While discussing the start of pre-orders for the new Apple iPhone 4S, we noticed some of you wondering in the comments when you might get a chance to order a carrier-unlocked, off-contract model. According to Apple, such handsets will start shipping-out sometime during November.

Without carrier subsidies to help whittle-down its cost, an unlocked iPhone 4S will start at $649 for the 16GB version, going up to $749 for 32GB and $849 for the new 64GB size.

Even though the iPhone 4S is a hybrid GSM/CDMA world phone, if you were hoping to use it on a CDMA carrier, you’ll have to go through the traditional service-contract route; the unlocked 4S will strictly be for GSM networks, but that’s hardly surprising. Of course, you’ll need to go with a carrier that provides micro-SIM cards if they’re to fit in the 4S.

Just when in November can we hope these free-and-clear 4S models to start arriving? Only Apple knows for now, and it’s not saying. Obviously, we’d like to hope that it’s early-on, and we can’t see any reason why Apple might need to delay their release unnecessarily. Hopefully we’ll get a more precise release date in the weeks leading up to November.

Source: Apple

Via: Mobile Burn