Vodafone Attacks!

[Kyle Matthews]

Vodafone is legally attacking T-Mobile Germany, saying they must stop selling the iPhone if it is only associated with a 24 month contract when sold.

According to T-Mobile, the "legal basis for the injunction is being examined," but as of yet they are not stopping their sales or changing their policies.

Could be good for all of us!

UPDATE: T-Mobile is now offering the iPhone for sale unlocked in their German stores at a price of 999 Euros, or ~1500 USD.

[dej4y]

only good for germans, they are not talking about unlocking the phones simfree but merely that in germany the only way to buy the iphone is to buy the contract aswell. whereas in the UK you can buy the iphone on the pretence you'll buy the contract later.

[Kyle Matthews]

Exactly.

[dale1v]

Serves Apple right, in my opinion. Just when you thought they would get away with their extortion.

[Eurisko]

The Germans said they are trying to set a precedence, so other companies don't follow Apple's lead and start requiring long contracts with the sale of their phones. That kinda daft thinking (Apple's) would shred the market.

[Tommer]

Here in Belgium there already is a law against selling phones (or any other device) that are associated with a certain provider. So I wonder how Apple is going to get around this. Maybe they won't sell the iphone here at all..

[tuomas92]

only good for germans, they are not talking about unlocking the phones simfree but merely that in germany the only way to buy the iphone is to buy the contract aswell. whereas in the UK you can buy the iphone on the pretence you'll buy the contract later.

How different buying iPhone in Germany is from buying iPhone in UK? From Apple's website I understand that it's the same: you go to T-Mobile store, buy an iPhone and then pay for the contract later when setting up the phone in iTunes. Or is it? Can't you just get the phone and then unlock it so it can be used with any carrier (yes, I know you can't unlock iPhones with new bootloaders just yet)? Sorry, a lot of questions but I'm a little confused.

[noob2profi]

in germany you have to sign the contract in the store!

[tuomas92]

in germany you have to sign the contract in the store!

Many thanks for this info.

[Colonel_Klinck]

I heard a disscusion on the radio the other day, where they believed in France Apple were going to have to sell an unlocked version of the iphone, as well as the version tied to Orange. I heard this was down to French law. Apple it was thought would sell a much more expensive version to make it less attractive and to gain back what they would loose in profits made from calls.
Not sure if this is the case but the program was either Radio 4 or Radio 5 Live (UK)

[yowiphone]

in germany you have to sign the contract in the store!

How about if you order it online o_0

[Raduletzgo]

How about if you order it online o_0

U can't! If you wanna buy an iPhone in Germany
u need to go to the T-Mobile store, sign the contract
and pay 399 €.

[ktb]

Today the german Telekom / T-Mobile announced to sell the iPhone without SimLock for 999 €.
I think, this is because of the Vodafon action.

I hope the "Free" System will be released in any forum.

[tuomas92]

U can't! If you wanna buy an iPhone in Germany
u need to go to the T-Mobile store, sign the contract
and pay 399 €.

Well, Apple tells me on its own website very clearly that I can get iPhone from T-Mobile store, T-Mobile online store and Apple online store.

Link: http://www.apple.com/de/iphone/buy/

Edit: Hmm, looks like you can't get iPhone itself direct from Apple. Apple just sells accessories for it.

[Raduletzgo]

Allright, even if you can buy it online, you still need to sign the contract.

[tuomas92]

Allright, even if you can buy it online, you still need to sign the contract.

Yeah, I just noticed that too. I'll turn to look at the UK-phone then

[gorgont]

You can buy the iPhone for 999 Euros SIMLOCKFREE in the T-Mobile Store

I will go there and buy one and send it to the dev team if i have the money
Help me and donate 1 or 2 $ via paypal to [email protected]


Maybe the hackern can find a way to free our iphones :-)

[seabass]

they also unlock phones that were sold on the 19th till today. the 19th was the day of the restraining order.
So this would mean that they have a special tool from apple that does unlock it as it was reportet that they dont exchange the phones but unlock them richt in the store!

[muccaeppollo]

To be in compliance with a court ruling, Deutsche Telekom announced today that they will immediately start selling an unlocked iPhone without contract for 999 euro (US $1,477). The iPhone will still be sold, as before, with 2 year contract for 399 euro ($US $590).

Bloomberg reports that customers who purchased the iPhone in Germany after November 19th may have their iPhone unlocked for free. Existing German iPhone customers can reportedly also receive the unlock for a fee.

Prior to this, the only unlocked iPhones in existence have been "hacked" with 3rd party applications. This introduces legitimate unlocked iPhones into the marketplace that will presumably withstand future iPhone software updates.

[caelis666]

Let's hope someone finds a way to make iPhones simlock-free without having to worry for any other firmware updates!

I can't imagine to see german customers go back to t-mobile stores everytime they've updated their firmware