[cash7c3]

Since the iPhone 3g was first introduced in France it has been on sale with a contract through the carrier Orange. No more are contracts required for the French! France has joined the short list of countries that have the iPhone on sale contract free.

Thanks to the ruling earlier this month by the French competition authority making the exclusive sales of iPhones by Orange illegal the door was opened for the sale of contract-free iPhones in France. The French store FNAC has jumped to this opportunity and is now selling iPhones with out a contract. Like the few other countries that sell contract free iPhones the prices are quite high starting at $1122 for an 8gb and $1262 for a 16gb.

While we're still waiting for a contract free iPhone over here in the U.S. the expensive AT&T contract doesn't look too horrible when compared to the huge markup for contract-free iPhones in other countries of the world. What would be prime is the iPhone sold with contracts from various carriers so you could pick and choose your carrier and still get the iPhone but will that actually happen?

[imilad]

can't wait untill new years eve to get my 3g UNLOCKED!!! If it was not for them I would be paying up to 1500 even for a 3g unlocked iphone

oh yeah,,, FIRST POST

[King C Wat]

not that i'm even thinking of buying one, but does without a contract also mean factory unlocked?

Those prices are just outrageous

[smiska2]

Yes they're factory unlocked. Italy has the iphone without a contract for 600 euro. still pricey but not far from what paople are paying on craiglist for a hacked iphone. Would rather pay for the italian one and have hassle free updates.

[electroz]

Dude, in belgium a contract free 16Gb iPhone costs $860! Not that expensive if you hold in account that your contract in the US costs way more then other contracts...

[Ad1tya]

$1122 and $1262? ?!?!?!...

Are these Unlocked or just Contract free but locked to provider?..

Comparatively the price in India is so much cheaper at 600$ and 700$ for 8GB/16GB (contract free, but carrier locked)

[JAG2621]

Originally Posted by imilad

can't wait untill new years eve to get my 3g UNLOCKED!!! If it was not for them I would be paying up to 1500 even for a 3g unlocked iphone

oh yeah,,, FIRST POST

What is the BIG DEAL about first posts?
Sounds like a little kid.

[Poseidon79]

8th Post! WOOOO!

In response to above I believe the reason the price tag is so high is becaue they are factory unlocked as well as no contract.

To get technical the person STARTING the thread gets "first post" rights...

[kutrackkid]

Those prices are absolutely sickening. I would never pay anywhere near that for any phone.

[punkstar31]

Originally Posted by King C Wat

not that i'm even thinking of buying one, but does without a contract also mean factory unlocked?

Those prices are just outrageous

At least here in Mexico, Telcel carries the iPhone in both contract and pre-paid.

This means the phone is without a contract, but it isn't unlocked. It's locked to Telcel, and you'd have to jailbreak/*sim to use it with Movistar or another company.

If you take notice that the unlimited data plan is around $100 a month, I think it's a better investment (for the vast majority of people in Mexico) to buy the iPhone contract-free, than to pay the high contract fees.

In the end, it all comes down to the use.. almost every friend who has an iPhone around here doesn't use a lot of data, and they have it on contract.

I bought mine on AT&T, and I don't use data either.. but at least I didn't end up paying $1000 for the 16gb one.

[BenzoHartt]

That price is really ridiculous, but to each his own.

[aziatiklover]

i'm gussing buying the 3g in HK factory unlocked would be cheaper

[manambre]

it's just disgusting
i'm from de border next to france and i can tell you that no one will buy in france
they prefer to go to belgium for buying them at about 600$ jailbroken and everthing than paying that price

now orange the carrier that is linked with iphone in france made a special offer for x-mas
iphone 3g with a 2 year abonnement for 149 €

i think that is a good price but i don't know the price they will have to give for the abonnement

[epqr]

In my country you can get them for a little over $600. Unlocked.

[ajl917]

Originally Posted by epqr

In my country you can get them for a little over $600. Unlocked.

But that is still a lot for a phone, no matter what kind of phone it is...