According to Apple they won't sell the iPhone in Germany via the Apple-online-store. Since there are no Apple stores in Germany, you will only be able to get the iPhone in T-Mobile stores. Do you think they will sell the phone only in combination with signing up for a new contract? Or will I be able just to go into the T-Mobile store and get me just the iPhone? My thinking is that T-Mobile wants to prevent customers from using phones with other carriers, so they will just hand you over the phone when you sign a contract or upgrade your current plan which is common practice in Germany ... What do you think?

Nobody knows yet, but I guess you must sign the contract first....., as usual.....

if I lived in germany, I guess I would try to approach them saying the Iphone is a gift, and the real owner will pay for the contract him/her-self, so legally I couldnt sign for it in the store?
dunno

Nah, here in Germany you cannot take the phone and sign your Cell contracts at home so far..You can order a contract via the internet but you will get yur cell afterwards my mail...

I don't think t-mobile will make the same mistake like AT&T -> to give the iphones away without a contract.....

In germany is no Apple Store, only Gravis. But I don't think Gravis will sell the iphones too.

Originally Posted by CU3BALL

According to Apple they won't sell the iPhone in Germany via the Apple-online-store. Since there are no Apple stores in Germany, you will only be able to get the iPhone in T-Mobile stores. Do you think they will sell the phone only in combination with signing up for a new contract? Or will I be able just to go into the T-Mobile store and get me just the iPhone? My thinking is that T-Mobile wants to prevent customers from using phones with other carriers, so they will just hand you over the phone when you sign a contract or upgrade your current plan which is common practice in Germany ... What do you think?

I mentioned this WEEKS ago, using the SEARCH function helps, dude.

No, T-Mobile is selling iPhones with a 2-year contract ONLY. Right now it isn't even clear if an unlock will be offered (this is pretty common with T-Mobile in Germany, they usually ask 99 Euro for it during the 2-year period), the iPhone could be the first phone without the possibility to buy an unlock, not even after the 2-year contract. Apparently T-Mobile and Apple are still sorting out the legal aspects of such a decision, apparently they want to offers some sort of iPhone package incl. unlimited EDGE data, etc.. I also heard that the iPhone will be pretty much T-Mobile branded in a technical sense, so you would have a very hard time to use it with a different provider without some mods/hacks. There is a lot of speculation going on right now but one thing is for sure: in Germany, the iPhone will be available ONLY through T-Mobile, it is my understanding that even the german Apple Online Store won't carry it, just optional gear.