Last night the Apple Store went down and when it came back up–some changes occurred (aside from a refreshed Mac Mini). We read about how the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 will now be sold UNLOCKED from Apple when you buy them outright. Once again, the wording goes as follows:
When you purchase your iPhone from the Apple Online Store, you’ll get it commitment-free. So you can sign up for service with the carrier of your choice and change your carrier at any time.
It works internationally.
Because this iPhone is commitment-free, you can purchase a micro-SIM or SIM card and service from a local carrier at your destination. Or check with your home carrier regarding international roaming charges.
Canadians: The Shackles Have Come Loose
This is news is huge for Canadians. No longer will we be forced to use carrier locked phones to Rogers, Telus and Bell. Previously, getting an unlocked GSM phone meant paying full price for an out of country phone, or paying extra to get it unlocked from the ‘Big 3’ (if they even acknowledged you).
The reason for Apple’s change to factory unlocked units? I place it solely on the Google Nexus One being sold factory unlocked during its launch and the fact Apple sold the iPad 3G unlocked. These two events hinted that Apple would sell their iPhones unlocked. Many predicted Apple would match Google (including myself) and this makes travelling now with an iPhone truly a dream.
Previously, the only countries where iPhones were sold unlocked were Hong Kong and Italy. Now, you can include Canada, the UK and France to that list. Oh, and our American friends? Doesn’t look like they are included in the exclusive “unlocked” club just yet.
Poll: Will You Pay Full Price for an Unlocked iPhone 4 in Canada?
The iPhone 3GS is being sold unlocked for $549. We can assume from this price the iPhone 4 will be sold outright for $649/749 for the 16GB/32GB models. This is a small price to pay for freedom. What will you do?
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If you jailbreak, can't you unlock your phone for travelling?
I would love to but I don't have a credit card to order from the online store and it's sounding like only the ones from Apple's store will be unlocked. I guess I'm going to spend the time between now and when we can order trying to find a way to order one.
Not everyone likes to jailbreak their phones though.
Two years ago, my wife got a factory unlocked brand new Nokia N82 from HK for $4800HKD ($750CDN). So, I think the price is about right for this future factory unlocked iPhone 4. However, I think it's still going take sometimes for our market to adjust to that since we are always spoiled by free phones with contract.
Mon iPhone fonctionne-t-il avec n’importe quelle carte SIM ou n’importe quel opérateur dans le monde ?L’iPhone 3GS utilise des cartes SIM et l’iPhone 4 des cartes micro-SIM fournies par les opérateurs compatibles (cartes prépayées incluses). L’iPhone n’est pas pris en charge par les réseaux non GSM. Les données 3G sont disponibles uniquement si votre opérateur prend en charge les fréquences radio utilisées par l’iPhone.
Is my iPhone will work with any kind of SIM card or with any service provider in the world?
The iPhone 3GS use SIM cards and the iPhone 4 use micro-SIM cards provided by the compatible providers (pre-paid cards included). The iPhone is not compatible with non-GMS network. The 3G data plan are available only if your service provide is using the same radio frequency as the iPhone.
Yep, completely agree. It's tough for some to pay the unlocked price up front, especially when carriers are dangling that subsidized $199 price point in front of you on a 3 year contract.
Yeah, but like Kaitlyn said jailbreaking is something that most casual iPhone users avoid.
The Canadian Apple store also has the phrase “It works internationally” on their website so it must be truly unlocked.
Jailbreak – so that you can use third party apps other than OEM Apple.
Unlock – so that you can use service from all other carriers. Great for travelling.
I unlocked my 3GS (3.1.2/5.11) last time during at overseas. It was useable but slightly unstable. Other users reported from no issues at all to totally doesn't work. So a factory unlocked with warranty is the best situation but not really everyone needs it from the current market.
does anyone remember the tethered jailbreak/unlock we suffered through (and in some cases still suffering through) with ths 3gs last november ? factory unlocked iphones, this is amazing news .
Posted update, I am blind. Confirmed. *claps hands*
Honestly… I don't travel that often that getting SIMs/plans from other countries is economically smart and I haven't had issues with my carrier (so far), so I'll not really willing to pay close $600+ for something that will probably be out of date within a year.
On the other hand, I am glad there is that option for Canadians now. It's too bad the two new carriers don't operate 3G frequencies that the iPhone is compatible with but if you can live with lower speeds you're good to go.
Freedom? I don't consider Bell or Telus service any kind of freedom. Has anyone here ever called the customer service line for Bell? Please.
It's not only casual iPhone users who avoid jailbreaking. I am a hardcore iPhone user, wanted one from the time the original one came out in the US and I've had my 3G since the first month they were out, but it's never been jailbroken. I honestly just don't want to play the back and forth game or wait to upgrade to a new software update.
unlock phones has the freedom to travel internationally and great for resale value.
