Apple may offer unlocked iPhone 4 handsets starting Wednesday

By on Jun 13, 2011 at 7:45 AM
mobile June 13, 2011

With rumors of something new being cooked up at U.S. Apple Stores later this week, widespread speculation swept the Web suggesting Apple would finally take the wraps off its updated Sandy Bridge-powered MacBook Air notebooks. According to well-known and well-sourced iOS developer Chronic, that won’t be the case. Instead, for the first time, Apple plans to offer unlocked iPhone 4 models directly to consumers beginning Wednesday. Part numbers break down as follows: MC603 (16GB, Black) MC604 (16GB, White) MC605 (32GB, Black) MC606 (32GB, White). While pricing has not yet been confirmed, expect to pay a pretty penny for the new contract-free iPhones.

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  • http://twitter.com/SenorDickhaus Señor Dickhäus

    Starting at the low retail price of $799!

    • http://www.droiddoes.com/ iNorm

      It actually says 599, not that still isn’t expensive though

  • http://twitter.com/ChazClout ChazClout

    It would be fantastic if Apple just made every single GSM iPhone network unlocked by default like the GSM Nexus One/S.

    I’ve found it handy at times to be able to swap sims with my Nexus at will, especially when popping my o2 data sim in for use with personal hotspot.

    Come on Apple, tell the networks/carriers who is boss!

  • Cfd

    For the birthday of the original iPhone launch? (June 29th). AT&T exclusivity clause coming to an end?

    • DREW J

      What ????

      • Anonymous

        There’s supposed to be a clause in AT&T’s contract with Apple in which AT&T is to be the sole provider of GSM iphones in the US.

      • http://www.facebook.com/JustinBauder Justin Bauder

        Oh, you mean that contract you have never actually laid eyes on?

        …yeah that’s what I thought

      • Anonymous

        I never claimed it as fact.  Get off your high horse.

  • Jr

    If they price them they way they do in other countries, then expect to pay almost exactly what AT&T sells them for contract free.

  • Batteman87

    This might be too much for Droid uses this early in the AM….. lol 

  • Anonymous

    Aws on board magically unlocked?

  • Anonymous

    Why buy old tech at a new price, wait until september. how many carriers can it run on in the USA unlocked at&t and tmobile maybe.  Euro model works differently, unless they are using a different chipset, wowser

    • Anonymous

      Old tech? The iPhone 4 from last year, still is besting other phones on the market now. 1Ghz processor, 512mb Ram, one of the best cameras, still highest res screen, best built quality. Anything else? Sure – we are seeing dual-core android phones, but performance goes almost unnoticed next to an iPhone 4

  • Rizulli

    You’ve been able to get them factory unlocked in Canada for over a year now. In fact you can’t get one through the Canadian Apple Store that is carrier subsidized, you have to go through the carriers directly.

    • Anonymous

      USA customers aren’t allowed yet to buy Apple iPhone devices unlocked, because the Apple still has an unofficial “exclusive” GSM contract with AT&T, until it’s either confirmed that the iPhone 4 has AWS on board, and will be made unlocked, or that the iPhone 5 will support “true” global 3G band. “True” global 3G as in all five Penta-bands (850/1900/AWS 1700/1800/2100), and not (850/900/1900/2100) as Apple currently provides.

      Apple needs to follow Nokia’s Penta-band beliefs. It’s cheaper to make one chip. AWS is not a new 3G band. It’s been around 2006. Any OEM not placing it in their chipset support, is pathetic.

  • Anonymous

    Pointless in the US as they do not support AWS, but Canada finally has a reason not to sign a 3 year deal!

    • Anonymous

      Here in Canada ours have been unlocked for ages

  • Anonymous

    Does that mean ATT can finally issue an unlock for those that completed contract or paid in full for the phones?  If not, someone should sue them heavily 

    • Tim

      Someone should sue you for being retarded! Can’t unlock an iPhone with a simple code typed on the dial pad asshole. And there is no way a company is gonna allow programs like red sn0w to be downloaded on their computers.

