Make sure to visit SaudiMac for more iPhone 3GS news.
تابعونا في موقع سعودي ماك لأخبار الآيفون.
Apple announced and released the iPhone 3GS last June. Saudi Arabia and UAE won’t get the iPhone 3GS until August 2009.
My theory (conspiracy theory) is because Mark Davis, Program Director for iPhone at etisalat was not quiet about the next iPhone. He said (in February 2009) “And the next version of the device, which is due out in June, will be launched in the UAE at the same time.” The next version of the device was released in June but it was not launched in the UAE at the same time, probably because you couldn’t make a real deal with Apple!
Another thing that annoys me is this, the iPhone 3G sold by Mobily is officially unlocked by Apple yet Mobily employees claim that it is locked until now! Here’s a message from a friend “the next iPhone 3GS would be locked As per mobily marketing team”. Locked?? against CITC‘s regulations regarding locked devices? Mobily need to get a clue on what they are doing!
We are closely approaching the iPhone 3GS release month (Mobily hasn’t announced a date) and Mobily hasn’t mde any announcements or even decide to reduce the prices of the current iPhone 3G!
One more thing, a Mobily employee did show me his iPhone 3GS that the company gave some of it’s employees for testing purposes. But there is nothing to test really, the iPhone 3GS is fully functional under Mobily, tethering and MMS work fine. I think he was just showing off. He didn’t know anything about the exact release date or price.
Related posts:
However the price is still high
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Khaled A. Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 10:55 am
I agree, Mobily needs to get it’s act together. The 8GB iPhone 3G is now sold from Apple store hong kong for 2100SR unlocked
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Hi all,
On mobily website, there is an add saying that the 3GS will be released soon… So certainly in august insha’Allah…
However, I found the iPhone 3GS 32 GB in extra (Riyadh) without any subscription to Mobily for 4999 SAR !!!!
So expensive… I wish the HTC Hero would be released here too…
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I have heard and read all about iphone, iphone 3g and now the 3GS. But havn’t been able to buy it earlier. Cant wait to get my hands on this one. Its most probably going to come out on the 9th of August.
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when iphone 3GS in Kingdom
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Khaled A. Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 11:37 am
make sure to follow http://www.saudimac.com/ for updates about it
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i want to buy iphone 3GS from mobily
now my question is,
it will work in bahrain (batelco)
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Khaled A. Reply:
August 29th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
the iPhone from mobily is unlocked so you can run it with batelco.
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So, if it’s unlocked from Mobily, then can I buy it from Mobily and use my STC account?
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Khaled A. Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
yes, that’s what unlocked means.
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still no hopes?
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This is lame. I saw iPhone 3GS in an Obeikan bookshop, and it costs like somewhere in the 4000s SR (it’s probably gray market; I don’t know). Mobily, what’s happening?
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Khaled A. Reply:
September 7th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Mobily got lazy, something is wrong between Apple and Etisalat/UAE Mobily/Saudi Arabia and Orange/Jordan
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I want the 3G+S also, and Mobily is my preferred network due to good signal out here in the desert, I wish they would announce soon!!! Any chance of that before end of Ramadan?
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Khaled A. Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I heard it might be here after Eid
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That’d be nice.
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=( still nothing … i really want this iphone =(
i’ve been waiting since feb …
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Khaled A. Reply:
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:10 am
follow us at http://www.saudimac.com we’ll post an update when it happens
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you say unlocking is against CITC regulations!
Please give me a link with the document that state it is please
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Khaled A. Reply:
September 27th, 2009 at 3:04 am
I can’t find the actual statement, but apparently CITC will not allow a carrier locked phone.
