For the first time, Apple is offering an unlocked iPhone for sale to customers in the U.S. The company began selling the unlocked, GSM-based iPhone 4 on its Web site on Tuesday, with prices starting at $649.
An unlocked phone is one that is not tied to a carrier's cellular network; you must obtain your own cellular service in order to get the phone to work. Apple previously had sold contract-free iPhones in the U.S., but these are different from unlocked models. While the contract-free iPhones did not require that you commit to a lengthy service commitment from a carrier, they were tied to AT&T's network. The new, unlocked iPhones can be used on any compatible GSM network. In the U.S., T-Mobile and AT&T offer GSM networks.
While the unlocked iPhone 4 will work on either T-Mobile's or AT&T's network, buyers should note that the handset is not compatible with T-Mobile's 3G network, which runs on a different frequency than AT&T's 3G network. On T-Mobile, the unlocked iPhone will be restricted to the carrier's EDGE network, which delivers speeds comparable to a dial-up modem.
To use an unlocked iPhone, you will have to obtain your own micro-SIM. For more information about unlocked phones, see Unlocked Phones: What You Need to Know.
Photo © Apple
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