Im getting deployed...help!!

[T_Apple]

I am in the military and will be deploying to the desert in November. I still want to find a way to use my iphone. I found out that they do have a phone company where I am going, so is it as easy as just switching out the SIM card or will I have to jailbreak?

[Tramain]

Originally Posted by T_Apple

I am in the military and will be deploying to the desert in November. I still want to find a way to use my iphone. I found out that they do have a phone company where I am going, so is it as easy as just switching out the SIM card or will I have to jailbreak?

You will have to make sure the cell company is GSM and then jailbreak>unlock

[lionheartednyhc]

Originally Posted by T_Apple

I am in the military and will be deploying to the desert in November. I still want to find a way to use my iphone. I found out that they do have a phone company where I am going, so is it as easy as just switching out the SIM card or will I have to jailbreak?

No, you can just switch the sim.

People just go through the pain of jailbreaking and unlocking for funsies.

[T_Apple]

Will everything still work if I only switch out the SIM? I guess since it has wifi I can just use that for data.

[Alli]

You will have to unlock to use a sim from another carrier.

(Don't confuse jailbreak and unlock.)

[chobbs1]

I don't know if this will work for you. But when I went to mexico. I called AT&T and had them add that country for 4.99 a month and my text and data rates were much cheaper. Give them a call they're very helpful. Also when you get back you can remove the international service lickidy split.

[cjvitek]

As Alli said, jailbreaking and unlocking at two different things.

You can unlock on your own AFTER you jailbreak. Or you can ask for a carrier unlock (not sure if AT&T would provide one, but I would hope since you are being deployed they would give you some options).

You can't just pop a new sim card in from a different carrier.


Chris

[whmurray]

Originally Posted by T_Apple

I am in the military and will be deploying to the desert in November. I still want to find a way to use my iphone. I found out that they do have a phone company where I am going, so is it as easy as just switching out the SIM card or will I have to jailbreak?

Contact AT&T. Tell them your problem. Ask them for an unlock code for your phone and use it. Also, tell them that you want to enable International roaming; use that only in extremis.

At your destination get a SIM from a local carrier. Make sure that you know how much data costs on each carrier. Make sure you know how much calls to and from the US cost on each carrier.

Download Skype from the iPhone store. Make sure that your family members here are Skype registered members.

Find WiFi hotspots at your destination. Prefer them for all uses.

Find a buddy at your destination that understands the "local situation." (local situation: "There is a bear in that cave.")

[T_Apple]

I just talked to ATT and the rep said that the iPhone is the only phone they carry that cannot be unlocked!!! Ugh!! I don't know what to do. Does anyone know a workaround????

[Brickman]

IF, you have good access to WiFi, I would just use Skype as suggested above. I use Skype and it works great. If you do not have good access to WiFi, then JBing and then Unlocking may be your only alternative.

BTW, Did you call AT&T Customer Service or did you just ask a local AT&T store Rep? The local guys tend not to know anything. The Customer Service Reps that you call into seem to be able to do more than the local guys.