$695 - Apple's official price for unlocked iPhones

Jonny Evans
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September 26, 2008
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 Apple has begun selling iPhones unlocked for use on any network in Hong Kong, setting a starting price of $695 on the deal, which is available through the local online Apple retail store. 

The company is selling its 8GB iPhone for HK$5,400 ($695), while the 16GB iPhone model costs HK$6,200, both with free shipping. 

"Simply insert the SIM [subscriber identity module] from your current phone into iPhone 3G and connect to iTunes 8 to complete activation," Apple urges on the store website.

"Customer response to the iPhone 3G has been off the charts, and we are thrilled to offer our customers in Hong Kong another way to get their hands on this revolutionary device," an Apple spokeswoman said.

The iPhone 3G has been available in Hong Kong since July 11 through Hutchison Telecommunications. 

Comments (5)

Dave (not verified) | September 26, 2008 - 2:11am

Unlocked iPhones are available since july in Italy, prices are 499 EUR for 8 Gb and 569 EUR for 16 Gb version. I have one (I live in Slovenia, where iPhone is not yet available), I bought it, simply inserted my old simcard and it worked! No hacking required.

Scooby (not verified) | September 26, 2008 - 2:17am

Yeah, this is kinda ancient info... the unlocked iPhone has been available in ITaly for quite some time now...

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | September 26, 2008 - 3:34am

iPhone is being launched today in South Africa :-) and can be purchases for:
$790.00 8 GB
$940.00 16 GB

Buff (not verified) | September 26, 2008 - 5:42am

The iPhone 3G has been on sale in Belgium since July 11 and it's always been unlocked (615 Euro for 16 GB, 525 Euro for 8 GB) as there is a law against bundling a phone with a mobile contract.

Although you have to buy the iPhone through Mobistar, you can insert any SIM card. The largest mobile operator in Belgium, Proxiums, ran an add campaign to highlight the fact that you can use a Proximus SIM card in an iPhone bought at Mobistar.

The online Mobistar store is currently out of iPhones (again).
http://iphone3g.mobistar.be/en/index.cfm

bearchow (not verified) | September 26, 2008 - 12:33pm

That way unreasonably more expensive than iPod Touch ... more than 2.5X more expensive for 3G phone chipset, a 2MP camera and GPS, this prices are screwed up ... Apple is charging us an arm and leg for iPhones, now we know what a bargain it is for those iPod Touches ...