Filed under: Hardware, Retail, iPhone
Apple Stores selling contract-free iPhones
Last week came the sneak peek at internal AT&T memos meant to coach employees on the sale of unsubsidized iPhones. Today, there's news that Apple has begun selling no-contract iPhones at their retail stores. You can grab an 8GB iPhone 3G for $599 or a 16GB model for $699, take it home and do what you will. Unlike restrictions set up by AT&T, Apple Store customers may purchase as many unsubsidized phones as they please. With WWDC and the release of iPhone OS 3.0 both scheduled for June, it looks like Apple might be clearing house for something new. Perhaps the current model will drop in price and become the entry-level iPhone to make room for the rumored 2009 model.
In any case, go and pick up a contract-free iPhone directly from Apple, if that's your thing.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jpkrautw said 12:16PM on 3-27-2009
Contract-free? Does that mean unlocked, or will they still only work on AT&T?
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Joel said 1:11PM on 3-27-2009
You have to be a current customer to purchase but your contract is not extended for two years. I would wait for this summer anyways given a new iPhone is right around the corner.
Choices!
rjrawlings said 3:37PM on 3-27-2009
@joel
That would be true if you go to an AT@T store. Did you even read the article?
Dave said 12:21PM on 3-27-2009
Play.com in the UK are also selling the 8GB iPhone 3G for £549.99 Sim-Free/Unlocked and the 16GB for £599.99 from today with free delivery and dispatching in 4-5 days time. Definitely looks like Apple are clearing out ready for a new model
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finn999999 said 12:39PM on 3-27-2009
Call me a dolt, but what the heck are you supposed to DO with a no-contract iPhone?
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Tomahawk said 1:10PM on 3-27-2009
Only thing I can think of is that it might allow you to use it as Go phone...where just pay for the minutes/data that you use.
FightTheFuture said 12:45PM on 3-27-2009
in 3 months we're gonna see a ton of upset comments of how they released a new iPhone right when they bought the current model.
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PSM said 3:38PM on 3-27-2009
Yeah, sounds like somebody's offering a new deal to try and clear out some inventory...
James said 12:48PM on 3-27-2009
You unlock it or use it on a prepaid plan.
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Andre said 1:00PM on 3-27-2009
The 3.0 release is scheduled for June? Where was that announcement? I missed that. Last I heard was "summer".
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brian said 2:18PM on 3-27-2009
Sweet! Nice to know that if a new iPhone comes out this summer and I decide to upgrade again, I'll be able to sell my activated-but-no-longer-needed 3G for a good price. :-)
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Marcos said 2:25PM on 3-27-2009
An unlocked phone would be really nice. This... not quite there.
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mark said 3:01PM on 3-27-2009
This is idiotic. All you have to do is buy the iPhone on contract then cancel it and pay the ETF. It's cheaper that way than just buying it out right.
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Jack Broyles said 3:16PM on 3-27-2009
I read somewhere that not only do you pay the $175 ETF, but AT&T is adding a surcharge for contract breach on iPhone owners. Works out to a LOT more than $175. But I am not sure if that is true-only read about it one time.
Smiley Barry (TSL) said 3:21PM on 3-27-2009
My friend tried getting an iPhone 3G via contract and then canceling it. AT&T told her (and showed her (in the contract)) that upon cancellation, the iPhone must be returned. Yes, I'm serious.
Jack Broyles said 3:14PM on 3-27-2009
I am sure these phones have the 2.31.00 baseband and thus are not currently unlockable using yellosn0w.
Not sure what the benefit is here? Especially with the price-wait for the new one! Hope AT&T will let me get a new one, will still have 1 year left on my contract in July.
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Milo said 9:26PM on 3-28-2009
My iPhone 3g is unlocked.
I called Optus (my telco) and they unlocked it.
Charlie said 3:32PM on 3-29-2009
WOOHOOO non contract iphones, yeah its great but they are stupidly expensive!!!
by the way...for great Up-to-Date news, tips, tricks and great deals go to [REDACTED]
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Jack Broyles said 9:35PM on 3-28-2009
Milo
very interesting-I wonder if AT$T would do that here in the USA-I can't imagine it if the phone is still under contract.
But that gets me thinking-I thought in the USA there was a law that the carriers had to unlock you after 90 days. I got T-MO to unlock my RAZR that way. If you have good payment history, I thought they HAD to unlock you?
Anyone try to get AT$T to unlock them?
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Milo said 8:47AM on 3-29-2009
I don't why AT&T would care.
Regardless of which telco you use, they will still be getting your monthly payments, so why not.