Originally Posted by trapper

Also ‘simlock’ is nothing to do with it. In France or Germany you might get a non-simlocked phone, but you are still going to be signing up to a contract like anywhere else in the world. (or paying a premium for a non-contract pay as you go deal if they offer this)

I believe that in France the law stipulates that you can't be forced to sign up for a contract in order to purchase a phone. So the iPhone 3G should be available unlocked in France for a HUGE premium (it's currently about 750 euros) and it should work with other carriers if it is pay as you go.

[QUOTE=trapper;303320]Apple doesn’t charge more, they charge US$199 (converted to local currency) in all Apple stores - and on the condition that you sign up to a local carrier contract. No contract = No phone.

The carriers themselves can charge what they want. For contracts this will likely be the same as Apple or less, otherwise people would just buy through the Apple store instead. But for any pay as you go non-contract type deal this will be a whole lot more than the contract subsidised US$199. (Applies online, offline, or otherwise)




Why are you assuming that $199 is a contract subsidised price? On O2 certain tariffs will give you a free iPhone, they are subsidised.

Watch the keynote speech video on apple.com - SJ clearly states it will be available for $199 everywhere(8Gb iPhone 3G). That translates to £99 to £100 in UK.

SJ wants an iPhone in everybody's pocket. Hence the change of tactics. He even makes a joke about all the unlocked iPhones in other countries. Domination (or a good chunk of the mobile market) is on the Apple 5 year plan. He can't be seen condoning unlocked iPhones because of all the contracts they have in place (ie AT&T, o2, Orange etc), but he is quietly pleased with all the demand worldwide for his baby. Apple make money with every sale - be it on a contract or not.

Originally Posted by paultart

Why are you assuming that $199 is a contract subsidised price? On O2 certain tariffs will give you a free iPhone, they are subsidised.

Because ‘iPhone only sold that price with a contract’ = Contract price.


eg… this is what we know so far for the UK.

Apple stores:
With 18 month O2 contract. price = US$199 ~ £100
With no contract. price = no phone!

O2:
With £30/month or £35/month 18 month contract. price = £99
With £45/month or £75/month 18month contract. price = free
With no contract. price not yet known but must be much more than £99


http://www.o2.co.uk/assets/O2HybridN...lyTariffs.html
http://www.o2.co.uk/assets/O2HybridN...GOverview.html

Maybe they will start selling new iphones on contract but I think they will ignore that after they see low sales because not everybody wants a AT & T line, taking the old iphone for example, I found a post that says that over 60% of phones sold were not AT & T customers, and I will not change my phone provider nor my number just to have a new iPhone, I'll wait till everything calms down then after I can buy another one like i did with this one I'll buy one too.

Originally Posted by abrasBR

I really want to see how this will work here in Brasil.
Brasil is one of the countrys that will have iPhone 3G, but here is not allowed LOCKED phones by law. All phones here must be unlocked.
So apple will be forced to sell unlocked phones, at least unlocked to all brasilian carriers.
Abras

Abras,
Actually, the carriers can sell locked phones as long as they offer some kind of subsidy. After the subsidy is over, the phone must be unlocked.

thats cuz apple got the full value for iphone and whether u activate or no doesnot matter. Also att didn't subsidze the iPhone so they aren't losing anything either...but now its just like any regular mobile... I think there will be an option to cancel the contract but return the iphne or att will charge the full price of the phone which will def be huge $$$...

so now we can't just buy this iPhone and wait for the unlock!

cause sure thing I won't switch network...I can't

Well, All I can say is, Apple is trying Not to repeat their mistake.
Anyways, I dont mind the contract because I am in India and the iPhone 3G will be here from Japan in some time... Available in Grey Market. So, I'll just Buy and Unlock !

Abras,

Once you have signed the mobile company contract, dosen´t matter what are you going to do with your iphone, because you have to fallow the contract.

For sure here we'll have very high prices, we can´t even think to compare with US and UK prices..


The other point is, how the only option to buy a 3G iphone on US is buying on ebay, AT&T customers will buy and sell it...

Originally Posted by jabdalla

Abras,
Actually, the carriers can sell locked phones as long as they offer some kind of subsidy. After the subsidy is over, the phone must be unlocked.

you are wrong, dosen´t matter what mobile you are going to use, once you fallow the contract, you can assign and take the iphone and sell it, but you have to finish the contract or pay high fine