Article: Unlocked iPhone 4s Wednesday?

[Phillip Swanson]

Macbook Air supplies are low, and rumors are swirling about the imminent product refresh this Wednesday. Turns out unlocked iPhone 4s (iPhones sold without being chained to a carrier or contract) will join the fray.

You can thank Twitter user Chronic for starting this one. Chronic who has a solid track record breaking Apple related news vias his Twitter account tweeted Sunday:

Unlocked iPhones headed to Apple Stores for Wednesday: MC603 (16GB, Black) MC604 (16GB, White) MC605 (32GB, Black) MC606 (32GB, White)

An iPhone hasn't been sold unlocked in U.S. Apple Stores before. They've been sold unsubsidized, but not unlocked. However, unlocked iPhones are rather common in the U.K. and across Europe where they've been available via Apple for some time. The price of entry for an unlocked iPhone in the U.K. for a iPhone 4 16 GB is about $829, and $995 for the 32GB.

Unlocked iPhones make a lot more sense in Europe than they do here. It's common practice over their to ditch data plans (relying on WiFi fo data) and go with local pre-paid sim cards as a means to talk and text. The pay-as-you-go model is much less popular and effective in the U.S. Verizon phones don't even have SIM cards, and even AT&T's GSM network doen't support T-Mobile's 3G frequencies.

Still, giving consumers the choice of whether or not they want to sign their soul over to Verizon or AT&T when purchasing an iPhone is encouraging. Just don't expect there to be much of a benefit if you do in fact choose to purchase an unlocked iPhone 4.

Source: PC World

[spider_romeo]

I want this one...

[unison999]

Waiting on unlock for firmware 02.10.04 since forever.
Not going to buy another phone at $900 price range just so it is unlocked...

[Orby]

About time the US unsubsidized iPhones were sold unlocked--only four years late!

This is a nice feature for those who travel abroad frequently, or who wish to avoid two-year contracts with certain American GSM cell carriers... unfortunately still no 3G on any other carrier in the US aside from AT&T.

[Stray]

Waiting on unlock for firmware 02.10.04 since forever.
Not going to buy another phone at $900 price range just so it is unlocked...

If this is true sell your phone for like 500-600 or something close and then pay the rest if you REALLY want the unlock forever.

[exNavy]

It would certainly take away the most popular reason to jailbreak...

[blkcadi]

I called my buddy at my Apple Store and as of yet they have no word or even rumors that Apple will be selling factory unlocked phones. The stores just may not be in the "know".
Let's hope this happens, I will be one of the first in line.

[GrandMstrBud]

I doubt this will happen

[Epic800]

I guess this is pretty cool.

[Nerd]

I doubt this will happen

Yes it is finally factory unlocked in the US here is the link
iPhone 4 - Unlocked (GSM) - 16GB Black - Apple Store (U.S.)

[one1]

That price is basically not any different than they have been selling them for locked and out of contract. It just means apple has let the whirring commence.The phone is literally the phone they were selling locked, they just opened the serial number up on it.

[ramicio]

All of the articles I've seen today are so negative about the use of this. There are other providers than Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile, they're called local providers. Much better and more flexible with prices.