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YES!!! Finally! My poor wallet.
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:(

I wish it was Verizon. ATT coverage my area sucks. ATT doesn't even have 4G in my area, neither does Sprint for that matter.

Verizon has 4G in my area and it's wicked fast.

The verizon version is already unlocked (all the gsm networks work, minus lte but thats a hardware issue. Sprint won't allow an unlocked phone on their network no matter what).
 
I've always wondered this, but why are unlocked or off contract smartphones more expensive than iPad/tablets?
 
I got one 2 months ago by arranging to pick one up on contract and, once I got to the store, asking them to sell it device only. When I plugged it into iTunes, I got the unlocked message. But, glad to see they're making it easy now.
 
They have been selling them unlocked for at least a week now - could be longer. Once you restore - it gives you the iPhone unlocked message in iTunes.
 

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Straight Talk - no LTE and service is absolute crap. Been there, done that, gone back to AT&T. I pay $20 more but it works.

Uh you realize Straight Talk is re-branded AT&T cell service provided by Walmart?

lol, nice move switching to the same provider for more money...
 
Finally. This is a bit later than last year's release of the unlocked 4S.

It took that much longer for supply to catch up with demand. In any case, it's a good sign. Expectations for iPhone sales this quarter are huge, and they'll need all the sales they can get. I also wonder if the T-Mobile rumors are true.
 
Wow. The carriers take a $450 hit on each iPhone??? No wonder data and service is so expensive (and rising)!

Yet, I was able to get the iPhone 3G (back when it was new) when I lived in Germany for 1€, yet data services were nowhere near the price here. However, its extremely limited data.

How they are able to sell the iPhone stupid cheap over there, yet it costs hundreds here, I'll never know.
 
Is there any difference between this one and the Verizon Device Only version?

I'm guessing that the US unlocked version will have the AT&T LTE bands rather than Verizon's. The overseas unlocked version is essentially the Verizon Device-only, except with the CDMA radio disabled.
 
Will these unlocked versions work on Verizon? Is there one universal unlocked version OR one for each carrier?
 
I don't think some people realize how expensive it is to design, build, distribute and support such advanced devices. There's tons of costs that need to be covered that you don't *see*.

And executive bonuses to consider!
 
LTE - there is not much to unlocked iPhone 5

unlike iPhone 4S (GSM) - iPhone 5 works in particular LTE frequency.

yes, you can use the GSM portion of the iPhone 5 almost everywhere but not really on LTE

so have to wait till few more years before LTE bands merged together (aka iPhone 5 supports more LTE bands) and become a global phone.
 
Will these unlocked versions work on Verizon? Is there one universal unlocked version OR one for each carrier?

Unlocked from the factory is strictly a GSM model (AT&T, T-Mobile in the US). You can't get an unlocked CDMA phone for use on either Sprint or Verizon, but the Verizon model is factory unlocked for use on GSM networks only.
 
If this is true, then that pretty much confirms T-Mobile is probably getting the iPhone 5 next week. Apple probably wants to get as many sales in as possible before the pre-paid carriers get their models of unlocked.

Unlocked from the factory is strictly a GSM model (AT&T, T-Mobile in the US). You can't get an unlocked CDMA phone for use on either Sprint or Verizon, but the Verizon model is factory unlocked for use on GSM networks only.

Yep. Even though you can get the AT&T one you still have to do the restore option. With the real unlocked one, you just throw the carrier sim in it.
 
all iphone 5's are unlocked... until they lock it at the POS when you extend your contract.

Bought mine day 1, unlocked & contract free, for $650.
 
They have been selling them unlocked for at least a week now - could be longer. Once you restore - it gives you the iPhone unlocked message in iTunes.

You have an AT&T unlocked iPhone. A true unlocked phone has no carrier association. So the receipt will just say Iphone 5...not with the carrier after it.
 
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