      • JD

        I guess they will sue you at the same time. All it takes is iTunes to unlock the iPhone. AT&T can allow it, but cReed over powers them.

      • JD

        Sue me for not being able to type, & bgr for a slow website

      • JD

        I guess they will sue you at the same time. All it takes is iTunes to unlock the iPhone. AT&T can allow it, but cReed over powers them.

  • http://twitter.com/gikku iGikku

    will AT&T start offering go-phone support for iPhone?

    • Lcb084

      Tmobile offers the iphone in a prepaid plan for $50 unltd talk text n web. Cant beat that.

      • Anonymous

        Yea…rather spend the extra cash for 3G. 2G iPhone is damn near useless for me.

      • Anonymous

        really? where’s a link to THAT offer?!

  • Nate

    Contract free? Well it’s about damn time!

  • Anonymous

    can someone explain to me what they mean when they say unlocked? as in unlocked so I can use it on any carrier in the U.S with 3g support? 

    • Anonymous

      By unlocked it technically means that it can be used with any SIM card from any network.  As far as 3G support for other USA carriers besides AT&T, it depends on if it has the proper bands.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, unlocked to be used on AT&T?
    Because who in his right mind would use it on EDGE?

  • Karen

    That will be great!  I can’t wait!  I’ll be able to spend $600 for a $200 cell phone… and will *STILL* need to pay AT&T or T-Mobile (the 2 worst companies out there)… exactly the same monthly fee.

    What’s the difference between paying a fee every month for 2 years… or paying the same monthly fee on a 2 year contract????

    Are people brain-dead???  You gain nothing.  You will A-L-W-A-Y-S need to pay the same monthly fee.  You’ll just be allowed to stop paying after less than 2 years.  (And of course, will have a useless device.)

    You will ALWAYS have to pay some one.

    • Anonymous

      Everything isn’t about YOU.

      For someone like me…I can now travel on business trips like usual without having to worry about jailbreaking/carrier unlocking an iphone. I can now just pop in the sim card for Mexico or for Canada or for even Thailand (yep, I sometimes have to go there!) and keep my feet moving!

      It’s not meant for YOU. Sorry if that must hurt your feelings. It’s meant for ME. Someone who wants to leave ATT behind completely and warranty wise when I step off the plane. Because while I currently have a rooted android phone, the idea of doing the same on an iphone doesn’t appeal to me honestly.

      There’s always a reason why a company does something. Next time think before you type…

      • Anonymous

        Agreed on this being great for people who travel extensively.  If this holds true, it might convince me to buy one.

  • Anonymous

    Very few people will be on board with this. Bottom line is, people are cheap.

  • CMC

    What’s the point?  There is ONLY one carrier that has SIM cards for it.

  • Anonymous

    T-Mo 3G bands? If not it is not really worthy if you have T-mo.

  • Lowell Mcadam

    Is this limited to GSM devices? Or does it involve CDMA devices as well?

    • Anonymous

      It would be great if this was a true world phone, sporting CDMA support and unlocked GSM support.  The chipset in the current Verizon iPhone 4 already has support for GSM, but it’s lacking a SIM slot.  Producing a single device that works anywhere, on any carrier, would be a big deal.  Even if it is last year’s tech, it would still be a big deal.

  • http://twitter.com/benebertz Benjamin

    Does this mean there CDMA phone would work with Sprint?

    • Lowell Mcadam

      Sprint would have to recognize the phone on their network. Or in other words, Sprint would need to grant permission for Iphones to be activated on their network.

      I’m sure they would if that’s the case. Dan Hesse is the anti-ceo and he’s anti-NaziCarrier.

      This may be irrelevant though as I believe Sprint will have an Iphone on their shelves by the end of the year anyway.

  • Anonymous

    In Canada, a 16gb model is $659. It should be around that price..

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