What does turning off 3G do on iPhone 3G?
You can turn 3G on or off using Settings > General > Network > Enable 3G. Turning off 3G restricts the device to a 2G network. With 3G turned off, you will not be able to use voice and data at the same time, except when using data over a Wi-Fi connection. Note that you may get additional talk time by turning off 3G. See the iPhone 3G specifications for more information. In countries that do not offer a 2G cellular networks, turning off 3G prevents you from using the iPhone to make calls or use cellular data networks.