Unlocked iPhones (3G, 3G[s]) at MobileCityOnline

If you have to get a brand new iPhone 3G or 3GS unlocked and contract free, you can always go to another country or buy it from unknown source off of eBay. Then, there is the option of buying one directly from one of the most popular unlocked handset reseller in the U.S., Mobile City Online!

Right now, they've got iPhone 3G and 3GS in different color as well as capacity, prices are high but then again you are buying a brand new, unlocked iPhone from a trustworthy shop:

iPhone 3G 16GB - $829/$799 (Black/White)
iPhone 3GS 16GB - $999 (Black or White)
iPhone 3GS 32GB - $1299 (Black or White)

Again, these prices are stiff but you don't have to do any unlock yourself and these are contract free. Checkout my in person visit to Mobile City @NYC last year.

Holy Smokes, Samsung Omnia i900 in Stock!

My friends at MobileCityOnline.com just got the Samsung Omnia i900 in stock. This raging beast is Windows Mobile 6.1 professional phone feature quad-band GSM (world phone) and Tri-band 3G data for Asia, Europe (2100) and US (AT&T 850/1900). Why do I call this a beast? because of its incredible feature set, see below. For the most thorough review on this phone, visit this pocketnow.com article.

* 7.2MB HSDPA Support
* 3.2" LCD w/ 240x400 resolution
* 802.11b/g
* 8GB Internal Memory
* 5MP Camera
* Bluetooth A2DP
* GPS
* FM Radio

I am very impressed by this phone's thin design as well as the feature set and am very enticed to buy one... if it weren't for the HTC Touch Diamond coming around the corner...

PS - If you've got another $100 to spare, pick up the $999 16GB edition here.

Find Your Next Unlocked, Exotic Phone at MobileCityOnline

For those unfamiliar with MobileCityOnline, they are one of the best online resources selling unlocked and rare smart phones. They carry the latest and greatest smartphones that are otherwise unavailable in North America. With exotic inventories like the LG Viewty, iMate 9502 to HTC Diamond (which they've already had the Euro edition in-stock but was sold out instantly), they are definitely the place to visit if you want the best in mobile devices!

Recently, contributing editor Greg Hanffou and I got a chance to visit their physical store in New York City. Located in a neighborhood known as Tribeca, this brick and mortar store is very unique and a definite gem for mobile enthusiasts. Because this location hosts the same warehouse as their online business, it's very likely they have all of their products in stock. Perfect for those with little patience and want their gadgets right away.

MobileCityOnline started back in 2001 as a web-only operation. As the years go on, they've tried a few operations with physical locations. It wasn't until two years ago, they've gotten more serious with this Tribeca store. The store is very clean and organized with all of their phones and accessories lined up on different sides of the walls. "The store is an extension or show room for their online store," said Jessica Annicelli, General Manager of Mobile city.

MobileCity specializes in non-contracted GSM network phones but they also stock phones in non-GSM networks. The selection and inventory is dazzling, some of the latest smartphones I've seen from my Asia trip is available in their store. They do not deal with opening accounts with GSM network carriers. This keeps their business simple! Most phones can be purchased unlocked or locked(some) as the customer desires. They leave you with the option of buying locked phones to keep your warranty intact. MobileCity has a strong relationship with many manufacturers, this is the why they can bring the latest models directly to their store. They pride themselves in carrying only the highest quality OEM accessories in the business (ie. from Nokia, BlackBerry, Samsung, SonyEricsson, Krusell, etc.).

The customers who visit MobileCity can be tourists throughout different parts of the world and/or local NY residents who travel frequently. This is because MobileCity provides products which meet the demands of these customers and their geographical needs. GSM network has up to quad bands just for its voice network and half a dozen bands just for 3G/3.5G data; you can be at ease with MobileCity's inventory and staff expertise. When asked, MobileCity does feel that there is a shift in demand in the U.S. to buy more unlocked phones as customers are growing more aware of their mobile options while this technology matures. MobileCity takes pride in offering good customer service; they listen to their customers' demand and try to find the products people are looking for. In addition, they are constantly visiting online websites such as Engadget, PhoneScoop GSM Arena and/or catching up on Mobile Awards to find the best products to stock up.

