Official: Apple now offering iPhones contract free (updated: not unlocked)
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted March 22nd 2010 6:08PM
posted March 22nd 2010 6:08PM
Update: We're getting mixed reports on the unlock status of these phones. One store says yes to the unlock, while others are saying they're still AT&T-locked devices being sold off contract. We're digging for more info on this now, so stay tuned.
Update 2: It's looking like those initial reports of unlocked devices are inaccurate. It sounds like these devices are still locked to AT&T -- so you're just looking at an off contract pricing scheme. Which is also totally lame.
You're still locked into Apple's Ecosystem...
@Critic2029 This would hav been big news a year ago.
@Critic2029 as opposed to being locked into Android's, WinMo, BB, or WebOS? What's the difference? Or are you just saying that because you don't like Apple?
@Critic2029 That'd be a big "Hellz to the NO!"
or
"Can I get a F*** THAT?
@robodomo
Are you serious?
Really?
@robodomo The difference is that, with Android at least, you don't have to use the store to install applications. You can just go to a third-party website or install an app from your memory card. You don't get that choice with Apple: hence, "Locked in".
@robodomo unless you jailbreak your iphone the "ecosystem" Critic is talking about is itunes. On winmo, andriod, and even palm you can get software from 3rd parties, not forcing you to go through their marketplaces.
@The Madman
cydia? Installous? Rock? Lurk more
@robodomo Yes if you were a developer you'd understand that comment. I can't go code up an apple app and sell it on my site. I do for all others. Plus its insulting to use the crap apple produces to write code. You have to use fucking itunes to get files.. the whole thing reaks of ineptitude. But.. i keep reminding myself its targetted towards idiots.
@The Madman
Jailbreak?
Idiot
@Critic2029 Actually, this is a good thing. No need to think about the security, the crash potantial of any software.
@west10r All of those require jailbreaking your phone. The capability is built into all those other phones.
@Dick Lynch HAHA Agreed.
@The Madman
And yet, access to those capabilities on the iPhone is just a few clicks and a USB cable away.
@Critic2029
As opposed to Android's ecosystem?
But wait! Android is open so it's all good, right? So if I change my mind later, I can go buy an iphone or palm pre or WP7 device and all my purchased Android apps will still work.
@Critic2029 Congrats. You listen to the Engadget podcast and can use buzz words too.
He means you're locked in because once you buy an Apple product you just can't go back to using other brands. It spoils you.
@Critic2029
... till you Jailbreak it
@Critic2029 Please elaborate
Same comments, different post.
Will it ever get old?
Wasn't there some talk about making this kind of practice illegal (telling consumers what they can do with fully-purchased phones)? It might have been a general tightening down of practices similar to this. Really can't recall now.
why would i want a iShit with all these better alternative phones out now
@Gokhan
well, not so sure about that.
iphone 3GS here, with the latest update.
accuweather: when watching a video for weather, sometimes the app just disapears.
fr.info: one in a while disapears altogether, ass if I pressed the home button: tested and I sure did not press it.
RTL: same as above. with the additional hell to move a stream to the location I want (finger friendly) and the fact that the stream gets broken every so often, then restarts at the beginning without the slider being adjusted at the correct position.
engadget appli: died a few times as well, though very few times.
NBC news, stops playing once in a while, until I hit the home button to close it, and that is when the remainder of the stream plays for a short while.
Apple's own safari. go to http://www.dart.org/schedules/schedules.asp
select any bus and line, then while it loads hold your phone by your side, or move it horizontal for a second, then vertical again for a second
every so often you get the resizing in portrait mode not working, with the page loaded and displayed with scares.
non crashing apps for being tested my Ass.
@Critic2029
woow.... buying a contract free iPhone and locked again to ATT....what a deal...
@robodomo
OR locked onto AT&T
...
Shame, prices arent amazing, and its locked, which begs me to ask, why the heck would you buy it seperatley and THEN buy a contract when youre going to save a TONNE by buying it with AT&T on contract?
@syph007
You sound like a crappy developer. And a bitter little man to boot
@MarkAnderson
I think he probably is. I mean Android is so open you gotta hack your phone to get 2.1, an OS version that is 3 months old.
That doesn't sound right, does it?
@Critic2029
Ah yeah nope. Beside the other examples you can also sideload after a fashion.
Just get yer mate to email you the app, drop it into iTunes and shazam there you have it. No store, no jailbreak.
They might have changed this but i haven't read so.
