Can I use an unlocked iPhone with Telus?

[traderNik]

Searched HF and got very little on this topic (surprising).

Did a title search of this forum for 'iPhone Telus' and got nothing (surprising).

Why surprising? Because a buddy of mine who is a tech head and a cell phone guy told me that it is no problem to unlock an iPhone and use it with my Telus cell account, and that I can do the switch without them every knowing it, and furthermore, they won't do anything about it if I do.

I currently use a BB 8830 WE. The storm is clearly not ready for Prime Time.

So is anyone using an unlocked iPhone with their Telus account?

[Kwirky]

No. The iPhone is a GSM/UMTS device, Telus runs a CDMA network, the technologies are incompatible.

[Fenrir]

Not unless Apple has come out with a CDMA iPhone. AFAIK, the iphone is only GSM which leaves you with Rogers/Fido.

[mcmanus]

As mentioned the only providers that an unlocked iPhone can be used with is Fido and Rogers... best thing you can do is buy out your telus contract and go with fido or rogers

[traderNik]

As mentioned the only providers that an unlocked iPhone can be used with is Fido and Rogers... best thing you can do is buy out your telus contract and go with fido or rogers

Damn. The thing is, I thought maybe things had changed because I went to Europe a few weeks ago and Telus gave me a (GSM, right?) chip to put in my Blackberry 8830 WE. It picked up the Orange network fine. I didn't take it out when I got back. I thought some Telus rep told me that they were going to switch to GSM and so I hoped it had happened. I guess the phone just picks up the CDMA network even though the GSM chip is in there.

[EDIT: information coming through is that the card I put in my 8830 is a SIM card. Revealing my lack of knowledge here...]

My buddy is clearly out of it : )

So you guys know of no imminent plan on their part to switch to GSM, right?

Buy out coming up. I wonder how much it costs...

[coriolis]

Damn. The thing is, I thought maybe things had changed because I went to Europe a few weeks ago and Telus gave me a (GSM, right?) chip to put in my Blackberry 8830 WE. It picked up the Orange network fine. I didn't take it out when I got back. I thought some Telus rep told me that they were going to switch to GSM and so I hoped it had happened.

My buddy is clearly out of it : )

So you guys know of no imminent plan on their part to switch to GSM, right?

Buy out coming up. I wonder how much it costs...

There are some exceptions, mostly Blackberry's which are world phones, which are CDMA phones but also have a SIM card so if you travel out of country, you can use foreign SIM cards. The BB 8830 WE is one obviously.

[mcmanus]

If i'm not mistaken what it is.. is the BB you have runs off their CDMA network.... but it can also run off of GSM.... not vice versa.. since Telus is not a GSM provider...

how long is left on your contract?

[traderNik]

If i'm not mistaken what it is.. is the BB you have runs off their CDMA network.... but it can also run off of GSM.... not vice versa.. since Telus is not a GSM provider...

how long is left on your contract?
Yep, it's clear at this point that I can't run an iPhone on the Telus network.

I have 18 months left in my contract and it is a huge drag because I negotiated a very sweet deal with Telus. I told them that I was ditching my Bell land line and I wanted to use my Telus cell only going forward. They gave me a deal where I don't ever have to watch the clock for daytime minutes, data or text.

Any idea how much this will cost me to buy out?

[coriolis]

Yep, it's clear at this point that I can't run an iPhone on the Telus network.

I have 18 months left in my contract and it is a huge drag because I negotiated a very sweet deal with Telus. I told them that I was ditching my Bell land line and I wanted to use my Telus cell only going forward. They gave me a deal where I don't ever have to watch the clock for daytime minutes, data or text.

Any idea how much this will cost me to buy out?

What if I want to terminate my service?
If you choose to terminate your service before the end of the term, you will be required to pay (as liquidated damages and not as a penalty) a cancellation charge for each terminated phone number in addition to all other amounts then due to TELUS Mobility. The cancellation charge will be the greater of:

1. $20 multiplied by the number of months remaining in the term, or
2. $100

If you subscribe to a data service with an email feature and cancel that service within the first 12 months of a 36 month service agreement, an additional cancellation charge of $100 will apply. The cancellation charge must be paid whether the service is terminated by TELUS Mobility or you.




So 18 x 20 = $360

[mcmanus]

If you have a sweet deal like you mentioned and don't mind giving up your phone number then see if you can find someone to buy the contract off of you... I had 11 months left on my bell contract I also had a really really sweet deal... however I wanted a iPhone so I bit the bullet and I'm very glad I did!

