vB Easy Archive - I want an iPhone but is it worth it?

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I want an iPhone but is it worth it?
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Posted by: HardHitter

Also, so here is my dilemma.

I had a Sony Ericcson S710a unlocked on my AT&T family plan with my parents. I text/use media WAY more than I use minutes so I switched over to individual T-mobile account and got a SideKick III and have 600 minutes, unlimited night/weekends, unlimited data (e-mail,text,picture messaging) for a cost of $85 a month.

Contract ends Sept 6, 2008 and I REALLY want the pickup a new phone and will pay the $200 canceling fee if I switch to a new service.

I absolutely LOVE the iPhone (is it normal to have dreams of having one? lol) and is my ideal phone, but I am open to other phones. Looking for a good texting/media/internet etc phone and a service that will be the same or less money. I NEED to have a plan with unlimited data as I text more than I use my minutes.

I've played with the iPhone a couple of times in the Apple stores but I am sure you guys know more things about the phone that would help out.

How is Wi-Fi connection? When I am at home, I can just hook it up to my wifi connection correct? What if I'm in a wifi area (like my university is all wireless) I should be able to log into their wifi?

I use AIM on my sidekick and I know it's not on the iPhone but is there a way to get it?

Input would be nice, basically $200 to cancel Tmobile, $430ish after tax for iPhone, + what kind of plan/activation fees?

Posted by: SwitchBladeAA

Buy a unlocked one.

Posted by: HardHitter

Buying an unlocked one are how much? $700 or so? And will I be able to use my Tmobile "Sidekick 3" data plan on it?

If I can continue to use my Tmobile plan and the sidekick data plan works then I will do that as I think I'll pay more with AT&T plan and I don't believe they have an unlimited text plan?

I have 600 minutes for my Tmobile plan, and then pay an extra $20 for data plan of unlimited data, text, e-mail, picture message and so forth.

What is this jailbreak too?

Posted by: ripse

you can hook it up to your wifi easy and I have to say I'm loving having an iPhone cant stop using it. its so much more than a phone .its at my side all the time. I'm typing this from it now

Posted by: HardHitter

Bump for answers

Posted by: donm527

i love the iphone.

wifi works flawlessly whereever i go.
use meebo.com (webapp) to IM through AIM or Yahoo or whatever and works great.

you need to go to the att site to check plan pricing. i'm not a poweruser so i have the 39.99 voice plan which is around 400 minutes with rollover (i have THOUSANDS of rollover minutes to show i dont call much). the data plan is $20 more which is great for me... unlimited data and 200 text messages per month. so for $60 a month to get voice and unlimited data... worth it for me.

i send about 10 messages at most per month but use email all day (data). again you need to check the att site if you plan to text more.

remember... no MMS available at this time. ok with me cause i'll email the pics but i did find it annoying when i got a mms message and couldnt see it without going to the web to pick up my pic/message.

Posted by: KoukiFC3S

Unlimited texts and data is $80+tax

Posted by: HardHitter

It is $80+tax for just unlimited texts and data?!? No minutes? That is NOT worth it in my opinion.

Would it be best to just buy an unlocked iPhone 1.1.1 seems to be the wanted iPhone version. It seems they go for around $500-$600 on eBay for an unlocked iPhone which would be around the cost of if I switched ($200 cancel fee + $450ish iPhone + seems to be $80-$100 a month for minutes and unlimited data/text plan)

MMS would be upgradable through the Jailbreak or is it not possible ever to come on this phone? I know my SideKick III is the same way. If someone sends me an MMS I have to use the internet to log onto my Tmobile account to see the picture and if I want to send someone a picture to their phone, I have to use my e-mail account and go 10digitnumber@carrierhere.com and so forth. Would that be the same thing for the iPhone?

Again, the main question here is, if I have my Sidekick III with 600 minutes and $20 extra Sidekick III data plan which is unlimited internet, email, and text, would I be able to use that for the iPhone?

Posted by: donm527

$600 on Ebay?! I can sell my two month old 1.0.2 for $600?

i could sell it, but a new one and have enuff for the bluetooth headset. wow.

in that case, i hope all future versions are unbreakable and i'll be able to sell my phone for $1000 by the time the 3G version comes out.

Posted by: HardHitter

Unless I find an iPhone and it's simple enough for myself to unlock it myself? Save a couple hundred dollars.

But again, I absolutely need unlimited text messages/data and if I can't do that with Tmobile, then I guess I have to switch to AT&T

Posted by: Whorehay

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardHitter

It is $80+tax for just unlimited texts and data?!? No minutes? That is NOT worth it in my opinion.

