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Apple Now Selling Unlocked iPhone 4 in U.S.

No benefit what so ever buying an Iphone 4 off contract on att. Att doesnt discount your plan buy going no contract, so your best bet is to buy one one contract and save yourself some money.

Almost All telcos are crooks when it come to this. At least Tmobile does cut you a break on your plan if you buy off contract.
 
rmhop81 said:
here is your exact quote...

"I said it's the main benefit, not the only benefit."

hmmm yeah. "I" definitely means the writer huh?
Click to expand...
Again, you have failed to show that you read the original article.

First sentence of the last paragraph of the original article:

The main advantage of buying an unlocked iPhone is for international travel, as the device is not dependent on any particular carrier.
Click to expand...

You have failed every conceivable test of reading comprehension about this article.

GO BACK AND RE-READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE AND FIND OUT WHAT THAT AUTHOR STATES IS THE MAIN BENEFIT OF OWNING AN UNLOCKED IPHONE.
 
I wonder if this came about when Ralph De La Vega was interviewed on All Things D.

He seemed unaware of the fact that you couldn't buy an unlocked iPhone in the US. Now a few weeks later you can...
 
cvaldes said:
Again, you have failed to show that you read the original article.

First sentence of the last paragraph of the original article:



You have failed every conceivable test of reading comprehension about this article.

GO BACK AND RE-READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE AND FIND OUT WHAT THAT AUTHOR STATES IS THE MAIN BENEFIT OF OWNING AN UNLOCKED IPHONE.
Click to expand...
dude, really, get a life.

here is your exact quote...AGAIN!

"I said it's the main benefit, not the only benefit."

Quit using the word "I"
 
rmhop81 said:
dude, really, get a life.

here is your exact quote...AGAIN!

"I said it's the main benefit, not the only benefit."
Click to expand...
I said it's the main benefit, not that it was my specific and personal opinion.

I was quoting the original article.

Duh. :rolleyes:

GO BACK AND RE-READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE AND KEEP RE-READING IT UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND THE BASIC IDEAS BROUGHT FORTH BY THAT WRITER, NOT ME.
 
This is great, but I feel like Apple is trying to milk out as many iPhone 4 sales as possible.
1) iPhone 4
2) CDMA iPhone 4
3) white iPhone 4
4) unlocked black and white iPhone 4


MCIowaRulz said:
So... Does this mean I can use it on U.S Cellular?
If so I'm VERY HAPPY
Click to expand...

Unless the CDMA iPhone is unlocked (which I am not sure is even possible) then no.
 
How AT&T will bring these unlocked phones onboard?
What kind of plans can be used to connect to AT&T in the US without a contract?
 
rmhop81 said:
If you don't want/need it, then it shouldn't be a requirement just to use a cell phone.
Click to expand...

This isn't a requirement to use a cell phone; it's a requirement to use a smartphone. The entire concept is, from the ground up, based on the idea that you'll always be connected to a data network.

Your mifi makes sense only because you can split it across so many device and because you're willing to lug extra stuff around. For most people who only have an iPhone (or other smartphone), it is a lot more practical to pay for just the data plan as opposed to paying for data on a mifi AND having to carry it around.

Indeed, I wonder how you make use of your mifi when you and your wife need to be in two different places.
 
Adidas Addict said:
Surely this will prompt US networks to join the rest of the world in offering sim-only plans? Everywhere else you can have a sim-only contract at a drastically reduced rate (as there is no phone subsidy to account for). Here in the UK for example all the networks offer sim-only plans with either a rolling monthly charge with no time commitment along with cheaper 12month and longer sim-only plans (Many of these are iPhone specific).
Click to expand...

There exactly two major US networks with SIM cards and AT&T is trying to buy the other. The rest are mostly CDMA and don't have SIM cards.

MCIowaRulz said:
So... Does this mean I can use it on U.S Cellular?
If so I'm VERY HAPPY
Click to expand...

US cellular is CDMA which doesn't unlock since it doesn't use a SIM card. You will have the option in a couple years since USCC is going with LTE for 4G or if they get the CDMA iPhone like Verizon.
 
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CalBoy said:
This isn't a requirement to use a cell phone; it's a requirement to use a smartphone. The entire concept is, from the ground up, based on the idea that you'll always be connected to a data network.

Your mifi makes sense only because you can split it across so many device and because you're willing to lug extra stuff around. For most people who only have an iPhone (or other smartphone), it is a lot more practical to pay for just the data plan as opposed to paying for data on a mifi AND having to carry it around.

