Why do iPhones cost $199 in the USA and $799 in Australia?

[Chundles]

So,

16GB iPhone no-contract:

US$699 (A$883, £440)
A$899 (US$711, £448)
GB£400 (A$802, US$634)

Prices aren't that different at all.

The US price doesn't include applicable sales tax, not sure about the UK.

We all pay pretty much the same price for our phones except you can't officially unlock in the US. Can you unlock in the UK?

 

[spookme]

So,

16GB iPhone no-contract:

US$699 (A$883, £440)
A$899 (US$711, £448)
GB£400 (A$802, US$634)

Prices aren't that different at all.

The US price doesn't include applicable sales tax, not sure about the UK.

We all pay pretty much the same price for our phones except you can't officially unlock in the US. Can you unlock in the UK?

UK prices include tax, here in the UK we have to have retail prices inclusive of tax.

Although the catch with a UK phone on Paygo is you have to buy a £10 credit....... but again thats a whole other story and the phone is locked to O2. we cant as such but a "simfree" iPhone here in the UK from O2.

As for unlocking........... Im not a cracker/hacker/unlocker - I would imagine someone else on here will be able to tell how to do it, but again when you buy it here it WILL be locked to use only O2.

 

[Chundles]

UK prices include tax, here in the UK we have to have retail prices inclusive of tax.

Although the catch with a UK phone on Paygo is you have to buy a £10 credit....... but again thats a whole other story and the phone is locked to O2. we cant as such but a "simfree" iPhone here in the UK from O2

OK, cool, I thought the prices included the taxes - crazy that the US don't (never have the right change at the checkout).

So you can't have your carrier unlock your phone? It's a piece of cake here, you either pay them a nominal amount (Optus charge the most that I know of at A$120 or you recharge with A$120 of credit and they'll unlock your phone for free) and you restore your phone, it downloads a Carrier Update file and you get the Unlocked message in iTunes.

It's great if I need to go overseas, just grab a SIM card, pop it in and you're done.

All above board too, fully sanctioned by Apple.

 

[spookme]

Myself on the iPhone I cuoldnt tell you about a carrier unlock. Although having worked for O2 I can say that they do have a policy in place for allowing this on other handsets. Its not quick or easy and there is a cost attached to it, The last handset I arranged for an unlock with O2 was a BB, they charged the customer £25.00 for the instructions and then the code, wanting IMEI number, serial number and a ton of proof it was really him and he had the correct phone..

However, they have some "different" rules, policies and offers for the iPhone that dont get on other handsets, so I cant say for deffinate. Although again, I understand from looking at other threads it does seem possible, Im sure one of the other guys on here with a lot more tech knowledge will be able to point you in that direction.