Unlocked and contract-less iPhone 3G available in France

Following on the legal kerfuffle in France that forced Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) and Orange (France’s once-exclusive iPhone 3G carrier) to stop selling iPhones locked to Orange’s network, French retailer FNAC is now selling unlocked and contract-less iPhone 3Gs in France. The French Competition Council recently ordered Orange to temporarily cease its exclusive partnership with Apple, forcing Apple’s hand in allowing third-party vendors, like FNAC, to sell the iPhone 3G in France.

But, as with all things in the mobile world that involved the terms “unlocked” and “contract-free,” the FNAC iPhone 3G will cost a pretty penny. FNAC is asking would-be iPhone 3G owners to fork over €799 ($1,123) and €899 ($1,263)for the 8GB iPhone 3G and 16GB iPhone 3G, respectively.