German Court Forces Unlocked iPhone

T-Mobile, the wireless division of Deutsche Telekom, which also owns the wireless carrier in the U.S. of the same name, has announced that they’ll follow a court order and offer Apple’s iPhone with no contract, and unlocked so it will work on other carriers. The catch? The free-and-clear version of the phone will cost 999 euros (almost US$1,500) rather than 399 euros (almost US$600) for the standard phone.

We anticipated some European carriers might have to comply with laws requiring they offer an unlocked phone with no contract, but since the carriers can charge a significantly higher price for the unencumbered phone, it doesn’t seem like too big a hardship for either Apple or T-Mobile.

T-Mobile has said they’re the only wireless carrier with complete EDGE network data coverage throughout Germany, but those who desperately want to use an iPhone on Vodafone’s competing network will now be able to try.