Apple Now Selling Unlocked GSM iPhones in the U.S.

[MacRumors]

Apple has begun selling unlocked GSM iPhone 5 models in the United States, some two months after it originally went on sale. This is similar to the delay that preceded sales of the unlocked iPhone 4S last year.

The launch follows the drop of the iPhone 5's estimated shipping times to one week just a few days ago. The unlocked GSM models are available for $649/$749/$849 for the 16/32/64 GB models and also have an estimated ship time of one week. In the U.S., the unlocked models will work on both AT&T and T-Mobile.

The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a wireless contract commitment. You can activate and use iPhone on the supported GSM wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T in the United States. The unlocked iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 will not work with CDMA-based carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.

If you don't want a multiyear service contract, or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the unlocked iPhone is the best choice. It does not come with a micro-SIM card for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, or a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5, so you'll need to get one from any supported GSM carrier worldwide. To start using it, simply insert the card into the slot on your iPhone and turn it on by pressing and holding the On/Off button for a few seconds. Then follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone.

Article Link: Apple Now Selling Unlocked GSM iPhones in the U.S.

[scotty321]

So what sort of prices does AT&T charge the customer if you bring them an already-unlocked iPhone 5?

[sshhoott]

Cheaper than expected.

[nfl46]

Originally Posted by sshhoott

Cheaper than expected.

Haven't they always been these prices?

[superhrixenz]

About time.

[EbookReader]

When will Google start selling unlocked GSM Nexus phones at these prices?

[waloshin]

Originally Posted by EbookReader

When will Google start selling unlocked GSM Nexus phones at these prices?

You better be kidding cause I hope never!

[adder7712]

Originally Posted by EbookReader

When will Google start selling unlocked GSM Nexus phones at these prices?

I thought all Nexus GSM phones are purchased, unlocked directly from Google.

[Menge]

Originally Posted by sshhoott

Cheaper than expected.

Same price as it's always been. I don't know why it would be more expensive.

[pgiguere1]

Originally Posted by Menge

Same price as it's always been. I don't know why it would be more expensive.

The price was raised compared to previous iPhones in all non-US Apple stores that sold it unlocked on launch day.

[MattInOz]

Originally Posted by sshhoott

Cheaper than expected.

I know they seem to be predicting a pretty solid re-bound of the US Dollar.

[Xavier]

Originally Posted by sshhoott

Cheaper than expected.

I sense the sarcasm.

The price you pay for an upper class unlocked phone .

[EbookReader]

Originally Posted by Xavier

I sense the sarcasm.

The price you pay for an upper class unlocked phone .

Nexus 4 at $299 and $349 GSM unlocked seem to be popular. Google can't keep up with demand. But they might not have many in stock in the first place.

[OriginalMacRat]

Originally Posted by EbookReader

Nexus 4 at $299 and $349 GSM unlocked seem to be popular. Google can't keep up with demand. But they might not have many in stock in the first place.

Technically, the quality android phone is currently the Samsung Galaxy SIII which sells for $699 unlocked.

[notjustjay]

Originally Posted by EbookReader

Nexus 4 at $299 and $349 GSM unlocked seem to be popular. Google can't keep up with demand. But they might not have many in stock in the first place.

Which makes me wonder if these prices are anywhere near profitable, or if they're selling them at cost or even at a loss.

[KPOM]

Originally Posted by EbookReader

Nexus 4 at $299 and $349 GSM unlocked seem to be popular. Google can't keep up with demand. But they might not have many in stock in the first place.

And it's also pretty clear that Google is selling them basically at cost (or maybe even taking a loss by subsidizing LG to an extent). Google makes its money from search revenue.

----------

Originally Posted by JazzyGB1

Hi,
Does anyone know if these unlocked iPhones are the same as the unlocked iPhones in the UK?
By that I mean will they work with any UK network SIM?
I ask because I'm in the USA in January and at the current exchange rate the 64GB model works out £100 less if purchased in the USA (and yes I have factored in the 8% tax).
Thanks in advance

GB

The unlocked phones in the US are the AT&T model, so they won't work with EE's LTE network in the UK. The Verizon version might, though, so that could be an option if you can get the store to sell it to you "device only." However, the US unlocked version will work on HSPA+ networks in the UK.

