Ten years ago it was extremely difficult to find mobile phones unlocked prior to shipping, but several manufacturers are now relying on unlocked phones to attract consumers.
Both Sony Ericsson and Nokia have unlocked phones they're planning to market directly to consumers, but it's unknown if they'll be able to do so without the support of a phone service carrier. The Nokia N97 and Sony Ericsson W995a, both feature-rich phones, may struggle in the U.S. market without the support of a carrier.
The N97 has a 5-megapixel camera, 3G and Wi-Fi support, touch screen, and will compete with the Apple iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre smartphones. The W995a supports 3G and Wi-Fi, has 8.1-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, GPS, and will compete with the Samsung Memoir T929 and LG enV3 phones.
Mobile phones sold in the U.S. traditionally need the support of a carrier, as most phones are normally shipped to at least one carrier and then unlocked by users. Furthermore, support from a phone service provider also helps reduce the cost of the phone, which is subsidized with a two-year phone agreement.
I think it's great that phones are shipping already unlocked, but feel like Nokia and Sony Ericsson will struggle to sell phones to U.S. consumers. It's especially a shame because the Nokia smartphone looks like the company's first legitimate smartphone for the U.S. market, but it's possible no one will actually end up purchasing the phone.
CNET put together a good article describing some of the pitfalls of trying to sell phones in the United States without the support of AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, or Sprint Nextel.
Are you interested in a mobile phone that is unlocked but doesn't have the support of a phone carrier?