80 dollars + tax is

450 minutes plan (40 dollars a month)
unlimited text (20 dollars a month)
unlimited data (20 dollars a month)

Posted by: HardHitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whorehay

80 dollars + tax is

450 minutes plan (40 dollars a month)
unlimited text (20 dollars a month)
unlimited data (20 dollars a month)

Yea I just checked on AT&T site. That is pathetic

I have:

650 whenever minutes with unlimited nights and weekends
unlimited text
unlimited data

for $63 WITH tax included already.

Posted by: HardHitter

So basically this is what I'd do to unlock an iPhone

Find an iPhone with 1.1.1 firmware on the phone (which serial number do I need to look for again?)
Install jailbreak on the phone
Follow instructions to install anySIM

Phone is unlocked?

Posted by: AdmiralAK

Personal opinion: i have looked at buying one, but i have concluded that UNLESS it came unlocked it really isn't worth it at this point in time. it is a nice device but the lack of applications is a problem. if you IM a lot, the iphone is currently not right for you. if you have to void your warranty (jailbreak) to get things done, it isn't worth it. i would say wait a tear for it to become more open

Posted by: Low J.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardHitter

Also, so here is my dilemma.

I had a Sony Ericcson S710a unlocked on my AT&T family plan with my parents. I text/use media WAY more than I use minutes so I switched over to individual T-mobile account and got a SideKick III and have 600 minutes, unlimited night/weekends, unlimited data (e-mail,text,picture messaging) for a cost of $85 a month.

Contract ends Sept 6, 2008 and I REALLY want the pickup a new phone and will pay the $200 canceling fee if I switch to a new service.

I absolutely LOVE the iPhone (is it normal to have dreams of having one? lol) and is my ideal phone, but I am open to other phones. Looking for a good texting/media/internet etc phone and a service that will be the same or less money. I NEED to have a plan with unlimited data as I text more than I use my minutes.

I've played with the iPhone a couple of times in the Apple stores but I am sure you guys know more things about the phone that would help out.

How is Wi-Fi connection? When I am at home, I can just hook it up to my wifi connection correct? What if I'm in a wifi area (like my university is all wireless) I should be able to log into their wifi?

I use AIM on my sidekick and I know it's not on the iPhone but is there a way to get it?

Input would be nice, basically $200 to cancel Tmobile, $430ish after tax for iPhone, + what kind of plan/activation fees?

I went from an S710A to the iPhone.......best upgrade ever....it's a no brainer. And I loved my S710A....hung onto that thing for years because I couldn't find anything else that improved on it greatly enough to warrant the expense....until now.

Posted by: HardHitter

I actually still have my S710a sitting my a drawer some where, do you think I'd be able to sell that and get some money out of it? Probably like $50 or so hu?

Anyways, again, I need to know if there is a way to use the iPhone on Tmobile plans where I can get unlimited data and text messaging. I've heard the data plan I have (the sidekick one) will not work because it is meant just for the sidekick, but some say all I need to do is change an address within the iPhone and it will work?

The other data plans that Tmobile offers are for the blackberry and it comes with minutes and unlimited data but not unlimited text messages.

Posted by: XFF

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardHitter

Yea I just checked on AT&T site. That is pathetic

I have:

650 whenever minutes with unlimited nights and weekends
unlimited text
unlimited data

for $63 WITH tax included already.

I thought you paid $85 with T-Mobile (see post #1). Which one is it?

Posted by: ca3

ive owned about every type of phone you could imagine, ive had a lot of wifi ones and a lot of high end phones. I have to say the iphone killed my expectations. Its an amazing phone. No way i can say its bad. I had some issues with apple and i bad talked this phone for the longest time, (mostly cuz of jealousy) but it has been an extreamly great phone. You'll be stupid not to get one, bottom line. Oh wifi works great

Posted by: HardHitter

It is $63 after tax, I messed up in my first post and couldn't go back to edit it.

Posted by: vw_ev

Holding the iphone at the apple store, and holding one at home are two entirely different things! Nothing can describe it... the phone feels like was designed by NASA.

Get one. You will love it.

Posted by: HardHitter

^^ haha

I'm trying to get one but I need to decide if I should buy it for AT&T or just buy an unlocked one for Tmobile.

Again,

I need to know if there is a way to use the iPhone on Tmobile plans where I can get unlimited data and text messaging. I've heard the data plan I have (the sidekick one) will not work because it is meant just for the sidekick, but some say all I need to do is change an address within the iPhone and it will work?

