CDMA Theory

[bbplayer5]

I think Apple is going to sell an unlocked CDMA version in the USA (if in fact they are coming out with it). This way they can sell it on Sprint and Verizon without locking into any agreement. Much like Google did with the Nexus (sold it for pure profit on their website). Right now AT&T pays a subsidy for the phone to get it to you for 299. The carriers might STILL be able to do that, but you can also get it unlocked directly from Apple.


Wishful thinking?

 

[ikaveh]

I think Apple is going to sell an unlocked CDMA version in the USA (if in fact they are coming out with it). This way they can sell it on Sprint and Verizon without locking into any agreement. Much like Google did with the Nexus (sold it for pure profit on their website). Right now AT&T pays a subsidy for the phone to get it to you for 299. The carriers might STILL be able to do that, but you can also get it unlocked directly from Apple.


Wishful thinking?

logically not gonna happen
as you say: there is no free lunch

 

[Carlanga]

not gonna happen in the US.

 

[ogdogg]

The carriers want the iPhone and wants the phones to be subsidized. End of story.

 

[Pattycerts]

Sprint and Verizon need to have the ESN's 'in their system' to activate a phone, so I don't think that is going to happen. It's more likely that there will be a set of phones for Verizon and another for Sprint, but that's not very likely either.

 

[mtnDewFTW]

You make a few good points, like Apple would just do their own thing and sell you the phone, and it would be up to you which network you would want it to be on. However, it doesn't make any sense for Apple to do that at this moment when the iPhone is still selling so well for AT&T. And also, it would make more sense for Apple to wait and lock into separate contracts with Verizon and Sprint, because this way, they will gain billions of dollars by just signing that contract, and then even more money from Sprint and Verizon selling the iPhone/advertising it.

So yeah, what you're saying makes sense, however, it will never happen because Apple is still making a lot of money on AT&T and they plan on making even more on other networks.

 

[Applejuiced]

It's not that simple.

 

[sinsin07]

snip... However, it doesn't make any sense for Apple to do that at this moment when the iPhone is still selling so well for AT&T. ...snip

Since when does it not make sense to make more money? So what it's selling well on ATT? A company is in the business to make a profit, they have shareholers. The real problem would be production.

 

[itsmemuffins]

CDMA phones can be sold unlocked? I didn't know Google sold the Nexus One in a CDMA version.

And BTW Apple already sell the iPhone unlocked all over the world.