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Where to get the iPhone 3G from

iPhone 3G

A bunch of people now have the new iPhone’s here in Kuwait and if you are wondering how to get a hold of one well it seems the easiest solution is eBay. You have two kinds of iPhone 3G’s you can get, you can get the regular locked version which is the one thats being sold in most parts of the world like in the US or you can get the Italian version which at the moment seems to be the only one that is officially unlocked.

The regular locked iPhone 3G is cheaper and sells for anywhere from $700 to $1000. Most users on eBay list them as unlocked iPhones but at the moment thats just not true. If you read the posts carefully they all promise to have the unlocking done a week after purchase… they are basically just waiting for the unlocking software to get released. You can go ahead and buy this version if you want but as of this post you won’t be able to use it in Kuwait at the moment. Very soon though with the next update of the unlocking software Pwnage you should be able to unlock it.

The Italian version is currently the only version available “officially” unlocked. This means if you buy the Italian version of the iPhone you can use it in Kuwait without needing to hack it or anything. This version is available for sale on the regular ebay.com but a larger collection is available on the Italian eBay which is ebay.it. The Italian iPhone sells on average for around $1400 which is pretty expensive but the advantage is that it works in Kuwait without a hitch.

If you’ve got the extra cash it might be a better deal to fly to Italy, spend a night or two there, buy an iPhone and then come back. If you don’t have the extra cash just wait a couple of months and the prices will probably drop down but I doubt they will go down under $500 or $600.

53 replies on “Where to get the iPhone 3G from”

actually mark, i read that there are two other countries that sell the officially unlocked iPhone 3G and they are switzerland and belgium. i can’t remember the site where i read that, but it’s worth checking out and apparently there are conditions in switzerland (i think u have to be a resident, or a member of the EU or something pointless like that) but im pretty sure italy isnt the only country that offers an officially unlocked iPhone 3G.

I just came back from Italy and asked about the iphone there, both carriers said that I should have a contract with it and when I asked about the unlocked version they said it did not exist :S one of them asked me to go to the head office and ask there but i did not get the change to go.

And when I went to the mac shop in Austria the lady told me that I might find it without a contract in France . But I do not know if its true.

(u should be a citizen of the same country that you’re purchasing the iphone from to get the contract)

Oh my god !! Nokia ?!! the only good thing about Nokia’s is the variety in their design & appearance – but they have to be the worst-built phones today – they’ve completely plummeted during the last 3 or 4 yrs. i feel that those who buy nokia’s are doing what is called “taqleed a3ma” (imitating without thinking) !! Sorry Nokia owners – but the truth has to be said.

I just bought mine off eBay for $600 + free shipping 🙂 eBay rocks! Oh and it’s not unlocked but I’m sure that can be fixed pretty easily once the software comes out.

i just flied from australia where iphone 3g was being sold there for 729 Australian dollars with a pre paid card and you could open it for an extra 80 Australian dollars

PS : you should have the pre paid card for 1 day before you could but the iphone

Pardon my ignorance,, I’m embarrassed to ask this question but I have t get it out of my chest..

When you say iphone is locked.. what is locked exactly? I’m not asking for the meaning of the word 😛 just wondering.. I’m confused 😮

A friend of mine that used to sell the first iPhone said that they be available after 2 weeks and the 16GB will be selling at KD300, we’ll just wait and see.

Don’t ask me about his contacts, he posts here and am sure he will announce it once he gets them

okra … when apple launched the iPhone in North america & Europe, they made it exclusive for only one Network in each country, so for example, in the UK, u can only buy the iPhone if u make a bill-pay contract with the O2-network – so in the UK the iPhone is “locked” on O2 sim cards – u can only use an O2 sim card on it.

and K.theKuwaiti – there r a lot of ppl in Q8 who r still so stubborn towards that nokia idea that its “just the best” – ur not the only one. but i have faith in my good ole kuwaiti people that one day they’ll wake up and smell the coffee !! one day 🙂

FoRZa_iTaLia thanks for explaining 🙂

btw I don’t have nokia.. I use Sony Ericsson 😛
lol.. but I’m hoping to get iphone once I know how it works 😛

I got my 16GB iPhone 3G for about 180 KD and it came with a small/thin chip thingy that I attach to my regular sim card and it works just fine in Kuwait.. there’s one prob though.. sometime I get call failed, and I have to try two or three times to actually be able to call someone.. but it’s all good now 🙂

My cousin unlocked his using a re-rendered version of “Britobreak”… and his iPhone’s amazing.. lol! He got his off ebay (16GB) for about 195 KD, including the shipping and handling of course..

