Re: Where to Buy an Unlocked Apple Phone

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007, Jim Higgins <gordian238@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Where to Buy an Unlocked Apple Phone
>http://blogs.business2.com/netly/200...to-buy-an.html
>
>Recently, I went with my wife to Chinatown in San Francisco to buy an
>unlocked GSM cellphone for my daughter's graduation present.
>
>Phone companies in the U.S. "lock" their phones so you have to use their
>networks. Unlocking a phone—which often is nothing more than typing in a
>secret numeric code—let's you use the phone on any GSM network—AT&T and
>Sprint, T-Mobile. All you need to do is buy a prepaid card which, if large
>enough, gets you down to 10 cents a minute. Gangsters love unlocked phones
>because they are virtually untraceable. Cheapskates love them because you
>only pay for the time you use; unused minutes roll over. If you had an
>unlocked Apple Phone, you wouldn't have to use it on AT&T's network, and
>presumably, you could also use it overseas...
>
>In any event, a friend brought us to his favorite cellphone source, who
>works out of a stall that's part of a bigger, indoor mall in the heart of
>Chinatown. This particular cellphone seller has all kinds of cool,
>unlocked phones you can't find in the U.S., including a Samsung number
>that looked like an iPod and a Nokia that shoots very high-res photos.
>
>Besides selling unlocked phones, the guy does a brisk business in
>unlocking phones customers bring him; he charges about $25 per phone.
>Coincidentally, the techie who actually does the unlocking happened to be
>in the stall while we were there.
>
>"So how long before you'll be selling unlocked Apple Phones?" I asked the guy.
>
>He grimaced. "That's going to be very difficult," he said, claiming that
>some of his people had already gotten their hands on an Apple Phone and
>were attempting to hack it. Apple, needless to say, has gone to
>great lengths to make the phone hard to unlock; the back of the phone has
>to be opened, and the hardware process is tricky. The phone hacker sighed.
>"I think it will be a long time—maybe three months."
>
>I assume by then, this stall will also be selling the Apple Phone knockoff.
>Read related: THE ONE TRUE PHONE

Verizon's churn will rise as a result of the iPhone. ATT will have a
favorable LNP ratio with Verizon and leave them in the dust when it comes
to churn and subscriber adds.

"Gandolf" <gandolf@vzwsux.com> wrote in message
news:VWPM1S0J39255.8231712963@anonymous.poster...
> On Thu, 21 Jun 2007, Jim Higgins <gordian238@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>Where to Buy an Unlocked Apple Phone
>>http://blogs.business2.com/netly/200...to-buy-an.html
>>
>>Recently, I went with my wife to Chinatown in San Francisco to buy an
>>unlocked GSM cellphone for my daughter's graduation present.
>>
>>Phone companies in the U.S. "lock" their phones so you have to use their
>>networks. Unlocking a phone-which often is nothing more than typing in a
>>secret numeric code-let's you use the phone on any GSM network-AT&T and
>>Sprint, T-Mobile. All you need to do is buy a prepaid card which, if large
>>enough, gets you down to 10 cents a minute. Gangsters love unlocked phones
>>because they are virtually untraceable. Cheapskates love them because you
>>only pay for the time you use; unused minutes roll over. If you had an
>>unlocked Apple Phone, you wouldn't have to use it on AT&T's network, and
>>presumably, you could also use it overseas...
>>
>>In any event, a friend brought us to his favorite cellphone source, who
>>works out of a stall that's part of a bigger, indoor mall in the heart of
>>Chinatown. This particular cellphone seller has all kinds of cool,
>>unlocked phones you can't find in the U.S., including a Samsung number
>>that looked like an iPod and a Nokia that shoots very high-res photos.
>>
>>Besides selling unlocked phones, the guy does a brisk business in
>>unlocking phones customers bring him; he charges about $25 per phone.
>>Coincidentally, the techie who actually does the unlocking happened to be
>>in the stall while we were there.
>>
>>"So how long before you'll be selling unlocked Apple Phones?" I asked the
>>guy.
>>
>>He grimaced. "That's going to be very difficult," he said, claiming that
>>some of his people had already gotten their hands on an Apple Phone and
>>were attempting to hack it. Apple, needless to say, has gone to
>>great lengths to make the phone hard to unlock; the back of the phone has
>>to be opened, and the hardware process is tricky. The phone hacker sighed.
>>"I think it will be a long time-maybe three months."
>>
>>I assume by then, this stall will also be selling the Apple Phone
>>knockoff.
>>Read related: THE ONE TRUE PHONE
>
> Verizon's churn will rise as a result of the iPhone. ATT will have a
> favorable LNP ratio with Verizon and leave them in the dust when it comes
> to churn and subscriber adds.
>
>

That remains to be seen. ATT claims that 40% of the million or so ppl who
have responded as interested in the iPhone are not currently ATT customers.
Verizon which is owned partially by Vodaphone is taking a wait and see
attitude. They claim to have some phones in the works that will compete
with iPhone...we'll see. So far iPhone is all hype...it looks promising but
it hasn't been street tested yet, and it's expensive.

The two big guys (ATT and Verizon) have about equal subscribers, but Verizon
has many more long-term contracts than ATT, and in some areas (mine for
example) much better reception. Supposedly they also have better customer
service, but you be the judge of that. I am not qualified to discuss the
technological aspects, especially the emerging technologies. Will it be
CDMA, GSM, or whatever is next.

I am with Verizon for the reception, but they do piss me off by crippling so
many of their phones features. When and if ATT improves it's network, I
might consider switching myself. I won't be for the iPhone though.














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