Would you spend a $1000 on an unlocked 3G iPhone?
With news out that you can buy an 8GB non contact Iphone from AT&T for $599 without committing to a two-year service agreement or a 16GB for $699, is this going to be the only way to get your hands on an unlockable model?
This suggests €441 cost plus say a 25% for the unlocker/seller plus post,etc so in reality the unlocked market will be around €600 or $850, I think you will be talking about circa $1000
Will the market for unlocked 3G handle this pricing?
I don’t think so, I think version one will stay as the unlockers favourite with the 3G model running at sub 5% for resale.
Opinions?
Are we going to see a trade in unlocked 3G iphones?
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Pat,
it is obviously early in the morning as I am not following this.
If I can buy an unlocked 16gb for $699 from AT&T, why would I spend $1,000 for one.
I’m obviously missing something.
Sorry for being so slow!
Well Tom thats only without a contract, you still have to get it unlocked, get someone to buy it in USA for you, post it to you etc.
remember we were paying 50-100 for the unlock for the first three month of version one release
The two main reasons to unlock are:
1. to use on another network and
2. to install non-Apple apps right?
Does the non-contract version allow you to use it on another network?
Pat, I read this post with a UK price filter. The locked-to-O2 phone costs £399 or close to it. Which is roughly $800 or so. The contract however covers generous data usage which is linked to the iPhone’s not being unlocked. An unlocked phone will only be attractive at that price if a data usage plan as generous as O2′s £35 per month iPhone plan can be found.
Well, I wouldn’t, but I wouldn’t buy one at all.
I think pricing here is unrelated to the phone capability – it’s to do with Fashion. I also think it’s related to country. In the US obsessive compulsive behaviour seems to compel users into making very strange purchases when viewed from a European market.
I could also see markets where the latest fashion statement is valued higher than cash (eg Russia) being ripe for this kind of deal.
O2 are likely to be selling prepay devices in the UK at £299 (8Gb) and £369 (16gb). Not sure if they’ll be unlocked or not, but at these prices no-one is going to bother importing from the US.
@tom
non contract version is like a normal prepaid phone, its still locked, your reasons are correct
@shefaly
carrier pricing isn’t great everywhere, in fact O2 in Ireland have a cap on the download.
@shefaly
The O2 blackberry data tariff is e30 a month for unlimited data, gives you context for the iPhone 1G limit offer.
@Pat – I am in a quandary about this. If they lifted the data limit (and given I am with O2 anyway) I would happily buy “locked” 3G iPhone.
I am uncertain what to do with data limited as without using it (and having Mobileme sync running constantly in background) not clear how much data I would consume.
keith
Correction – €20 for unlimited data with blackberry option
http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/Home/Business/Price+Plans/BlackBerry+pricing
Why should it be any different for the Blackberry competitor?
keith
@keith
I am in exactly the same quandary
we have 5 phones, two blackberries and 2 mobile dongles here with Vodafone, we have minute and data packages spread across all of us, everyone is happy but I would like the iPhone.
The minute packages are useless to me as they are too low and would penalize my company plus capped data worries me a lot.
How do I know my usage, how do I know when I am approaching my cap???
If you can go to the States get yourself a 16 GB for $699, get rid of the box and keep it in your pocket when you pass through customs to avoid tax, this deal is a def. keeper.
One question, why would you pay someone to unlock the phone for you when you (most likely according to the Ziphone fella) will be able to do it yourself?
/Alex
@alex
I have used ziphone on numerous occasions, works perfectly
I am not sure what extra security features we will see on V2 though
I wouldn’t pay $1000 for the new iPhone, but I would pay $599 or £299 for a locked one and I hope that they will be unlocked online soon enough.
I held off on getting the 1st one, but it’s about time I changed my 3 year old 6630 for something new!
TeliaSonera in Sweden will get what’s coming to them and pay the price for their ridiculous pricing on the iPhone plans.
I bet the Canadians are pretty about this too.
Just thought of something. With a modded Xbox 360 you’re not able to access Live and if you try you get banned for life.
I wonder if Apple will put a ban on people that try to access the App Store with an unlocked iPhone or something similar.
Alex
In France for example people buy a contract phone (Iphone) with their points is going to be 200Euros 16Gig, then sell it in Ebay or other, lock or unlock for the going price.
Apple is in Business of selling so in 6 month no contract Iphones will come down and we will be talking of the new Iphone comming in MacExp in Jan 09.
Note: I have an Iphone bought in US $400, unlock free by my son.
There are 20 countries launching on July 11th, and here are some of the prices for the 8GB contract-free iPhone:
US – $599 ~ €377 (plus tax?)
UK – £299 ~ €375
CH – CHF 519 ~ €322
IT – €499
All locked of course!
In Singapore, it is required by law to sell only unlocked cellphones. Officially unlocked iPhones are for $1000 USD. :/