The other data plans that Tmobile offers are for the blackberry and it comes with minutes and unlimited data but not unlimited text messages.

Posted by: gotanmp3

If you get a fully jailbroken and unlocked iPhone, it will work with the $5.99 (T-MobileWeb) and $14.99 (Unlimited text) add-ons. After you remove the Sidekick feature from your plan, you'll likely be paying LESS per month than you are now.

You might have to do some browsing around the forum to find the post with the info on what source has to be added to the installer to get the $5.99 T-MobileWeb working, but it's easy enough to do and it does work.

If I were you, I'd at least go on the hunt for week 44 and earlier (it's the 4th and 5th digits of the serial number ie: 7T736xxxxx means week 36) iPhones at your local AT&T stores before paying eBay prices. If you have an unlockable iPhone, the unlock proceedure is pretty much point-and-click at this point. A good excuse to get them to let you see the serial number before buying is to tell them about the negative black issue (show 'em appleservedup.com on one of the demo iPhones if they don't believe you) and that you want to check the serial number before buying to make sure it's not one of the ones with negative black.

(Remember, it's just an excuse to get them to let you see the serial number - it's really quite difficult to determine if the iPhone will have negative black without actually testing the phone)

Posted by: HardHitter

Alright so if I go into my local Apple stores, they don't have the iPhones sitting on the shelf hu? I'd have to practically tell them to look for any serial number that the 4th and 5th digit makes less than 44 (is week 45 when they came out with 1.1.2 phones and the 1.1.1 are the best phones to hack right?)

Say by chance I do find a phone and I buy it, how do I go in and unlock it? Jailbreak it and then you have to add anySIM?

If following this link would this work (http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2007/10/...for-installing/)

Posted by: HardHitter

Or is this a better way (From Sticky on the forums)

Jailbreaking and Activating on 1.1.1 (No PC needed! Just Wifi)
* If you are planning on not using AT&T and another provider (or none at all), read and perform the steps found at appsnapp to get mobile safari up and running on your unactivated iPhone.

* Once in mobile safari, go to jailbreakme.com and follow the steps.

* After everything is done, you should be jailbroken, activated, and installer app should be on your home screen.

Unlocking on 1.02 and 1.1.1

* Once you are using the latest version of Installer app, install Community Sources, then go to Sources at the bottom right, Click edit at the top right corner, and then click add at the top right corner and type in this url:

http://markmon.mine.nu:90/iphone/repo/repo.plist.

* Refresh the sources and find Anysim 1.1 and install it

* Run the the app and your phone should now be unlocked!

So after reading this, if I find a phone with week 44 and less, do I just do the first set of directions of "Jailbreaking and Activating on 1.1.1" and that does the unlocking (allows me to run on my Tmobile SIM), allows me to activate it, and allows me to install 3rd party apps (jailbreaks the phone)?

Or do I need to do the "Unlocking on 1.02 and 1.1.1" and then do the "Jailbreaking and activating on 1.1.1"?

Posted by: Rocklive

Probably a little obvious, but do you like the touch screen/played with it in person? Seems like a big point if texting is big for you

Posted by: ripperbone

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardHitter

^^ haha

I'm trying to get one but I need to decide if I should buy it for AT&T or just buy an unlocked one for Tmobile.

Again,

I need to know if there is a way to use the iPhone on Tmobile plans where I can get unlimited data and text messaging. I've heard the data plan I have (the sidekick one) will not work because it is meant just for the sidekick, but some say all I need to do is change an address within the iPhone and it will work?

The other data plans that Tmobile offers are for the blackberry and it comes with minutes and unlimited data but not unlimited text messages.

you would have to get the unlimited 19.95 data add-on for smart phones. the BB add-on will not work. and you have to get the 14.95 unlimited text and picture messages

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons...Sub_Smartphones

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons...E0-50EC0AF141F9

Posted by: aesculanus

Why Can The Iphone Still Not Type Asian Fonts???

Posted by: babikian

Its more like a blond super-model ,you might be able to jailbreak unlock and take her home, dont expect from her to cook,wash,make dishes and so on...yet with some other things she is very very veeeery GOOOOOD!!!

Posted by: aesculanus

it's just stupid that it can read the fonts, but won't input them. that kind half useless implementation is what i expect from motorola, not apple.

Posted by: toomer

To the OP -

Since the ETF cost, plus some data charges, don't seem to be an absolute deal breaker for you ... you need to keep in mind that by going the unlock route, you're voiding any warranty you have with Apple, and if things go even the slightest bit wrong - you could end up with a bricked phone rather easily. You should take a few minutes to browse through a few pages of the iPhone hacking and unlocking forum - it is filled with "help, I bricked my phone" posts. Some are able to recover, but only after days of frustrations...