Just curious what people's thoughts are on why a carrier like Rogers or Telus wouldn't be willing to sell a subsidized unlocked iPhone 4 when you sign a multi-year contract. I am aware that they would be losing out on international roaming charges (if you're silly enough pay $2/min or whatever their exorbitant rates are) but they have you in a binding contract for X years so they would recoup their subsidy the same as if they sold you a locked phone.
I've got no choice but to buy the phone outright, seeing as I have to wait a full 24 months to upgrade with Rogers. I had to get my 3GS from Apple Executive Relations.
If the subsidized value of the phone is $600, then over the 36 month contract, I think that's ~$16 a month for the subsidy. Therefore, if I purchase the entire iPhone 4 outright, I should get $16 off my contract. Yet the companies will not take $16 off, so then I won't buy the phone outright because I would end up paying for it twice.
The thing for me is, if the B3 offered a 2 year contract a la in the US then I'd sign on.
3 years? Screw that. Tech changes too fast for that.
We have a year left in our 36 months.
My wife and I will buy outright and, if Jonbabbit is correct, see what kind of cost concession we can wring out of Bell for NOT going subsidized pricing. Probably won't work but I will NOT sign on for 3 years ever again.
een
Is it just me or is only the 8GB 3GS available from the Canadian Apple Store?
een
Exactly.
hahah ROGERS now you dont have as much power. CANT WAIT
I had one of the original AT&T iPhones and it was jailbroken so that I could use it here in Canada. I have a 3GS now that's jailbroken. I honestly couldn't imagine using an iPhone that's not been jailbroken, it just adds so much utility to a good phone and makes it a great phone.
You don't have to wait to upgrade ever – unless you don't want to give up your jailbreak. The fact that so many jailbreakers do wait is a testament to how much jailbreaking adds to the phone. We don't wait because we must. We wait because the jailbreak enhancements are worth the (usually short) wait.
“We read about how the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 will now be sold UNLOCKED from Apple when you buy them outright.â€
I don't see anything at that link about how the iPhone 4 will be sold unlocked. Did Apple confirm this?
I've spent a lot of time considering jailbreaking and never once found a good enough reason for me personally. I love my stable iPhone and don't have a need to jailbreak. That doesn't mean other people don't have reasons, but just because some people jailbreak doesn't mean that people who prefer not to won't benefit from an unlocked phone.
micro-sim or sim? do they both work on the iphone 4?!
From what I saw in the Apple keynote, they won't offer 16GB and 32GB 3GS anymore.
So now when I buy an unlocked iPhone from Apple, how much is Rogers going to charge me for a sim card which obviously is not included with the phone?
Certainly. An unlocked iPhone has greater appeal than just to jailbreakers.
I just took exception to your characterizing jailbreaking as somehow limiting your ability to upgrade. It doesn't and never has. Stability is what you make it too.
I've fixed the horrid notification system on the iPhone and added quick access to my most commonly used settings (screen lock, brightness, 3G, tethering, etc.). Multitasking for my music and radio streaming for over a year now etc.
I love the way Apple implements features, but until they get around to the features that are missing, I can fix them myself. If the iPhone meets all your needs as is, more power to you.
😉
Micro-SIM works in the iPhone 4.
SIM was for the iPhone 3G/3GS
Since they're selling them unlocked now, will they give us the codes to unlock our current iphones??
Présentement avec les iPhone 3G et 3GS acheté chez un des 3 gros opérateurs ( Rogers, Bell et Telus), ton cellulaire est seulement actif chez la compagnie respective. Cependant, il existe des solutions “illegales” qui te permettent de unlock ton cellulaire et l'utiliser sur n'importe quel réseau au monde. Cependant, tu dois jailbreak ton cell pour sa.
So, everyone here is thinking if you buy iPhone 4 from a carrier, instead of from Apple, it will be locked to that carrier? Does that make sense for Apple to do that? It is locked to AT&T in the US. It's being shipped unlocked to Canada, so would the device become locked to your carrier, upon activation? Personally, I think all iPhones will be unlocked, but you get the subsidized price for signing the hefty contract.
I was going to buy an unlocked iPhone in Italy when I'm there in September. However, I will buy it in Canada if it's unlocked…
Buying outright makes the most sense if you want to upgrade as much as possible and not planning to live in Canada forever.
Why would you have a contract if you buy your phone outright? That makes no sense anyway you put it. But because I am willing to stay with them for at least 3 years then they will give me a discount on a purchase of a phone. Its so simple.
I just don't get why people get all up in arms over this.
If you have a contract then your phone is locked to that carrier for the life of the contract. Similar to a lease. Once your contract is up and you wish to leave you can get carrier to unlock it.
