iPhone TIPS: How to Buy Factory Unlocked iPhone 4 ?

by iPhone-Tips-Tricks.com - Situation: The iPhone 4 is available in several countries now. But not in my country yet. However, I don't want to wait for it. I want a iPhone 4 now!. It is likely my favorite telco provider will in no way offer the iPhone 4 and I don't want to sign a expensive contract for two years with a provider I really don't like. What I do want is to buy just the device without contract or subscription. And the the iPhone 4 must be Factory Unlocked (aka SIM Lock free) so I am freely to go anytime to any provider.
Q: Where can I buy a SIM Lock free iPhone 4? A: Simple, at the moment of writing, you can buy the SIM Lock free iPhone 4 in France and the UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). Just plan a weekend or holiday to visit those countries. The following countries it is expected that they also sell them Factory Unlocked

Italy, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. However, none of them shipping the iPhone 4 yet. Q: So what and where to buy a Factory Unlocked iPhone 4 in the UK? A: The best experience is to buy one in one of the many UK Apple Stores. Below a list of links.

• London, Brent Cross

• London, Regent Street

• London, White City

• Aberdeen, Union Square

• Bath, SouthGate

• Belfast, Victoria Square

• Birmingham, Bullring

• Brighton, Churchill Square

• Bristol, Cabot Circus

• Bristol, Cribbs Causeway

• Cambridge, Grand Arcade

• Cardiff, St David's 2

• Essex, Lakeside

• Exeter, Princesshay

• Glasgow, Buchanan Street

• Kent, Bluewater

• Kingston, Bentall Centre

• Leicester, Highcross

• Liverpool, Liverpool ONE

• Manchester, Arndale Centre

• Manchester, Trafford Centre

• Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes

• Newcastle upon Tyne, Eldon Square

• Norwich, Chapelfield

• Sheffield, Meadowhall

• Solihull, Touchwood Centre

• Southampton, WestQuay

The UK price for the factory unlocked iPhone 4 is as following:

• 16GB iPhone 4: £499
• 32GB iPhone 4: £599
• Also available 8GB iPhone 3GS: £419

Q: And where to buy a Factory Unlocked iPhone 4 in France?  A: The best experience is to buy one in one of the many UK Apple Stores. Below a list of links.

• Montpellier, Odysseum
• 
  
• Paris, Carrousel du Louvre
• 
  
• Paris, Opéra

The price in France for the factory unlocked iPhone 4 is as following:

• 16GB iPhone 4: €629
• 32GB iPhone 4: €739
• Also available 8GB iPhone 3GS: €519

Q: And how about the other countries? A: Rumors are that Italy and Belgium will shipping the iPhone 4 unlocked end of July 2010. In Italy you can go to the shops of providers TIM and Vodafone. In Italy is completely normal to buy an factory unlocked iPhone. Please read this Italy 3GS post HERE to get the buy tips and addresses for Italy. For Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, please read THIS post and open provided local Apple Store pages to check the status.


Q:How about buying locked iPhones and then unlocked them? A: The iPhones bought in Germany (T-mobile), Japan (Softbank), US (AT&T) are as far as I know, SIM Locked. We at IT&T do not recommend you to unlock a SIM locked iPhone by using hacking software. The reason is that it is not useful to keep up with Apple's iOS fast update releases: you most likely have to unlock it again and again. Plus, factory unlocked iPhones are available everywhere as you can see. If you look at craiglists, and other buy/sell market sites, you will find factory unlocked iPhone 4s. However, be careful for fake sellers who is trying sell you SIM Locked iPhone 4s or just fake phones! We at IT&T recommend to buy officially factory unlocked iPhones at a Apple retail store as described in this post.
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