Jun 23

Unlocked 3G iPhone

No matter how much you end up paying for your iPhone 3G, the device is surely pretty expensive. Obviously, if you get a subsidized iPhone 3G, you'll only pay as little as $199 in first stage, but...in the long run, you won't get away cheap, you can bet on that! The intriguing part is that, after being announced to become available only with a carrier plan for 2 years, reports from more than just one place started popping up. What do they say? Fortunately, it's about the unlocked 3G iPhones!!!

iPhone 3G unlocked

First, according to a German newspaper, Wirtschaftswoche, T-Mobile will be the provider of the service plans for iPhone 3Gs sold by Gravis, but it seems the German buyers will be able to choose from a longer list of resellers, so the initial claim that the 3G iPhone will only be available in Apple Stores falls.

Considering the above, it's probably only a matter of time until the 3G iPhone becomes available unlocked directly from Apple or third parties. I know this is only a rumor, as all the above, but the fact there's no official confirmation or denial shouldn't be a problem. Just think about the figures - Apple's estimates say that over 30% iPhones have been unlocked by their owners, so no service plan from a preferred carrier, no money for Apple.

What would you do, in this situation? If you ask me, here's what I would do - sell the iPhone unlocked for the same price, but increase costs for repairs/support, and maybe also throw into the pot something to make the iPhone 3G+carrier plan more attractive, like first 3 months for free, a 20% price cut for a MacBook Air purchased together with the iPhone 3G...and the list could be longer than just that. Feel like adding your thoughts to it? Go ahead, nobody is going to stop you!