Oh word? I must have read it wrong. Can you get an unlocked GSM one?
yes you can purchase an unlocked device and use it here on any GSM carrier here in the U.S.
thats what i do for all my phones, i rarely buy a phone from a carrier.
but the only caveat is that if you want a 3G enabled GSM device then you have to check what HSPDA band the phone runs on. T-Mo and AT&T both have different HSPDA (3G) bands/frequencies. but you can still use the phone to make calls an run on EDGE data for either network.
I heard that some operators let you unlock the phone officially. Not sure exactly who do it.
over here its somewhat simple. you can either learn how to unlock the phone on your own which is what i do. or you can call the provider which the phone is locked to and ask them to give you the unlock code. now the conditions for T-Mo are that you have to be a customer is good standing (no late payments or stuff like that) for 90 days. then they can give you the unlock code. usually they email it to you in about 24 hours. i do it for ppl all the time.
but for someone like me who doesn't have AT&T, i just ask a friend who does have service with them to get the unlock code for me. AT&T actually gives you the unlock code right over the phone.
T-Mobile does, but you gotta pay full price for the phone, then call customer service and say you're moving abroad and they'll give you the unlock code
i've never had to pay full price for the phone to get it unlocked but then again the customer service reps don't know anything anyway. you can call 10 different reps and get 10 different responses. but yes i have gotten the unlock code for a phone by saying that i'm going over seas and will need to have it unlocked to use there.