Unlocking: AT&T are talking about making you sign up for your contract before you leave the shop (unless you already have a contract with them). They want to make sure you'll pay $xx each month for the next 18/24 months.

They ain't gonna let you walk out of a shop with a subsidised phone without guaranteeing that you have signed a contract... No doubt the unlocking process is not a million miles away, but you'll still be contracted to cough up to the original provider.

that is why I never bothered buying one...what if I move to another country? moved twice in last 12 months so if I got the iPhone in Switzerland then moved I would be screwed...break contract, give phone back...that is why I'm not gonna get one until this is sorted out..I want to legally buy a phone and be able to use it where I want....is it too much to ask?

It will be offered sans contract in other countries. Italy has already been confirmed and France is to be expected as well.

ok...like I said...ef subsidy....I want a unlocked iPhone 3g...and use it where I want with provider of my choice...

can you currently buy it this way in the US?

No, not in the US.
In France however they were forced to sell it unlocked (at an exorbitant price) by law.

Probably not far away, though...
Adobe 'pleased' with ongoing Flash for iPhone development

¨

Very interesting skit from the boys at El Reg today :

How the iPhone puts a bomb under mobile networks

clever, clever Apple

apple is the spawn of satan and steve behelzejobs is the devil incarnate.

well we knew that all along chap, but bloody admirable that they have managed to sneak this in ... ramifications are potentially huge. I'll try & get hold of a copy of the original report, as I'm seeing the iPhone wallahs at Orange next week

that's nothing new - RIM has been doing that for years.

only where there is the need to connect with the BB server (i.e. accessing email) ... from what I can understand, the iPhone is connected to the Apple server all the time for data calls. See my previous post regards revenue sharing deals a few pages back.

Maybe nothing new, sorry if it's been discussed already...

I was planning a trip over to NYC around the time of the launch, thinking I might get m'self the newest, shiniest piece of kit. I spoke with a friend who is pretty knowledgeable (and who is still using and happy with his 4gb version) and he tells me that you will not be able to buy a phone in NYC without signing a contract, putting down a credit card, whatever. Sounds strange to me, but there it is.

It's not only e-mail. Blackberrys are constantly connected to RIM as well. Some apps on the BB use direct TCP where the provider's access point is used - but most use BIS or BES for accessing any kind of data and everything goes directly through RIM. The provider is required to install software products locally for BIS and for BES probably as well and all network traffic (except for TCP) goes through RIM - so there's really no difference here.


peter

will bow to your superior knowledge on that one. Thanks

(got accused of being a fanboy at the Lausanne EF drinks meet last night so might as well live up to it)

Suggested O2 details of non-subsidised iphone prices:

Meanwhile O2 confirmed that "prepay iPhones" are also to be sold at Apple retail, O2 and Carphone warehouse. These unsubsidized prepay iPhones will not require a contract but are expected to cost around £350.

However - just because RIM does the same thing doesn't make it any better :-(

Will anyone be queueing for the iPhone on Friday the 11th?
Where will you queue?

Looks like none of the Apple stores in Switzerland will be selling the phone, since the phone will have to be activated before you leave the shop, the Apple stores are not geared up for that.

Will you queue outside of a Swisscom or Orange shop?
With still no details of the plans, what if the price is too high, will the queue just disperse in protest?

I'm interested in your thoughts and feedback.

Paul

Haven't lived here very long, have you? ;-) Regardless of the price, Swisscom will sell out (dunno about Orange, as Swisscom still has the biggest market share and the loyalty of most mid-to-upper-income Swiss), because people here are willing to shell out a lot more money for a little more quality.

I'm actually falling into that boat myself... I'm pretty sure I'll buy one if I can get my hands on one, regardless of the pricing plan.

12 years, but the idea of my post was to spark some reaction. I too will probably buy one on the day (or the day after) but as yet there has been no information how it will work.

When it's an Apple launch, they close the store at 5pm and open again at 6pm and party all evening. But I don't see that happening in this case. But of course I could be wrong.

I forked out chf 995 for the N95 when it was first available in Switzerland. Now it's sat on my desk surplus. I have 2 1st gen iPhones which I bought last August in the US and I plan to continue to use them, hopefully I'll be able to upgrade them to v2.0 too, either hacked or by purchasing a valid contract.

As usual, too many assumptions and not enough real info and the date is getting closer.

Do you find yourself wishing your life away based on Apple announcements and launches? :-)