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#
what the hell?
what a big difference?
why would u buy a phone with a crazy price?
yes apple is an apple, but compared with other mobile phone with nice specs and very usable phone… iphone doesnt give any justice with a huge price..
i would rather buy blackberry bold9000 with nice camera resolution, fast internet speed nice audio and lots of applications where you can enjoy in just a click and lets not forget with an affordable price of 2400sr only….
i would recommend also the n900 nokia phone it will be out very soon
i think that would costs 3000+sr or something…
let assume iphone has good audio and touch screen with nice internet speed( im not sure thou, havent used any iphones yet)
but that isnt what i really need mosts …. i need morethan anything that iphone has to offer and i saw that in the latest nokia n900 or the blackberry bold 9000 or the samsung omnia2…
i was planning to buy ipodtouch with a justifiable price of 900+sr for 8gb not that bad thou… but i was expecting an iphone w/ a price of not far beyond the price ipodtouch…. but after reading this info here
i changed my mind ….
ill wait for nokia n900 or buy the blackberry 900bold and buy ipod touch 8gb…
that would cost me less than 4000sr…
but if iphone3gs would be below 3000sr or or just same with the blackberry bold 9000..
i would go for iphone….
4000sr for iphone? im not crazy no way!!!!
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Khaled A. Reply:
September 27th, 2009 at 11:23 am
the iPhone 3GS should be sold at the same price as the iPhone 3G, if Mobily actually had it.
So it should be 2400 and 2800SR.
That’s a reasonable price. Stores like itechia/exiom/etc are selling at high price because there are idiots who are willing to pay the money.
Nokia isn’t innocent from that too, their prices in Saudi Arabia are unreasonable compared to the same phones in malaysia or US. And Saudi Arabia doesn’t have taxes!
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Come on Apple, whats going ON?
I was desperately waiting for 9th Aug, the supposed release date, but heard nothing about it. Then someone said it was delayed till 22nd Aug, Nothing … Then went to Mobily and the guy said it would be released in Ramadan (Before Mid Sept approx.) Was hoping that at most it wud be here before Eid.
Now its Oct. and Mobily hasn’t even bothered to put up anything on the website. And still i’m not sure if its coming in the next couple of weeks.
I would have bought it from the grey market far earlier if it was selling for a SANE price .. but why buy something for much more than what it’s worth.
Most probably its got to do with stock issues, but HOW LONG ???
I regret not getting a 3g model a few months back, when i was almost buying it, but then decided to wait for the new version.
Ahhh, what else can we do except waiting ….
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Khaled A. Reply:
September 29th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
The wait will continue for a while unless Mobily and Apple tells us what’s really going on.
I now believe that the problem is: low stock and the Chinese iPhone deal :/
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yo guys… that sux… when mobily is going to release this thing… we r bored w8ing… even if mobily releases it tomorrow i wont buy it becuz they dont respect their costumers !
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Non of the Telcos (STC, Mobily and Zain) respect their customers. For them customers are cash cows ..
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indeed…and we cant do shit since government is not doing anything
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Government? we have government here, I thought there was just the KING !!!!
Anyway about the iPhone – Please Note: There is currently a global shortage of iPhone models, and we are out of stock of some models.
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
yes, many countries (India and others in the august list) did not get the iPhone 3GS until now.
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What is the best way to go now ?
Should i go for the 3g model, or wait more for the 3GS release. We should hear some news soon .. right ??
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no, go for the 3g if u ask me, becuz u wont wake up tomorrow and see all commercials ” NEXT WEEK IPHONE 3GS FROM MOBILY” i mean if they gave us news right at this moment it will be like telling us it will get released next month… cry :S
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Thats right Kareem, I totally agree with you. If they haven’t announced anything, it could take a couple of months more to actually get the phone. I think the 3g now is the best bet. And frankly, there isn’t a huge difference in the two, except for a faster processor/ram, compass and cam resolution.
But I can do without it for now. Thanks …
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Thanks Khaled for the post, but man i am tired from waiting my father in China and i am thinking to tell him to buy me one from Apple store, do you think it is good idea?
And please Khaled when have any new news please post here so we can know.
Regards
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Careful, most of the “iPhones” in China are fake iPhones! I suggest buying from Hong Kong (Apple directly: http://store.apple.com/hk ) or Australia ( also Apple http://store.apple.com/au )
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Recently asked for a 3G iphone and was told by the folks at Mobily they had no stocks left …
Now (Apple/Mobily) cleverly sit and watch while their marketing people plan the launch of the new? 3Gs iphone on to the unsuspecting public with slightly higher prices than the last time ….