@syph007 "crap apple produces to write code"? Seriously, have you even used Xcode? I don't expect everyone to prefer it to Visual Studio as I do (and I use both on a daily basis), and I've got my share of complaints about the Apple dev environment. But to dismiss it out of hand tells me you've never even seen it run, were never willing to give it a fair shake to begin with, or both. It's not like you're having to write Java in Eclipse or anything (gdr).
Who the hell told you, you could get out of the Apple and AT&T 3-way?? Get back over here!
*pulls leash*
@Critic2029 So I'm guessing you don't own any game consoles, huh? Those closed ecosystems are so terrible.
@Deloren
It's so you can spend $600 on a 3G S and then turn it around to some smuck on ebay for $999. Set a price and some sucker will buy it.
@Critic2029 Not only are you locked into the Apple ecosystem, AT&T, this isn't news unless they do this with the 4th generation. Many suckers, I mean customers, were getting a raw deal trying to upgrade from 3G to 3Gs. If this is just trying to spurt up sales of a device that is going to be old tech, this barely qualifies as news, even for Apple news on this site.
@Critic2029 What's new...we could do that from an ATT store already, not sure about Apple stores.
@Dick Lynch
HD2 for $450 OFF CONTRACT...now that's news!
@Critic2029 I really don't care cause I just unloaded my iPhone today and ordered a brand spanken new ATT Nexus One. I can't wait to get it I hope it ships sooner than later
@Critic2029
Off contract and still locked to AT&T? This is a complete fail...
@robodomo
Android and WinMo and WebOS and BB aren't stuck to one shitty network though ;)
@syph007 So if Im reading it correctly, you're stating that if it's not hard to use, then it lacks functionality?
Last time I checked, no one is putting a gun to anyones head and forcing them to use Xcode.
Go play with WinMo and code some world-beating apps for them. They need it.
@Critic2029 I must admit this got my hopes really up, but when josh made the update to no 2. I screamed, "WTF!" I thought, our dreams of having contract-free iPhone will be for real, hence, all just a hoax.. this 9 to 5 Mac sites, always bring the hoaxes and hypes (something tells me, their publishers are being paid by apple) No wonder, google will crush apple's fragmented mobile policy: http://bit.ly/google-v-apple-debacle-opinions
@Mentat
Don't all new iPhones have a tethered Jailbreak? That sucks balls and is in no way comparible to an open system.
@nicakohler Google has its own troubles. Chief among them a fragmented hardware platform, which in turn means fragmented OS adoption.
I've been looking at getting an Android phone for development and secondary usage, and the only affordable unlocked phone won't ever get past 1.5 officially. :(
Stop talking about jailbreaking is one click away, as if its so easy and effortless to JB.
Apple is actively seeking ways to destroy jailbreaking, latest with 3.1.3.
Mentioning jailbreaking in the same breath as rooting or any other hack is just stupid
@Critic2029
So what's bad about the Apple ecosystem?
@The Madman
Are you serious? You're saying you'd RATHER go to a third party website or install an app from a memory card rather than browse it on the phone and download it?? Check your Treo at the door, those days are over.
@fighterfelix
Try jailbraking your phone, and you'll see how easy it is. Took about all of 20 seconds...
@west10r GOOD IDEA, TELL ME, DOES APPLE STILL TAKE YOUR CALLS AFTER THEY HEAR CYDIA QUIT WORKING AFTER AN UPDATE?
@Critic2029 So you clicked on the story so you could post that.
Seriously, the iphone, apple bashing is getting so ridiculous, bordering on neurosis.
@(Unverified) there's been talk along the blogs about needing laws against carrier locks etc, but it hasn't happened. It is still legal for the iphone to be locked to ATT and thus it is.
As for why this contract free gig. easy. stock dumping. Let the resellers come in and buy them and unlock them etc. They will have paid full price so they will have to charge crazy and in a couple of months the next phone will be announced at no one will want those old ones (at least in the US)
@prodeziner
why would i try now? Im on 3.1.2 because Apple is shutting off JBers with 3.1.3. I know very well how long it takes, both with blackra1n and redsn0w.
New sets with 3.1.3 and new baseband cant go nowhere with jailbreaking. that includes those who updated to 3.1.3 without knowing the implications.
Its getting harder to jailbreak, even then you are tethered, I dont believe it when someone says "jailbreaking takes just few seconds/ clicks" without explaining the full story to the other side. Way to be a lying fanboy.
Apple is actively breaking jailbreaks. You want functionality other phones have? Too bad, Apple would stop you from doing so, any step it can.