The Archer has several iPhone 3G’s but they’re locked and is waiting to unlock them and sell them through his blog if I’m not mistaken.

i have the 3g iphone! but i really need to unlock it! anybody can post something on where to unlock it in kuwait!

got the next best thing ,,, Nokia E71 😉

selling at Alghanim for KD 128 and you’ll get KD 5 gift voucher

Hi i am selling 3g iphones.

Black 8GB=285KD
Black 16GB=339KD
White 16GB=339 KD

All of them are unlocked with turbo sim they work fine i have one myself.
Phone includes invisible screen protecter and leather case.
Any one wants one

mr. yussuf, good day! if you are selling iphone 3G’s, why you didnt post your location, contact number or where we can find you, right? are you sure your selling iphone 3G?

My advice is to wait until it is official in Kuwait (if it ever does). You can get it for less than 60 KD then with warranty and support.

Yussuf
Do you sell turbo sim by itself?

vhino= i just ran out of iphone3G. I might get them in three weaks time.Yes i am selling them but i just ran out of stock.

BoBader= Sorry i do not sell turbo sim alone and the iphone is not legally coming to kuwait.
(You can contact me on:[email protected])

yussf!! where did u unlock the iphone!1 please i have it and i am really fed up with it! where did u unlock it!

Moey thats bullshit. How could you have gotten the iPhone 3G unlocked for a price cheaper than what Apple is selling it for?

An unlocked iPhone in Italy sells for 499 euro or 569 depending if its 8GB or 16GB. In US dollars thats $773 and $881. So you expect everyone to believe you were able to get it for $700? Yeah we believe you, what you know someone who works in the factory in China? What a loser!

yussuf

I already have 3G iPhone and i will be back in the US in few days. Apple did not say that they will not release the iphone in kuwait. Where are you getting your information? I am sure it will come to Kuwait officially sooner or later. it is all about $$$$$$ my friend.

This version of the iPhone is Apple’s worldwide release of the iPhone but it’s going to take sometime to reach different parts of the world, Apple already has a roadmap for release in different areas.

Duckey

I am not Apple official representative but there are many huge markets and countries such as Russia that were not announced for future iPhone 3G release. However, that doesn’t mean that they will never release it in those countries. It simply means that Apple did not start negotiations or maybe is in the process of reaching an agreement. Since the iPhone 3G will be released in Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan I don’t how it is impossible to see it released in Kuwait, KSA, and UAE.

Ok the thing is this
Qatar and Egypt have Vodafone
Jordan has Orange

Apple has already dealt with the two telecoms thats why they are getting iPhone.

Saudi and Kuwait have Zain and STC while UAE have Etisalet and Du. Thats why we aren’t getting the iPhone anytime soon.

The Apps store is a good indication though that we should get it, I’ve been getting my apps from there and although we don’t have as much apps at the US store its still better than nothing.

I agree. They still have China and Russia as well with huge markets that they will need to get in to. I think by Macworld 2009 after they finish with the current waiting list they will announce the next stage that will hopefully include Kuwait.

Mark, Zain is Vodafone (it’s a partner).
Furthermore in Egypt it’s going to be released to all carriers there (at least Mobinil and Vodafone I don’t know about Etisalat).
As I mentioned this release of the iPhone is a worldwide release, it’s only a matter of time for Apple to get it everywhere.

Sam, no MTC and Vodafone were partners but the partnership ended and MTC became Zain. Zain is not Vodafone, you need to get your facts straight.

From what I know its Vodafone thats releasing iPhone in Egypt and Qatar.

I don’t know about the end of the partnership between MTC and Vodafone, but what I’m sure of is that Mobinil is getting iPhone 3G along side Vodafone in Egypt.

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