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Apple’s mistake is using Mobily, but they are the lesser evil…
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i took my final decision; ill tell my bro to buy 3gs from canada, can anyone help on this becuz he says that even unofficially unlocked iphones can connect to the internet and if i get an officially unlocked one ill jailbreak it anyways; so no difference between both, and price is like 400$ less for the unofficially unlocked one.. its worth it but if this one wont go into internet or it will get locked some how by apple i dont mind paying more
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 10:52 am
I advice against doing that:
1. Mobily’s iPhone 3G stock is almost empty
2. Canadian is locked. Check this list
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937
find a country that sells an iPhone 3GS that’s not locked to a carrier
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Aw, man. If Mobily is low on iPhones, it means that it’s too late for me to buy one, eh?
GAH!
Any idea when they’ll finally get back on track? Because I really, really, want one right now.
Oh yeah. You suggested to buy from the Australian Apple store, right? But.it says that it only ships within Australia. What am I to do now?
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 12:39 am
UAE Etisalat should sell it by the end of October:
http://www.saudimac.com/2009/10/12/uaes-etisalat-to-launch-iphone-3gs-end-of-october/
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@ xxsomebodyxx, Yes, it is well known that Apple Australia will not ship overseas, but the information provided because – a) perhaps someone reading here may travel there soon, b) maybe they have a friend there that can forward ship to KSA, c) show that the iPhone is available unlocked to any carrier, d) a good price comparison as everyone think KSA price too high.
Good luck and be patient as you have been, worth waiting for
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Also, try http://www.ebay.com.au/ many ship overseas, FedEx or something, not bad if you find a bargain!
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@John: Thanks.
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Hi again.
I have a question.
If I buy iPhone from Mobily, do they need any documents? Like..I don’t know..IDs..and things like that?
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 18th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
you will need it to have a contract with mobily
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any official date or news from mobily ? what about the prices XD ?
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 19th, 2009 at 1:20 am
you know how Mobily is open with their information ….
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XD true
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do you think it is worth it to buy the iphone 3gs here in Saudi Arabia? i mean if i buy it will i be able to use it (apps, internet, etc) at its best?
if so, may i have suggestions…
tnx…
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 9:58 am
all the iPhone 3GS sold worldwide are semi-identical.
Remember that not all of them are unlocked.
As for using apps then you need an iTunes account, here’s how you can make it:
http://www.saudimac.com/2009/10/05/how-to-create-itunes-store-accounts-buy-gift-cards/
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What happens when the contract ends?
Like after six months..what’s gonna happen?
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
nothing
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Whaaaaaaaaat..haha.
Ok.
When the contract ends they wont need those documents or whatever..right???
ehh..dense!
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 12:54 am
Mobily didn’t think through the whole thing …
wait and see
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Is iphone 3gs support Arabic language?
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Salam Khaled,
I have got an idea and I don’t know how well it will work. I think if that the iPhone is OFFICIALLY UNLOCKED, then why not get the 8GB model for free or the 16 GB model for 350 S.R.? I Don’t know but I think someone would have figured this out by now but since no one has, there must be a problem, right? So someone please tell me where I am wrong.
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Khaled A. Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:36 am
actually Mobily did that with the iPhone 3G, you can get it for free but you need a higher bundle:
http://www.saudimac.com/2009/02/25/new-iphone-3g-bundles-in-saudi-arabia/
However Mobily never tells you that you need to be a VIP to get it
http://www.saudimac.com/2009/03/02/iphone-3g-with-mobily-only-for-vip/
and they have a hard time defining a VIP customer…
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Oh! So that is the case! What I actually meant to say was, get the iPhone and NOT pay for it! They can’t do anything, right? I have found a friend who can also ship me an iPhone from Canada. You say it is locked, but that can be fixed? And the subscription costs otherwise does not have to be paid! It will cost about 1500-1600 to get the 16 GB here (and that includes the shipping costs and everything else. If I get it right, I might sell another one to cover the cost of my iPhone for around 2500.
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I have Blackberry Bold 9000 locked from Mobily and I don’t want to carry two phones since my business mobile is from STC, do you have any solution for that?
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 13th, 2010 at 12:16 am
what do you want to do exactly?