It can be done, and certainly there are a lot of people enjoying their iPhones on T-Mobile (although what's been said here is correct, you can't use the Sidekick plan) right now. But you should be prepared for some work involved to get there initially (which has some risk associate with it) and then ongoing work as new firmware updates come out that add new features. For instance, Gizmodo is reporting that the new v1.1.3 firmware that's supposedly just about to come out "breaks unlocks and third-party apps" (http://gizmodo.com/338948/iphone-fi...y-iphone-hacker) so the folks running modified iPhones won't get multi-party SMS, Google's "Locate Me" feature, adding web bookmarks to the main menu, etc. for now, until someone breaks v1.1.3. And no one can ever really predict how long that might take with each firmware update...

Something to consider. Whatever path you choose, good luck, and enjoy your iPhone!

Posted by: babikian

Quote:

Originally Posted by aesculanus

it's just stupid that it can read the fonts, but won't input them. that kind half useless implementation is what i expect from motorola, not apple.

no I dont think it is stupid at all,it does things no other device can ever do.and at least is not as boring as my sons Nokia N95 8GB!!!.

Posted by: toomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by aesculanus

Why Can The Iphone Still Not Type Asian Fonts???

Um, perhaps because the iPhone has not been released for sale in Asia, period? Therefore, they've not felt the need to engineer in support for Asian character sets?

"But there are a lot of people in the US who read/write in Asian characters!" is what you would probably say to that, right? Well, there are also a lot of people in the US that read/write in Arabic character sets - and as far as I know, the iPhone doesn't support that out-of-the-box either ... so clearly Apple isn't attempting to support every single written/spoken language used in the US.

Once Apple strikes a deal with an Asian carrier, the support will get in there. But I wouldn't expect it before then.

Posted by: HardHitter

Yes I have dealt with the iPhone within store and even though texting is a huge part of my phone, I can deal with it not having any "keys" May be a little getting used to it but I am going to accept it.

I've done searches on the hacking and what happens on "bricking" your phone and seen that basically Apple has zero tolerance to those who have altered their phone and will not help you at all once they've seen the original data has been modified. I've also read the 1.1.3 firmware thread and it not being unlockable yet. I saw a guy on here who has a 3rd party application that lets him send multiple text messages to multiple people so things are possible without the firmware.

Posted by: gotanmp3

Apple's "zero tolerance" policy against hacking/unlocking seems more dramatic than it really is, because there's people who absolutely go nuts unless they have the latest firmware right this second and there's people who bought 1.1.2 OTB phones and are waiting for a free unlock. If it doesn't bother you to wait out the firmware updates (or just ignore them completely), there's no reason you can't be happy with an unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile.

And as to finding a week 44 and earlier iPhone, you'll probably have better luck at an AT&T store, because Apple stores are likely all sold out of all the unlockable versions by now (wiped out during the holidays, I'd imagine). Depends where you live and how popular the iPhone has been. And if you do find one, yes, the easiest unlock method is the "computerless" jailbreakme.com method.

Posted by: HardHitter

week 44 and earlier iPhone are which versions? is week 44 a 1.1.1 version or 1.1.2 version? 1.1.2 is still unlockable right? But you have to downgrade to 1.1.1?

I just want to know if I'll be paying more money if I switch to the iPhone. Again I have a 600 minute plan with unlimited nights and weekends and then the $20 sidekick III data plan so my total comes to around $63-$65 with tax included.

If I switch the the iPhone I will keep my minutes plan (MAYBE downgrade to 300 minutes plan) and the poster above says I have to include unlimited data plan which is $20 and then unlimited text plan which is $15 so I will be paying an extra $15 a month.

Posted by: gotanmp3

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardHitter

week 44 and earlier iPhone are which versions? is week 44 a 1.1.1 version or 1.1.2 version? 1.1.2 is still unlockable right? But you have to downgrade to 1.1.1?

Week 44 may be 1.1.1 or 1.1.2, but most people have gotten lucky with week 44 iPhones. All week 45 and later phones will be 1.1.2 OTB which can't presently be unlocked even if downgraded. It's due to a new bootloader, not the 1.1.2 firmware itself (which is why a downgrade won't help).

Quote:

If I switch the the iPhone I will keep my minutes plan (MAYBE downgrade to 300 minutes plan) and the poster above says I have to include unlimited data plan which is $20 and then unlimited text plan which is $15 so I will be paying an extra $15 a month.

