Where can I find an iPhone 3G for $200?
 

A friend in China has asked me to find her an iPhone 3G here, claiming they're $200 and far cheaper here than in China. I can't find one for under $600. And besides, wouldn't a low sales price require a two year contract? And are they all GSM phones? I know nothing about this stuff, as I have no interest in an iPhone. But I don't want to tell my friend no dice without making some effort first.

iphones are all gsm and like all other apple products there the same price at all stores.

Does that mean I can find one for $200 and without a contract?

Doubtful. It might take a lot of searching, but I highly doubt you can find a 3G one for that price.

You are correct in thinking that the $200 price tag is supplemented by AT&T.

I had a guest from Asia who wanted to buy an I-Phone here. We went to Best Buy. AT&T has an exclusive contract with Apple. The salesperson to us the phone will retail for around $1,400. HOWEVER, they will not sell the phone without a contract anywhere in the U.S. The salesperson also informed us that he heard the only place where one can buy an I-Phone without a contract is in France (where there is some kind of a legal consumer loophole allowing one to do so).

P/S. You should be able to get it on Ebay.

Might check these out:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/bar/909805943.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/ele/903900288.html

Time to revive this one. My wife really wants an iPhone, but we have Verizon and don't want to switch to AT&T or wait until Verizon picks up the iPhone. So, how about getting a jailbroken iPhone? Will all the apps still work? Can I just get a Verizon data plan then?

No - Verizon will not work on an unlocked iphone. Jailbreaking has nothing to do with using another carriers network. T-Mobile is your only other option and I have heard they are no better than AT&T.

With Verizon - Droid is the way to go.

GSM is the way to go IMO (T-mobile/AT&T). Your sim chip is plug n' play with virtually any GSM phone (makes replacing/switching hardware easier). Plus, it opens the doors to more (or easier) International use. If you still need/want to stay with the blackberry platform, the GSM Bold 9700 is pretty slick. I've had AT&T for years with no probs at all. Plus they have affiliate business discounts for a lot of companies. Enter your work email here to see if you qualify: AT&T Business Center Portal

Verizon does not use GSM, ie: no sim card, iPhone will need a carriers sim card to function.

My Verizon phone DOES have a slot for a SIM card, but there is no SIM card in it. I could swear I've seen ads on CL for iPhones that have been jailbroken and work on Verizon.

Here is one: Apple 3G Phone, some small scratches and stuff
I can handle the transaction, if needed.

It's probably a multi-platform capable phone, or a slot for a Verizon "World SIM" card (not US GSM compatible). Verizon uses CDMA networks, and does not support/use GSM AFAIK. So, nothing (including "jail-breaking") will make an iphone work on Verizon's network. Any ads you see offering such are scams. You'll have to wait for the Verizon version, or join the dark-side.

World Phone.

When travelling in Europe you can get a Verizon supplied SIM or a local SIM that will work on the foreign partners GSM network.

It will not work on Verizon in the US.

iPhone on domestic Verizon not gonna happen.

Any ads that you are seeing are either BS or foreign network Verizon phones.

Ok, I'm looking into eating the early termination fees from Verizon to switch over to AT&T and just getting her a new iPhone and myself a refurb. Blackberry.

There should be some for sale around here. 100 were stolen from a local AT&T store...

Go with the BB Bold if you like the BB. I have one and love it. 3x faster than the Curve and so on.

ATT is selling refurb 3GS for $49 (16gb) and $149 (32gb)