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  1. #1
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    Apple iPhone 3GS - $899.00 AUD - Unlock

    Hey Guys,

    I recently bought an Apple iPhone 3GS from the WOW SUperstore in Canberra and it was locked to the Telstra Network.

    I do not like Telstra but it was the only iPhone that was in Stock in the Whole State. I was looking at an unlock from Telstra but they charge $150.00 to do so.

    My question is, Is it illegal for these telco companies to charge you to unlock them because they do not have their brands to them?


    The gentleman that served us said it is ILLEGAL for them to charge you to unblock the iPhone as it does not have their brand name, So he said to contact the company and tell them you want it unlocked as it would be illegal for you to charge me to have it done.

    I am not sure, This is a big chain and I want to move to Optus... I do not want to Jailbreak the phone etc because it can lead to issues I have heard ...

    Anyone have some input?

    Thanks
    Sean
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  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by ATH-Sean View Post
    Hey Guys,

    I recently bought an Apple iPhone 3GS from the WOW SUperstore in Canberra and it was locked to the Telstra Network.

    I do not like Telstra but it was the only iPhone that was in Stock in the Whole State. I was looking at an unlock from Telstra but they charge $150.00 to do so.

    My question is, Is it illegal for these telco companies to charge you to unlock them because they do not have their brands to them?


    The gentleman that served us said it is ILLEGAL for them to charge you to unblock the iPhone as it does not have their brand name, So he said to contact the company and tell them you want it unlocked as it would be illegal for you to charge me to have it done.

    I am not sure, This is a big chain and I want to move to Optus... I do not want to Jailbreak the phone etc because it can lead to issues I have heard ...

    Anyone have some input?

    Thanks
    Sean
    Who is it that you are asking to unlock the iPhone? The telco company, or a third-party?

    -mike
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  3. #3
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    The Gentleman at the WOW Superstore that served us said we should contact Telstra (Telco) to have it done. Problem he said is they charge you $150.00 to have it unlocked.

    We asked the WOW originally.
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by ATH-Sean View Post
    The Gentleman at the WOW Superstore that served us said we should contact Telstra (Telco) to have it done. Problem he said is they charge you $150.00 to have it unlocked.

    We asked the WOW originally.
    As far as I know, it is legal for the telcos to charge you to unlock phones.

    I'll be interested to see what others comment here, though.

    -mike
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  5. #5
    The salesperson just told you whatever it took to make the sale.

    The lock is meant to allow the carrier to make back the subsidy that allowed the phone to be sold cheaper. Cheaper is relative of course.

    Return the phone, and get one that is on the carrier you want, or an unlocked one. There may be no such thing as a factory unlocked iphone.
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  6. #6
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    Yep should have bought direct from an apple store. The ones they sell are unlocked all the ones you buy from a carrier are locked to that carrier.
    All the carriers charge to unlock, the fee varies depending on the carrier but none of them do it for free.
    Your choices are take the phone back and get a refund, pay the unlock fee Telstra wants, use Telstra or jail break.

  7. #7
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    I also refer to this: http://www.iphonewiki.com.au/telstra...iphone-unlock/

    So he then spent his weekend doing extensive research on Fair Trading Act 1999 and other rules and regulations and found more than a few Breaches to help his case against Telstra and their unfair Unlocking Charge. And so he finally did. He called Telstra and got his iPhone unlocked for FREE.
    Explains a little more.

    Telstra is really crap, They cannot activate my phone at all over the Weekend so Basically I have a Apple iPhone that I cannot call from, text from, Or do anything much with because I have no active Sim

    Their is a Mac Store but I could not get their, So went to my local retail shop that sells Apple iPhones and it was the only place that had any near me

    I am wondering if I could contact Apple Directly?
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  8. #8
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    Telstra's nextG network is superior than anything else in Australia. Other networks might be cheaper, but they're smaller and don't have the coverage as Telstra's nextG network has. Telstra is King, not that I'm a big fan. But they have the most infrastructure around the country. Not sure why you'd want to be on an inferior network. You might save some bucks, but you get what you pay for.

    Also you can access 16 FOXTEL channels on your iPhone, if you have Telstra nextG, for $18/mth extra.

