Can i order an iPhone from US once its released and use it in Asia?

Question

I am really facinated with what the upcoming iPhone can do.I cant wait till 2008 which is the release date of it in Asia.So could i get a piece from US and use it here in Asia?would it be locked or something like tht by Cingular service?Will it be working here?

Answer 1

It will definitely be locked to Cingular. You could perhaps pay Cingular the non-activated rate for it and they would give you the subsidy code to unlock it. Being that this phone is quite pricey as it is, I'd expect close to $800 for the unsubsidized cost. The phone will technically work in any country that has GSM service, it's the subsidy lock that would be stopping you. Also, some features like picture messaging and wireless web browsing may not work. You will have to configure the settings manually and there may or may not be a way to do this through the menus. It will work fine for other functions like basic calls and text messages, and of course any internal functions like built-in games, the mp3 player, etc.