Apple Offers iPhone 4S Unlocked

Apple has turned the lights back on at store.apple.com where an iPhone 4S buy selector can be found for customers looking to secure their own unit for October 14, the day Apple plans to ship the handsets.

A few weeks ago, Apple took down its online store to include a new web app that allowed iPad customers to select their preferred tablet configuration, complete with carrier plan for the 3G-capable versions.

The same selector tool now allows iPhone 4S buyers to choose a model (black or white), the preferred storage capacity (16GB, 32GB, and 64GB), and an operator to go with (AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon) in the United States.

Handsets start at $199 (roughly 148€) and they cost about the equivalent in Euros across European territories set to receive shipments soon.

Apple also lists an option to get the phone unlocked (screenshot to the right), as in not tied to any of the aforementioned carriers, or any carrier for that matter. The factory-unlocked handsets are to arrive in November.

This is because iPhone 4S, unlike previous iPhones, is a world-phone, thanks to a new Qualcomm chipset that allows the device to roam free on the airwaves of most operators out there. However, it’s only supported on GSM networks, not those on the CDMA wireless standard.

Apple explains: “The unlocked iPhone works only on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S. When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM card from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone 4 will not work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.”

To buy the iPhone 4S contract free, you’ll pay $649 (around 483 EUR) for the base 16GB model, $749 (or 557 EUR) for the 32GB version, and $849 (roughly 630 EUR) for the 64GB configuration.