Apple stores now selling iPhone 3G without a contract (US) | Hacker News Reader

Apple stores now selling iPhone 3G without a contract (US)

appleinsider.com

21 pointspmjordan10 comments

If anyone doubted a new iPhone model coming soon, this should be all the proof they need.

Couldn't you just pay for the phone in full (its subsidized through AT&T) and not have to get a contract?

This is what apple is offering but the phone is locked to AT&T. AT&T is also said to start offering iPhone at full price to existing customers (limit one per customer) with no contract for iPhone.

... that are locked to AT&T.

As per http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2008-07-31-att-... Apple is under contractual obligation to allow AT&T as the only carrier till 2010.

But they're easily unlocked. With Tmobile's inexpensive 3G data plans, it'll work out cheaper in the long run to unlock and switch providers.

Depending on where you are at, this may end up being more annoying than its worth. A couple friends with Android Phones on TMobile say their 3g coverage sucks 10x worse than AT&T.

In America, the iPhone's 3G modem only talks on AT&T's network. You'll be stuck with EDGE speeds on any other carrier.

Is this true? Does anyone have a link for verification? I'm not doubting you; I do remember hearing this... just looking for the details.

This is true. The 3G (UMTS) networks of AT&T and T-Mobile operate on different frequencies. AT&T uses predominantly 1900 MHz (and 850 MHz), while T-Mobile US uses 1700 and 2100 MHz. In Europe 3G is at 2100 MHz. The 3G T-Mobile US network is one of very few 1700 MHz 3G networks in the world.

Presumably the current iPhone 3G is triband (850/1900/2100) as it is sold in Europe, Australia, South America, and North America. A quadband (850/1700/1900/2100) iPhone would work on T-Mobile in 3G, but there is little reason before 2010 for Apple to include 1700 MHz capability.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UMTS_networks#North_Ame...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com