You can use the $5.99 T-MobileWeb instead of the $19.99 Total Internet add-on. It used to require editing a text file on the iPhone but now there's a source you can add to the installer and in a few clicks your iPhone is set up for the $5.99 T-MobileWeb.

Posted by: HardHitter

I am about to head to the Apple store by my house but I want to make sure I get the 1.1.1 version because if I get the 1.1.2 version then I am SOL because it cannot be unlocked and I'm stuck with an iPhone that I can't use.

What is the difference between the $5.99 Tmobile web vs the $19.99 total internet add on?

Posted by: toomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardHitter

I am about to head to the Apple store by my house but I want to make sure I get the 1.1.1 version because if I get the 1.1.2 version then I am SOL because it cannot be unlocked and I'm stuck with an iPhone that I can't use.

Rumor has it that Apple store employees will not let you see the boxes in advance of purchase, in order to see the serial # (and then determine the week number). There are a few threads here you may want to read up on about that, before going to the store.

There are also a number of threads here from several weeks ago, on people looking for week-44 phones and not able to find them. You might get lucky, but given that week 44 would translate into inventory that is 8 weeks old right now, it is advisable to go to the store with the proper expectation in mind as to your chances.

Posted by: gotanmp3

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardHitter

What is the difference between the $5.99 Tmobile web vs the $19.99 total internet add on?

The $5.99 add-on requires proxy settings on the iPhone (easily done via the installer). Some people have had trouble with YouTube on the $5.99 plan (YouTube is lousy over EDGE anyway), and apps that don't work through the proxy (like IM clients) won't work. Safari, E-Mail, Maps and Weather will work fine. You can always add the $19.99 Total Internet if the $5.99 doesn't work well enough for you, but I'm personally happy with it and quite a few other people are, too.

Posted by: HardHitter

No luck on finding one at my local store.

I went in asking if he could check the serial numbers and he went back and said he didn't have any. I don't know if he was telling the truth or went to ask someone else and they told him about what was going on.

Posted by: HardHitter

I forgot that my parents already have AT&T and I was wondering if I cancel my Tmobile account, would I be able to add a line onto the family plan with the iPhone or how does that work?

Posted by: toomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardHitter

I forgot that my parents already have AT&T and I was wondering if I cancel my Tmobile account, would I be able to add a line onto the family plan with the iPhone or how does that work?

Yes, you should be able to do this no problem.

Actually, it is the preferred method to make the iPhone a secondary line on a plan like that, in case your parents have some type of corporate discount on thier plan. If the iPhone is the primary line, those discounts get wiped off the account ... but if it's a secondary line, they stay in place.

Posted by: georut

I use Beejive on my iPhone for AIM messaging. Works fairly well.

Posted by: HardHitter

So there is a guy locally selling a 1.1.1 iPhone that is already unlocked and he's running it on his Tmobile service. He is asking $550 for it and he will show me that everything works with Tmobile and everything. I'm thinking of offering $525. Would this be a good deal?

I'd also have to switch my sidekick data plan ($20) and get unlimited internet and unlimited text ($35)

Good price? How do I make sure it is a 1.1.1 version (other than checking the serial number on the box) 1.1.1 phones are able to run 1.1.2 without being bricked right? Or do they have to stay on 1.1.1 firmware?

Posted by: XFF

Doesn't matter whether it's 1.1.1 or 1.1.2, what matters is that it has the older bootloader (3.9). If it works on T-Mobile, then that's what it has. The new bootloader (4.6) can't be unlocked and therefore won't work with any unauthorized carrier.

Posted by: HardHitter

I've tried to ask Apple (when going into their stores) if they could check for an iPhone with week 44 and before (these have the older boot loader right?) but they say they cannot check serial numbers or else I'd just pay the $399 to buy the iPhone and unlock it myself

Posted by: HardHitter

Well I'm spending $540 for this unlocked iPhone. It should be the 1.1.1 version since he's using it on Tmobile already and if it was the 1.1.2 OTB version, he wouldn't be able to do that right? Because the 1.1.2 OTB iPhones can be jailbroken but NOT unlocked?

Posted by: XFF

You got it.

Posted by: HardHitter

Once I get the phone how do I make sure that iTunes doesn't automatically update me to 1.1.3 whenever it does come out? I do not want my phone to automatically upgrade to a new firmware and then all of a sudden my phone is bricked.

After I pickup the phone I'll have to go to Tmobile to cancel my sidekick data plan and switch to internet/texting plan.