Since the launching of the very first iPhone , client in the U.S. could only get their hands on the gimmick if they were uncoerced to ink a two - twelvemonth contract with a cubicle sound carrier . iPhone drug user in other parts of the globe had it different , though — they could buy an iPhone that was n’t lock into any one carrier , provide they were willing to bear up for the privilege .

That change on Tuesday , when Apple foretell it wouldsell an unlocked version of the iPhone 4 in the U.S. You ’re responsible for procuring your own micro - SIM — that ’s the card that identifies you to mobile networks and lets you make calls — and you ’ve got to trace up a cellular contract . But other than that — and a lowly payment of $ 649 or $ 749 to buy the gadget — an unlocked iPhone 4 capable of connecting to any GSM - based meshing is all yours .

The question is , why bear up for an unlocked phone ? We can outline why this may be the right decision for you — as well as a few reasons you might desire to stick with the miserable toll example .

Why you would want an unlocked iPhone

  • International Travel : The iPhone does a lot of things seamless , but crossing over borders is n’t one of them . Travel with your iPhone overseas and you may rack up some pretty starchy datum roaming charges from your carrier back home .

If you have an unlocked iPhone , though , globetrotting becomes a mint simpler . Since much of the world uses the same GSM engineering as the unlocked iPhone , you could take it with you on your travels . All you need to do is swap in a local attack aircraft carrier ’s micro - SIM , and you could use your iPhone just like you would back in the province . That ’s an attractive proposition for anyone who makes frequent tripper abroad for business concern or joy .

  • No Commitment : If you choose to use your unlatched iPhone with AT&T , you’re able to pay for your service on a month to month base . contract bridge lock - in is only ask when you ’re grease one’s palms a carrier - mesh phone . So if a two - year commitment give you the willies , this may be your way of life out .

  • It ’s All About the Coverage : We admit that this pointedness has become less compelling ever since the Verizon iPhone 4 arrived sooner this twelvemonth , and give way U.S. iPhone users a choice of carrier . Still , if you survive in a part of the country the neither AT&T nor Verizon serve particularly well , you could pony up for an unbarred iPhone and try your fate with T - Mobile ’s connection . ( You could n’t use your unlocked phone on Sprint ’s CDMA - ground connection , incidentally — only GSM - compatible iPhones are available unlocked . )

Why you would pass on an unlocked iPhone

  • exemption Is n’t Free : We mentioned the Leontyne Price tag of an unlocked iPhone—$649 for the 16 GB model and $ 749 for the 32 GB version . That ’s quite a markup from the $ 199 and $ 299 you ’d pay up for the 16 GB and 32 GB iPhones with a two - year contract . And while the lower initial cost of the subsidized iPhone does n’t take into write up what you ’re committing to pay AT&T and Verizon over the next 24 months , the monetary value of an unlocked iPhone will still be too steep for some users .

And if you ’re hoping that you may get gimcrack AT&T charge per unit by purchasing an unbarred earpiece and , say , relinquish a data point design , we have bad newsworthiness . AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel toldMacworldthat any iPhone on its electronic connection — including an unlocked iPhone — is require to use an iPhone information program , the cheapest of which come out at $ 15 per month . Siegel order that when AT&T detects an iPhone without a data program , they ’ll expect you to pony up for one , or terminate your service .

  • Compromised Service : The iPhone 4 connects via 3 gee for your voice and data point motive ( at least when there ’s no Wi - Fi internet usable , in the fount of data point ) . But that faster connectivity wo n’t be useable to you if you were to , say , latch on with T - Mobile ’s internet . As jailbreakers who unlock their iPhones against Apple ’s wishes already sleep together , T - Mobile utilize a dissimilar 3 G frequency than AT&T does ; therefore , an unsecured iPhone would only be able-bodied to relate to the slow EDGE web for data . On the shining side , part features should work fine , though since Visual Voicemail is a bearer - support feature , you would n’t have memory access to that , either .

The final verdict

Like many decisions involve iOS equipment — AT&T or Verizon for your service provider ? 3 G or Wi - Fi - only for your iPad?—whether or not to buy an unlocked iPhone comes down to your taste and how you design on using the equipment . For user who ca n’t stand up the thought of being bound to one flattop for two years , $ 649 to $ 749 will seem like a small price to yield . Travelers who hop from one ending of the world to another — especially on business — might also find the flexibleness of an unlocked iPhone to be worth the Mary Leontyne Price . Most other masses will prefer the low initial cost of an iPhone to a month - to - calendar month agreement with a carrier .

Whatever you decide , you ’ll have to do it at the time of initial leverage . You ca n’t unlock an iPhone after you ’ve already agreed to a two - year declaration with a carrier — buy your phone unlocked at the offset is the only option you have .