Apple Sells Unlocked iPhones In Hong Kong

They're doing it quietly, but Apple is selling unlocked — not tied to any carrier - iPhones in Hong Kong.

After making a big splash about exclusive arrangements with mobile carriers in different countries and regions, Apple has very quietly made unlocked iPhones, not tied to any specific carrier, available for sale in Hong Kong.

Of course, they’re for sale at a premium, about $695 for the 8GB model and $798 for the 16GB, compared to $199 and $299 in the US, where the phone is tied to AT&T. Previously the iPhone was tied to Hutchison Telecommunications on a two-year contract in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Apple store page reads:

"An iPhone 3G purchased at the Apple Online Store can be activated with any wireless carrier. Simply insert the SIM from your current phone into iPhone 3G and connect to iTunes 8 to complete activation."

Apple has not given a reason for the change or any indication as to whether it will sell unlocked phones elsewhere.