Off-contract Dell Streak is still SIM-locked to AT&T, wrongs still being done in the world

Bummer. If you were planning to get your Streak pre-order in today, but were going to opt for the $549 off-contract version rather than the $249 on-contract version, we're sad to inform you that it's the exact same device in both scenarios. Not that we're shocked or anything, but Dell's own Lionel Menchaca has confirmed the tragedy via Twitter (shot after the break), noting that the $549 version of the Dell Streak "will not be SIM unlocked." In case that needed any more clarity, he continued: "It is SIM-locked to AT&T." Fairly lousy news for those hoping to snag one and pop a few international rental SIMs in as they headed off on their late-summer escapades, but it still makes us wonder whatever happened to that T-Mobile-ized version that sauntered through the FCC back in April. Angela Lansbury, we need you. Desperately.

[darthgault Posted Aug 12th 2010 5:20PM]

epic fail ... its a brick for me if its locked to ATT. That also means it's pumped full of ATT crapware too ... thanks for nothing Dell.

[SophT Posted Aug 12th 2010 5:36PM]

Dammit DELL! I've been waiting for 3 months to buy the unlocked US version. You only announce hours before it goes on sale that it won't be unlocked?

I would have bought the unlocked UK version months ago and been happily using - but now I'm never buying a phone from DELL.

Also, why is it that companies think that ONLY using twitter (DELL) or facebook (Motorola) is good advertising/customer service? It's not trendy or edgy- it's annoying.

[tesen Posted Aug 13th 2010 7:46AM]

@SophT You totally echo my thoughts. Never gonna buy D**L anymore. Such underhanded selling tactics, be little us consumers

[Gillz123 Posted Aug 12th 2010 6:00PM]

So its locked to AT&T NO MATTER WHAT. Wow, like, WTF?

[zbot Posted Aug 12th 2010 7:52PM]

The FAILS on this product just keep adding up. Hilariously awful FAIL. I wouldn't touch AT&T with a ten foot pole.

[kenny goo Posted Aug 12th 2010 8:52PM]

As far as I'm concerned if you buy an off contract GSM phone it should come unlocked. You're paying upwards of $500 for some of these devices. Does that not cover the manufacturer and carrier cut? Shit....

[VLangs Posted Aug 12th 2010 9:13PM]

its not that big of a deal guys, people LOVE to hate on ATT but honestly, every carrier does this.

If you buy a vibrant at T-mo or an Evo at sprint, even if you pay full price its still locked to tmo or sprint.

at least with att, if you buy it full outright and call CSR, they'll give you the unlock code right away. They did for my captivate and I don't see any reason why they wouldn't for the streak

ATT is turning into apple news for people on this site, they do the EXACT same things as every other carrier but they're the ones who get lambasted. Must be something to do with the fact that they have the iPhone...

[Mister Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:20AM]

I'll wait until it can at least do portrait mode.

[tesen Posted Aug 13th 2010 4:29AM]

Damn it! I just ordered it and now I read here that it's network LOCKED!

Gonna go cancel it now......damn....damn......

paid full price and they still lock it?!?!?!? WTF!

[chilipalm Posted Aug 13th 2010 8:53AM]

@tesen
Cancel and send an email saying you canceled because it's locked to one network.

[tesen Posted Aug 14th 2010 3:20AM]

@chilipalm In addition to time & effort wasted, I bet they gonna charge me 15% restocking fee and tax paid. This is wrong, so wrong Dell!

[simbr Posted Aug 13th 2010 12:08PM]

It's a Tale as Old as Time unfortunately.

[sardo Posted Aug 13th 2010 3:48PM]

Not to be a conspiracy theorist or anything but now I'm sure Dell wants this to fail in a MAJOR way. Maybe re-hiring the pot-smoking Dell commercials guy would help.