the SIM lock will not get rid of the rebranding.

But signing up with a new mobile provider probably will.

[bigfilsing]

sell your current iphone before the new model comes out next month.

then either buy one here or go for a Telco deal ( of which there are many)

Good luck

[Levikane]

Don't forget your passport (or employment pass). You cannot buy a prepaid sim in Singapore without it.