Indeed, I wonder how you make use of your mifi when you and your wife need to be in two different places.
Click to expand...

i know it's not a requirement for a cell phone, but for a smartphone. It shouldn't be mandatory if you just want to use voice/text only. Even if you bought this unlocked iphone and put in a microsim on AT&T network they force a data plan on you. WHY? The phone doesn't magically start malfunctioning if it's not connected to data.

Really LUG? It's smaller than my iphone and can be slipped in a pocket or my wifes purse and no one has a clue. Again, i don't have to be connected 100% of the time. is my phone going to malfunction bc my wife has the mifi and i am not connected to wifi?

We also use google voice, so everything is forwarded to the iphone. If i'm not on data i simply text via my iphone to their google voice number or make calls through the google voice app which still works when not on data plan to call out on. that's where the $30/month gophone price comes from.
 
I'm wondering/hoping this might mean we could see an unlocked CDMA iPhone4 soon, or at least maybe in the next model (4s/5 whatever they call it).

It would be nice to be able to one working on Sprint or US Cellular.
 
Why would AT&T have even objected to the sale of unlocked iPhones in the first place? Sure maybe they would have lost some revenue on roaming charges from people who travel internationally and are smart enough to go through the trouble to get a local SIM. They should have been overjoyed about anyone buying an unlocked phone....they can avoid subsidizing it and they can charge the same high rate for connecting it to their network..
 
BruiserB said:
Why would AT&T have even objected to the sale of unlocked iPhones in the first place? Sure maybe they would have lost some revenue on roaming charges from people who travel internationally and are smart enough to go through the trouble to get a local SIM. They should have been overjoyed about anyone buying an unlocked phone....they can avoid subsidizing it and they can charge the same high rate for connecting it to their network..
Click to expand...

bc u won't be locked into a 2 year contract. if you decide to pick up and leave 6 months later...how are they making money on that?
 
Beerstalker said:
I'm wondering/hoping this might mean we could see an unlocked CDMA iPhone4 soon, or at least maybe in the next model (4s/5 whatever they call it).

It would be nice to be able to one working on Sprint or US Cellular.
Click to expand...

Is there even such a thing as an unlocked CDMA phone from any manufacturer? I mean, I don't think they are techically locked, but carriers just refuse to activate a phone that was designed for or sold by another carrier. Can you take any other phone from Verizon and move to Sprint?
 
I have been waiting for this. My next iPhone will be bought unlocked.

sciolto said:
Anyone in the US willing to buy one for me and send it to Italy? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


I am in NYC and if you are serious, I can do it if you include a small profit for me.

If I send it to you via FedEx, what do you think we should write on the box for the customs: cellphone and declare it as a gift? What if the Italians customs charge you import duty?

Anyone knows how cross-borders cellphone shipping should be handled?
 
toddybody said:
Good question. I'd think you could have just a voice/text plan...and keep 3G data off. Personally, Id love to have that situation...and add data at will like the 3G iPad models
Click to expand...

won't happen. as soon as you connect to their network with a smartphone they will add a data plan to your phone. only way to do that is use GoPhone sim. but data prices are higher that way.
 
rmhop81 said:
bc u won't be locked into a 2 year contract. if you decide to pick up and leave 6 months later...how are they making money on that?
Click to expand...

Where are you going to pick up and leave for? Especially if you just spent $700 on a phone that doesn't work to its full ability on any other carrier? You can still pick up and leave for the ETF which is basically the equivalent of buying the phone outright.
 
Jeaz said:
Yikes, it's almost $350 cheaper to buy the unlocked iPhone 4 32GB from Apple in the US than it is where I live. They sure suck us non-US customers dry.
Click to expand...

Haven’t you heard? We international customers are second-class citizens. We are there to subsidize the cost for our US friends.
 
zin said:
Haven’t you heard? We international customers are second-class citizens. We are there to subsidize the cost for our US friends.
Click to expand...

not like the VAT and high taxes have anything to do with this

if i was in england i would be glad to pay this since it pays for the royal socialized medicine
 
rmhop81 said:
bc u won't be locked into a 2 year contract. if you decide to pick up and leave 6 months later...how are they making money on that?
Click to expand...

By charging you the same amount that they charge people who bought a subsidized phone through them.

Say AT&T pays $600 for an iPhone 4, then sells it to you for $200. They can do this because they lock you into a contract for 24 months and charge you enough to make that $400 back from you over that time (I'd say about $17-20 of your monthly bill is actually paying back that $400 "loan").

If you buy an unlocked phone directly from Apple, AT&T didn't have to "loan" you that $400 up front. So that extra $17-20 a month goes straight into their pocket instead of paying off that $400 "loan" they gave you on the phone.

Anyone that buys a phone outright to use on AT&T, Verizon, or most other providers is kind of getting ripped off, because they are actually paying back a subsidy that they never got in the first place.
 
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