Apple's retail stores can release AT&T iPhones if the unlocked pile runs low

It seems that Apple is advising staff at its retail locations to just grab an iPhone 4 from the AT&T pile, and release it from the carrier shackles, if it runs low on stock with unlocked iPhones.

Of course, this will still run you $649 for the 16GB version, and the healthy $749 for a 32GB version, but it's nice to have options. These prices are fairly indicative of how much carriers are paying to subsidize an iPhone so you can grab it at $199 with a two-year contract, resulting in Apple's fat operating margins, but that's a whole different topic.

The note in Apple's Retail Project Manager actually says to sell any of the AT&T iPhone 4's SKUs, and mark it as "Device Only" upon checkout, which it seems automagically unlocks the device for use with any SIM card you throw at it.

source:via 9to5Mac