[traderNik]

If you have a sweet deal like you mentioned and don't mind giving up your phone number then see if you can find someone to buy the contract off of you... I had 11 months left on my bell contract I also had a really really sweet deal... however I wanted a iPhone so I bit the bullet and I'm very glad I did!
Yes, this is a problem because I really need to keep my number if at all possible. It has been suggested to me that it is technically possible to keep your number while transferring your account, but you have to get a 1 in a thousand CSR involved. I have the name and number of a Telus manager who helped me out when I was having problems with the Phillipines customer service personnel.

[Kwirky]

If you don't mind waiting awhile, some new carriers are supposed to go live mid 2009, and although I don't know the timeline on this, Telus is building a UMTS network that will allow you to use phones like the iPhone 3G on Telus. Dumping a great Telus contract now in order to get an iPhone on Rogers may end up being a bad decision when you look back at it six months from now.

[traderNik]

If you don't mind waiting awhile, some new carriers are supposed to go live mid 2009, and although I don't know the timeline on this, Telus is building a UMTS network that will allow you to use phones like the iPhone 3G on Telus. Dumping a great Telus contract now in order to get an iPhone on Rogers may end up being a bad decision when you look back at it six months from now.
Yeah I hear you. I don't have any faith that this rollout will happen this summer, especially given market conditions. If they say this summer, it's winter at the earliest, in my view.

Having said that, the cons of switching are big for me

1. Back to Rogers which I left for Telus and which I consider almost as bad as Bell Canada

2. Lose my phone number unless I get real lucky

3. Pay $400 to bust my contract

5. Risk remorse when Telus rolls out its UMTS network relatively on time.

[CSR]

Yes, this is a problem because I really need to keep my number if at all possible. It has been suggested to me that it is technically possible to keep your number while transferring your account, but you have to get a 1 in a thousand CSR involved. I have the name and number of a Telus manager who helped me out when I was having problems with the Phillipines customer service personnel.

Boy, that's a tough call centre to crack. They couldn't help me with anything.

[traderNik]

Boy, that's a tough call centre to crack. They couldn't help me with anything.
Yep, I have no problem with a company trying to cut costs but those reps have to be able to understand English. There's a difference between being able to understand the words I'm saying and being able to formulate a response in English.

[armchair]

hi, i have the same problem. I just bought my iPhone today, unlocked. I have a Telus plan back in Canada ( in Hong Kong). I was wondering, i know Telus doesnt have the compatible technology, so I won't be able to use 3G (?). But will I still be able to call people and receive calls/ and use wifi?

[armchair]

I have an unlocked iPhone bought in Hong Kong, and when I get back to Canada I want to use my Telus plan with it. I know 3g Will not work (?), but will wifi work and will I still be able to make or receive calls?

[Paolo]

Correction, the iPhone WILL work with Telus service... BUT and i mean a big (_)_), you can only gain service if you are roaming internationally on another carriers WCDMA (3G) or GSM (2G) network, abroad, with a Telus international SIM Card, but NOT North America, Sorry.

I have seen it with my own eyes it infact work over in england with an unlocked iPhone 3Jigabyte and a Tellis SIM Card. but it does not work in north America.

[Kwirky]

But will I still be able to call people and receive calls/ and use wifi?

You can use the wifi, but you can't use it for calls. It'll be the same as an iPod Touch.

[mlerner]

Correction, the iPhone WILL work with Telus service... BUT and i mean a big (_)_), you can only gain service if you are roaming internationally on another carriers WCDMA (3G) or GSM (2G) network, abroad, with a Telus international SIM Card, but NOT North America, Sorry.

I have seen it with my own eyes it infact work over in england with an unlocked iPhone 3Jigabyte and a Tellis SIM Card. but it does not work in north America.

And then you're going to be ripped off with Telus' roaming charges, you may as well just get a local SIM.

[stevelam]

I have an unlocked iPhone bought in Hong Kong, and when I get back to Canada I want to use my Telus plan with it. I know 3g Will not work (?), but will wifi work and will I still be able to make or receive calls?

wifi will work. but no you obviously cant use the iphone on telus atm.

[armchair]

So... I can't make calls when I get back to Canada on my Telus Card, is there an alternative with my telus plan which I can use? furthermore, I know data can pile up the charges, since I don't have 3G, does wifi mode transfer all the data without any charge?

[stevelam]

it has nothing to do with your plan. telus uses a different type of carrier technology that the iphone doesnt support.