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iPhone 3G S unlocked prices in Italy: 16 GB for $860, 32 GB for $998

Categories: iPhone
By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 1:34 PM

euronotespa_175x125When people in America started complaining about the price of the iPhone 3G S and how existing customers would have to pay up to $500 to get the new model, I resisted the urge to forcefully accelerate the palm of my hand at a 45 degree angle and make contact with my forehead. People just don’t understand what these things really cost. The high end capacitive screens, the gigabytes of memory, GPS chips, compass, it’s madness that you can get an iPhone for $200 on a 2 year contract. In the UK you’ll probably get the iPhone for free with a 2 year contract. For Europe however, and I don’t count the UK as a part of Europe, we buy devices unlocked.

Some countries, and correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Italy, France and Hong Kong, have laws against selling locked devices. A majority of the unlocked iPhones that I see here in Finland are purchased while on holiday in Italy or from some website that buys them in bulk and then sells them at a €100 markup. In Italy you’re going to be able to buy an iPhone 3G S, the 16 GB model, for €619. The 32 GB model will cost you €719. I’m not going to bother retyping that that is in United States Dollars, because that urge to hurt myself may turn into a violent assault on a foreign exchange student who just got off the bus and complains about the weather and asks why the sun doesn’t go all the way down. Enjoy your cheap iPhones, I’ll just keep on pounding back liters of awesome beer, sleeping with tall supermodels, and cut class at a University that doesn’t cost anything to attend.

[Via: HD Blog, Unwired View]

About The Author

Stefan Constantinescu

Stefan Constantinescu (@WhatTheBit on Twitter) has loved technology since as far back as he can remember. It started with computers, but in the past few years his passion has turned to mobile devices. As a mobile phone enthusiast who lives and breathes devices that connect to the internet, he knows he is not alone with this radical fascination of all things wireless. He is strongly opinionated and enjoys a good debate so leave comments in his posts and he’ll get back to you! Stefan began blogging as a hobby in the fall of 2006 and joined IntoMobile in the summer of 2007. Later he got a job at Nokia in March 2008, but as of June 2009 he has rejoined the IntoMobile team. He is currently based out of Helsinki, Finland.

  • Ben Robinson

    Re: the UK:

    You aren’t going to get the iPhone for free on a 2-year contract, *unless* you are spending £70/month – that’s big hitter territory. More likely is that we are going to see people in the £35-50/month range, which means the iPhone, dependent on spec, will cost somewhere between £100-300.

    Full details in my post here: http://www.intomobile.com/2009/06/09/uk-iphone-3g-pricing-on-o2-part-1.html

    Ben :)

    PS – so happy we are not part of Europe ;)

  • Janet

    Only one country — Singapore — outlaws simlocking.

    Italy, France and Hong Kong offers unlocked iphones for business reasons, nothing to do with government regulations.

  • Stefan Constantinescu

    thanks for clarifying!

  • Snidely

    Don’t forget the free health care…and the Finnish women are worth a second mention.

  • Strux

    Fantastic article. Did you mentioned already beautiful women, free universities, and health care?? :)