According to my knowledge, unlocked 3G iPhones are not being sold by Apple nor AT&T in the US, but somehow Buy.com has the 16GB model for $799.99 with free shipping. That’s a $100 more than the contract-free (but not unlocked) iPhones that Apple and AT&T starting offering it’s customers last month, but this makes Buy.com the first major retailer to sell an unlocked iPhone in the US. They also state that the phone comes with full Apple warranty, which I thought Apple only honors when they are under an AT&T plan. Even more crazy, Buy.com in their product description references the iPhone previously being hacked and the “cat and mouse” game that is endured my Apple and many iPhone owners who have unofficially unlocked their iPhones. Is this a late April fools joke or is Apple and AT&T desperatly trying to get rid of inventory before the new iPhone gets unvil this June?

AT&T and Apple stores are now officially selling the iPhone 3G’s contract-free in the United States. The 8GB model is selling for $599 and both of the 16GB models are selling for $699. Sales at the AT&T Stores require customers to be an existing customer, while anyone can walk in the an Apple Store and snag one. The one per customer rule still applies.

Might I remind you that these phones are not unlocked and are still tied to AT&T. Given that the iPhone 3G will only work on AT&T’s 3G network in the United States, I don’t see any reason why anyone living in the US would peony up that much cash for a locked phone which they will most likely have to use with a carrier that is already offering a subsidies version. Not to mention, wouldn’t it be cheaper to enter in a contract ($199 for 8gb model) and cancel early ($175 early termination fee)? For international user’s this would however, be an opportunity for them snag a iPhone, which they can unlock for use in their choice of country, but wouldn’t you want to spend just a little bit more and get an officially unlocked iPhone here?

AT&T wireless is overcharging iPhone users for no apparent reason. This is nothing new and has gone on since the inception of the iPhone (one year ago). More recently I was a victim to this foul practice, racking up over US$7000 in false data usage. I refused to pay this outrageous amount, thus I disputed the charges for over two months until ATT finally credited my account. The credit was applied in increment, why? I have no freakin’ idea. All I know is AT&T does not know a thing about customer services. If it wasn’t for the iPhone, I would have left AT&T a long time ago.

The Long awaited iPhone is here! It’s introduced as three separate products; a widescreen video iPod, a phone, and a mobile internet communicator. It will use a revolutionary interface called MultiTouch, first seen in Apple patent filings over a year ago. The iPhone will run OS X, and be capable of running desktop-class applications.

The Specs:

• Single front button
• 3.5 inch widescreen display featuring the highest pixel density ever shipped in a portable device
• 2 megapixel camera
• iPod dock
• Proximity sensor which switches between modes and screen orientation based on how a user holds it
• 11.6 mm thick
• Syncs with iTunes
• GSM/EDGE
• Wifi
• Bluetooth
• Visual voicemail – shows a list of your voicemails like you see a list of emails
• Error correcting on-screen keyboard
• Gestural interface
• Mail.
• Safari
• Google Maps
• Widgets
• Switches seamlessly between EDGE and WiFi
• Free Yahoo! IMAP email to all iPhone customs
• GPS
• 5 hour video battery life
• 16 hour audio battery life
• Cingular AT&T only

The 4GB costs $499 and the 8GB $599 (includes a 2 year contract). It will be shipping in June.

For more details on the iPhone check out Apple’s website for the phone’s iPod features, internet communications device, and phone features.

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