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Apple to Sell Unlocked iPhone in France

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

October 17, 2007, 10:08 AM

While some iPhone users in the United States are busy playing a cat-and-mouse game with Apple in order to unlock the device, mobile operator Orange will begin selling an unlocked iPhone in France next month. This is due to a French law that prohibits exclusively bundling a handset with a wireless carrier.

Apple confirmed months of speculation Tuesday, announcing that Orange will be its exclusive partner in France. The deal was delayed, however, due to discussions about a revenue sharing agreement. Like in other European countries, the locked iPhone will cost 399 euros. The unlocked iPhone will cost more, Orange said, but will not specify how much until November.

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By Cactii

posted Jul 21, 2008 - 9:01 PM

This is awesome and really goes to show you who is governing the USA... BIG Business. I mean come on... It's AT&T and they've just been granted protection by the federal government for the whole wire-tapping fiasco.

There should be laws in all FREE countries that protect the consumer... When you buy something IT IS YOURS and nobody has the right to tell you who you can use it with. It's like selling you a TV that doesn't work unless you have a service agreement with the Playboy Channel.

You can find lots of Free Wallpaper for your iPhone at http://www.mobilejacz.com

Score: 0

By MichaelSF

edited Oct 18, 2007 - 4:34 PM

By forcing people to pay more for an unlocked version, that has the same affect as selling locked phones only.

Consumers should not have to pay money [a penalty, if you will] to get a phone that complies with the law [an unlocked iPhone].

That seems a loophole around the law.

Score: 0

By Crispy777

posted Oct 17, 2007 - 6:07 PM

iPhone is still a joke. Unlocked or not.

Score: 0

By rsx508

posted Oct 17, 2007 - 5:48 PM

They should pass a law in the U.S. forbidding locked phones also.

Score: 0

By Black-Wolf

posted Oct 17, 2007 - 4:03 PM

French language iPhone.
Forget it.
Just wait. :)

Score: 0

By mrow

posted Oct 17, 2007 - 1:45 PM

All it will take is someone modding the software updates for the unlocked French iPhone so it can be loaded on to all iPhones and then everyone will be able to be unlocked. However, I wonder if the unlocked version will have visual voicemail removed since it won't work with the other carriers. I doubt Apple would leave in a feature that doesn't work.

Score: 0

By truenorth

edited Oct 17, 2007 - 11:37 AM

Whoa. I wish I knew someone in France. They'd be swarmed by orders from all over the world. Does this mean that all the unlocking by DevTeam, etc., will no longer be necessary?

Score: 0

By Scary Guy

posted Oct 17, 2007 - 2:09 PM

Oh no, they're still going to lock them for every other country they can. Locked phones will cost less than unlocked ones so I can imagine a lot of people getting locked ones and unlocking it after since the cost will be lower. Those who can afford it (and read French) who don't want to bother with the hassle of unlocking may just get the more expensive unlocked version.

Score: 0

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