    I soooooo nearly upgraded to the 3GS the other day. They had a $250.00 down and a $40/mth plan, with $40/mth worth of calls, and $150.00 gift voucher to spend in their store on other stuff. Cheap as chips. I wouldn't be paying $900.00 and then a plan ontop of that.
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  9. #9
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    When i first saw the title of this thread i thought it was spam

    Until i saw who it was posted by.........


    Ah man!!





    Tinyurl is the answer for posting long urls!!!

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Aussie Bob View Post
    Telstra's nextG network is superior than anything else in Australia. Other networks might be cheaper, but they're smaller and don't have the coverage as Telstra's nextG network has. Telstra is King, not that I'm a big fan. But they have the most infrastructure around the country. Not sure why you'd want to be on an inferior network. You might save some bucks, but you get what you pay for.

    Also you can access 16 FOXTEL channels on your iPhone, if you have Telstra nextG, for $18/mth extra.

    I soooooo nearly upgraded to the 3GS the other day. They had a $250.00 down and a $40/mth plan, with $40/mth worth of calls, and $150.00 gift voucher to spend in their store on other stuff. Cheap as chips. I wouldn't be paying $900.00 and then a plan ontop of that.
    Not not everyone needs a phone in the bush Bob.
    I have Vodafone and it works just fine every where I go.
    Recently took a road trip from the Gold Coast to Canberra with stops in Golburn and Sydney for a few days.
    Never lost connection never missed a call.
    For $40 a month you get $40.00 worth of calls? That some how struck you as a good deal?

    I get $500.00 worth of free calls, unlimited blackberry internet, 50 meg of normal internet and Free nights and weekends for $69.00 a month.

    My wife on her Iphone gets $400.00 of calls and text, free unlimited nights and weekends and 1Gig of internet for $69.00 a month.

    Telstra is a rip off unless you need to be in the middle of no where often.

  11. #11
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    Yeah, but you're on Vodaphone's network. They couldn't pay me to be on that network. It could be free and I still wouldn't use it. No wonder they have to give away so much to get folks to use it. Telstra's nextG might cost more, but it's the biggest and the best.

    Did you ever get voice and data working simultaneously on the vodaphone 3G network with the iphone?
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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by ATH-Sean View Post
    I also refer to this: http://www.iphonewiki.com.au/telstra...iphone-unlock/



    Explains a little more.

    Telstra is really crap, They cannot activate my phone at all over the Weekend so Basically I have a Apple iPhone that I cannot call from, text from, Or do anything much with because I have no active Sim

    Their is a Mac Store but I could not get their, So went to my local retail shop that sells Apple iPhones and it was the only place that had any near me

    I am wondering if I could contact Apple Directly?
    Good luck on getting them to do it for free you can probably fight it long enough to force them to do it but still you are stuck with a non working phone while you wait.
    Take it back to the store and tell them to unlock it or give you money back.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Aussie Bob View Post
    Yeah, but you're on Vodaphone's network. They couldn't pay me to be on that network. It could be free and I still wouldn't use it. No wonder they have to give away so much to get folks to use it.

    Did you ever get voice and data working simultaneously on the vodaphone 3G network with the iphone?
    LOL I guess Bob, the Vodafone network works perfect for me, fast easy and never miss a call or data with it.
    Been with them for over 5 years now no issues at all.
    But you keep paying 5 times as much as me and telling yourself you are on some super network if that works for you.

  14. #14
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    We live in a more rural area than yourself, so vodaphone doesn't really cut the mustard out here. Ok for major cities I guess, but Telstra's nextG has far more coverage than Vodaphone, period. For me I just have to be on the biggest and best network, but that's just me. If you're happy with Vodaphone, than that's all that matters for you.

    I don't pay 5 times as much as you. I pay $40/mth and that's it. The wife has a $40/mth plan with her iphone too, and we have free calls between our iphones. I don't need $45,000.00 a mth worth of free calls and stuff.

    But you never answered this question in this thread and the other thread - "did you ever get voice and data working simultaneously on the vodaphone 3G network with the iphone?" I could never figure out why you couldn't get a voice and data session working at the same time, on the iphone, when I could.
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  15. #15
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    The only reason why I do not use Telstra is the fact that OPTUS are just as good as Telstra even if they rent the lines.

