Apple to release unlocked version of iPhone

[Juventus3]

Apple said Tuesday that it had signed France Télécom's wireless unit, Orange, to be the U.S. company's exclusive seller of the iPhone in France, agreeing for the first time to sell a version of the device that consumers can use on any network.

The move, which ended a month of speculation, is a concession to a French law that forbids bundling the sale of a mobile phone and a mobile operator. Orange plans to sell both a version of the iPhone locked to its network in France for €399, or $560, and an unlocked version, which will cost more, an Orange spokeswoman, Béatrice Mandrine, said.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/...ness/apple.php

France just became the world's largest exporter of iPhones.

[arsenal]

yes, yes they did. All you have to do is change the language from french to english, and you are golden.

[Juventus3]

The more I think about this the more I'm wondering if you'll need a French permanent address?

There's always ebay I guess.

[arsenal]

Doesn't matter. Just have someone buy it for you in france, and stick in your Rogers / Fido / AT&T / T-Mobile etc sim card.

Mind you, they probably will be very expensive on ebay.

[STeeLy]

There is almost no doubt they will be expensive on e-bay.

[Rifleman]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

There is almost no doubt they will be expensive on e-bay.

They are expensive, period. I'd be way too worried about carrying around a $500 phone. In fact, I have fears my $100 one will be stolen or lost.

[wpgflamesfan]

The other problem you have with this is with the prices of data plans these days your going to be paying through the roof to use it.

[ken0042]

Just heard an ad on CJAY* this morning for some place in Calgary selling the iPhone. West (something) communications. No mention of price.

* Yes, the alarm clock is set to CJAY. That way I can be sure I won't fall back asleep listening to good music.

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Just heard an ad on CJAY* this morning for some place in Calgary selling the iPhone. West (something) communications. No mention of price.

* Yes, the alarm clock is set to CJAY. That way I can be sure I won't fall back asleep listening to good music.

You could be thinking of comwave selling their telephone service. They have the rights to the name "iphone" in Canada, so it has nothing to do with Apple.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/c...emark-dispute/

[ken0042]

Nope, they said Apple iPhone, described the features like music and video, and mentioned that they had 100 units in stock- followed by a comment that they had to be run on the Rogers network.

A buddy of mine has a working iPhone on Fido right now. His mom bought it in the States, he unlocked it, and installed his Sim card. Total cost to him was $400 (or whatever they sell for.) If he could do it, I could see a cell store buying a bunch, unlocking them, and selling them for a profit.

[arsenal]

More new from apple. Going to release the SDK to developers in early 2008.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...arly-2008.html