“A $500, $600, or $700 (depending on the model and size) phone isn’t going to sell a ton of units — especially since it’s not unlocked — but there will be those who pay the premium to ship it overseas or are comfortable doing the relatively painless process of unlocking the phone themselves (which voids the warranty),” Siegler writes. “Unfortunately, in the U.S., even if it is unlocked, the phone will only be able to work on T-Mobile as well as AT&T, since those are the two (major) GSM carriers.”
Siegler writes, “Don’t be surprised if when the fourth generation iPhone is announced, if we also hear about a price cut for the current iPhone 3GS down to $99 (just as Apple did last year with the iPhone 3G).”
Full article here.
And even on T-Mobile, the phone would only fall back to GPRS, as the 3G chip in the iPhone cannot connect to T-Mobile’s 3G network (incompatible).
So, there’s really no point unlocking an iPhone in the US, when there aren’t any other 3G carriers where you could use it. Sad state of GSM affairs in the US, where you have a vast country of 300 million people, and only 2 GSM carriers, and even those two don’t support same network standards/frequencies.
Ok Mr. Siegler, I won’t be surprised.
Thanks to me for this, and the previous opera mini story. Why no mention MDN?
Well Lava… you probably got those stories from the same sources MDN got them from. I read them myself yesterday too, as probably half the readers here, another half of whom probably “notified” MDN of these items. These guys don’t sit under a rock waiting for tips.
Actually I talked with a sales rep from Apple and they mention that they would sell me an unlocked phone but only from an apple store.(Currently a 4 hour drive away)
I explained to them that my at&t;contract was about to expire and that I was planning on moving to India and I wanted to buy an iphone for my wife. According to the Apple rep there are 4 ways to buy a legit unlock phone and/or get my iphone unlocked.
1. Get at&t;to unlock it for you. At&t;has the power to unlock the phone. The sales rep mention that they do it for some apple employees when the go over sees to work for longer periods of time. He did mention that at&t;probably won’t unlock it and that many sales people at at&t;don’t even know it is possible.
2. Buy an unlocked from an apple store. He mentioned that my situation would allow me to buy and unlocked phone from Apple. I’m still required to use at&t;but being unlocked nothing could stop me.
3. Get the apple iphone authorized dealer in India to unlock it. Apparently any legit dealer can unlock an iphone from another provider so that it will work on their networks. The sales rep mention this would be the easiest way to get my current iphone unlocked.
4. Buy and unlocked phone in a country that sells them.
I hope this helps anyone who is in a similar situation as I am. I haven’t made it to an apple store to buy my unlocked phone. (I’m waiting on the new ones).
I was encouraged there are legit ways to unlock a phone and there are many valid reason to need your phone unlocked. Moving to another country is the most obvious one.
I don’t recommend hacking your phone to unlock it as this will void your applecare warranty.
iPhone 3G will be free w/ contract, 3GS $99 and of course new iPhone starts at $199.
MDN word ‘gave’ simply amazing, Apple gave away 3G’s (or will give)
I can guarantee there’ll be an iPhone price cut…after I replace my 2 year old 3G next month (have to wait to get the subsidized price)…
@justme2:
Why not wait until June for the next iPhone?
I for one would appreciate an iPhone on ATT’s prepaid plan.
Don’t need a phone that much, would use it more like a Touch that happens to include a camera.
I’m still on my first gen 2G.
June can’t get here fast enough!!!
Why couldn’t someone on Sprint, buy the new wi-fi 4G gadget and an unlocked iPhone from Apple to avoid using either gsm carrier?