Is there any way to buy iPhone 4 without a contract?

[Andrewp49]

I'm keen to get the new
iPhone, unfortunatly they are only going to avalible here in South Africa towards the end of the year and I really don't want to wait that long. I have an uncle who lives in the states that in coming to visit in about 3 weeks time. What would be he best way for him to get a phone for me?

Thanks for the help,
Andrew

 

[marksandvig]

He could buy one off ebay.

 

[Darth.Titan]

I don't believe the iPhone 4 is available yet as a no-contract option. Even if it was, if purchased in the States, even unsubsidized iPhones are locked to AT&T.

Unless the Dev Team produces an unlock option soon, it looks like you're going to have to be patient, or find a way to purchased an unlocked model from a country where they're available.

 

[ranguvar]

I don't know if your uncle is coming through Europe during his travel. In Europe, unlocked iPhones are quite common (available in UK, France, Italy, ...). Otherwise, you can try to befriend a European soccer fan and make him send you an iPhone

 

[BurningJah]

I don't know if your uncle is coming through Europe during his travel. In Europe, unlocked iPhones are quite common (available in UK, France, Italy, ...). Otherwise, you can try to befriend a European soccer fan and make him send you an iPhone

TRUE OOH SO TRUE!!
I bought mine without a contract! because even with a contract you buy them for 575 € ( 3GS 16gb price ) the new one will cost around 629 if the source is correct ( no official price )
If I'm correct europe recently abolished the law in bonded sales ( or was is only belgium left ) long story short in belgium it was prohibited to sell cellphones with a contract attached to that. koppelverkoop was it called!

 

[pacmania1982]

Head over to Canada for a weekend. They're unlocked there too

pac

 

[MacInTO]

Head over to Canada for a weekend. They're unlocked there too

pac

Not true. All of them are locked to a network. The carriers do not even sell unlocked iPhones in Canada.

Plus, the iPhone 4 hasn't yet been announced for Canada.

 

[fartheststar]

Not true. All of them are locked to a network. The carriers do not even sell unlocked iPhones in Canada.

Plus, the iPhone 4 hasn't yet been announced for Canada.

Nope but Apple now does sell the 3GS unlocked, and will be selling iPhone 4 unlocked once it launches.

http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=OTY2ODA2OQ

 

[schaabie]

Not true. All of them are locked to a network. The carriers do not even sell unlocked iPhones in Canada.

Plus, the iPhone 4 hasn't yet been announced for Canada.

Untrue, the 3GS and 4 will be sold unlocked in Canada.

 

[MacInTO]

Nope but Apple now does sell the 3GS unlocked, and will be selling iPhone 4 unlocked once it launches.

http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=OTY2ODA2OQ

Crazy! When did this start?

 

[DeusInvictus7]

Crazy! When did this start?

Ever since the iPhone 4 was available for preorder in the states. I remember going to the Apple site on June 15 and seeing all the info about it being commitment free and unlocked if bought outright through Apple.

 

[fartheststar]

Ever since the iPhone 4 was available for preorder in the states. I remember going to the Apple site on June 15 and seeing all the info about it being commitment free and unlocked if bought outright through Apple.

Pretty awesome I say.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Canada.