Editors Note: make sure you also check out my latest post - "buy and iPhone for New Zealand in 3 easy steps.."
I'm still deeply fascinated by my iPhone. This little device and I have forged a strong relationship over the past few weeks. I recommend this phone to anyone who doesn't have one pretty much.
The obvious response to my recommendation is mostly, "Okay but where do I get one?". A fair question.
I think a more relevant iPhone purchasing topic is 'where NOT to get an iPhone in New Zealand'. I am suggesting a rule for would-be iPhone buyers here in NZ.It's pretty simple really- do not spend more than $399USD plus what it costs you to get it into New Zealand. I recommend myus for those of you who want to set up a US postal address. I purchased my US address of these guys some time back and in retrospect it was one of my better ideas.
Don't buy it from here or here. These types of stores are charging you hundreds of dollars for a service that you can complete yourself using modmyiphone. Despite what these stores may suggest, the iPhone 'hack' is not really that hard at all. In fact its more like a 'procedure' than a 'hack'. I have no coding skills what so ever and it took me a couple of hours.
I am starting to get pissed off by these local kiwi retailers who are robbing people blind charging over $1000NZD for a working iPhone. One of the best things about an iPhone is the low cost. You can experience this benefit- just buy one online and do the free hack yourself.
Hey, did you buy it from the apple store
Posted by: Ben Webster | December 28, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Yep sure did!
Posted by: James Fleet | December 29, 2007 at 09:59 AM
just wondering if you still using your iphone, been looking around to see if i wish to get one, wht about the updates, do you have to apply them or not, and im not a big fan of itunes.
Posted by: BEACH | January 01, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Ordering via the U.S. apple store is easy if you have a U.S. address. buyusa.co.nz can help with this. There are numerous sellers of turbosim and other sim unlock devices selling on Ebay.I got an i3gsim they use google checkout which is easier to use than paypal.Both phone and chip will arrive next week.Landed cost for both $885
Software unlock looks tricky but will give it a try
Posted by: ajc | January 13, 2008 at 09:42 PM
So where did you actually buy from? If you go to Apple.com, part of the deal is that you sign up for a minimum of 2 years with AT&T. Unlocked iPhones at some US stores are $550-$680 US! So what do you do about bypassing the carrier contract in the US? Or do you just sign it and don't pay?
Posted by: Aaron | January 17, 2008 at 12:18 PM
yeah im wondering about this to... no at&t network agreement???
Posted by: fyx | January 17, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Hey guys,
I have gone as far as I can go without actually purchasing a phone on the apple.com store and as far as I can see, you just go ahead and buy one.
I was not asked for anything other than my credit card details. So, unless they ask you to sign up for an At & T contract after you have submitted your CC details it all seems fine.
You will, of course, require a myus.com postal address in the USA.
I actually got my iPhone from a physical apple store in Denver Colorado.
I have heard good things about picking up phones for less than $900 New Zealand (total landed and working) using ebay ;-)
Posted by: James Fleet | January 17, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Buying the phone from apple store was easy. No need to sign a contract just needed the BuyUSA street address and phone number provided.
There are hundreds of Ebay sellers with unlocked iphones. But I did not feel comfortable buying as recourse would be limited if they shipped you a lemon.
Posted by: AJC | January 21, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Just used ziphone free software to unlock my iphone that I purchased from Apple USA using BuyUSA address.
5 Min job. Now working on Vodafone NZ
Posted by: AJC | March 01, 2008 at 09:54 AM
hi got Iphone from Orlando Florida
apple store unlocked in 9min flat
Working fine with vodaphone ms sim
in USA and now Bermuda
Search the web for the free knowledge
and share the fun
all the people selling unlocked phone at highmarkups are scum
do your homework
Cheers kiwiphone
Posted by: Macplus | April 10, 2008 at 03:43 AM
To get my phone I used http://www.oneUSAaddress.com . It's like having your own shopping address in the USA. You can see how they work here:
http://www.oneusaaddress.com/static.php?id=26
Posted by: Sarah | April 26, 2009 at 08:22 AM