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hi khaled
i wanna to ask u about iphone 3gs
if i buy one from Mobily it will work in ZAIN jordan
plz i need answer
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 15th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Yes, because it is not locked:
http://saudim.ac/h
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@ Mohammed Adel,
YES, YES, YES
Check with APPLE support, they have an awesome website with LOTS of information
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 15th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Thank you John
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I am from Pakistan. My father works in Tabouk, KSA. I need some suggestions about buying Iphone 3GS. Can anyone please tell me the least possible price of Iphone 3GS – 16GB in KSA? I don’t need the network services as I am living in Pakistan.
Is Nokia n900 availabe in KSA? If yes, then what is the lowest price of it?
Thanks
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Price list:
http://www.saudimac.com/2009/11/05/mobily-iphone-3gs-release-date-and-price/
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Hi Khaled A.
You keep on insisting that iphone from KSA are unlocked and that u can use them using other networks from other countries… That’s true with my iphone i brought in mobily (now im using it with my country’s network, not mobily sim) But i had a friend who brought iphone3G in mobily and was really locked to mobily. Thought it would only last for 6months but after 6 months, still locked and cannot use al jawal sim.. How are u going to explain it…
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Melvin, I recommend that you check this
http://saudim.ac/h
This is Apple’s official page where it says it’s NOT locked. if the Mobily iPhone you bought is locked then demand a replacement.
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i wanna talk to you regarding this… how can i give u a call?
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Hi khaled
i have an iphone 3gs but can i install windows live messenger ??
if i can how to do that ?
thx
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 22nd, 2010 at 4:06 pm
try BeejiveIM
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Hi Khaled,
If I’m gonna buy iphone 3Gs 32 GB in Mobily can I not use
the the 6 months contract and use my al jawal sim right away?
Can I buy the iphone unit alone without the bundle in mobily?
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 23rd, 2010 at 3:37 pm
yes you can!
the 6 months is already paid for, you can abandon that if you want.
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thanks dude.. if u have any warning or any other useful information regarding the 32GB just go on.. i would be willing to hear from you…
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 23rd, 2010 at 4:50 pm
hope you can actually find it
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Anyone actually seen an iPhone 3GS at Mobily lately? They’ve promised to call when they come in, but they’ve made that promise 6 times in the last four months on personal visits to their main HQ in Riyadh, and have never called once about the iPhone or sent an SMS (they have called to sell me blackberries though…not what I want)…
Last time I saw one actually at the store was late November – and then, the manager told me he had just sold his last one.
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Khaled A. Reply:
January 28th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Are you on twitter? Register and add this person @MobilyCIO.
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Khaled i bought the 3g 32 GB at mobily. I try putting my sawa sim but its not working… is it a sign that it is locked with mobily or should i just click on some setting? Please help!
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Khaled A. Reply:
February 4th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
strange. Did you activate the iPhone first using Mobily SIM card?
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I mean iphone 3Gs 32 GB..
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The personel over there says if i’m going back to the Philippines just bring the iphone to him so he may deactivate the 6month locked and i will then able to use it to other network provider. I’ll be asking you more question sadiq while getting to know my new phone.
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Hi there, im currently using Iphone 3g. Sometimes when i call it, it says the phone is off but its not. Im using STC sim in my iPhone which i bought in mobily. do u know what the problem is? Sometimes i can call my STC sim in Iphone, but sometimes it says its off but its not.
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Khaled A. Reply:
March 17th, 2010 at 12:23 am
maybe damaged sim card?
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no, because i transferred the sim to other phone and its working well. any other suggestions?
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hi i want to know that what documents are required to buy iphone with package postpaid399 8gb,16gb or 32 gb?coz i am coming to saudia for 1 month and planning to buy iphone use it for month and then bring it with me and do not pay the remaining bills!!!!!!!
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Khaled A. Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 2:28 am
then take the prepaid option, you dont need to pay monthly
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but what if i want to buy postpaid.what documents are required????
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Khaled A. Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
ID, so I think passport will be accepted. I am not sure if that’s what they will ask for.
are you on twitter?
http://twitter.com/mobily1100 ask them
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im planning to buy iphone 3gs 32gb here in saudi arabia, can used this one in the philippines???..theres any problem???
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using iphone 3gs 32gb in the philippines is ok or not?..pls reply..tnx
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