When I go to the Apple Retail Store, will I be able to buy the iP5 outright?

[fsolano]

Just like the title says, Will I be able to buy an iP5 on the 21st at my apple retail store outright without getting a plan for either of the 3 carriers in the US? Thanks.

-Fern

 

[dave006]

Just like the title says, Will I be able to buy an iP5 on the 21st at my apple retail store outright without getting a plan for either of the 3 carriers in the US? Thanks.

-Fern

Well nobody knows until next Friday but based on last year, you should expect the worst. That you will have to pick a carrier and the iPhone 5 would be locked to the Carrier according to Apple.

However, as it turned out only the Sprint / Verizon units were carrier locked. Depending on how the rep processed your checkout for the AT&T version, you could end up with an unlocked GSM Worldphone. There was a very long thread here on MacRumors. Note that the experience was not consistent at every Apple store.

Note: You could not ask for an Unlocked iPhone "SIM Free", they were not available at launch. All the stock had a carrier SIM, yes even the Verizon and Sprint ones ( to support international roaming ).

Dave

 

[zachnelson]

The word outright bothers me for some reason.