Apple stores across the US now selling iPhone 3G’s sans-contract
Apparently AT&T wasn’t the only one who started selling iPhone 3G’s off of contract yesterday as Apple has kicked off a similar sales practice in its retail stores across the US. With the 8GB model selling for $599 and both of the 16GB models selling for $699, apparently anyone can walk in and snag an iPhone 3G — unlike AT&T’s contract-free iPhone offerings, an existing AT&T contract is not necessary. This changes to Apple’s strict policy is yet another indicator that a new iPhone is definitely on its way to market. WWDC 2009, we can’t wait until you arrive.
I was offered that price at apple back in November!
…the only difference is that they probably won’t make it MANDITORY to activate before you walk out the store!
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Dearborn United States
OOOO big deal, now if they made it insurable i would be interested then.
Is it possible to buy one like that and use it on AT&T with prepaid simcard?
how many remember when you picked up a western electric model 500 phone and connected on the AT&T network to another person. you could only get a black phone owned by the phone company and only connect it to the local phone lines owned by AT&T.
Then came along thee forty years ago came the Carterphone decision, allowing you to connect anything to the phone network. Now you have the choice of many different carriers, how things have changed, or have they.
Apple and AT&T are back to the same old game, if you want to have a iphone you get AT&T, if you spend a lot of money you can get an unlocked phone, but not all functions will work on another carrier. whatever happened to competition, deregulation has not been the answer. Come on Apple give us a break.
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just buy the device for 199 and the cancel the account right after activation? Would cost 400 plus whatever usage.
I will pass.
Seriously? Asking $700 for an iPhone? I just can’t see why…
Oooooooo, give me one!
I wouldn’t pay for it, so give me one
It’s still locked to AT&T right? How pointless, considering you can get an unlocked one for the same or cheaper…
Isn’t it cheaper to just signup for service, get it for $200 and then pay the $175 and cancel your contract?
Here’s some info you can buy the iPhone at retail only if your already an Att customer already under a 2 year contract. Every non Att customer will purchase the phone with a 2 year contract and yes the phone is still locked to Att. What they should of done is sale the as a prepaid as they did with the 2g iPhone
At the price, you might as well sign up for the two year contract. Either way, they’re going to charge you about the same.
iPhone data packages are $15 more than if you were using any unlocked device, so over two years, you end up spending either $560 ($199+[$15*24]) or $660 ($299+[$15*24]) anyway.
Its seems that your guys will have to dish out a lot of dough for a product that is geared towards the Hanana Montana crowd! Get a grown up phone! Get a Blackberry.
The iPhone makes the Crackberry look like the crippled toy it is. The ONLY reason to get one is if 95% of your phone use is email, and even then it’s a close thing. The iPhone is lightyears ahead of any of the blackberry devices.
Hi Michael,
When you cite an Apple Insider original story, we’d appreciate the same attribution we give Boy Genius Report when we cite original articles on this site.
@Lewis, lightyears are used to measure distance…
Man u would have to be out of ur damn mind 2 buy an iphone for $700. Its a nice “toy” but with so many other great phones on the horizon (palm pre, se idou, n97, touch pro 2) you’d really be doing urself a disservice.
@ Lewis, I bet u also thought ur Moto Razr was light years ahead at the time too right lol
Welcome to the real world. You know you are going to pay that $700 no matter what right? Either upfront or through your contract charges when buying a subsidized phone.
What if I told you a new car costs only $4000 (but then you pay back the loan over the next 4 years at a monthly cost of X)? You’d say, no way is the car costing $4000, it costs $30K, I am just going to pay it through a loan.
Because subsidies are hidden within the normal network access fees for phones, a lot of people don’t realize that’s the same thing for subsidized phones. You will pay back those $400 you saved when getting the $600 device for $200. With interest.
JonnyBruha,
Sorry took so many parsecs to respond. Busy making Kessel Run.
– Sent from my iPhone
So does this mean a tmobile customer can walk in and buy an iphone with no contract?
Yes, I know light years are a measure of distance. just as one would say “they are miles ahead” except were talking billions of miles, thus light years.
Iphone is for kids!
$700 for a cellular phone is kind of pricey since the article hints at a new iPhone on the horizon. You can still get a DS and a regular PDA for less.
As usual, I am confused.
I have a two year contract with AT&T, with a beat up Samsung along with two other family members.
How much will cost me for this new wonder conTRAPtion? At 55 years old, will it be extinct before I figure out how to use the dang thing?
Thanks for any sage advice.
The new iPhone running on 3G network is the 2g iPhone…as in 2nd Gen. Please stop referring to the 1G iPhone as 2G its just stupid!
All I have to say to all the iPhone haters is that it cost the same as any of the newest blackberries out there cost without a contract. U can say it’s a toy and all that other bull but is a nice phone and to each his own.