According to the company’s Orange mobile subsidiary, Apple’s exclusive provider partner in France, it will be selling unlocked iPhones at that astronomically high price whenever customers turn down the 12- or 24-month service contract. I suppose there is always a silver lining in every cloud – after all, France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard did mention that Orange will be selling unlocked iPhones at a “significantly lower” price compared to the $1,471 quoted by rival T-Mobile in Germany.

According to the company’s Orange mobile subsidiary, Apple’s exclusive provider partner in France, it will be selling unlocked iPhones at that astronomically high price whenever customers turn down the 12- or 24-month service contract. I suppose there is always a silver lining in every cloud – after all, France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard did mention that Orange will be selling unlocked iPhones at a “significantly lower” price compared to the $1,471 quoted by rival T-Mobile in Germany.

Should you feel that that is too high a price to pay, then why not go ahead with the service plan? It will still cost significantly more compared to the iPhone in the US (which incidentally has the cheapest iPhones around the globe), retailing for $589 with numerous plans to choose from. These plans will cost you anywhere from $72 to $176, which include between 120 and 480 minutes of talktime. If you decide to throw in another $148, Orange will unlock any locked iPhone, including those previously purchased with a 12- or 24-month contract. For current Orange customers who want to pick up an iPhone without the hassle of extending their existing contract can do so, but they will still have to pay through their nose by forking out $811. All I can say is, prestige and hype come at a price – if you really think that the iPhone is that indispensable in your life, go for it.

Source: Computer World