iPhone France 1000 Euros?

Wed, 10/17/2007 - 2:17pm — Seth Weintraub

Well, I am proud of France today. My abusive foster country is all right by me. Why? Is it the fact that the transit workers are striking so they can continue to retire 3 years earlier than the general population making my commute a one hour walk? Maybe its the kind, helpful manner in which all levels of government administration treat foreign workers?

Nope, not this time. This time it is those crazy laws against mobile phone makers colluding with the telecoms. You see, in France you gotta sell the handset unlocked without ties to a phone carrier. This is going to open a lot of holes in Apple's game plan. Will it be better for the customer? (Yes)

Obviously this doesn't bode well for the iPhone and its lock to Orange. Apple is being forced to sell its first unlocked iPhones in France on November 29th. The catch is the price. It will likely cost more than double to buy the phone without a plan. Some people are even predicting 1000€!

However it is doubtful that these devices will have different hardware than that of the "locked phones". Therefore technically, a software update and a (subsidized?) plane ticket could turn a $400 US iPhone into a €1000 European toy.

That's $1400 and change thanks to the solid US monetary policy of late. Again, a $1000 premium over the exact same hardware at the Apple store? Surely Apple isn't expecting to do this?

All I can say is: People visiting France from the US, bring iPhones. Bring lots of iPhones. Because unlike an American trying to get help with his Visa paperwork, a $1000 profit margin is nothing to scoff at.

Comments

I love the way you love my

Wed, 10/17/2007 - 3:27pm — French dude (not verified)

I love the way you love my country!!!

No really, you need to meet culturally sensitive French people... OK, I understand that might be a hard thing to do... But try! I'm sure there are some... especially in Paris!

Sounds like a great plan,

Wed, 10/17/2007 - 3:30pm — skeptical (not verified)

Sounds like a great plan, except that it wont take long until the unlocked software/firmware/baseband/whatever is taken from an unlocked phone and distributed torrent style. Surely this is the break people were waiting for? And 1000 Euro? Surely a massive price difference isn't a legitimate way around this French law?

You can bet your pants these

Wed, 10/17/2007 - 3:33pm — Thomas (not verified)

You can bet your pants these unlocked phones will be "smuggled" into the US. More likely sold on eBay. Who wants to bet on some closing prices? $1500 anyone?

Although skeptical's thought

Wed, 10/17/2007 - 3:36pm — Thomas (not verified)

Although skeptical's thought up there of the software/firmware being posted on the net does seem as if not more probable.

And the fact that one pays

Wed, 10/17/2007 - 4:10pm — Carl (not verified)

And the fact that one pays $1500 for the iPhone including the plan don't bother you... How can you call that cheap? It's sounds more like outrageous to me.

Hello ! It's not a

Wed, 10/17/2007 - 11:06pm — Tortue (not verified)

Hello !

It's not a prediction, french unlocked iPhone cost already 999€ (1415$us) but it's just a legal stuff !

Don't get fooled, no one is likely to buy this at this price when on eBay my friends and I we've bought our iPhone less than 350€ (495$us) wich is already expensive when you think that most of our phone cost less than 200€ (283$) and often 1€ (1,42$) with subvention (wich Apple doesn't want hear about it).