[Gemütlichkeit]

Hope to be purchasing one soon and cutting my straight talk SIM card.

[Shade12]

Originally Posted by Gemütlichkeit

Hope to be purchasing one soon and cutting my straight talk SIM card.

is straight talk better than att ? or t mobile is internet fast?

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by scotty321

So what sort of prices does AT&T charge the customer if you bring them an already-unlocked iPhone 5?

Same as if you didn't. You just don't get an ETF when you leave.

Frankly I still say the FCC, DOJ etc need to change that. Subsidy repayment should be its own line item

[Tofy79]

anybody know which GSM model A1428 or A1429?

[kstotlani]

Originally Posted by Tofy79

anybody know which GSM model A1428 or A1429?

I would like to know this too. My guess is that it will be A1428 because the only GSM provider in the US that it works on is AT&T and AT&T is on band 17 which is 700MHz. I wish they gave both options as A1428 will not work internationally at LTE speeds.

[Deanobear]

I can't understand the situation in the US. I live in Australia, and I bought my iPhone 5 outright from Apple, as it has always been - with iPhone 3, 4, etc., you can order from the online site, it's unlocked and you put in the sim of your mobile provider of choice. What hold do US carriers have over Apple? Perhaps someone can enlighten me ...

I forgot to mention we have a provider here called Amaysim - they're big in Europe too ... $39.90 (aussie dollars) for unlimited calls to land-lines, mobiles, text and 4gb of data per month, and they use one of the largest telcos here, wide coverage all over the country, why do US telcos charge so much?

[wordoflife]

Originally Posted by Deanobear

I can't understand the situation in the US. I live in Australia, and I bought my iPhone 5 outright from Apple, as it has always been - with iPhone 3, 4, etc., you can order from the online site, it's unlocked and you put in the sim of your mobile provider of choice. What hold do US carriers have over Apple? Perhaps someone can enlighten me ...

in the US you can order from Apple for $199/$299/$399 *but* you're obliged to a two year contract and the device is mostly locked to one of the three official carriers. Some carriers, like AT&T, do not unlock your device until you've completed your contract, so if you're one to travel overseas a lot... then this is the problem.

Additionally, if you wish to use the iPhone on another carrier, not one of the three official (and most expensive ones) carriers, you wouldn't want to sign a contract for 2 years. You were only able to order an iPhone from apple.com provided you were a customer of one of those three carriers.

[ConCat]

Originally Posted by Deanobear

I can't understand the situation in the US. I live in Australia, and I bought my iPhone 5 outright from Apple, as it has always been - with iPhone 3, 4, etc., you can order from the online site, it's unlocked and you put in the sim of your mobile provider of choice. What hold do US carriers have over Apple? Perhaps someone can enlighten me ...

I forgot to mention we have a provider here called Amaysim - they're big in Europe too ... $39.90 (aussie dollars) for unlimited calls to land-lines, mobiles, text and 4gb of data per month, and they use one of the largest telcos here, wide coverage all over the country, why do US telcos charge so much?

It's some sort of regulatory thing as I understand it. It's quite difficult to start a cellular service in the states, as T-Mobile has discovered. There's a reason they've been forced to use AWS GSM bands, and it isn't choice... But, alas, people keep voting for these regulatory types, so these issues tend to get worse. I'm beyond caring much about what happens to this country anymore though. I'm planning on moving to Canada in a few years.

[ajain2004]

Originally Posted by Deanobear

I can't understand the situation in the US. I live in Australia, and I bought my iPhone 5 outright from Apple, as it has always been - with iPhone 3, 4, etc., you can order from the online site, it's unlocked and you put in the sim of your mobile provider of choice. What hold do US carriers have over Apple? Perhaps someone can enlighten me ...

I forgot to mention we have a provider here called Amaysim - they're big in Europe too ... $39.90 (aussie dollars) for unlimited calls to land-lines, mobiles, text and 4gb of data per month, and they use one of the largest telcos here, wide coverage all over the country, why do US telcos charge so much?

------------------------------------
Coz US carrier are greedy and want to RIP customer as much as they can by luring them with subsidize price of $200 starting for iPhone.
US customers are born to live on month to month expense and feels that $200 for iphone is very good price even though they have to shelve $100/Mo on their mobile bill.