A Little Perspective on Unlocking & Why It's In YOUR Best Interest To THINK!

[Carlanga]

You're trying to get way too literal and read way too much into it.

you were the one that gave an example about old stuff that made no sense at all as a reply

Your whole OP is taking literally a two year cost of the device not a year or anything less so I'm not taking it 'too literal' you are just not wanting to accept the 'perspective' for why someone like me the unofficial unlocking is the best scenario...

 

[bella92108]

It's easy to say buy an unlocked phone, but Texas is too far away from Canada. Throw in the cost of a round trip ticket to Canada and the premium for an unlocked phone is more than you propose.
If I could buy a factory unlocked phone in the US, I probably would.

eBay. Can't be easier than that.

 

[thelatinist]

Your whole argument is based on the premise that the ability to terminate service is worth $20/month, an assumption that I am not willing to grant. I have had AT&T service since it was Cingular, and have no intention of switching.

 

[bella92108]

Also? Your whole premise is pretty silly. Most people who buy unlocked iPhones do *not* intend to use them on the AT&T network.

What do you base this on? Your personal use?

The FACT is that the reason people UNLOCK a phone is to use it OFF the AT&T network. Be it for occasional travel, or permanent use on another carrier, your comment of people intending to unlock to not use them on AT&T is like saying people buy gasoline to intend NOT to have to walk places. DUHH.

The point is there are MANY AT&T users who want to have an unlocked phone to use foreign sims when they travel. Me being in that group of users, I enjoy being able to have a factory unlocked phone AND being able to stay up to date with the software without risking losing unlock.

So I guess my point is this.... What is your point?

 

[thelatinist]

So I guess my point is this.... What is your point?

I misread your original post, and almost immediately changed my reply when I realized my mistake. I apologize. Still, I am not willing to grant that the benefits you list are worth throwing an additional $20/mo after an already expensive phone (for me that amounts to a 30% premium over my current bill). Especially since I have all the benefits of foreign SIM usage already without paying any extra, and have no interest in leaving AT&T. A two-year commitment is no hassle for me.

 

[bella92108]

I misread your original post, and almost immediately changed my reply when I realized my mistake. I apologize. Still, I am not willing to grant that the benefits you list are worth throwing an additional $20/mo after an already expensive phone. Especially since I have all the benefits of foreign SIM usage already without paying any extra, and have no interest in leaving AT&T. A two-year commitment is no hassle for me.

$20 a month is if you sell for nothing on top or the price of a non-unlocked. On average, factory unlocked adds 25-50% more value, which means $20 a month could be $10, or $5, or even a negative (you make money) amount depending on various factors. The bottom line is you'll like lose very little by going factory unlocked. One thing you are guaranteed to never lose is your ability to use it on a non-AT&T network

 

[thelatinist]

One thing you are guaranteed to never lose is your ability to use it on a non-AT&T network

I am already guaranteed never to lose that ability.

Nor do I think that the premium for unlock on a two year old phone is as great as you think. After just 15 months, the difference in price for locked and unlocked 32GB iPhones on eBay is now down to about $200. I suspect that it will only continue to fall.

 

[bella92108]

I am already guaranteed never to lose that ability.

No you're not.

If your phone fails to hold a charge.
If your software becomes corrupt.
If your screen becomes non-responsive.
If your phone's charging port becomes defective.
If you have ANY issue requiring warranty replacement.

Basically anything that would cause you to have to replace the phone, you're not guaranteed a replacement that's able to be a) Jailbroken, or b) Unlocked. There's no guarantee unless it's factory unlocked.

Not sure why you're so argumentative. If you had the option to purchase a factory unlocked for the same price, you'd jump on the idea, but because AT&T manipulates you to think you got a deal on your phone vs paying more up front to not have to have a contract, and then getting the expense back when you sell the phone (because you'll make it back), you think anyone who disagrees is nuts.

When 4.3 comes out and there's a cool feature you want, but can't upgrade because you'll lose your unlock, we'll see how you feel.

