Why the heck do they insist on locking a phone even if it's unsubsidised? If I pay full price, shouldn't I get to do what I want with the phone?
I travel all the time and carry with me sim cards for four or five countries. I love being able to just drop in a new local sim wherever I arrive. We live in a globalised world - does AT&T not get that, or do they just get it too well and want to make a pile of money off of people who travel.
I hope someone finds an unlock soon. I won't buy the 3G until they do. Until then I'll be very happy with my unlocked 1st gen.
Agreed. And didn't Apple essentially renegotiate their contract (revenue sharing no longer with the death star) so that there can be a subsidy? Doesn't that mean they have a different or new contract that was worked out? Which leads me to two things:
One, I just don't understand why Apple needs to continue and be exclusive with AT&T any more. Now, I'm no expert on the details of their contract but what's to say that Apple couldn't have just allowed AT&T to have exclusive rights on original iPhone (EDGE) and just move on the "3G iPhone" with Sprint or Verizon? Hell, their networks are considerably faster both already have technologies for GPS, 3G, Visual Voicemail. I just don't understand why they just didn't make it for them?
And two, probably the more obvious one, why the hell is AT&T making 3 different price points, new/qualifying subscribers, current non-qualifying subscribers, and non-committal? The former two makes sense, but the latter makes absolutely no sense. Does that mean prepaid (makes little sense cuz what's the point of the new iphone without 3g)? It's ridiculous that it's LOCKED for 600 and 700 dollars (who in their right minds consider that worth the money?) This is an Apple product that they should be able to sell ON THEIR OWN without restrictions (no revenue sharing, fine; unlocked is the compromise, at least it should be). Other cell phone companies are already doing this because it makes sense! You know how stupid that AT&T math guys are right now? It'd be cheaper to sign up for one month and cancel (480 vs 599.. that's 120 savings) than buy the no-contract one.
Now, I know that the new iphone uses 3g voice and data, but will this allow current tmobile users (2g/edge or whatever) to even use voice, assuming the community unlocks it?