I asked about the status of some of the highly anticipated phones in the pipeline (ie. BlackBerry Bold, HTC Touch Diamond, and Sony Xperia X1) and they showed me a feature on their website which gives me product updates/alerts and keeps me in the loop. When asked what is the hottest smartphone in demand today, they said a lot of customers have been inquiring about the recently announced HTC Touch Pro (Raphael). However, HTC Touch Cruise and Nokia Nseries (N95, N82) have been selling strong as well.

I think MobileCityOnline is a very cool store with a lot of exotic unlocked phones. Its intimate store front provides a boutique-like experience for those lucky enough to pay them a visit. The store reminds me of the many specialty mobile boutiques I would see throughout Asian strip malls (ie. LG, Nokia, Samsung, and SonyEricsson stores). Nevertheless, their online store offers the most convenience for users to visit 24/7 offering all the information and updates one will need for a specific product. The staff at MobileCity are friendly and knowledgeable to GSM phones. So, if you are not familiar with them, pay them a visit, online or offline!

Special thanks to Anna Blinova and Jessica Annicelli for taking their time and inviting us to their store.

HTC Touch Diamond in Stock at MobileCityOnline

I noticed MobileCityOnline getting the HTC Touch Diamond (Euro 3G version) in stock since a couple of days ago, but when I checked back again, they were in pre-order mode again. Well, it looks like as of tonight they've got these hot new WinMo phones back in stock again. If you have to get one, better act quick as these things won't last. It will cost you a cool $749 to be the coolest kid on the block!

They also have a US version priced at $699 slated to arrive by July 21st for pre-ordering.

As more Unlocked Phones Become Available, is the Game Changing?

Last week, I read about BestBuy.com to start selling HTC Touch Dual unlocked to its web customers. I went to Bestbuy.com and found a dedicated a space they are using to educate consumers about buying unlocked phones and its ability to work with different telecoms. While unlocked phones on the page are limited in quantity (18 available online at time of writing), it is still a noteworthy movement. Lately, I've noticed consumers now have more places to buy unlocked phones (ie. Amazon.com, Buy.com, MobileCity, etc.) and it may be a shift in trend and mobile knowledge for U.S. consumers.

For far too long, have the U.S. mobile market been locked. We, as the consumers, were never educated about the intricate relationship between SIM Cards, GSM phones, locked or unlocked and roaming vs using other network SIM. Whilst in Asia and Europe, consumers have always known and purchased unlocked phones since the beginning. It is all part of our telecoms' master plan, by keeping things simple, subsidized and locked; it removed many unnecessary Q&As about how all of this works. Just sign on a dotted line, pay a couple of bucks for a subsidized phone and you are off to chat and text away with your friends with a contract for the next 12 months (in the beginning) and 24 months (today). When asked about traveling to foreign lands or out of network area, they tell you that roaming charge will conveniently take care of your needs. After all, why benefit the consumers with knowledge that can save money by inserting a pre-paid SIM to an unlocked phone while on international land?

But going back on topic, there seems to be more unlocked phones within reach. With the simple economics of supply and demand, there must be a growing demand in buying unlocked phones. All of this demand may have been heightened by the infamous AT&T iPhone debacle where people finally realized how much of a hassle it is to have a locked phone working only under a 2-year contract (new or extension) an exclusive carrier. In the interest of wanting to get an iPhone unlocked, consumers may have inadvertently learned about how phones worked or should work. Hence more interest in unlocked phones in the marketplace.

So what does this mean regarding to the future of the U.S. mobile market? Probably nothing drastic; the benefit is that consumers will have more access in buying unlocked handsets of their choice; however this would come at the cost of paying full un-subsidized price for the phone. For those interested in paying close to nothing for a "branded" and "locked" phone, they will continue to sign on the dotted line for a 2 year contract. For those who value the freedom
of an unlocked phone w/o a contract, they will just have to pay full price for that mobile experience. Afterall, freedom is never free.

PS - Anyone interested in unlocking their contracted, subsidized phone can request their carrier to provide unlocking instructions. Generally speaking, if you've been a good standing customer for more than three months, your carrier would be willing to unlock it for you, I usually explain that my traveling requirements throughout Asia is the reason why I needed my phone unlocked, and they are usually very cool about it!