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Unlocking iPhones – A Profitable Business

By Robert | September 18, 2007

As everyone expected, finally a market for unlocked iPhones appeared in Europe and US. I must say that it took a little longer than I expected but we still have it because last week the first software for unlocking iPhones was released. The mobile phone is now free from AT&T and can be used on any GSM network in the world. But not everybody knows how to exactly unlock the iPhone, nor do they have the software needed. This is why people started selling unlocked iPhones. In the US we have sellers on Craigslist that offer such mobile phones for prices varying from $450 to $700. The regular iPhone is $399 so this is quite an extra added tax and a very nice profit for selling one iPhone. If you end up searching eBay you will also notice the same unlocked devices selling for prices ranging between $500 and $600. On the auctions part of eBay UK we can even see such models being sold for as high as $2000. In Germany the highest price we could see is $1,100. Even the actual process of the unlocking is being sold. Individuals are offering to unlock your iPhone for $25 to $50.

Apple is preparing to deliver the iPhone in Europe, probably on Tuesday but US hackers are already selling unlocked versions outside of the country. For instance, one seller on Craigslist claims that he received phone calls from Dubai and India and that everyone is really thrilled at the possibility of owning an unlocked iPhone. For Apple, this means that they should try to land contracts with different continents as well.

Reports showed that hackers managed to unlock the iPhone for use in more than 45 countries in Asia and Europe. The entire process of unlocking the mobile phone is not easy but individuals that can do it are earning bundles of dollars for doing what they do best: hacking.

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