 

[andy9l]

It's easy to say buy an unlocked phone, but Texas is too far away from Canada. Throw in the cost of a round trip ticket to Canada and the premium for an unlocked phone is more than you propose.
If I could buy a factory unlocked phone in the US, I probably would.

You know this thing you're on now? The Internet. Well, it provides us with the ability to order and receive things to our doorstep right from the comfort of that desk chair you're sat in. It even goes to other countries - seriously, check it out.

[/sarcasm]

ATT rates are, seemingly, hilarious. In Boston MA, an old friend of mine is now paying $80/month, which is £50/month for his wife's iPhone 4. Her tariff offers less than mine (but admittedly does allow for tethering) - mine in the UK is £35/month (or $55/month). So what's the ~50% extra per month for?

Not only that, but I paid less for the handset - and got a free, no trouble carrier unlock from my provider. If I was given any other product and told that "either in the US or the UK this product is overpriced and locked down" - I'd put my money on it being the UK.

 

[martiansoldier]

eBay. Can't be easier than that.

eBay, I agree but most factory unlocked on eBay sell for $800.00+ (16 GB IP4) and $900.00+ (32 GB IP4).

Now your "most amazing thing ever" doesn't cost $400.00 more but it costs at least $550.00 more.

Now, when you buy on eBay, you do not get the original receipt and this will not help you when it comes to warranty claims. (Yes, apple products fail and require warranty too).

Let's say I buy an iPhone (with a receipt) from an apple store in the UK or Canada and I am in need of warranty service because my phone is on an infinite recovery mode loop and will not turn on. I do not want to mess with the methods not recommended by Apple to get it to turn on and I am not scheduled to visit the UK or Canada for at least another 2 weeks. What do I do? I'm stuck with no phone or have to switch to another phone.

Why am I stuck? - Because Apple USA is not obligated to provide warranty service for an iPhone that was not originally bought in the US. Check your "Important Product Information Guide", page 28 has a list of Warranty Obligor's for Region or Country of Purchase and that is where you will most likely have to take your phone to get it fixed.

There is more to it than just flying into the UK and buying an unlocked iPhone.

 

[bella92108]

You know this thing you're on now? The Internet. Well, it provides us with the ability to order and receive things to our doorstep right from the comfort of that desk chair you're sat in. It even goes to other countries - seriously, check it out.

[/sarcasm]

ATT rates are, seemingly, hilarious. In Boston MA, an old friend of mine is now paying $80/month, which is £50/month for his wife's iPhone 4. Her tariff offers less than mine (but admittedly does allow for tethering) - mine in the UK is £35/month (or $55/month). So what's the ~50% extra per month for?

I do love your sarcasm

It's the AT&T Tax... they figure they have US Consumers by the u know what, so they can get away with it. While they have the exclusive they have to charge 2x the going rate so they can afford to stay in business after losing the exclusivity. Unfortunately our cellular industry here is as#-backward compared to the UK. :-(

And to the "eBay, I agree but most factory unlocked on eBay sell for $800.00+ (16 GB IP4) and $900.00+ (32 GB IP4)."... yeah, that's the going price... ??? Guess like anything, value is in the eye of the beholder. For me, when I go to Thailand and use the local carrier's sim for internet to upliad a picture of the ping-pong show on facebook it costs me $5 to do it as many times\unlimited data as I want in a week. If I was tied to AT&T one ping pong picture would cost me $5... that's 2 beers I could be enjoying while watching the craziness. That means 20 photos and I'm out $100... puts the cost of an unlocked iPhone into perspective pretty quick.

Tho I guess most AT&T customers do tend to use their iPhone primarily for sitting in the drive through line at Chick Fillet on a Friday night in Des Moines, Iowa watching that ping pong show on youtube, so maybe I'm the abnorm here. ;-)

(Sarcasm back!)

 

[thelatinist]

When 4.3 comes out and there's a cool feature you want, but can't upgrade because you'll lose your unlock, we'll see how you feel.

