The iPhone 3G will soon be available unlocked and SIM-free from Play.com. Play – better known for discount CDs and DVDs – are listing the 8GB and 16GB versions of the phone as available for pre-order.
An iPhone 3G without an O2 SIM used to require a steady nerve and jailbreak/unlock that ran the risk of bricking your phone. As we near what must surely be the launch of a new batch of iPhones, O2 are releasing their grip on the UK rights and Play.com are the first UK retailer to offer the iPhone 3G without contract.
£549.99 will get you an 8GB iPhone 3G, while a mere £50 more will secure the 16GB model. The 16GB price appears to be a limited special offer, reduced from the regular RRP of £649. Although the site seems to imply you will receive the phone within 24 hours, actually clicking through to the checkout reveals that neither model iPhone will be available until the 27th of March.
The shipping date may have implications for any new iPhone announcements from Apple, and is more than likely a way of clearing out older iPhone 3G stock, just as O2 are doling out iPhone freebies to clear their shelves before the new batch arrive sometime over the summer.
Of course, once you have your (rather pricey) unlocked iPhone you still have to find a contract to put it on – ideally one with unlimited internet access. Best of luck finding a deal that works out cheaper than getting it on an O2 contract, but if you need SIM-Free, you need it.
27th March | £549.99 (8GB) £599.99 (16GB) | Play.com – 16GB and 8GB
