• Andy Tavistock

    Yeah but you’re still locked into your O2 contract at a minimum £45 per month so whatever network you unlock to use you still need to factor in the O2 cost

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    No you’re not. This is a Pay As You Go iPhone, not Pay Monthly. Once you’ve unlocked you can use any network :)

  • Iain 117

    IMO until the networks (or Apple?) activate ALL of the iPhones functions as standard (VV etc) on unlocked iPhones then it just isn’t worth it.

    I really honestly don’t know why some things are “turned off” if you’re not on a pay monthly tariff :-/

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    O2 have been unlocking since Orange started selling the iPhone.

    I agree that it’s a bit stupid that you have to be on an “iPhone tariff” to get certain features. VV has to enabled by the network though, but if you really want it you’ll have to pony up for an iPhone tariff or use something like Hullomail.

  • http://www.callendercreates.com Jim C

    great report matt! Thanks for taking the time to share the good and bad points..

    the handset prices have all stayed static, their are no january sales for apple products, so i think its time to relieve o2 of another 16gb iphone..

  • Scarborian

    On a contract with a 3GS but near the end so decided to un-lock. Filled form in on Sunday and got text message back on Monday afternoon telling me to insert new sim and sync with iTunes. Done and now able to use any service providers sim when my contract expires. Easy!!

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    Wow that was quick! Have you decided on a new service provider?

  • Scarborian

    Matt
    Yes, I was impressed with the speed! Maybe it was because I am a 16 month subscriber and they want me to be happy to stay with O2. I might just get myself a pay monthly sim and try another provider but haven’t decided yet!
    Cheers.

  • Torrs

    What about if you buy an iPhone from eBay. Can I still buy a Pay and Go sim, top it up to £15 and fill out a request? Is it that simple or is there a catch that I’m over looking?

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    That won’t work, unless it’s an O2 iPhone. O2 will only unlock their own iPhones.

  • Torrs

    But the iPhone is an O2 iPhone (it came with the O2 sim in it)?!

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    As I said, if it’s an O2 iPhone, they will probably unlock it. I don’t know – give it a whirl.

  • Torrs

    Yeah. Suppose I’ll just have to bite the bullet and see what happens. I read somewhere about needing to make a couple of calls, on the ‘Pay and Go’ SIM, which I suppose will get round the Security Question about Frequent Numbers!

    I’ll give it a go and let you know how it goes.

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    Good luck!

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net chester sibbs

    Thanx Matt you fantabulous!!! one thing i wanna ask is “how much will it cost for wifi and unlimited-web on pay-go”

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    Well that all depends on your network Chester. The cheapest way to do it is buy a PAYG SIM off eBay with 12 months of web n wifi on it.

  • Best iPhone Deals

    UK people must be happy after reading this review. Thanks

    Sinthya

  • http://www.bestiphonedeals.org.uk Best iPhone Deals

    At the whole according to me Tesco is providing the cheapest prices for the iPhone deals. If one is not happy with that then best option is to stick with O2.

  • Spence

    Just wanted to say a big thank you Matt for the info on his website, and can confirm that this does work!!

    I bought a brand new O2 locked 16gb iPhone 3GS from eBay, bought a pay and go top up card with 20 quid credit, with unlimited texts & internet, and promptly filled in the unlock form on the O2 website. Waited 14 days, made some calls and amused myself by browsing the internet and downloading silly apps. After 14 days and no text from O2 I decided to re-submit the form anyway and then give customer care a call. After numerous calls (after being cut off several times, then having to redial and sit in a queue for 20 mins!!) I finally managed to find out that they had indeed taken the £15 from my credit and that they were escalating my case. The advisor added that I should receive a text in the next 4 working days. That evening I got a text saying “Sorry we cannot unlock your iPhone”. After spending 5 minutes being slightly miffed, I received two texts in a row saying that my iPhone was now successfully unlocked!! Weird but I’m happy!

    I’m now happily enjoying my iPhone on Vodafone for 20 quid a month rolling contract. My advice is to give O2 a ring if you don’t hear anything after 14 days. Happy days!

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    You’re welcome – I’m glad it helped!

  • Connor

    Would this unlock now mean it can be used in other countries? Or is that just unlocking it for use with all networks in the UK?

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    Unlocked means unlocked for use on any GSM network – in the UK and anywhere else.

  • Tamara

    Will this work for the iphone 4?

  • Boo

    Hi, I live in France and have an iPhone 3G with Virgin Mobile here. I’d like to use the mobile when in the UK. (I’ve a PAYG number with Orange). What would you recommend please? Could I get the phone unlocked to use a UK sim? Thanks for any help.

  • Raj7777

    i brought mine off ebay. Called orange to unlock and a scum said it would cost £25, when i pointed out its £20 on their website, scum replied “oh alright its £20 then”.
    After another wait came the iphone chap pops up, he told me they could not unlock on a pay monthly contract since I was not the orginal owner and i had to get the original owner to request it and they would have to pay for it and I would have to pay them back…this bastard company….and I have been with them since 2007…no more thou…

  • Stuart Smillie

    Right Hello Matt i Just Brougth a iPhone 3G off eBay, So i Buy an O2 Sim PAYG put it in my iPhone. Go home fill out the form and done in some days time ( Cant they just Unlock it at the Store

  • Tonyscarr21

    I would rather take a chance with eBay than pay the silly amounts you talk of

  • Scapron

    This is all well and good if you’ve already got an iPhone but what if you want to buy one unlocked!?

  • Jayc808

    The cheapest best iPhone 4 and 4s sim free heresy http://www.jcistore.co.uk and http://www.jcigame.com

  • Smartphone SwapShop

    Or you could simply purchase a SIM free iPhone from http://www.refurbiphones.co.uk

  • Becki Mancey

    Hi! I see that this was posted about three years ago. Does anyone know if this approach still works now? Thanks! :)

  • gail_tweet

    I’ve just purchased an iphone 6 from Tesco, un known to me its locked to Tesco (haven’t tried a sim yet) I’d like to try EE Orange for the coverage at home. Any ideas? PS Tesco say they cant unlock until the manufacturer tells them they can. I spoke to apple they say its up to the carrier!

  • Tony

    you can try Maxsdeals.co.uk