Dude, you don't get it. I've got a permanently-pwned, forever-unlockable phone. Apple cannot force me to upgrade my baseband, and my unlock is assured. When 4.3 comes out -- even when 5.x comes out, if it can be run on a 3GS -- I will be able to upgrade while keeping my unlock in days...with 4.0 I was able to do so before it was even released.

I don't know where you get the idea that my phone is in-warranty; it is not. But if I have a mechanical problem with my phone, I can get it repaired by any of a number of non-Apple repair shops, or I can fix it myself with one of the many lovely self-repair kits offered by iFixit.com. Anything short of a baseband chip failure could likely be repaired without my losing my ability to unlock.

If AT&T charged a different rate for service to those who bring their own phones, your thread would have a point; but as long as rates remain the same for subsidized and unsubsidized phones there just isn't any financial benefit to purchasing an unlocked phone for those who stay with the service 24 months or more. There just isn't. At best you might break even when you sell the phone; more likely you will lose a couple hundred bucks. And for that you must keep $800 tied up in a phone that might be stolen or lost and which depreciates significantly over the short term, all for the sole benefit of being able to cancel service early...and what good is that to someone who has no intention of changing their service provider?

You tell me not to be argumentative and accuse me of considering anyone who disagrees with me "nuts." May I suggest that you examine your own comments for the same faults? You are so convinced that you are right that you are not willing even to entertain the idea that for those of us who intend to stay on AT&T your brilliant plan simply doesn't make the sense you think it does.

 

[bella92108]

Dude, you don't get it. I've got a permanently-pwned, forever-unlockable phone. Apple cannot force me to upgrade my baseband, and my unlock is assured. When 4.3 comes out -- even when 5.x comes out, if it can be run on a 3GS -- I will be able to upgrade while keeping my unlock in days...with 4.0 I was able to do so before it was even released.

I don't know where you get the idea that my phone is in-warranty; it is not. But if I have a mechanical problem with my phone, I can get it repaired by any of a number of non-Apple repair shops, or I can fix it myself with one of the many lovely self-repair kits offered by iFixit.com. Anything short of a baseband chip failure could likely be repaired without my losing my ability to unlock.

If AT&T charged a different rate for service to those who bring their own phones, your thread would have a point; but as long as rates remain the same for subsidized and unsubsidized phones there just isn't any financial benefit to purchasing an unlocked phone for those who stay with the service 24 months or more. There just isn't. At best you might break even when you sell the phone; more likely you will lose a couple hundred bucks. And for that you must keep $800 tied up in a phone that might be stolen or lost and which depreciates significantly over the short term, all for the sole benefit of being able to cancel service early...and what good is that to someone who has no intention of changing their service provider?

You tell me not to be argumentative and accuse me of considering anyone who disagrees with me "nuts." May I suggest that you examine your own comments for the same faults? You are so convinced that you are right that you are not willing even to entertain the idea that for those of us who intend to stay on AT&T your brilliant plan simply doesn't make the sense you think it does.

I guess since it works for you then everyone should do it then. God forbid anyone want to replace their 3GS with something from 2010. LOL. I know I wake up every morning and wish I could go back to 3GS.

 

[MikePA]

Apple signed the exclusive deal with ATT yet most of these threads only bash ATT. And if the rumor is correct, Verizon's deal with Apple is structured to keep T-Mobile and Sprint from getting the iPhone.

You also have to love the attitude that the vast majority if people on MR were wandering around, completely distracted by those evil US cellular companies until someone enlightens us. Apparently, it is beyond their ability to comprehend there are fully informed people, i.e., a Smart Consumer, who make a different decision than they did.

 

[bella92108]

You also have to love the attitude that the vast majority if people on MR were wandering around, completely distracted by those evil US cellular companies until someone enlightens us. Apparently, it is beyond their ability to comprehend there are fully informed people who make a different decision than they did.

