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Apple Now Selling Unlocked iPhone 4 in U.S.
- Thread starter ChakaChaka
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it'd be about the same price in the end as you would have to pay for a months service upfront basically. you wouldn't have to mess with anything like that. Only advantage would be if you wanted to use it on tmobile etc.
I don't see how this helps people like me who never travel outside of the US. What are the advantages of an unlocked phone if I never leave my coverage area?
Not much i think...except for maybe higher resale value if you sell your phones every year when the new iphone comes out, but i dont think it would be worth it. In my case I'd get it to be able to use when traveling and for resale value since I can usually sell my phone abroad.
What do you mean 'because of the microsim'? All carriers here have a microsim option because, well, we have the iPhone too.
I think the million dollar question is whether or not AT&T and/or Apple will now start providing unlock codes for current U.S. iPhone users at the end of their contracts...
With no exclusive deal, Bell and Telus had incentive to supplement their CDMA networks with GSM. The US market would have been much different if the iPhone was not sold here exclusively. A few mergers might not have taken place and there would probably be more GSM service.
Not here.
iPad vs iPhone
The iPad has a bigger screen and better specs, but the iPhone can call. So does the phone feature really cost apple that much more compared to the iPad?
The iPad has a bigger screen and better specs, but the iPhone can call. So does the phone feature really cost apple that much more compared to the iPad?
I really hope so. The 4G is supposed to be compatible with all carriers right? I can't see why Apple would do this now and stop with the next iphone.
Anyway the article states that the primary advantage is international travel. The secondary advantage is freedom to shut down the phone at anytime if necessary; to not be under contract.
Having a group of users that can actually choose their carrier on servie and price is a very significant benefit. To the extent carriers don't merge, it forces all the carriers to fight to provides services. With a must-have handset at AT&T they haven't had to fight for customers and the deal they offer reflects that. Another benefit of these anti-competitive arrangements being reduced means that it encourages new entrants into the market.
Are you sure that you have to pay the same price?
In Canada, I know that both Bell and Telus will give you a discount on your monthly plan if you own your own hardware. They don't advertise it, but you can negotiate with them to get the discount. I think it was either $10 a month or 10%, not sure.
If you don't have subsidized hardware from the carrier, why should you pay the hidden subsidy in your monthly plan?
It doesn't.I don't see how this helps people like me who never travel outside of the US. What are the advantages of an unlocked phone if I never leave my coverage area?
Per the original article, the main benefit of an unlocked iPhone is for international travelers. Please go back and re-read the article.
I agree that you are very confused.
No.
That's why the iPhone is Apple's cash cow. The gross margins on the handset are very fat.
The iPad's gross margin is quite modest for Apple.
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While I'm excited by the possibility of an unlocked iPhone (the less carrier control, the better), I just don't see how this makes any financial sense for Americans.
Right now I get a subsidized iPhone every year from ATT because of the high rate plan we have. This means that I pay $450 less every year in device costs. Over the course of 12 months, I would need to shave an additional $37.50 off of my bill in order for the unlocked iPhone to make financial sense. The problem is, there is no way for me to knock this much off of my monthly bill because the only carrier that can fully utilize the GSM iPhone in the US is ATT. Since smaller carriers like Boost Mobile and MetroPCS all use CDMA, I would not be able to use a discount carrier.
Even if you only qualify for a new phone once every two years, the math still doesn't add up. It would require being able to pay $18.75 less per month.
I can see how this would work for those people who travel abroad frequently, but for most of us who don't get the chance to travel internationally often, it makes little sense to pay $450 for the luxury of being able to take the same phone with you.
AND since ATT is trying to buy out T-Mobile, it seems like GSM competition within the US is all but over. Unless discount carriers start offering support for GSM iPhones (as in full support-data and all) I don't see why we should be very excited about this as American customers.
On the other hand, I'm sure this is exciting for Europeans who will take advantage of the summer travel season, a weak Dollar, and the advantages of a sales tax rate that is below 10% in most states.
Right now I get a subsidized iPhone every year from ATT because of the high rate plan we have. This means that I pay $450 less every year in device costs. Over the course of 12 months, I would need to shave an additional $37.50 off of my bill in order for the unlocked iPhone to make financial sense. The problem is, there is no way for me to knock this much off of my monthly bill because the only carrier that can fully utilize the GSM iPhone in the US is ATT. Since smaller carriers like Boost Mobile and MetroPCS all use CDMA, I would not be able to use a discount carrier.
Even if you only qualify for a new phone once every two years, the math still doesn't add up. It would require being able to pay $18.75 less per month.
