Originally Posted by
Kgmm77
Even at $200 the price is heavily subsidised by ATT (thats why the price dropped from 2G to 3G), therefore they rightly lock it down to ensure they protect their revenue stream and don't lose money on the handset.
Unlocked iPhone's are available in a number of countries (definitely in Italy, circa Euro600).
It's their choice to subsidize it - it's still MY phone, and I can do whatever I want to it, or with it. By buying the iPhone, I've committed to a 2yr agreement, which covers their 'revenue stream'.
BTW, ATT offers a no-contract price on the iPhone - it's still locked, and I believe it costs more than buying the 199 phone, breaking the contract and paying the ETF.
Surely there must be a way to unlock the phone, either by entering a secret unlock code, or by copying the firmware resident used on one of the unlocked European phones - I'm surprised that hasn't been tried yet.