Americans love to play dumb. Many claim to have been unable to comprehend the terms the "predatory lenders" set out for them during the 2000-2005 "mortgage bonanza" which later turned into the 2008 "mortgage crisis" ... it's not that people can't comprehend, it's just many people chose to try to justify a decision based on what's convenient at the time. People sign up for 2 year contracts on iPhone (which is an option, you can have one on month to month EVEN IF YOU GET THE PHONE FROM ATT), and then complain about the prices. Everything was spelled out prior to signing up. If you chose to be oblivious to facts, and don't want to make informed decisions going into something, that's your choice as a consumer, but you then can't whine about the outcome because you chose to ignore facts.

Bottom line this thread is getting out of hand... I was simply trying to put things into perspective, but it's a minority battle. Most people bought AT&T locked phones, and human nature is to defend your own actions even when you realize there are better alternatives... so much like talking about how great a Mac is in a PC Forum, this is turning into a nonsense match.

 

[thelatinist]

I guess since it works for you then everyone should do it then. God forbid anyone want to replace their 3GS with something from 2010. LOL. I know I wake up every morning and wish I could go back to 3GS.

I am not the one who started a thread peppered with allcaps telling people it was in THEIR best interest to THINK exactly the way I do. You're the one offering one-size-fits-all advice on a topic which is fraught with complexities and trying to force it down my throat when I dare to disagree. I offer just one example of how the situation is not as simple as your arrogant thread suggests. So far in response you have offered nothing but specious arguments, straw men and (when it becomes apparent that I know what I am talking about and you are making unfounded assumptions) sarcasm.

You also have to love the attitude that the vast majority if people on MR were wandering around, completely distracted by those evil US cellular companies until someone enlightens us. Apparently, it is beyond their ability to comprehend there are fully informed people, i.e., a Smart Consumer, who make a different decision than they did.

Exactly. Bella does not have some brilliant insight that is beyond the comprehension of us mere mortals. We know about unlocked phones, and we know that subsidies aren't free. We've made our decisions based on what's in our best interest, and I really object to her arrogant assumption that she knows what's best for all of us.

 

[bella92108]

I am not the one who started a thread peppered with allcaps telling people it was in THEIR best interest to THINK exactly the way I do. You're the one offering one-size-fits-all advice on a topic which is fraught with complexities and trying to force it down my throat when I dare to disagree. I offer just one example of how the situation is not as simple as your arrogant thread suggests. So far in response you have offered nothing but specious arguments, straw men and (when it becomes apparent that I know what I am talking about and you are making unfounded assumptions) sarcasm.

Right. Because you're one of the few who say they'll be forever happy with an iPhone 3GS? Most people don't want an iPhone 3GS. For those people who want an iPhone 3GS for the rest of their life, cool solution. Not sure why you attacked my post. If a new macbook pro comes out without firewire are you going to attack people who like it because you have a 2002 powerbook that will "always have firewire" ???

Stop trolling. My only point was to give example of how buying an unlocked phone makes sense, I didn't say NOT buying one DOESN'T make sense. Take your negativity elsewhere please, it's non-productive.

Let the record reflect that thelatinist has pointed out that if you want the 2009 iPhone 3GS, you'll always be able to unlock (assuming the 3GS is supported forever, which is a million to 1), and that you never want a phone with any additional technology (like a flash, like better resolution, faster processor, LTE, more RAM, blah blah blah...).... yeah. And if you want a nice laptop the 2002 Powerbook 12" is great... whenever I see someone with one in a coffee shop I say "look at that guy's sexi laptop, he's so retro... that's HOT" .. NOT

 

[MikePA]

I am not the one who started a thread peppered with allcaps telling people it was in THEIR best interest to THINK exactly the way I do. You're the one offering one-size-fits-all advice on a topic which is fraught with complexities and trying to force it down my throat when I dare to disagree. I offer just one example of how the situation is not as simple as your arrogant thread suggests. So far in response you have offered nothing but specious arguments, straw men and (when it becomes apparent that I know what I am talking about and you are making unfounded assumptions) sarcasm.

Well stated, although you could have used 'arrogant' more often. It was a nonsense match from the first post in this thread.

 

[bella92108]

Exactly. Bella does not have some brilliant insight that is beyond the comprehension of us mere mortals. We know about unlocked phones, and we know that subsidies aren't free. We've made our decisions based on what's in our best interest, and I really object to her arrogant assumption that she knows what's best for all of us.

