(Legitimate) unlocked iPhones not selling much in Europe
An iPhone tied to the Orange network in France costs €399 (£298). In the UK you can only buy iPhones locked to the O2 network, costing £269. In Germany the sales of unlocked iPhones is likely to be equally as small as France given that by law they have to be sold as unlocked to begin with, meaning they cost an eye-watering 999 Euros (£747).
On Wednesday this week – a day after Apple’s Steve Jobs said they had sold four million iPhones globally so far – EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said Apple’s exclusive contracts with mobile carriers could be considered unfair and therefore not binding on consumers. Meanwhile in the UK unlocked iPhones are appearing on ebay for between £400-£500.
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