Buying an iPhone in the US? Pay full price

This article says to buy T-Mobile. You don't have to. Just pay retail, use whatever you want.

Walk into a USA Apple store, ask for a "device only" phone. They'll give you one of the AT&T stock, but when you get back to the office or home and connect to iTunes, you'll get the message:

“Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked.”

Tada, use any plan you like, anywhere you like. This worked on the iPhone 4S before Apple even announced no-contract phones.

Nice incisive article. You recognize a really good point. While T-Mobile is at the pit of the phone carriers, they seem to listen (and react) to what their costumers want. I just wish that maybe one day one of the hot-shot carriers will come to their senses and follow in T-Mobile's footsteps.

If you're on a family plan, the marginal cost could still be cheaper. For my share of it, it's $10/mo plus however much data I choose (I'll stick with the grandfathered unlimited plan for $30).