You may want to bestow some of your all-knowinness onto some of the THOUSANDS of posts in the "Hacks" section about people who are clueless to how software jailbreaking and unlocking works. When people ask if they can unlock their phone to use on Verizon, it doesn't exactly exemplify your point that most are "in the know"... but hey, I give up. I was trying to help, you're just trying to justify your own decisions even though you know my original post holds water, but whatever.

 

[MikePA]

You may want to bestow some of your all-knowinness onto some of the THOUSANDS of posts in the "Hacks" section about people who are clueless to how software jailbreaking and unlocking works. When people ask if they can unlock their phone to use on Verizon, it doesn't exactly exemplify your point that most are "in the know"... but hey, I give up. I was trying to help, you're just trying to justify your own decisions even though you know my original post holds water, but whatever.

Typical response from you. Get your head handed to you and you start name calling.

 

[bella92108]

Typical response from you. Get you head handed to you and you start name calling.

Name calling? I didn't call you any names. You seem to take it personal when someone posts a differing opinion. I stated that I recognize that there ARE alternatives to buying from AT&T, and I was told that my idea was absurd. I then said it's not for all, but SOME can benefit from them. Then out of right field I was told that a 3GS (not even a current model) is the path people should take... which I disagree with, but agreed is a valid solution.

No offense, but my solution IS the best PRODUCT for anyone. However, cost being a factor, as it is for many, there are alternatives. Not everyone needs the ability to travel the world and pop in another carrier's sim, without having to worry about losing their unlock if they want to have a current device with current software. My purpose for posting was for those on the fence about the reality of cost of ownership of a Factory Unlocked Model.

Clearly they sell for a LOT more on eBay, and resale value is the best gauge of demand, so clearly someone with an AT&T iPhone 4, or an unlocked iPhone 3GS has a device that's less desirable to the masses than a Factory Unlocked iPhone 4.

 

[qckslvrsiete]

I've been on Cingular/ATT for almost a decade now and an iPhone owner since the iPhone 3g launch day. I currently have an iP4 on FW 4.1 with the 01.59 BB preserved. I'm not unlocked, but it's just a matter of installing UltraSn0w if I want to be at this point, and I like maintaining my BB purely for resale value.

I won't knock the OPs validity -- it seems like a perfectly legitimate way to go for some people in certain situations. My personal opinion is that it seems to involve a different, but roughly equal amount of hoops to jump through as someone who goes the subsidized JB-unlock route.

First of all, OP doesn't seem to consider that most people (disclaimer: I'll take the liberty of using the terms "most people" and "on average" to make my points as liberally as the OP has in their posts) simply don't have close to $1000 cash on hand to simply spend on a phone. $200/300 is much more likely, unless the purchaser wants to use a credit card, in which case you're looking at interest fees which the OP never considered. Personally, phone purchases come out of expendable income -- there's no way I'm dipping into savings for a phone. So, unless you're the type of person who has just short of a grand to spend on a phone, the OPs method won't work for you.

Second, the convenience of procuring a locked iPhone vs. getting a factory unlocked one from out of country may be well worth the $20 a month the OP claims someone would save. There's peace of mind involved in being handed the product you're purchasing at the point of sale. Wiring money to a friend who lives abroad to buy an unlocked phone from Apple and then ship it to you is extremely inconvenient for most people, and that's assuming you have a trustworthy friend abroad whose willing to do this for you, which most people probably don't.

Traveling internationally for the sole purpose of buying an unlocked phone automatically offsets whatever money you might save in owning an unlocked phone. So, unless it's the case that you happen to be abroad for some other reason and have $867 to spare, the OPs method probably won't work for you either.

There is the ebay/online route. But even if you're already in the "I have $867 to spare" club, you have to be in the "I'm comfortable spending that $867 in an online transaction with a private party re-seller who claims to have a factory unlocked iPhone 4, and I don't mind going through the fraud refund process with PayPal to get my money back in case I get screwed over" club. Most people probably don't fit that description either.

