14 DAY TRIAL // Today, Cupertino-based Apple started selling unlocked iPhone 4 devices straight from their online store, in a move that was announced recently for tomorrow.
One day earlier than expected, mobile phone users in the United States can head over to the company's online store to purchase the iPhone 4 device without being locked to a carrier network.
Of course, that would also mean that there is no need to sign a contract agreement with a specific wireless carrier, but also implies that users will have to pay the full price tag for the handset.
Without carrier subsidies included in the offering, the 16GB iPhone 4 model costs no less than $649, while the 32GB flavor is offered for $749. They can be seen at Apple here.
Both the black and white flavor of the new device were included in the offering, and both models enjoy free shipping, being expected to arrive in users' hands in 1-3 business days, for the black version, and 3-5 business days for the white variant.
With this move, Apple eliminates the need to sell its iPhone devices through specific wireless carriers in the United States, where the iOS device is available on contract at AT&T and Verizon Wireless at the moment.
The unlocked iPhone device will offer support only for GSM networks in the United States, such as those operated by AT&T and T-Mobile, though it's uncertain whether the unlocked units will work on Magenta as well.
“Get all the features of iPhone 4 - FaceTime video calling, Retina display, HD video recording, and more - in a phone that you can activate and use on the supported GSM wireless carrier of your choice, such as AT&T in the United States,” Apple notes.
Of course, this also means that users will be able to get their iPhone 4 units with them when traveling abroad, knowing that it would connect to compatible GSM networks as soon as an active micro-SIM card was placed in it.
Apple also offers an iPhone model with support for CDMA connectivity, sold through Verizon Wireless in the US, but it is not available unlocked at the moment.
What remains to be seen is whether the move would hurt sales of iPhone devices through wireless carriers in the country.
Since they offer the device with significant subsidies, although locked on their networks, chances are that most users would choose to make the purchase through operators, and not from Apple directly.