Imagine The Rock saying, “Finally…the iPhone 4 is available unlocked…in America!!!” It’s true! American consumers that want an iPhone 4 but don’t want to be shackled with a two-year contract can pick up an officially unlocked iPhone 4 from The Apple Store. The 16GB model costs $649, while the 32GB model costs $749.
Apple Stores in most countries have been offering unlocked iPhones since launch, but America is an unusual market where the carriers have too much stroke. Buying the phone unlocked in America comes at a premium and there’s only one major carrier that supports the unlocked model’s 3G bands (AT&T). However, it’s still a godsend for customers that want an iPhone that can be used in other countries without jailbreaking.
That said, $649 for a phone with year-old tech is a questionable value. Sure, the iPhone 4 still enjoys the best software ecosystem in the world and the screen is absolutely gorgeous, but the screen size is small and the processor is old. For a little bit less money, consumers can purchase an unlocked Android phone with a bigger screen and a dual-core processor. Plus, a new iPhone model is expected in autumn.
Will people pay top dollar for an unlocked iPhone 4? Will future iPhone models launch with an unlocked version? We shall see. For now, kindly put on your analyst hat and let me know what you think this development means.
