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T-Mobile to sell unlocked and subsidized Nokia handsets through Best Buy?

Categories: Nokia, Rumors, T-Mobile
By: , IntoMobile
Friday, November 7th, 2008 at 12:49 PM

Unlocked handsets are most definitely the way to go in the GSM market. Without any SIM locks to keep you bound to a specific GSM network, unlocked handsets give the user the freedom to roam the world with the knowledge that they’ll be able to hope on voice and data networks almost anywhere.

And, so, talk of Best Buy preparing to sell unlocked handsets is high on our rumor-watchlist. Word on the street is that Best Buy will be selling unlocked Nokia handsets with and without contract-pricing. Best Buy is rumored to be offering Nokia handsets like the Nokia E71, Nokia N95, and Nokia N96 in unlocked form, complete with T-Mobile subsidies.

If true, we’ll be seeing Best Buy selling what could very well be the first unlocked, on-contract handset.

The T-Mobile Nokia E71 is expected to hit Best Buy for $200 when purchased with new two-year contract – compared to the unsubsidized, unlocked price of $460. The T-Mobile Nokia N95 will reportedly run $350 after subsidies and the T-Mobile Nokia N96 will be priced at an on-contract $600 price-point.

We’ll keep a close eye on this one.

[Via: TmoNews]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

  • Layla

    Hope it pushes through… This will give subscribers freedom in choosing their provider, also to consider shopping for the best plan. Good move for Nokia– this will drive up sales for them, this is also good for t-mobile— for starting the open line policy— now other phone companies will either join them or adjust their price rates to keep up with this deal. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your opinions and other updates

  • Will Park

    Indeed. Check out the IntoMobile podcast, we talk about T-Mobile's pioneering move today!

    IntoMobile's "The Signal" Podcast