T-Mobile Selling Unlocked iPhones in Germany
Ars Technica says that T-Mobile has been forced to sell unlocked iPhones in Germany for just under US $1,500. The (temporary?) unlocked iPhone sale is a result of a lawsuit brought by Vodaphone (which is part of Verizon here in the U.S.) that claimed locking a phone to one carrier violated German law.
Here's the scoop:
This is all due to the temporary injunction issued by a German court earlier this week. The judge said that T-Mobile had until today to change its policies with the iPhone. Even though the company said it would oppose the injunction, it apparently had no other choice than to oblige until the case is reviewed once again in a couple of weeks. Vodafone, which brought the case against T-Mobile, said that it would not pursue the iPhone throughout Europe--this case was special because Vodafone believed that it violated German law.Everybody panic! Unlocked iPhones! Get them while they still exist! (If you have lots of extra cash to blow on a phone, that is.)So what can you do now? Well, if you're in Germany and you want an iPhone, you can buy one from T-Mobile for €999. If you already bought an iPhone, the company says that you can request an unlock code (which will probably cost you the difference between €399 and €999). T-Mobile has said that it will continue to sell these contract-free, lock-free iPhones "until the legal situation is solved," so this may be temporary.
T-Mobile forced to sell unlocked iPhones in Germany [Ars Technica]
(Photo:medalian1)
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Comments:
if it's true that European carriers have to pay Apple somewhere around 40% of their monthly fees from iPhone contracts, then that markup might be necessary just so T-Mobile doesn't lose money on each iPhone sale.
T-Mobile should have never agreed to an exclusive deal in the first place if it knew it wouldn't be able to maintain it.
$1500? No Thanks. No phone even with the fancy features is worth that, even if the phone is unlocked.
$1,500 would buy me a new iMac. I could carry it around and pretend it's my phone.
People, Blackberry or HTC Touch. Both have all of IPhone features. A lot cheaper in the long run :)
In 2 years, new iPhone generation, will be better, with more applications and CHEAPER.
Look at iPods, now they are cheaper then Sony's mp3. 2 years ago, they were double or triple the price.
"lawsuit brought by Vodaphone (which is part of Verizon here in the U.S.) that claimed locking a phone to one carrier violated German law."
and Verizon doesn't? Talk about a double standard!!
It's "Vodafone" not "Vodaphone" the correct spelling is even in your quoted text geez, sharpen up.
I love my iPhone, but $1,500? That's ridiculous.