iPhone and GSM?

I just bought an unlocked iPhone and it says its garanteed to work with any GSM carrier... not sure as what GSM refers to exactly.. I always took GSM as just the SIM cards that most phones use. Am I correct? I'm current using a Sony Ericson on a fido plan, with that SIM card.

In the most brain dead explanation possible, GSM uses SIM cards and only Rogers/Fido provides the service.

As long as the iPhone is unlocked, your SIM will work.

Be aware to avoid upgrading the firmware on that iPhone as it will most likely re-lock the phone if not brick it.

GSM is one of the 3 different digital cell phone systems in use globally. Originally developed in Europe, but now supported almost everywhere, it's the only one that uses SIM cards that let you switch carriers and phone numbers by switching cards. In Canada the GSM network is owned by Rogers, who also sells phones and service under the Fido brand name (Rogers bought out Fido, the original GSM carrier in Canada, a few years ago). A few other resellers in Canada (like 7-11 Speak Out) also offer GSM phones using the Rogers network.

GSM is compatible everywhere in the world, BUT it uses one or more of 4 different frequency bands depending on what part of the world you are in. Fortunately the iPhone supports all 4 frequency bands, so you can use an unlocked iPhone with any SIM card from any GSM supplier anywhere in the world.

In Canada your unlocked iPhone will have to be on the Rogers network, because it's the only GSM network here. But it can use a Rogers SIM, a Fido SIM, a 7-11 Speak Out SIM, or any other SIM card supported in Canada.

Great thanks guys, so the simple answer is: Yes, I can use my Fido SIM card with my iPhone?

Originally Posted by VorteC

Great thanks guys, so the simple answer is: Yes, I can use my Fido SIM card with my iPhone?

As long as its unlocked.

Yep it's unlocked by software.

Anyone know how many ppl in toronto has an iphone? I kinda like having stuff no one has.. I have 2 ipod Touches too haha now im broke huzzzzah!

I'd say about 500~800, at least 150 in Markham(PMall) haha.

3 weeks ago I'd say only 100~ if not less, but right now, it's almost 10 times the amount due to importing, the price, rising Canadian dollar and the availability of the unlock.

I was outside a TD bank doing a sale on a screen protector and waiting for the buyer, I saw 3 iPhones being sold in meetups within 10 minutes...

Originally Posted by Kasakato

As long as its unlocked.

How do you get just a sim card? Do you go to Rogers and say I want an account to be used with my own phone and they give you a SIM card?

Originally Posted by VorteC

Yep it's unlocked by software.

Anyone know how many ppl in toronto has an iphone? I kinda like having stuff no one has.. I have 2 ipod Touches too haha now im broke huzzzzah!

It's apple, everyone and their mom will have one in a matter of a couple months.

Originally Posted by scouzi

How do you get just a sim card? Do you go to Rogers and say I want an account to be used with my own phone and they give you a SIM card?

If you want pay-as-you-go, just buy a sim card for $25 and you have a choice of $10, $20, $30, $40 and $100 worth of pay-as-you-go credits.
$10-$40 expires within 30 days, $100 expires in 365 days.
Of course in order to use the Rogers or Fido service, you'll need a GSM phone.
If you don't have a GSM phone, you can buy one in lots of places. But if you're looking in getting into a contract for 1-3 years, the benefit is a discount in the cell phone cost.
If you talk alot on the phone, then you might consider getting on a monthly plan, contract or not.

Originally Posted by scouzi

How do you get just a sim card? Do you go to Rogers and say I want an account to be used with my own phone and they give you a SIM card?

If you plan to use the phone a lot, get a monthly contract. It's not cheap, but it may be more cost-effective if you're going to be using a lot of hours of talk time and using data services.

If you just want to experiment for the moment, get a SIM card and open a pay-as-you-go account. Rogers will charge you $25+tax for SIM with $0 time if you walk into a store and buy one, but you can probably get a Rogers SIM pre-loaded with $50 time from eBay for less than $20 (dealers get them at a big discount and dump the ones they don't need on eBay).

Also, does anyone know about the canadian customs policy on electronics entering canada? Last time, I ordered an archos for $400something valued/insured and I didn't get taxed one penny. I dun wanna get taxed like $70 for customs =/

Depends which delivery company you used.

Originally Posted by coriolis

Depends which delivery company you used.

USPS Express Mail.. only because I've had good experience with this in the past (no taxes )

also, i'd like to add that, this would be an USED electronic item.