Apple begun offering the iPhone 4S unlocked and contract free through the Apple Online Store this morning for U.S. customers, with current orders for the unlocked units listing an estimated shipping time of 1-2 weeks.
The unlocked device only works with GSM carriers, however, and not CDMA networks such as Sprint and Verizon. For those on the fence, Apple has also published some information to help you decide whether you might benefit from an unlocked device.
Unlocked devices contain every feature of a standard iPhone, but do not require a contract with a carrier, and can be used with any GSM network. They’re also only available at full price with no carrier subsidy, coming in at $649, $749 and $849 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, respectively.
Many users who had previously purchased an iPhone 4S off-contract for the full retail price from Apple, AT&T & Sprint found that their device was already unlocked, however, so unlocked phones being listed in the Apple Online Store is essentially just a formality.
Apple announced in October when iPhone 4S pre-orders first began that unlocked devices would be available through purchase starting in November.
