[Alkali]

I have decided to purchase this device, have my brother activate it for me from the United States using 'ITUNE" with his credit card and social security and whatever is needed.I know the bill is going to be BLUE MURDER but God how i need this device!
1)Can i syncronizes my contacts,calender with the Iphone using my computer back here in Africa?
2) Can the "I-Tune" program allow me to continue buying and downloading music,movies etc. Generally recognise tne Iphone since it has already been activated back in the States ( bearing in mind that my country is not among the listed countries that I-tune recognises)
3) In case i cannot use I-tune then kindly supply me with any web address where i can buy and download all those mentioned above to The Iphone using my laptop.
4) I read somewhere that one has to be an old customer for AT&T to allow him activate his Iphone for romming, How true is this?

[icruise]

What's the story with that poll?

I really wouldn't recommend trying to use the iPhone in Africa, especially if you want to use the phone features. You could try using one of the utiilities available to activate the phone without AT&T, and then just use it as a wifi-enabled iPod/PDA. That way, you wouldn't need to pay any monthly fees (but of course you couldn't use it as a phone, or use the internet features away from a wifi hotspot).

But just for your information:

1) If you can activate the phone, there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to sync in Africa.

2) The iTunes Store requires that you have a billing address in the region that you are purchasing from, so you basically have to have a US credit card or buy some prepaid cards and put down your friend's address for your iTunes account.

3) You may not realize this, but you can just use iTunes to convert regular CDs to use on the iPhone. You don't have to buy from iTunes at all.

4) It may be true that you have to have been an AT&T customer for a while before they will enable international roaming. But in any case, I think it's a bad idea to do that.

[peeb]

I agree - I don't recommend this. Where in Africa are you?

[amazing]

The costs of using the iPhone and ATT wireless in Africa would be absolutely astronomical. Here's what Walt Mossberg had to say:

Mossberg's Mailbox | Walt Mossberg | AllThingsD
"To recap the voice-calling situation, AT&T charges very high fees, which can be mitigated a bit by adding a special $5.99 monthly add-on feature, called AT&T World Traveler, to their plans. This voice feature allows you to roam in 190 countries and gives you discounts on calls from 80 countries. For instance, in France, Italy, Germany, and Britain, you pay a still-high 99 cents a minute, compared with an even worse $1.29 without the plan. In Hong Kong or Israel, you pay a whopping $1.99 a minute, instead of an even more outrageous $2.29 or $2.49, respectively, a minute."

He goes on to talk about data costs.

Don't buy the iPhone for use in Africa yet--wait until it's unlocked so that you can use a local SIM. (If and when it ever gets unlocked?)

Have you use something like a Macbook with Skype in/out? Where you can buy a local US number that will ring on your laptop wherever you are connected to a network? I use Skype to talk to Sweden, and it works really well with my bluetooth headset because I can roam around within 20 feet while talking. Also, using iChat on my 12" PB with my iSight webcam to Sweden is awesome (the iSight is built into the Macbook, making it even easier.)

[Alkali]

In case i decided not to buy for all the above reasons, then because of my love for the Iphone,can i use buy it for it's Ipod functions?OR is it that it is not going to open completely because of it not being activated. I need this answer quickly.I am just about to send for it.A friend told me it will not open for the other functions without activation.

[icruise]

There are programs that will allow you to activate the phone without signing up for AT&T service. Try google.

[Alkali]

Icruise, you are a life saver!Thank you.