theoilyboy

Uncovering Apple's Missing 2M iPhones

I can offer some non-technical information to this discussion. I live in Beijing China and own an i-Phone (not an i-Clone). I bought it about six weeks after it came out in the States. It cost me 4,000 RMB (about $540). It was unlocked and fully functional from day one using my normal SIM card. No problems ever with connectivity, GPRS, EDGE, etc. I love it. I bought my wife one about three weeks later. The cost had gone up to 4,200RMB. This was strange as phone prices have always comes down in time previously. Several of my friends bought them at later times. The cost kept steadily increasing in 100 RMB increments to where it is now RMB5,500 the last I heard.

Outside the States and Europe (and especially in Asia) buying an unlocked iPhone is easy. Supply and demand here is driving prices higher which means lots of people are wanting and buying these things. I believe there are far more unlocked phones working in other countries than some people think.

Hope this helps!!