The iPhone will be offered without subsidies in Italy via Vodafone starting at 499 EUR for the 8GB model and 569 for the 16GB, that translates to $771 and $880 respectively. While I know that makes some of our American readers may balk at these figures, this is the norm in Europe where people are hesitant to sign contracts for 2 years and a lot of people are on prepaid, myself included. Italy has some of the highest mobile phone penetration rates on the planet, over 140%, so for every 100 people there are 140 mobile phones. America has yet to hit 100% and isn’t going to for a few more years. Think about that for a second.
Why is that? Well when you’re not tied to a 2 year contract you buy mobiles for frequently, have a phone for the weekend, have a work phone, change your SIM in the morning to match your outfit, I could go on and on.
Anyway, here is hoping Sonera in Finland, that’s where I live, does the same thing and keeps the damn thing unlocked as well!
[Via: Engadget Mobile]