Put it this way. I jailbroke and unlocked my 16gb iPhone 3g I bought in July of 2008, then sold it to someone on T-Mobile for $250 (yes, I told them to make sure to check the dev-team blog before ever updating firmware). Then I went and bought a subsidized 16gb iP4 for $200. I'm on contract with ATT with no intention of leaving, and if I do travel abroad, all it took was a 30 minute investment of time using Pwnage tool to make sure I can unlock my phone whenever I want to. I guess iOS 4.2 has some cool features, but they're definitely not worth $467 to me, and quite honestly I don't think any iOS update really would be.

So yes, the OP's method should be fine for a very specific group of people, but since most people don't fit in that group, it's probably more convenient to go the subsidized/JB/unlock route.

 

[bella92108]

I've been on Cingular/ATT for almost a decade now and an iPhone owner since the iPhone 3g launch day. I currently have an iP4 on FW 4.1 with the 01.59 BB preserved. I'm not unlocked, but it's just a matter of installing UltraSn0w if I want to be at this point, and I like maintaining my BB purely for resale value.

I won't knock the OPs validity -- it seems like a perfectly legitimate way to go for some people in certain situations. My personal opinion is that it seems to involve a different, but roughly equal amount of hoops to jump through as someone who goes the subsidized JB-unlock route.

First of all, OP doesn't seem to consider that most people (disclaimer: I'll take the liberty of using the terms "most people" and "on average" to make my points as liberally as the OP has in their posts) simply don't have close to $1000 cash on hand to simply spend on a phone. $200/300 is much more likely, unless the purchaser wants to use a credit card, in which case you're looking at interest fees which the OP never considered. Personally, phone purchases come out of expendable income -- there's no way I'm dipping into savings for a phone. So, unless you're the type of person who has just short of a grand to spend on a phone, the OPs method won't work for you.

Second, the convenience of procuring a locked iPhone vs. getting a factory unlocked one from out of country may be well worth the $20 a month the OP claims someone would save. There's peace of mind involved in being handed the product you're purchasing at the point of sale. Wiring money to a friend who lives abroad to buy an unlocked phone from Apple and then ship it to you is extremely inconvenient for most people, and that's assuming you have a trustworthy friend abroad whose willing to do this for you, which most people probably don't.

Traveling internationally for the sole purpose of buying an unlocked phone automatically offsets whatever money you might save in owning an unlocked phone. So, unless it's the case that you happen to be abroad for some other reason and have $867 to spare, the OPs method probably won't work for you either.

There is the ebay/online route. But even if you're already in the "I have $867 to spare" club, you have to be in the "I'm comfortable spending that $867 in an online transaction with a private party re-seller who claims to have a factory unlocked iPhone 4, and I don't mind going through the fraud refund process with PayPal to get my money back in case I get screwed over" club. Most people probably don't fit that description either.

Put it this way. I jailbroke and unlocked my 16gb iPhone 3g I bought in July of 2008, then sold it to someone on T-Mobile for $250 (yes, I told them to make sure to check the dev-team blog before ever updating firmware). Then I went and bought a subsidized 16gb iP4 for $200. I'm on contract with ATT with no intention of leaving, and if I do travel abroad, all it took was a 30 minute investment of time using Pwnage tool to make sure I can unlock my phone whenever I want to. I guess iOS 4.2 has some cool features, but they're definitely not worth $467 to me, and quite honestly I don't think any iOS update really would be.

So yes, the OP's method should be fine for a very specific group of people, but since most people don't fit in that group, it's probably more convenient to go the subsidized/JB/unlock route.

I certainly agree with your observations, thanks for contributing a legitimate response that demonstrates well thought out points, and sound understanding, and not just a defense of your personal position.

I guess to me the expense isn't a big deal because I'm spending $3000 over the life of a product (say we assign a 2 year life - lol, as if), then what's $867 to buy a device? For me, the peace of mind is worth it, but I'm not financially strapped for cash.

