Buying Iphone 4 in Dubai and Facetime

[Gavin Sweet]

Can anyone recommend buying an Iphone 4 in Dubai with Etisalat rather than buying an unblocked one abroad that has facetime. Are there any other restrictions with the Iphones in Dubai? Thanks

[Guy D'ageradar]

If you're after a contract too, the Du deal is much better.

Haven't tried facetime.

[three eighty]

If you live in Dubai then buy the phone here on a contract. A years worth of "free" minutes, sms's and data supplied with phone will work out to roughly the purchase price abroad - before you have made a call so it's a no brainer.
Facetime blocked but get the Tango app and you are sorted.

[Jet II]

Yes facetime is blocked but Skype video works fine, as well as other 'solutions' like Tango etc.

In fact it is getting so easy to get video calling on your iphone I suspect that TRA will give up trying to block facetime fairly soon.

[B. Bonga]

Also scavenge around www.dubizzle.com (http://www.dubizzle.com) for some new unlocked i4ns:O You might get good deals without getting tied up with the contract bit on 050/056 and 055:ok:

[rather be sailing]

.....have been using facetime from ipod touch to ipod touch and imac to and from ipod touch all the last month through du....not blocked at all........works beautifully......have used it to make and receive calls to/from Oz/Uk/JFK and Bangkok......:ok:

[Mike.Park]

I suspect that TRA will give up trying to block facetime fairly soon.

Actually it was Apple who took it upon themselves to voluntarily disable FaceTime on all iPhone 4 devices sold in the UAE.

The new Skype release for the iPhone works a treat. Quality of video calling isn't as crisp as FaceTime but having said that it does work over Wifi or 3G. FaceTime only works over WiFi at the moment (unless you've jailbroken your phone).

[GoreTex]

bought an iphone from DU and it had no facetime on it, bought one in oz and facetime is on it and works.

DU not buy DU

[helen-damnation]

GoreTex

How much was it in Oz?

In the UK, 505 pounds (16Gb) plus another 15 to have it legally unlocked via the O2 website. That takes up to 14 days!

HD

[Lamyna Flo]

In the UK, 505 pounds (16Gb) plus another 15 to have it legally unlocked via the O2 website. That takes up to 14 days!

But if you buy it straight from the Apple website it's factory-unlocked rather than jailbroken and can be used with any provider; just ordered one myself - GB£510.00 all in including delivery (to a UK address for onward transport to NBO). Only downside is that the iPhone 4, like the iPad, requires a Micro-SIM but I'm given to understand that you can create this yourself with either a SIM-cutter or a pair of scissors and a steady hand. Dunno if this would work for you. I guess that the UK shops might offer the same deal although I don't know for sure?

Edited to add: Just found this info on buying SIM-free from a UK retail store Apple Retail Store - iPhone at the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com/uk/retail/iphone/)

HTH

[CAT3A]

Micro SIM

Pair of scissors works fine-just did my SIM card last week

[Lamyna Flo]

Cool - useful to know, thanks.

[Gavin Sweet]

If you buy in the UK and are resident in Dubai, can you claim the tax back at the airport?

[Jet II]

If you buy in the UK and are resident in Dubai, can you claim the tax back at the airport?

Yes, in theory.

The tax refund system only applies to goods bought in stores, not online and not all retailers operate the system. I couldn't find an Apple shop that would issue the refund forms so ended up buying my mac from John Lewis.

There is also an admin 'fee' - which makes the whole exercise only really worthwhile on deals over £1000

[formerlywazza]

I bought an iPhone4 in an Apple store in Uk, unlocked. Asked for a VAT refund receipt (done through a 3rd party in E Europe somewhere who take about 2% of total price - "Global Network" or something similar).

Then went to VAT reclaims airside at LHR (CAN be done as Crew or pax), had the receipt stamped, then got a cash refund (again, minus a charge) from another desk (Travellex?). Took a while but got 50 quid back from 500.

Hope that helps.

[Gavin Sweet]

Thanks for all the info chaps.

[TwinAisle]

You had bad luck, JetII. My MacBook, two iPhones and my iPad all came from the Apple shop in Cardiff, and the forms were all done on the spot. Dropped into the boxes at BHX on my way back here, money back on my credit card in about three weeks. Dead easy.

TA