Customers can now purchase iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus without a SIM at Apple's website. This could be significant to consumers who have been waiting for about a month for the unlocked version of the latest handsets.
At Apple's online store, buyers will be able to see a SIM-free option in addition to devices that are covered under Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon plans. Of course, consumers will have to pay for the whole retail price, which ranges from $649, $749 and $849 for the 32 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB variants, respectively.
The case is different when buying through a carrier at the online store because an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus can be purchased on installment basis. This is the burden that comes with the choice to buy a smartphone with no contract commitment whatsoever in addition to the need to buy a nano SIM.
Fortunately, Apple has an 18-month promotional financing, which allows customers purchasing the SIM-free handsets to pay in installments using a Barclay Visa credit card. This feature, however, disqualifies an iPhone from Apple's Upgrade program.
Certainly, there are several inconveniences when purchasing a carrier-free phone. But there are segments of the market that prefer unlocked handsets. These include those who are traveling overseas or shipping the devices to relatives abroad.
It is also possible that Apple hastened the release of the unlocked iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to meet the demand of customers looking for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 replacement. Tech Times previously reported that Apple could snag as much as 8 million handset sales for the remaining part of this year due to the Note 7 snafu.
"All iPhone models are world phones, so you can use them almost anywhere," Apple said. "Which means you can roam internationally on GSM networks in over 200 countries around the world, whether you are a GSM or CDMA network customer."
Consumers should note that the tech company's iPhone Upgrade program will not yet include unlocked iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Apple has not explained this as of this writing. When a customer chooses the Upgrade program option, he is mandated to choose a carrier before proceeding to checkout.
Finally, for those concerned about shipping, it seems that demand for the Jet Black model of the iPhone 7 Plus is still high. The waiting time for the device could reach as long as eight weeks in contrast to other variants, which have three to five weeks delivery schedule.