    I pay $50.00 and get $500.00 worth of Calls, Txt, MMS, Data and everything else that comes with it. I put it more down to my preference not just the superiority of Telstra who are blatant rip-offs.

    I registered or activated my Sim and did call Telstra in regards to it and they cannot find my activation anywhere on their systems what-so-ever, I mean come one it is a Telstra Number and they cannot see me activating it?

    Anywho, I want to Unlock it so I can go back to my usual Optus. I tried Telstra's automated phone unlocking system, NO GOOD!

    I entered the IMEI number they asked for and I got a response of "Sorry, I was unable to find information on that IMEI", Please call Telstra on 1300 xxx xxx monday to friday.

    Here we are again with the UNKNOWNS of the Telstra world. Can you see why I do not like them?

    Sean
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  16. #16
    Makes sense.

    If they don't have the activation how coud they find the IMEI?
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  17. #17
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    Bob, Could you elaborate on this?
    Can you tell me what this service is?

    http://www.amta.org.au/pages/amta/Ch...f.your.Handset

    It says my IMEI is unblocked, However, If I insert my Optus sim and Sync with iTunes it says the SIM is not supported.
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  18. #18
    It means two different things.

    IMEI unblocked means it has not been reported stolen.

    "SIM not supported" means the phone is locked to a carrier, and it is not Optus.
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  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by ATH-Sean View Post
    The only reason why I do not use Telstra is the fact that OPTUS are just as good as Telstra even if they rent the lines.
    I think Optus own their own network now, but they used to rent/resell Telstra's network back in the day. I think that's all changed now. I actually use the Optus D2 satellite for my portable broadband satellite dish. No problems and the speed is good.
    I pay $50.00 and get $500.00 worth of Calls, Txt, MMS, Data and everything else that comes with it.
    Those plans have always reminded me of the unlimited data hosts out there. They basically give away the farm, for peanuts and their networks end up overcrowded and crap.
    I put it more down to my preference not just the superiority of Telstra who are blatant rip-offs.
    Yes, Telstra is superior, and yes, they do cost a bit more. That's my preference.
    Anywho, I want to Unlock it so I can go back to my usual Optus. I tried Telstra's automated phone unlocking system, NO GOOD!
    If you bought a phone from a retailer that is locked to a network provider, then looks like you'll just have to pay that unlock fee. Lesson learned I guess.
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  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by ATH-Sean View Post
    Bob, Could you elaborate on this?
    Can you tell me what this service is?

    http://www.amta.org.au/pages/amta/Ch...f.your.Handset

    It says my IMEI is unblocked, However, If I insert my Optus sim and Sync with iTunes it says the SIM is not supported.
    I wouldn't have a clue about that. I'm not their tech support.
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  21. #21
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    LOL

    Yeah, I am officially over Telstra.
    I was informed my service would be activated Yesterday within 2hrs. It has been 24hrs since that was said via their online activation service.

    I have called Telstra like 5 times since this problem, I am quite frantic because I am now being told that they cannot find my Number in their system and my IMEI is not found or is invalid?

    Wow, Could this become any more worse?

    Actually, It does remind me of those overcrowded networks or Bandwidth and Space, Overall I have been with optus for 5yrs now and I have not had an issue at all... Even with their Good Caps.

    Lesson has not been learned yet, Their is always deceptipon. Will give this a try.
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  22. #22
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    Hey Bob

    How much are you paying for data with Telstra (or have included in your plan)
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  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by SSHocker View Post
    Hey Bob

    How much are you paying for data with Telstra (or have included in your plan)
    He said he was on their $40.00 a month plan which means he gets $35.00 a month of talk and text billed at .38 cents per 30 seconds with a .27 cent flag fall and 5 MB of data.

    He might not pay 5 times as much but he gets 10 times less included for the money.
    Telstra is the biggest rip off going.

    http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/pho...e/pricing.html

  24. #24
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    Unlock it yourself, it's easy, don't get ripped off

  25. #25
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    I wouldn't pay the $150 to have it unlocked. Just jailbreak it and then unlock it that way... costs nothing!... well except for your warranty.
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