The real question to me is this, if $800 is hard for someone to come up with, should that person be spending $3000 for 2 years of cell service that can be had on say Virgin Mobile for $600 (1/6th of the cost) for the same 2 years? My personal feelings are no, but just something to think about when using people not having money as a reason to not buy something That's the Suze Orman response, lol

 

[qckslvrsiete]

The real question to me is this, if $800 is hard for someone to come up with, should that person be spending $3000 for 2 years of cell service that can be had on say Virgin Mobile for $600 (1/6th of the cost) for the same 2 years? My personal feelings are no, but just something to think about when using people not having money as a reason to not buy something That's the Suze Orman response, lol

It just depends on how someone budgets their money. My original investment was what I paid for my iPhone 3g, as the profits from its sale covered the cost of my new iP4 + about $50. Plus, my financial situation was different three years ago than it is today.

Having a factory unlocked phone on a month-to-month contract is really just about peace of mind unless you knew for certain when you bought your iPhone that you would be traveling abroad and would want to use a local sim card. The flip side of your statement is why would someone who can comfortably afford $3000 over two years (even if that's at the edge of their comfort-zone) want to increase their 2-year total cost of ownership by 16% for the convenience of knowing they can for sure use their phone abroad? Especially when there are ways to unlock your phone if you absolutely need to. (I won't mention the Tmobile iP4 owners here, since you're talking ATT contract prices, and because I really don't know why when tmo has devices like the mytouch 4g, someone would want to use an EDGE only iP4 on tmobile...)

It's situational as to what route best suits certain consumers. I just don't think most people in the US have a need for an unlocked iPhone in the first place (again, why would you want an iPhone 4 using EDGE on tmo when you can have a comparable device like say the MyTouch 4g), and most people who realize they'd like to unlock their iPhone to use abroad probably didn't know they would want or need to use it abroad when they bought their phone initially.

Besides, I would think that you'd have to spend an awful lot of time abroad or in Canada to justify tacking on what amounts to $20 a month (plus usage charges from the local carrier whose sim you'd be using) to your bill. Again, that seems like that would be the minority of unlockers out there.

 

[bella92108]

It just depends on how someone budgets their money.

The flip side of your statement is why would someone who can comfortably afford $3000 over two years (even if that's at the edge of their comfort-zone) want to increase their 2-year total cost of ownership by 16% for the convenience of knowing they can for sure use their phone abroad?

I just don't think most people in the US have a need for an unlocked iPhone in the first place.

Besides, I would think that you'd have to spend an awful lot of time abroad or in Canada to justify tacking on what amounts to $20 a month. Again, that seems like that would be the minority of unlockers out there.

16% insurance policy? Not sure where else you can buy insurance for such a low cost. People have insurance on their car and pay an average of $500 for 6 months of collision coverage on a $20,000 car. That's 25% increase in cost of ownership to add some financial stability in the event of what-ifs (like if they get laid off and can't afford their $150 a month cell bill they can walk away without an ETF and sell their Factory unlocked iPhone for almost what they paid).

MOST people don't have the need for an unlocked iPhone in the US, but there are a TON of travelers who do.

Look at it this way. Data is $20 per mb when traveling overseas ... the minimum an iPhone customer uses is 200mb (according to the almighty AT&T's plan structure, hehe), so that's roughly 7mb per day. Assuming someone spends 12 DAYS a year outside of the US (4% of their time), they pay off the "$20 a month" if their unlocked phone nets them nothing in sales gain over a standard phone. If we assume 25% premium they sell their phone for, it means they only have to spend 8 days a year using an international network to pay it off.

When I did my calculation, if I didn't subscribe to a data plan, I only had to travel ONE day per year to justify buying a foreign data sim. I am a heavier user, but how many people use only 200mb? I'd rather have the flexibility of having the ABILITY to buy a $10 sim for a week in London, and use all the data I want. It all goes back to insurance, and freedom of limitation.

.. but as with everything, to each his own... there's just no way for anyone to say it doesn't make financial sense ... there are plenty of people (like me) who it's paid itself off multiple times over...