Wonder if Apple will ever sell Just an Unlocked iPhone

[John-117]

Oh it's not just the US that does it.

Check out Apple's world list of iPhone carriers.

It shows which ones come unlocked, and which ones will unlock or not. At first glance, about half are locked.

I may be mistaken but carriers in Canada are now legally required to unlock phones after contracts expire at the request of the customer. After that though you lose handset protection etc. My friend just had their iPhone 3G unlocked by Rogers after their contract expired. It's weird that the website doesn't say they do it, but I'm pretty sure they do.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Oh it's not just the US that does it.

Check out Apple's world list of iPhone carriers.

It shows which ones come unlocked, and which ones will unlock or not. At first glance, about half are locked.

True, but most networks (at least in the UK) will unlock the phone for you (either for free or for a fee). AT&T will not unlock the phone, no matter how much you pay them or what you do.

 

[Mactrillionaire]

The issue isn't that phones are locked to a network, the issue is that wireless companies will not unlock the phone even after you have completed the contract and own the phone. Once you own the phone and have completed the terms of the contract, unless you agree for it to be permanently locked in the contract itself, wireless companies should have no such power.

Ideally, I think Apple wants to eventually sell one version of the iPhone because minimization and unity in product design are strong elements of Apple's philosophy. However, right now, most people are not willing to pay $700 for a new cell phone, so Apple sticks with a subsidized model to sell the iPhone at a price and under terms that most customers would agree to without a problem. Like anything else, it is the sure approach to keep making a profit that drives Apple to try an alternative to what might otherwise be indicated by the Apple design philosophy.

 

[EugenexYew]

Hehe they do that in Singapore too

 

[WelshBluebird]

However, right now, most people are not willing to pay $700 for a new cell phone, so Apple sticks with a subsidized model to sell the iPhone at a price and under terms that most customers would agree to without a problem. .

But there's no reason they can't do both.
They do elsewhere.
Like here in the UK.
It is offered via the mobile networks at a discount (sometimes free, sometimes £100 or whatever) in exchange for signing upto a contract.
But if you are so inclined, you can also buy it from Apple totally unlocked for £500.

 

[Pressure]

That list from Apple isn't exactly updated.

All iPhones in Denmark come unlocked, as all carriers have decided there is no reason to lock it to a specific network because you are bound by contract for 6 months either way.

 

[iPhysicist]

I hear you. It doesnt make any sense.
I think we're the only country that does this BS.

You are the only people who believe the iPhone is 199US$ or 299US$ instead of the full retail price
I think to open the market for the iPhone is a matter of month from now. Give it a year and you will be able to buy unlocked phones.

 

[Menzo]

It would be interesting and I think they would still sell a ton of them through all the carriers because having one unlocked version of the phone would be really well worth it. I think this could happen now that AT&T is not the only game in town, and in Europe all carriers are selling the iPhone 4 so there is no reason the USA couldn't get just an Unlocked iPhone outside of Verizon's CDMA.

I do not know this for certain but it would appear the US is the only major country on the globe that does not sell unlocked iPhones.

 

[jellybean]

I reckon if they sold the iPhone unlocked with no contract in the US they'd wipe the floor with all the Droids. Purchased mine outright here in the UK and although it's a lot of money upfront, over a couple of years it actually works out about the same if not slightly cheaper than buying subsidised on contract. And it's so nice being able to just pop in a local sim from whichever country I'm visiting.

 

[bpn]

That list from Apple isn't exactly updated.

All iPhones in Denmark come unlocked, as all carriers have decided there is no reason to lock it to a specific network because you are bound by contract for 6 months either way.

Sorry mate, but you're wrong. They all come locked, but you can request it is unlocked. Telia don't charge for this now but Telenor do in the first 6 months, free once out of your 6 mth contract. Not sure about 3.

In answer to the original thread; it seems that the US is one of the few countries that Apple do not sell unlocked iphone's to.

Someone else mentioned that Americans pay less for the phone, but they pay more for the contract. AT&T's pricing policy looks crazy compared to European contracts. Locked in for 2 years, pay extra for sms, mms, and really low data allowance. In the UK you can get a "sim only" 1 month rolling contract from 3 for £15 or £25.
In Denmark you can get a 6 month contract (maximum set by law) for about £50 a month with unlimited sms, mms, 10Gb of data and 10 hours of talk. It all evens out I think, but it's nicer to feel that you are not locked into contract for 2 years.

 

[MonkeySee....]

UK Carriers still lock all the iPhones sold under their network name. Apple does however sell the Phones Sim Free at an unsubsidised price.

For the US, sure, Verizon is there, but ATT is still the only GSM provider, they have no need to offer an unlock.

Vodaphone will happily unlock the phone

 

[Wicked1]

I'm in the US. When I was in Tmobile before, I had an old MOTO PHONE and when I travel aboad, they allow me to unlock the phone so I can use it outside the US.

If Verizon has the Iphone now does it mean ATT does not have the exclusive contract with Apple anymore? Should they allow to unlock the IPhone now when your contract expired? Or again Iphone is different from other phone?

They don't in the US, however one AT&T is on GSM, and Verizon's is CDMA, however in the article I read from CNET Verizon did not get an exclusive CDMA contract, so Sprint could get it soon, also I see T-Mobile getting it at some point. If I were Apple I would offer it on every network all around the world, more carriers selling it means more sales of the iPhone overall not a bad deal. I just am not sure Apple wants to make several versions of the phone, I think if they had one Unlocked version it would be great, and if you want to get yours subsidized, then you would have to sign a 2 year contract with that provider, but whatever the case it will be interesting what this year 2011 brings as far as phones and carriers.