Wasn't there just one 4S? I thought if you bought the 4S unlocked you could use it on Verizon or AT&T in the U.S. Of course, the 4S only supported CDMA/EVDO and GSM/HSPA+, but I could've sworn there was just a single 4S and it worked across all the CDMA/GSM bands worldwide.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple to Begin Selling Unlocked iPhone 5 Models in U.S. as Soon as Later Today
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Wasn't there just one 4S? I thought if you bought the 4S unlocked you could use it on Verizon or AT&T in the U.S. Of course, the 4S only supported CDMA/EVDO and GSM/HSPA+, but I could've sworn there was just a single 4S and it worked across all the CDMA/GSM bands worldwide.
Even off contract Android phones too. I looked into an off contract note II, and it's price was $649. Around the same price as a Note 10.1 for example.
I understand how contracts, and subsidies work, but even off contract Android phones are priced higher than Android tablets. Save for the Nexus.4.You don't know?
Apple's iPhone twice as profitable per unit as iPad
iPhones make49-58% profit.
iPads make
While you might be paying $199 upfront for a contract iPhone, the carrier is paying the rest ($650 $199 = $451) to Apple. In other words, you're indirectly paying Apple the remaining ~$451 over the course of the duration of your contract.
With an unlocked iPhone, Apple is looking to make the same amount of profit, thus charging the entire $650.
It's not exactly rocket science.
Contracts, at end of the day, especially in the USA, are absurdly expensive. Why the hell would I want to blow $100+ per month on a cell phone connection? Americans don't know any better. Mobile networks are MUCH cheaper outside of the USA.
No, just AT&T. Verizon wouldn't take unlocked GSM phones even if it had a CDMA chip. You are correct that it would work, but that's up to the carrier to decide. Verizon decided no.
Things are different with LTE. Verizon will let you use any unlocked LTE phone as long as it supports the right bands. LTE is SIM based just like GSM technologies.
I don't know which model Apple is selling as unlocked. But theoretically if they had an iPhone 5 that supported every band, then you can buy an unlocked one from anywhere and use it.
But since Verizon is selling them all unlocked, it's not a big deal either way. The Verizon model supports international LTE bands so IMO that's the best one to own.
Amurikanz, you will finally experience what we've had in the UK since the beginning 
I'm happy for you!
I'm happy for you!Well its better then a locked phone under contract. This method is mainly for people that want to travel internationally with a contracted AT&t phone. It does not get you a contract free phone as you are aware. In the US our phones are locked, under contract and even after the contract is completed.
There is no difference. She has the same version that Apple is getting ready to sell in the Apple Store right now.
You don't know?
Apple's iPhone twice as profitable per unit as iPad
iPhones make
iPads make
While you might be paying $199 upfront for a contract iPhone, the carrier is paying the rest ($650 $199 = $451) to Apple. In other words, you're indirectly paying Apple the remaining ~$451 over the course of the duration of your contract.
With an unlocked iPhone, Apple is looking to make the same amount of profit, thus charging the entire $650.
It's not exactly rocket science.
Contracts, at end of the day, especially in the USA, are absurdly expensive. Why the hell would I want to blow $100+ per month on a cell phone connection? Americans don't know any better. Mobile networks are MUCH cheaper outside of the USA.
seems like you haven't been to the Czech Republic yet.
A mobile plan here is more expensive than an equivalent plan in the US, and a subsidised iPhone cost nearly as much as an unlocked iPhone in the US. And on the top of all that, the average salary in the CZ (approx. $1100 a month) is nowhere close to the American average (roughly $3900 a month). So quit moaning, and be thankful for living where you live.
So the only news is it's available online through Apple? Good. Got it. I thought there was a variance of some kind for a second there... Thanks.
It's been well documented that many Apple stores would not simply sell you an unlocked off contract iPhone outright.
Difference between Apple Unlocked and Verizon Unlocked
Hello. Thanks for the comments. As far as hardware, I know the unlocked Verizon phone does not support voice and data at the same time. Is this a hardware limitation on that particular unlocked phone or a Verizon service issue? And I assume the unlocked phone that is factory direct DOES support voice and data at the same time. Thanks.
Hello. Thanks for the comments. As far as hardware, I know the unlocked Verizon phone does not support voice and data at the same time. Is this a hardware limitation on that particular unlocked phone or a Verizon service issue? And I assume the unlocked phone that is factory direct DOES support voice and data at the same time. Thanks.
And that's what I was telling my wife right after it came out. Then she comes home with one and I'm like, well, wtf do I know?
How would you know their actual cost of goods, administrative fees and their entire cost structure?
Please list everything you know and then we'll examine your totally unfounded statement.
While you are at figuring out that you don't know any specifics, please specify
what "ripping off" entails.
BTW: Whenever any manufacturer offers a product (whatever that is) and you cannot afford it or do not want to pay what they want to sell it for think before you post about "ripping off"
Straight talk uses the AT&T network.
I got the AT&T sim and I'm using it with my old unlocked AT&T iPhone 4. I think the T-Mobile StraightTalk sim would have been better because a "foreign" SIM might make the APN settings show in the phone's network prefs by default. I'm not sure about that, but the APN info definitely isn't visible with the AT&T StraightTalk SIM.
This limitation is carrier based in a sense that it depends on the technology used by the carrier. The official unlocked iPhone will still not be able to do simultaneous voice and data on Verizon since it would require a third antenna.
From macrumors a while ago: