Confirmed from 1 Apple rep?! We will see sometimes next week. My bro still work there and he has not been to work. So he will check that out. As of right now 1 Apple rep doesn't make it as a fact.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
No unlocked iPhone 4S at launch in the US
- Thread starter El3ctronics
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Confirmed from 1 Apple rep?! We will see sometimes next week. My bro still work there and he has not been to work. So he will check that out. As of right now 1 Apple rep doesn't make it as a fact.
I was thinking about this route too...
We might have to wait and see after the 12th... To test the gsm portion of verizon and sprint phone
Thinking about buying CDMA at 199 and paid ETF at 350...still cheaper the 650 from att
I didn't think so. I have no intention of leaving AT&T, I just want to be able to use a local SIM when I travel. I have an old 3GS that is JB/unlocked that I use but it's such a step down from my 4. lol.
I guess I will wait to see if the 4S becomes available unlocked directly from Apple at some point. Otherwise, I'm waiting until the 5 coms along to upgrade.
Smart move.
When unlocked phones are sold in the U.S. during the first month many of them get bought and sent to countries where the iPhone isn't for sale yet. While supplies are restricted it makes no sense for Apple to let Sprint/AT&T/Verizon customers lose out to some guy who's going to buy 100 and ship them overseas.
Apple wants to make the customers of the U.S. carriers happy first.
When unlocked phones are sold in the U.S. during the first month many of them get bought and sent to countries where the iPhone isn't for sale yet. While supplies are restricted it makes no sense for Apple to let Sprint/AT&T/Verizon customers lose out to some guy who's going to buy 100 and ship them overseas.
Apple wants to make the customers of the U.S. carriers happy first.
i can understand that, and it is a smart move - but it still sucks for us U.S. customers who actually want an unlocked iPhone.
That sucks.
More carrier pressure/influence wanting everyone that wants the phone to get into contract or buy a locked phone so they're stuck with the particular provider.
BS.
More carrier pressure/influence wanting everyone that wants the phone to get into contract or buy a locked phone so they're stuck with the particular provider.
BS.
If that is the case why is it that Canada is able to sell the unlocked versions on launch day? Couldn't the same people go to Canada and buy them for resale?
i would guess the us gets the majority of product launch supply, relative to the rest of the world.
Guess again.
Its called pocketing money from certain carriers to play this game and due to no consumer laws protecting us this will continue to happen here in the US.
Even after we fullfill the contract our phones are still locked.
Makes no sense.
I was planning on selling my factory unlocked iPhone 4 to pick up a 64GB 4S, but that's now on hold. I'm so sick of the draconian unlocking policies in this country. Currently, AT&T says that they will unlock any phone that is not exclusive to them. I'm wondering if they will not be able to claim that the iPhone 4S is "exclusive" to them since there is no longer any hardware differences between the CDMA and GSM models. I read somewhere that Sprint doesn't lock down the GSM hardware of their world phones, so maybe it will be possible to get one for full price from them.
this is your reason why us grey market resellers don't just pack up and buy unlocked phones from canada?
I've been holding off getting a new phone and thinking about the 4S.
Does anyone know what happens after your 2-year contract is up with the 4S? If I choose to purchase it from, say AT&T, and after two years take my iPhone 4S and move to Verizon or Sprint, can I do that?
Does anyone know what happens after your 2-year contract is up with the 4S? If I choose to purchase it from, say AT&T, and after two years take my iPhone 4S and move to Verizon or Sprint, can I do that?
Some do and sell them on eBay and craigslist.
Obviously big retailers like best buy and Walmart cannot do that or they will be cut off supply and sued.
No one knows for sure yet, but they won't unlock any other model even after you fulfill the terms of your contract.
I will not ever buy another phone through AT&T until they change their policy on this, and I make sure I bring this up as a drawback anytime I speak with someone considering AT&T.
That's EXACTLY why Apple won't let that happen. Someone who just wants one for themselves won't be able to get one unless they pay your scalped rate because you want a quick buck.
