Contract free iPhone 3G coming from AT&T
By Ronald O Carlson
No need to travel to a foreign land or even jailbreak it. After nearly two years, the long rumored and still not yet arrived contract-free iPhone might finally be coming from Apple’s exclusive US wireless partner. Is it really real this time?
With a six slide PowerPoint training presentation offered as proof, Boy Genius reports that AT&T will soon begin offering the iPhone 3G contract free. That’s no subsidy, no commitment—just the user (wind blowing through his perfectly coifed hair) and everything good about the iPhone in his hand (without AT&T).
AT&T told The Associated Press that it will sell contract free iPhones, but that they will still be “locked” to AT&T and won’t work with any other cellular carrier unless they’re modified.
And, there you have it. On Thursday, March 26th—one week from today—AT&T will begin offering the 8GB iPhone 3G for $599 and 16GB iPhone 3G for $699 without any strings attached. Boy Genius speculates that this radical change in policy is an effort to clear excess stocks ahead the inevitable launch of the iPhone 3.0 later this Summer, which you can bet will require a two-year contract.
That said, one wonders whether or not Apple will once again extend AT&T’s exclusive lock on the US market. There can be little doubt, however, about how iPhone subscribers feel about the carrier (contract or not)…
What’s your take?
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Stumble It!
March 19th, 2009
I hope that extends to Canada soon.
I have a touch but I would sell it for an Iphone.
March 19th, 2009
Also, Anyone can make a power point presentaion.
March 19th, 2009
“Also, Anyone can make a power point presentation.”
Agreed, but BGR has a habit of being right.
March 28th, 2009
[...] course, AT&T has announced its intention to sell and Apple has already begun retailing unlocked handsets with the 8GB model tagged at $599 [...]