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Apple's iPhone X is available SIM-free in the US
Apple is offering another reason to nab its thousand-dollar smartphone. A month since the iPhone X landed, the handset is now selling SIM-free and unlocked in the US with full support for both CDMA and GSM networks. You should see the new "buy without a carrier" option on Apple's online store, allowing you to ditch the likes of AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. Click on it, and you'l be able to choose your finish (silver or space gray) and the storage: 64GB for $999 or 256GB for $1,149.
Apple adds SIM-free iPhone 7 and 7 Plus option in the US
Apple has started selling SIM-free iPhone 7 and 7 Plus -- on its US website, at least -- just like it did for the previous models. It's the way to go if you'd rather not be tied down with a two-year AT&T, T-mobile, Sprint or Verizon contract. The unit you're getting is also unlocked and supports both CDMA and GSM networks, so you can take it to any carrier you want to get the best plan for your lifestyle.
Apple's iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are now available SIM-free
Apple is now selling unlocked versions of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, giving you options if you'd rather not be tied to a contract or want a handset that works in other countries. The downside, of course, is that you'll pay the full retail price without those carrier subsidies -- starting at $649 for the (controversial) 16GB iPhone 6s at Apple Stores or online. In addition, Apple has started rolling out its latest iPhones in 36 new countries, including Mexico, Russia, Taiwan and Spain. They're now available in 48 nations, and will hit about 80 more by the end of the year.
Apple is now selling the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus SIM-free in the US
Fancy a new iPhone, but don't want to be locked in with a specific carrier? Good news: Apple today started selling SIM-free versions of its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Prior to this, you had to choose a two-year contract or buy one of them unlocked with T-Mobile. Thankfully, that's no longer a problem. The SIM-free versions start at $649 for the 16GB iPhone 6, climbing up to $949 for the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus. Apple has taken a tad longer than usual to offer the unlocked versions, both online and in-store. Of course, you'll still need to sidle up with a carrier, but at least now you'll have more control over the contract you choose.
Unlocked and SIM-free iPhone 5s now available on Apple's site
You don't have to hold onto hope for that truly unlocked iPhone 5s any longer -- it's now available to buy on Apple's site. To be clear, this version of Apple's Touch ID-imbued flagship comes completely free of any carrier attachment, separating it from the unlocked T-Mobile variant that ships with a Magenta nano-SIM inside. The SIM-free GSM handset, which'll ship within one to two weeks from order, is available in the standard 16GB/32GB/64GB storage and color configurations, so pricing remains the same at $649/$749/$849, respectively. But you'll still need to hitch your data ride to AT&T or T-Mobile for that fancy phone to work in the US. So, the strings... they're still attached. There are just fewer of them now.
Motorola MOTOSMART comes to UK in July: we go hands-on
Motorola isn't letting the Atrix HD hog all the spotlight today. If you'd like your smartphone a little more to-the-point, the MOTOSMART distills just about everything cellular to its fundamentals. It's as frugal as can be -- the tiny full-touch phone packs a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display, a 3-megapixel rear camera and the same MotoSwitch-layered Android 2.3 we saw half a year ago with the MOTOLUXE. Then again, that essentialism is really the focus, isn't it? The MOTOSMART will cost just £100 ($155) SIM-free when it hits T-Mobile UK and other parts of Europe by the end of the month, so the barrier to entry is more like a speed bump. Click past the break for the video, some brief impressions, and the source for the hard details in the Italian-only listing that Motorola has so far.
Consumer Cellular axes activation fees, retirees rejoice
Now here's a trend we can really get behind. Consumer Cellular, the "exclusive wireless provider for AARP members" (and a company that caters to the 50+ crowd), has announce that it will no longer be gouging charging its customers the dreaded activation fee. New and current customers looking to procure a phone qualify for the waiver and CC is extending the free activation offer to SIM-only patrons as well. Hopefully, this is the start of a grassroots movement in the wireless industry. The full press release is after the break.
Samsung stalls UK Ice Cream Sandwich roll out for unlocked Galaxy S II
So you paid attention to pundits and bought that Galaxy S II outright in the hopes that future software updates would arrive on your device first. And then reality came crashing in. It appears SIM-free is not the way Samsung wants consumers to be, as carrier-agnostic handsets in the UK will be the last to receive Ice Cream Sandwich. The move, though frustrating for many, is not as arbitrary and unfair as it might initially appear to be. Speaking to CNET UK, a company rep confirmed that this upgrade delay has everything to do with cross-carrier testing, compatibility and approval, owing to the "variety of networks" unlocked GS II's can access. Once it does get an unanimous greenlight, however, expect to see the final leg of that TouchWizzed Android 4.0 roll out commence.
Nexus S sees UK SIM-free price chopped to £430, Best Buy's Christmas deliveries not so guaranteed
The UK price for the Nexus S just became a whole lot (nearly 22 percent) more attractive, thanks to the Carphone Warehouse slashing the SIM-free purchase option to a sweet £429.99 ($668). Contract-saddled pricing has also taken a tumble, as the Nexus S can now be had for free on two-year agreements costing £30 ($47) per month. Good news all around, then, but be aware that the handset is now listed as being on back order, having been "in stock" earlier in the week. Speaking of delays, we're also hearing Best Buy's guaranteed Christmas delivery -- something proudly signposted on the Nexus S online order page -- might very well miss Santa's delivery window. A couple of our readers have received emails from the retailer advising them that their Gingerbread packages will be shipped "within the next 1-2 weeks," but might not get there by December 24th. So happy holidays and best of luck! [Thanks, Taylor and Rod]
Palm Pre 2 available unlocked from HP for $450, ships within 24 hours (update: $200 off for devs)
Get your SIMs ready, dear readers, for the unlocked GSM Pre 2 has made its promised debut on HP's online outlet. In spite of looking all too similar to its predecessors, this 1GHz device is still the best (read: only) option for getting your webOS 2.0 action going, so if you simply must have that experience on your smartphone, it's a no-brainer of a decision. HP will ship it to you in exchange for $450 and if all goes to plan, you could be swiping cards off your home screen in buttery smooth fashion by this time tomorrow. [Thanks, Michael] Update: Are you a dedicated webOS software developer? Then HP will kindly knock $200 off the price of the unlocked Pre 2 in order to facilitate the free flow of your creative juices. Thanks, Chieze O!
HTC HD7 costs €599 unlocked at Amazon.de, 7 Trophy priced at £430 in UK
Looks like Amazon isn't sleeping on this whole Windows Phone 7 launch shebang. The online retailer has unveiled its pricing for a pair of HTC handsets so far, with the 4.3-inch HTC HD7 costing €599 ($835) in Germany and the 3.8-inch 7 Trophy setting UK buyers back £430 ($685). The Trophy in particular is coming in at slightly below the typical Android handset pricing, whereas the HD7 seems to carry a reasonable premium for its jumbo dimensions and flagship billing. Alas, neither the UK nor the DE portal will let you purchase or pre-order a handset just yet, but considering that the Trophy is expected on November 8, maybe that's not such a big deal. Europe-wide availability for Windows Phone 7 handsets is coming on October 21, so the best strategy might well be to use these numbers as price guides and wait till the store doors open next Thursday.
Nokia N8 officially for sale last week of September, UK shops October 1st
At last, an official date for Nokia's N8 flagship Symbian^3 handset. This one's been a long time coming, featuring the first of two major Symbian updates meant to bring Nokia's smartphone division in line with the competition. Look for it in the "last week of September" at Nokia's on-line shops for £429 SIM free, or free with £35 per month contract. Otherwise, it'll hit the UK high street shops on October 1st. See the full announcement after the break.