Apple wants it's customers to be happy and they want to get these phones into the hands of consumers. If you want to make money from the, become an Apple authorized reseller and go though that channel rather than ruin other people's experience in being able to buy the product for your profit.
I want an unlocked one myself, as I intend to travel next februray and may be out of the country for several months. I was kinda pissed at first they wouldn't have it unlocked at launch but now I get it.
I'm glad they are preventing scalpers like you from eating up all the supply. Even though it means I get left out, there's a lot of Verizon, sprint, and ATT customers who will be happy -- and wouldn't have been if scalpers like you got their hands on the devices to sell on craigslist or ship to china.
Maybe unlike the iPad 2 launch we won't see lines of 40 Asian middle aged guys in line with cash in hand and then giving the ringleader all the goods on the way out (as seemed to be a common occurrence for months when the iPad 2 launched).
----------
You are forgetting the activation fee and first month of service. To cancel for a full refund within 30 days you must return the phone. That's an extra $36 + $70-80, so maybe $110 or so you'll be out by canceling after 31 days so you can keep the phone.
I would like to see some real confirmation from Apple about them not selling unlocked units for up to 3 months after launch in the US, not what a couple of reps said on a support chat, or from some random tech blog.
Hopefully we'll have something concrete one way or the other in about 12 hours when the pre-order blitz begins
Hopefully we'll have something concrete one way or the other in about 12 hours when the pre-order blitz begins
What makes you think Grimsrud is a scalper?
He wants to sell his used unlocked 4 and replace it with one 4S for personal use. No reason to attack him/her/it.
do you even understand what a grey market reseller is? the issue we were discussing has nothing to do with the travesty that is the us cell phone market.
WoW you are as much rude as you are stupid. The ip4 is being sold unlocked through apple in us for a while. And just because someone wants to sell his old iphone to get the new one, doesnt mean he is a scalpers. In fact it is what most of the rational people do (which obviously does not include you
.And although I also hate people standing in line to resell apple's lovely products, I smell disgusting racism when you say "40 Asian middle aged guys".
WoW you are as much rude as you are stupid. The ip4 is being sold unlocked through apple in us for a while. And just because someone wants to sell his old iphone to get the new one, doesnt mean he is a scalpers. In fact it is what most of the rational people do (which obviously does not include you
And although I also hate people standing in line to resell apple's lovely products, I smell disgusting racism when you say "40 Asian middle aged guys".
I read that post as him wanting to buy an unlocked 4S, sell it for a profit, and use the proceeds to buy the on-contract 4S. If I misread, which appears I have, my bad.
I am referring to all the posts here from the iPad 2 days when EVERYONE was complaining about middle aged asian guys who speak no English buying up all the iPad 2s in every store. I am sure some searches will turn up dozens and dozens of threads complaining about asian men lining up early and snatching up all the iPads and giving them to a ringleader who'd sell them at a large profit overseas that there weren't any left for actual consumers who just wanted one for themselves.
I don't have anything against asians but I do have something against scalpers of every race (to say its racist to say that asian men are big scalpers when it comes to Apple products is like saying its racist/bigoted to point out the 9/11 hijackers were middle eastern muslims). I am not saying I have anything against a racial group, I am just stating the facts of how things are.
If I was a racist, I would not be married to an asian nor would I have chosen an asian country to locate my business (in which I am actually the only non-Asian employee). And yes, I treat my employees very well.
It's a bit deceiving because of the fine print at the bottom of the iPhone 4S page on apple.com/store:
Hrmf...
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.
Hrmf...
Scalpers in the States are screwed then.
People in China are reported to pay as high as US$2500 for a 64GB model... I still wonder why do Apple not make them available sooner in countries like China.
People in China are reported to pay as high as US$2500 for a 64GB model... I still wonder why do Apple not make them available sooner in countries like China.
I'm not a "scalper", I just want to get the newest unlocked phone (mainly for the 64GB HD) by selling the one I won't need anymore. It's was a new one from Hong Kong I bought on eBay earlier this year that is still in perfect condition and still under warranty, I have no intent to rip anyone off. Now I'm just going to stick with my current phone until Apple decides to start selling the new one unlocked.