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http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/27/cheaper.unlocked.iphones/

German wireless provider offsets unlock cost

updated 01:45 pm EST, Tue November 27, 2007

 

Cheaper unlocked iPhones


German-based wireless carrier Debitel is launching a service plan for Apple's iPhone to capitalize on a recent court ruling that forced Deutsche Telekom and the Cupertino-based company to offer the handset as an unlocked device, capable of working with other cellular providers. Debitel is offering customers a €600 sign-up bonus to make up for the additional cost of purchasing an unlocked iPhone in Germany, according to AFX News, which makes unlocked iPhones cost the same amount as those sold with a 2-year Deutsche Telekom cellular contract.

Apple initially offered its iPhone exclusively via Deutsche Telekom with a 2-year contract, but was forced via a court injunction to produce unlocked devices in the name of competitor fairness. Apple jacked up the price of the unlocked devices, however, charging non-Deutsche Telekom customers a whopping €1,000 per unit. Debitel's new initiative effectively offsets the price increase for German customers, enabling them to purchase iPhones for the regular locked price of €600.

Apple is also planning to launch its iPhone in France on Thursday, where government officials told the company that it could not offer the cellular handset as part of an exclusive agreement with any one carrier.


by MacNN Staff

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 iPhone, unlock, Germany, Apple

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  1. mullum

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2007

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    11/27, 02:37pm | report spam | Reply |

    600euros?

    600 euros ? dont you mean 399 euros ? and why haven't you told us the costs involved in signing up to this other plan ? if this is journalism gissajobmategissajob..

  1. mullum

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2007

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    11/27, 02:45pm | report spam | Reply |

    enabling them to purchase

    "iPhones for the regular locked price of €600."

  1. russellb

    Junior Member

    Joined: Sep 2001

    0
    11/27, 02:49pm | report spam | Reply |

    Stupid to force unlock

    While I am the first to say it's great to be able to grab an unlocked Iphone I THINK IT STUPID of European governments to force companies to do such things.

    If a company comes up with a great product and wants to sell it at a lower cost locked on a contract with one company whats the problem ???

    Whats uncompetitive about that ... people will decide what product they do and dont want to buy.

    Now if the Iphone was the single only mobile phone on the maket then thats different , yes that would be uncompetitive but people have dozens and dozens of phone to choose on other carriers ... If the Iphone was not popular or not a good product there would be no fuss

    Just because it's a huge hit bloody governments think that for some reason Apple should be penalized for making a great product ....

  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    11/27, 04:31pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: stupid

    What's so bloody great about a product that makes it 'required' to be locked to some other service? And what's the big deal of selling an unlocked version?

    Perhaps it has to do with preventing certain companies from gouging customers, making deals with 'partners' that overly favor one company over another, and gaining unfair advantages over other companies just because they have a product that is popular. This may be their way to try to prevent monopoly/antitrust situations arising, rather then wait for them to happen and then try to deal with them.

    For example, take MS (please!). I seem to recall people loudly complaining about them and its ability to use its OS and Office marketshares to control markets, make deals with vendors to push their products (remember when you HAD to get Windows with that computer?), and help foist other offerings on OEMs and customers in many ways.

    Maybe you'd like to buy a car where you can only fill up at specific gas stations, or uses a specific company for maintenance. Or that computer you buy must run a specific OS and software.

  1. Basharar

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2001

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    11/27, 04:33pm | report spam | Reply |

    WHAT

    IT never fails to amaze me how people can defend corporate locking practices, maybe people in the US have not tasted freedom yet, stupid contracts should be illegal, period....

  1. Basharar

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2001

    0
    11/27, 04:35pm | report spam | Reply |

    The car example

    Back to the car example, Apple is the only car manufacturer who chargers you for gas and milage for life...... that is soooooo wrong

  1. ZinkDifferent

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2005

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    11/28, 12:47am | report spam | Reply |

    car example...

    ...not wrong .... if the car in question drives and performs really well, if I know and agree with its criteria, and if the gas I have to use is consistently costing me less, because Apple convinced the gas manufacturer that this is for the best.

    Enjoy the 'freedom' to pay $4 for gas, while I either pay $2.50, or get triple the mileage of your 'freedom' vehicle.

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