Next iPhone may be locked after all

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 12:51

Your IT - Mobility

Various snippets of information and rumour have led to an expectation that the 3G iPhone won't be network locked. But today's announcement from Vodafone calls that into question.

Vodafone's terse statement, as reported by iTWire's Adam Turner, stated "Later this year, Vodafone customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone for use on the Vodafone network."

Let's examine those chicken entrails.

Given the way Vodafone promotes its 3G network in at least some of those countries, it seems reasonable that the company is talking about the 3G model, especially given the "later this year" clause.

But it is the last bit that caught my eye: "for use on the Vodafone network." My current phone carries Vodafone branding, but it wasn't locked and so I can use it with any carrier's SIM. (I've stayed with Vodafone as one of their legacy tariffs suits me to a T.)

There's also an implication that the iPhone will be usable on Vodafone's network in countries other than the place of purchase, but if anyone accused me of drawing a long bow, I'd have to admit they were right.

Perhaps the best we'll get is the iPhone being sold like any other phone: locked until the associated contract runs out or is paid out; until a certain amount of prepaid credits have been purchased (why should it be reserved for post-paid customers?); or on payment of an unlocking fee either as a separate item or built into the purchase price.