Buying outright makes the most sense if you don't use the Internet while away from wifi sources but don't want to be forced to pay a $25/month data plan for 3 years totalling $900 plus the “subsidized ” $200 that's $1100 for a 16Gb 3GS compared to $549 for the just announced 8GB 3GS which also comes pre-installed with iOS 4.
HELP!!!!! WILL THE PRICE BE MORE TO BUY IT UNLOCKED COMPARED TO BUYING IT OUTRIGHT FROM ROGERS/BELL/TELUS???? WILL THE IPHONE 4 BE AVAILABLE AT BEST BUYS AND FUTURE SHOPS IN CANADA?????
THANKS
ps: sorry bout caps
The unlocked phone forces the big 3 to up the stakes. If they want to retain customers they'll have to provide better service and support. If I can take my phone to any carrier I'd like Rogers is going to have to keep me happy to keep my business. That's not just pricing but also coverage and customer service.
It also adds a higher resale value. I can sell to any one on any carrier and they don't have to worry about the cat and mouse jailbreak/unlock game. I sold my 3G to by my 3GS and I'll do the same to subsidise the cost of the iPhone 4.
I'm so stoked. I may never sign a contract again.
What's the point of having the Iphone locked to a carrier ? ….
Since you can cancel the contract at anytime and pay the cancelation fees … Does it make a difference if it is locked or unlocked ?
Why should a phone be locked to a carrier when I've already signed a legal contract saying that I will pay them, at the very least, the buyout value of a contract over say, a three year term. If after a year I jump from Rogers to Telus I still have to pay them (what used to be) $20/month for the rest of the contract term which more than covers their subsidy. In my case, I'm going overseas for a couple months next year and if the phone is locked to Rogers I have to use their international roaming at $2/min for calls and $30/MB for data!
OK so you already have a contract? And you are going to buy the phone outright? then No the phone will not be tied to the carrier, just the sim card will be. Then you can go anywhere you like.
Now if you already had a contract then you have to honor the contract or pay the fine to leave early liek you stated.
So question, did you get a discount on a new phone when you entered into the contract?
So I read all the posts here, desperately trying to find a financially valid reason to pay full price for an unlocked phone. I couldn't. So I don't understand the excitement. But I would LOVE to see an article written as to why this truly would be a benefit and how to accomplish that (type of services to sign up for, type of short term US services to get when traveling, etc).
Here's my uneducated thinking…
1. You still have to buy a plan. Chances are, the longer – the better price. Or are you just wishfully thinking that cell phone companies will lower rates if you already have a phone – even though no one has yet to succumb to the notion of lowering prices due to increased competition, and, presumably, will give a rats ass if you already own a phone.
2. Traveling out of the country means you have to buy another plan – even if very short term (if there is such a thing), and may not be financially practical.
3. People, for some reason don't like long contracts. Why? I got a reasonably sweet deal when the 3GS came out and I benefit from that for a full 3 years. As far as I know, I can't get that deal now! Regardless, the grass is definitely not greener on the other side of the fence. All Canadian carriers suck.
4. Or is it that you hate not being able to upgrade to the latest phone each year? As I understood it, you don't HAVE TO get a 3 year plan.
As mentioned, this is just my limited understanding. I gladly await to be corrected.
This is the only reason that I wouldn't buy the phone outright unlocked. I have no problem paying full price for a phone upfront but if I have to pay back what is essentially a loan built into my service fees for money that I never borrowed, there isn't much point in getting an unlocked phone (unless you're a big international roamer and your roaming fees saved would otherwise buy a brand new phone)
Has anyone had any success in getting a SIM for a reasonable price from the big 3 with a discounted service plan if you bring your own phone? I would assume this would also mean that iPhone specific data features like visual voicemail wouldn't work.
This is huge news. My 3gs was stolen last week and of course Rogers isn't going to help me with anything to replace it. I have 2yrs left on my contract with a cheaper EPP voice plan, so I might as well get an unlocked phone if I'm going to be paying full price to replace/upgrade anyways. This way I have an opportunity to get away from Rogers in 2yrs, plus have the freedom when I travel to not having to worry about anything.
Re: travelling out of the country, all you would need is a prepaid SIM from a carrier who also carries the iPhone. This can be as low as $20 for a month of use.
My question is really around why carriers even bother, or are allowed to, lock their phones. If I want an iPhone 4 for say $199, which is likely for the 16GB model, then shouldn't I be able to walk into any carrier and say, “I'm willing to pay you at least $720 ($20 x 36 months) for a three year contract, and in return, you give me about $600 or so off the full retail price of an unlocked phone.” They're guaranteed $720 even if I bail on day 2 of the contract.
Don't have a contract at the moment so I could go either way. In my opinion it should be illegal to lock phones unless there is no way for the carrier to recoup their subsidy if you bolt.
Sorry if I'm missing something, but what do you expect Rogers to do about your lost phone?