“The quiet release of an unlocked iPhone by Apple yesterday marked an important chapter in the history of a device that’s gone on to become an enormous part of the company’s business,” Josh Lowensohn reports for CNET. “Yes, the $649 and $749 price tags are a complete deal breaker for most people, but with what monthly service and a data plan costs–and more importantly, international data packages–that’s just a chunk of what you end up paying over two years if you’re someone who genuinely needs an international phone.”
Here are five big reasons the unlocked iPhone is a big deal:
1. No contracts
2. No more hacks
3. Makes the iPhone a juicier target for traveling business users
4. Puts the iPhone on unsupported carriers
5. Gives the iPhone 4 a shot in the arm as next-gen iPhone rumors swirl
Read more in the full article here.