T-Mobile offering $1,500 unlocked iPhones in Germany
T-Mobile just issued a press release in response to Vodafone's efforts to unravel the iPhone exclusive offering in Germany. In the statement, T-Mobile claims that they will appeal the ruling (they have two weeks to do so) and will continue selling the iPhone unabated. T-Mobile defends the locking strategy as good for consumers who receive preferential data rates and access to T-Mobile hotspots as a result. In addition, T-Mobile says that it will likely claim damages against Vodafone for the mess they're causing. Perhaps T-Mob hasn't noticed all the free press they (and Apple) are receiving?
[Via Pocket-lint]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Constable Odo @ Nov 21st 2007 9:03AM
Absurd as it may be, nobody should complain about the price of an officially unlocked iPhone since nobody is forcing you to buy it.
Bobby @ Nov 21st 2007 9:44AM
So much for free market in Europe.
Customers fight in Germany over iPhone:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/11/21/business/21iphone.xlarge1.jpg
PakieMak @ Nov 21st 2007 9:18AM
I'll buy the iPhone when it allows wifi calls and bluetooth stereo streaming to my moto stereo headset.
Ohh... it has to be unlocked so I can use it on TMO.
Jamar @ Nov 21st 2007 11:18AM
Grab a locked German iPhone and just run the "bypass activation" hack. This is because T-Mobile doesn't lock their phones to a specific country's network (T-Mobile SIMs apparently only identify themselves with a network code so they can't be locked to a specific country code).
Alfa @ Nov 21st 2007 4:01PM
So if I use it outside Germany I don't need any hack besides the one for activation?
No need of hack when there is an update of the firmware?
What's the language used in german iPhone? Only german or is it multilanguage?
Alfa @ Nov 21st 2007 4:01PM
So if I use it outside Germany I don't need any hack besides the one for activation?
No need of hack when there is an update of the firmware?
What's the language used in german iPhone? Only german or is it multilanguage?
o2schaefchen @ Nov 21st 2007 9:41AM
.. but this price includes 19% sales tax :)
Bobby @ Nov 21st 2007 9:46AM
Before iPhone era it used to be 18.5% ;-)
Greg L @ Nov 21st 2007 1:38PM
I don't really see how the EU is going to let them get away with charging such a huge price premium for the unlocked one, when Apple insist that the American version is completely unsubsidized. If the phone is unsubsidized and they can sell it in America for 272 euro, where the hell do they get off charging 1000 euro for an unsubsidized version in the EU?
Bobby @ Nov 21st 2007 3:03PM
That how they do business - they do not develop new products, they develop new taxes. On imported goods there are 2 or 3 different taxes applied one on another. For automobiles it comes to %50 of MSRP + shipping.
Steve T @ Nov 21st 2007 2:04PM
TMobile does unlocked iPhone in Germany, why not offer plans for unlocked phones here in the US with visual voicemail & data? They obviously have the technology. Want some customers? We're waiting; get it together. Come on, throw us a bone and do something to help your company in the US.
You can get a Nokia N95 running Symbian/S60 for about $300 (200 Euros) on 2-year contract in Europe. What can you get for that price range in the US? A Sidekick, RAZR2, or "Wing" running Windows Mobile. Yay.