Officially unlocked iPhones arrive in Hong Kong

Stephen Withers
Monday, 29 September 2008 07:15

Your IT - Mobility

Apple has begun selling unlocked iPhone 3Gs in Hong Kong - at a premium, of course.

The unlocked 8G model sells for $HK5400 ($A835/$US694) and the 16G version is $HK6200 ($A959/$US797).

A note on the Hong Kong online Apple Store says "iPhone 3G purchased at the Apple Online Store can be activated with any wireless carrier. Simply insert the SIM from your current phone into iPhone 3G and connect to iTunes 8 to complete activation."

Apple's usual model has been to sell the iPhone through or in conjunction with one or more carriers in each country. In Hong Kong, the iPhone 3G was previously only offered with a two year contract with Hutchison's 3.

In Australia, Optus originally offered a pre-paid 8G iPhone 3G for $A729, and that could be unlocked for an additional $A80 fee. However, the iPhone is no longer on Optus's list of pre-paid mobiles.

Melbourne-based retailer Linelink is selling unlocked 8G iPhone 3Gs for $A1075. "We source our iPhones from Australia and they are carrier unlocked so they can be used on any network without signing up to expensive plans," says the company's web site.

The iPhone 3G is currently offered in 52 countries, with a further 24 (largely in Africa and South America, abut also including Russia and Croatia) "coming soon" according to Apple.