Buying an iPhone from the US - need some inputs!

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I was in Boston recently and the Apple store was selling iPhones without contract off the shelf, $499 for 3 8GB, $599 for 16GB 3GS, and $699 for 3GS 32GB plus taxes. This is I believe now standard in all apple stores across US so getting an iPhone is not a problem. The only issue is when I was there there in April was no unlock yet for 3GS 3.1.3 but I think an unlock is available now.
 
That will cost you very high, In US Iphone 3GS comes with a data plan which will cost you 70$ a month extra. Better go for unlocked Nexus One.. it is available @ $530
 
sarang said:
I am traveling in June (1 day after WWDC to be exact :D). Have to purchase a 3GS, what should be the best way to do it?
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Why buy the 3GS one day after the 4G is announced? :S

FaH33m said:
Aren't the non-contract based phones for 599$ and 699$ already factory unlocked ?
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Nope.. Locked to AT&T but contract free.

And yes, the only legit way to buy an iPhone in the US is by paying the early contract termination fee, raul just quoted the prices above.

Btw for people flying to the US, if your laying over in Dubai, the HK factory unlocked phones are available for 32k/36k (16/32GB 3GS) sealed box.
 
^ Baaah .That sucks :P Are factory unlocked Iphones sold in US officially or only in HK and other places ? What are the prices for the same.

One of my friend bought a Iphone 3GS 16GB from a grey shop in Mumbai for ~35k and when we opened the box and started the phone it showed connect to Itunes ,I assumed its locked but when we rang up the dealer he said its already factory unlocked but needs to be connected to istore to start the phone.After connecting to istore via itunes and registering the phone , it started working .

So I guess this was actually a factory unlocked piece.Now do these factory unlocked phones have world wide warranty from Apple ?
 
FaH33m said:
So I guess this was actually a factory unlocked piece.Now do these factory unlocked phones have world wide warranty from Apple ?
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No I suppose. You get a warranty from the country you actually purchase the phone from. HK or the US. IINM i.e.
 
No, the factory unlocked phones will only be serviced in the place it was originally selling. Only some countries sell factory unlocked iPhones, Italy, Australia etc. Can get factory unlocked from hong kong too.

US doesn't sell factory unlocked phones, nor does UK.
 
Anish said:
Why buy the 3GS one day after the 4G is announced? :S
Nope.. Locked to AT&T but contract free.

And yes, the only legit way to buy an iPhone in the US is by paying the early contract termination fee, raul just quoted the prices above.

Btw for people flying to the US, if your laying over in Dubai, the HK factory unlocked phones are available for 32k/36k (16/32GB 3GS) sealed box.
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Can you please point out where exactly in dubai would we be able to find those.
Thanks
 
Anish said:
Why buy the 3GS one day after the 4G is announced? :S
Nope.. Locked to AT&T but contract free.

And yes, the only legit way to buy an iPhone in the US is by paying the early contract termination fee, raul just quoted the prices above.

Btw for people flying to the US, if your laying over in Dubai, the HK factory unlocked phones are available for 32k/36k (16/32GB 3GS) sealed box.
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Since 3GS will be a lot cheaper and I am not exactly expert at cutting SIMs :ashamed:.
 
To update, the phones I referred to have not nothing to do with contract or ETF, these are off the shelf iPhones for anybody who wants to buy from Apple store US, only they are locked to AT&T. This is a recent development, about 2 months ago. Do a Google search for Apple memo to Apple store employees on this.

Even I was a bit skeptical, but I walked into the Apple store to check out iPad and while talking to the Apple store employee he told me I could pick up the 3GS 16GB for $599 plus around $47 in taxes so $647 without signing for anything to do with AT&T. Its total retail. Anyone can do this in US now, so KMD, relatives, etc can easily get an iPhone from the Apple store US without any hassles, you just have to unlock it.
 
Yeah, that is buying without a contract, but its still locked to AT & T, which makes it completely pointless. Rather spend a few more and get a factory unlocked phone.
 
Okay just a question...even if the phone is locked to AT&T do features other than making phone calls(features like gps, syncing to the app store, installing apps,surfing net using wifi,etc,etc) work in india without unlocking it?
 
apextwin146 said:
Thats the reason i am asking whats the best legit way to get an iphone from US?
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If you are looking for the legit way, then just buy it unlocked. Alternatively, pay the fine for breaking the contract.
 
apextwin146 said:
Can you please point out where exactly in dubai would we be able to find those.

Thanks
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A friend of mine picked it up from some store in the Deira City Centre. Look around I'm sure there will be a dozen stores selling em.
 
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