I can see how this would work for those people who travel abroad frequently, but for most of us who don't get the chance to travel internationally often, it makes little sense to pay $450 for the luxury of being able to take the same phone with you.
AND since ATT is trying to buy out T-Mobile, it seems like GSM competition within the US is all but over. Unless discount carriers start offering support for GSM iPhones (as in full support-data and all) I don't see why we should be very excited about this as American customers.
On the other hand, I'm sure this is exciting for Europeans who will take advantage of the summer travel season, a weak Dollar, and the advantages of a sales tax rate that is below 10% in most states.
Bell and Telus didn't add HSPA coverage just for the iPhone. Just about every phone they sell now is HSPA.
They biggest driving factor for them was the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. They wanted to get the nework up in time to capitilize on all of those roaming fees from the international travellers coming for the event.
ATleast it's a step in some direction for consumers though.While I'm excited by the possibility of an unlocked iPhone (the less carrier control, the better), I just don't see how this makes any financial sense for Americans.
Right now I get a subsidized iPhone every year from ATT because of the high rate plan we have. This means that I pay $450 less every year in device costs. Over the course of 12 months, I would need to shave an additional $37.50 off of my bill in order for the unlocked iPhone to make financial sense. The problem is, there is no way for me to knock this much off of my monthly bill because the only carrier that can fully utilize the GSM iPhone in the US is ATT. Since smaller carriers like Boost Mobile and MetroPCS all use CDMA, I would not be able to use a discount carrier.
Even if you only qualify for a new phone once every two years, the math still doesn't add up. It would require being able to pay $18.75 less per month.
I can see how this would work for those people who travel abroad frequently, but for most of us who don't get the chance to travel internationally often, it makes little sense to pay $450 for the luxury of being able to take the same phone with you.
AND since ATT is trying to buy out T-Mobile, it seems like GSM competition within the US is all but over. Unless discount carriers start offering support for GSM iPhones (as in full support-data and all) I don't see why we should be very excited about this as American customers.
On the other hand, I'm sure this is exciting for Europeans who will take advantage of the summer travel season, a weak Dollar, and the advantages of a sales tax rate that is below 10% in most states.
I see it as a big advantage bc you are not tied up with carriers and their bs. The problem i have with all the carriers is if you have a smartphone they force you to have data when not everyone needs it. buying an unlocked iphone doesn't require you to be connected with AT&T if u wanted to go to tmobile prepaid etc. You could do AT&T prepaid and not have to worry about contract pricing or data same with tmobile. Atleast it gives you atleast SOME options.
I said it's the main benefit, not the only benefit.
Please go back and re-read my response. I am not interested in repeating the entire original article verbatim to that person, nor am I interested in repeating my entire response verbatim.
Reading comprehension matters.
Thank you.
the main benefit is YOUR opinion. My opinion is not the same as yours, same as the guy you replied to. time of the month?
Things have to start somewhere, there is little point in offering cheaper contracts for unlocked phones if nobody can buy unlocked phones. If Apple introduces a T-Mobile capable iPhone in September (or even or full 'world' phone), that is another step into the direction of more competition and choice.
And any carrier selling iPhones in Europe is also selling micro-SIMs. I leave it as an exercise to the reader to figure out what percentage of European carriers sell the iPhone. You might not get a micro-SIM at the supermarket counter but most cellphone stores should have them (and cutting a SIM is not exactly rocket science either).
I don't see how this helps people like me who never travel outside of the US. What are the advantages of an unlocked phone if I never leave my coverage area?
Well, in USA you have
AT&T
T-Mobile
Simple Mobile use T-Mobile Network, $40 for unlimited voice/text or $50 for unlimited voice/text/internet (2G)
and few regional options (Cellular One etc)
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Remember, 650+tax (6 to 9%)
In my case (I live in FL)
650+tax=695.50, I paid 720 in November or a canadian version (NIB on Ebay)
In my case (I live in FL)
650+tax=695.50, I paid 720 in November or a canadian version
(NIB on Ebay)
I think the iPhone's retina display cost more than the iPad's larger display. And the iPad doesn't have better specs. Come September the iPhone will match the iPad 2's processor, possibly exceed it's RAM allocation, still have better cameras and likely introduce some new sensors or components like the gyro which came with the iPhone 4 then trickled down to the iPad 2. The iPad 2 is essentially the iPhone 4's 9 month old hand-me-downs with a new processor.
However, I believe that the iPhone's higher margins and higher sale volume allows Apple to keep the prices of iPod Touches and iPads lower.