Unlocked, official-sounding iPhone 3Gs available from Buy.com

If you're looking for a quick way to stick it to AT&T, we might suggest an unlocked iPhone 3G running on T-Mobile. Not just any old pwned iPhone, though -- how about something a little more official? Buy.com is offering fully Apple-warranted, "never-locked" 16GB iPhone 3Gs for the princely sum of $799.99, which might very well mark the first time such a unit has been offered by a major retailer stateside. You'd be looking at well less than $800 for an off-contract unit from AT&T that's been unlocked the hacky way, but if you'd rather stay on the up and up, this looks like the way to roll.

[Via dealmac.com]

[josesxi Posted Apr 14th 2009 4:53AM]

First! Woo Hoo

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 10:04AM]

799.99 for an unlocked Iphone 3g..... you must be smoking meth if you pay this.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 4:27PM]

@boss-hogg

Nope, just selling meth to the children.

[benjitek Posted Apr 14th 2009 6:08AM]

This post makes a statement that's a little misleading: "...an unlocked iPhone 3G running on T-Mobile..."

Yes, you can make calls on TMo with one of these, but, you won't be able to use 3G as it doesn't support the bands that T-Mobile uses. When it comes to using the internet, you have WiFi or EDGE :(

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:17PM]

If im not mistaken, that means even voice would not be 3G. No thanks, I'll be sticking with my T-Mobile iPhone 2G (and my $40 plan) until the new iPhone drops in June and is swiftly unlocked by the ever-so-awesome dev-team.

[KrazyCalvin Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:21PM]

There's also places on ATTs network that is also just edge, whats your point. If they wanted a 3g tmobile phone they would get one. Most people buying this shit are trendy people who only care about the phone for looks anyway. they might use the web once a month to look up how to make hummus or whatever trendy people do.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 8:15AM]

Anyone who pays $800 for an iphone is an absolute idiot. I can list dozens of better unlocked phones from Nokia, SonyEricsson, HTC, etc well under that price range.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 8:41AM]

Does this mean I could buy this phone, call at&t add the 15 dollar a month media net unlimited data plan and then have a fully functional 3g i phone using the 15 dollar data plan?

If so then that's great news, Would at&t detect the imei and then realize your were on an iphone and then change your data plan accordingly? or would they treat it like a nokia n95 or some other unlocked phone the carrier cant reconcile in their systems?

thanks

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 8:44AM]

Word has it that they will still detect the iphone 3g, no matter where it was originally from in the world. I don't have any proof, so don't quote me on it :P

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 10:18AM]

AT&T would detect that you're using an iPhone. After a while, they'd send you a text message to call in and get the proper plan. I don't know how much they enforce it beyond that, though.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 1:51PM]

you don't have to call in. they just add it to your account. got one from a friend. checked my account a day later online and it had a picture of the iphone and the data plan already in place.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 2:17PM]

Nothing special about that: Here in some European states the local law requires that a totally unlocked version of the iPhone is sold at a price point that does a realistic calculation on carrier subsidies (not 10.000$ for something unlocked). These iPhones are locally sold between 550 and 600 Euros for the 8GB model or 650 to 700 Euros for the 16GB model including 19 to 21% VAT. This roughly translates to 800 US$, so it might be just Euro models shipped to the US.

For me it's to expensive. I stick with my stupid dumb, good enough Nokia E71 that does the job for 290€ -- unlocked.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 2:32PM]

i agree my e71 does the job for me too, and i kinda like not having an iphone, because my grandmother has one. its not really cool to have one

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2009 9:38PM]

Mankind has survived for THOUSANDS of years without any type of cell phone. True, cell phones can be extremely handy and very useful. They can be great tools to get work done, errands, arranging meetings with people, and definitely for emergencies! There are LOTS of GREAT uses for the iPhone. However, I see too many people living their lives on the cell phone, talking about stupid senseless B.S. People even drive while using their cell phones and causing accidents. People depend so much on their phones that they seem lost without it. People sacrifice so much time to do facebook, play with those stupid apps, etc., instead of solving problems the "old fashioned", common-sense way, and meeting people in person...

As for unlocked phones, I just stick with a basic cell phone model. Unless I have a true need for advanced features and technology, I just stick with the "tried and true".

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 1:19AM]

Then why are you reading Engadget Mobile?

[(Unverified) Posted May 29th 2009 8:51AM]

I bought an Official Unlocked iPhone in Thailand, it turned out to be an Italian Unlocked iPhone.

On my return to UK I asked Apple about the warranty situation.....

No international warranty.
Fitting any non approved network SIM card voids the warranty anyway.
Support only available from country of purchase.