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How much will a 4S be without a contract?

More than you want to spend....recall the old adage "if you have to ask how much...you can't afford it."
 
Where are you guys even getting enough information to assume that they will be available sans contract? I see nothing on the website to suggest this :confused:
 
james92se said:
Where are you guys even getting enough information to assume that they will be available sans contract? I see nothing on the website to suggest this :confused:
Click to expand...
Footnote on the 4S page:

For those who are not qualified customers, are not eligible for an early upgrade, are purchasing an unlocked iPhone (for supported GSM wireless service provider networks only), or wish to buy an iPhone as a gift, see your carrier, an Apple Retail Store Specialist, the Apple Online Store, or an Apple Authorized Reseller for pricing.
 
The ONLY way I'd ever get it would be off contract, since that way it would be factory unlocked.

I ditched my 3GS for T-Mobile and just went with Verizon for iPhone 4 because I was tired of having a bootleg phone I couldn't update.

Factory unlocked is the ONLY way to go for me now. Especially since I do plan on traveling and would love to have Verizon at home and GSM carriers on the go. And no, I am not interested in paying $2 a minute or $5 a megabyte to roam. I'd just get a sim card in any local country/area I would find myself in.

It also concerns me not to see an unlocked price, but I am holding out hope I can get one. I'm willing to pay $649 since I'd probably recover $350-$400 from selling my current iPhone 4. But if I can't get it factory unlocked I will just wait and skip this release.
 
Just enter a number thats not upgrade eligible at all on the apple site and it will give you the prices for no commitment.

They are: 649/749/849
 
mountains said:
Footnote on the 4S page:

For those who are not qualified customers, are not eligible for an early upgrade, are purchasing an unlocked iPhone (for supported GSM wireless service provider networks only), or wish to buy an iPhone as a gift, see your carrier, an Apple Retail Store Specialist, the Apple Online Store, or an Apple Authorized Reseller for pricing.
Click to expand...

Hmm, so they refer you to the Apple Online Store which doesn't mention at all on the iPhone page about unlocked iPhone 4's. Very helpful there Apple!

I'm guessing these factory unlocked ones will only be available 6+ months in or something
 
rockyroad55 said:
Just enter a number thats not upgrade eligible at all on the apple site and it will give you the prices for no commitment.

They are: 649/749/849
Click to expand...

Sure, you get them with no commitment but they may still be carrier locked depending on which carrier you pick.

What about the factory unlocked option you can use anywhere with anyone?
 
james92se said:
Hmm, so they refer you to the Apple Online Store which doesn't mention at all on the iPhone page about unlocked iPhone 4's. Very helpful there Apple!

I'm guessing these factory unlocked ones will only be available 6+ months in or something
Click to expand...

The 4S FAQ only went up recently. Who knows when unlocked phones will be available in the US (but they probably will be... eventually...)
 
james92se said:
Where are you guys even getting enough information to assume that they will be available sans contract? I see nothing on the website to suggest this :confused:
Click to expand...

Thank you.

As of this moment, there is no official information about an unlocked 4S in the United States. At this point, it is all speculation.
 
Gregintosh said:
Sure, you get them with no commitment but they may still be carrier locked depending on which carrier you pick.

What about the factory unlocked option you can use anywhere with anyone?
Click to expand...

Yeah, you would think that if they were truly unlocked they wouldn't make you pre-filter through AT&T or Verizon..
 
Trauma1 said:
Why would you even buy an off-contract phone that was locked?
Click to expand...

Yes, if you don't qualify for an upgrade or reduced price you may have no choice but to pay full price. If an unlocked option is not available, you will just pay full price for a locked phone.

I believe this is what all iPhone customers had to do prior to Verizon getting the iPhone and an unlocked version becoming available in the US. If you bought a 3GS at full price in 2009 for example, it was still carrier locked to AT&T.
 
They upped the pricing for no/contract phones by $50 the past year. It's really not an option you want to go for unless money is no object.
 
I'm on Sprint, but not eligible for an upgrade. Does the presale let me order for full price? And then I'd just live out the rest of my 2 year-contract?

Also, would that price point be the same (like $649 for the 16GB) as TOTALLY off contract do you suppose?
 
Gregintosh said:
Yes, if you don't qualify for an upgrade or reduced price you may have no choice but to pay full price. If an unlocked option is not available, you will just pay full price for a locked phone.

I believe this is what all iPhone customers had to do prior to Verizon getting the iPhone and an unlocked version becoming available in the US. If you bought a 3GS at full price in 2009 for example, it was still carrier locked to AT&T.
Click to expand...

Let me rephrase: Why didn't those people buy an unlocked phone?

The cost of an unlocked phone (whether software unlocked or factory unlocked from Hong Kong) was always cheaper than AT&T's $X99 + $250 + $18 activation fee + new two year commitment.

Seems like those people didn't do their homework.
 
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