For the first time in history, Apple is now offering factory unlocked iPhones in the U.S. If you walk into your local Apple store, or browse online, you can purchase an unlocked iPhone 4 for operation on any compatible carrier. These unlocked devices start at $649.
AT&T does not currently offer unlocked iPhones in the United States. AT&T has yet to state if it will offer unlocked iPhones in its stores, or if the GSM carrier will unlock previously purchased iPhones.
We reported a recent rumor that Apple was going to start selling factory unlocked versions of the iPhone 4 in its U.S. retail stores this Wednesday, and that rumor has already come true.
Already, both the 16GB and 32GB GSM versions of the iPhone 4 are available as unlocked devices on Apple's online store. Sources still confirm that the devices will hit retail locations across the country tomorrow.
After the next generation iPhone was a no-show at Apple's WWDC conference last week, the previous reports of an iPhone release in September gained more credibility. Now, according to some Apple intelligence from 9to5Mac, the next iPhone has reached final testing stages (or "AP" stage) with high-level Apple and carrier executives.
All signs point towards Apple being on track for a September release of the next iPhone, but some problems with Verizon could restrict FaceTime over 3G on the carrier's CDMA network.
Apple could start selling unlocked iPhones in its retail stores, starting this Wednesday. According to famed jailbreak developer, Chronic, Apple retail is gearing up to offer factory unlocked iPhones in U.S. locations. If Chronic's sources are correct, travelers and SIM-swappers should be very happy with this news.
This would be the first time that Apple offered factory unlocked iPhones in the U.S. Customers in countries like Canada and Hong Kong have already been able to purchase carrier-unlocked iPhones.
The iPhone just won't quit. After five years of being on the market, Apple's smartphone is now available on 200 carriers worldwide. Sales are estimated to stay strong, and Apple should be on track to unveil a new iPhone this fall.
Since March of this year, Apple has gone from 186 carriers to 200 worldwide. The iPhone is available on the two largest carriers in the United States, AT&T and Verizon, as well. Apple is making aggressive moves to get the iPhone on as many carriers as possible across the globe.
Apple made headlines earlier this year when they finally took their iPhone to a 2nd U.S. carrier. The popular smartphone had been an AT&T-only device since its inception in 2007, so needless to say users were glad to finally have an option.
But what about Sprint customers? Will they ever see an iPhone offered by their carrier? It doesn't take a magic 8 ball to know that all signs point to yes, but we've recently heard more "confirmation" that a Sprint-branded iPhone exists...
Apple's wireless carrier partners were apparently just as surprised as we were when Apple unveiled its new messaging client, iMessage, at yesterday's WWDC keynote. Reportedly, Apple didn't bother to give carriers a heads up that they were introducing a new, media-rich messaging client before the actual presentation to the public.
Wireless carriers are the ones that will actually be handling the transfer of messages/photos/videos in iMessage over 3G. Apple demonstrated its classic attitude by not even bothering to give carriers a heads up about iMessage. What Apple wants, Apple gets.
Another interesting tidbit was unveiled by AT&T Mobility CEO, Ralph de la Vega, concerning the company's future strategy for data plans. Instead of having to buy a separate data plan for each wireless device, such as an iPhone and iPad 3G, customers will be able to purchase a "shared data plan" that could be used across all registered devices.
After receiving a lot of criticism over the network's poor reliability and quality, AT&T is trying to adapt and build a better infrastructure for the largest group of smartphone customers in the U.S. These shared data plans look to be part of the plan for creating a better AT&T...
The chief executive of AT&T wireless, Ralph De La Vega, stated that the nation's largest carrier wasn't "happy" with its network. In an interview at the All Things Digital conference, Ralph De La Vega talked about how AT&T is trying to "reduce static" with its customers and help build a more reliable wireless network.
In light of the carrier's consistently poor consumer ratings, it's clear that something needs to be done to beef up AT&T. Most notably, AT&T is in the process of buying its smaller competitor, T-Mobile, for $39 billion...
With WWDC right around the corner, the last, pre-summer iPhone rumors are coming in fast and strong. The latest one seems a little far fetched, but it does make some interesting claims about hardware announcements we'll see from Apple this year.
Instead of an iPhone release this fall, Macotakara claims that the 'iPhone 4S' will be released this summer, and that the iPhone 5 will be released in spring of 2012. The iPhone 4S will supposedly be a minor upgrade from the iPhone 4 (like the 3G/3GS), while the iPhone 5 will be a complete revamp. Sound crazy to you?
In a recent interview, the CEO of French Telecom/Orange, Stephane Richard, dropped some hits towards a "smaller and thinner" iPhone 5 with a different SIM card design. Instead of the traditional method, Apple has apparently agreed with wireless carriers to support a smaller and more lightweight SIM for the next iPhone.
Practically, this smaller SIM card would make the iPhone thinner. There is also the possibility that such a SIM card could work in tandem with the rumored 'global device' that Apple could release this year.
If you have more invested in Apple than just what you paid for your MacBook, you've probably already heard the news. MarketWatch is reporting that China Mobile has reached an agreement with Apple regarding a future iPhone on their network.
China Mobile is home to over 600 million customers and has yet to offer Apple's smartphone. It seems though, that chairman Wang Jianzho doesn't expect that to be the case much longer...