As much as people like to bundle Europe into one basket, the fact is that there are still many countries within Europe with their own laws. In this case, it really depends on the country as to whether they are allowed to bundle contracts with a phone. For example, this most definitely IS allowed in Germany, and there ain't no $199 contract buyout deal either here. Further to that, like most contracts in Germany, if you don't cancel your contract within 3 months of the end of the contract, then you get stuck with another year automatically!
It's the bane of my existance over here, you forget to cancel a magazine subscription and you suddenly get a bill for the next year, which you cannot get out of!
While tied sale is not illegal in most European countries, I believe people must at any time be able to cancel their service contract and get their phone unlocked, be it for a fee.
While tied sale is not illegal in most European countries, I believe people must at any time be able to cancel their service contract and get their phone unlocked, be it for a fee.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
x zaqarov
Just look at O2 in UK --- they said as much as your iphone is a paper weight after you leave their network after the end of the contract. Look at the overturned injunction for the iphone in Germany --- T-Mobile Germany has no legal obligation to give you unlocking codes period.
Now that the iPhone is treated the same way as any other AT&T phone in term of everything. Are they going to unlock the iPhone for you the same way they unlock any other AT&T locked phone?! (I think it is usually 6 months or so).
That said, I'd probably even get a white iPhone at those prices (if there were no black ones left). That is by far a better deal than what they are getting in the US.
Those prices are in British Pounds, they are almost 2 to 1 in USD right now, so I'm not sure it's really such a great deal... e.g. 8GB is ~$200 on the ~$70 plan and free with the ~$90 plan. The contract lengths are 6 mo shorter which is a definite plus however.
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It's the bane of my existance over here, you forget to cancel a magazine subscription and you suddenly get a bill for the next year, which you cannot get out of!
So this basically means for you guys that you cant just buy the phone and then get it unlocked right?
Apparantly they couldnt enforce this rule in Europe as its in breach of some EU law.
OK, have you been in a coma for the last 6 months?
Look at the launch of the iphone in UK, France and Germany --- that's more than half Europe's population.
Actually, many transscripts got this wrong. He said "a maximum of $199 in ALMOST all locations around the world".
Just to get it entirely right, he actually said "in almost all of these countries, the price is a maximum of 199, all around the world"
Notice he didn't actually say "dollars". Sneaky little bastards.
But you're right obviously, looks like a pricey iPhone in Belgium...
Luckily I go to school in the Netherlands
@samab:
While tied sale is not illegal in most European countries, I believe people must at any time be able to cancel their service contract and get their phone unlocked, be it for a fee.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
x zaqarov
Just to get it entirely right, he actually said "in almost all of these countries, the price is a maximum of 199, all around the world"
Notice he didn't actually say "dollars". Sneaky little bastards.
But you're right obviously, looks like a pricey iPhone in Belgium...
Luckily I go to school in the Netherlands
@samab:
While tied sale is not illegal in most European countries, I believe people must at any time be able to cancel their service contract and get their phone unlocked, be it for a fee.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
x zaqarov
Just look at O2 in UK --- they said as much as your iphone is a paper weight after you leave their network after the end of the contract. Look at the overturned injunction for the iphone in Germany --- T-Mobile Germany has no legal obligation to give you unlocking codes period.
White is definitely a good choice.
That said, I'd probably even get a white iPhone at those prices (if there were no black ones left). That is by far a better deal than what they are getting in the US.
Those prices are in British Pounds, they are almost 2 to 1 in USD right now, so I'm not sure it's really such a great deal... e.g. 8GB is ~$200 on the ~$70 plan and free with the ~$90 plan. The contract lengths are 6 mo shorter which is a definite plus however.