Apple Releases iPhone 4 GSM Unlock

On Monday, reported that rumors and rumblings from around the Apple world suggested the company would begin selling unlocked iPhone 4's beginning Wednesday. As it turned out, however, Apple pulled the trigger even sooner than anyone expected, making the unlocked GSM iPhone 4 available early this morning through the company's online store.
This reality comes just hours after one of Twitter's most reliable Apple tipsters, @Chronic dished that "unlocked iPhones headed to Apple Stores for Wednesday: MC603 (16GB, Black) MC604 (16GB, White) MC605 (32GB, Black) MC606 (32GB, White)." The 16GB and 32GB versions are now available on Apple' online store for $649 and $749, respectively. No international shipping is currently offered.

"If you don’t want a multiyear service contract or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad," Apple says, "the unlocked iPhone 4 is the best choice. It arrives without a micro-SIM card, so you’ll need an active micro-SIM card from any supported GSM carrier worldwide."


Although this marks the first time Apple has made unlocked iPhones available in the US, it's old hat in Europe, where Apple has been selling unlocked iPhones for quite some. One year ago, Apple made some progress toward today's new reality by starting to sell iPhones at list price, although they weren't unlocked.