Some hubbub across the 'nets the past few days suggested that the unlocked iPhones being offered by Orange in France were -- of all things -- country
locked, a rather unusual (but still perfectly valid and real) form of
SIM lock that would require that the SIM of a French carrier be
installed in the phone. Now, by our calculation, this would've been
about the crappiest thing Apple and Orange could've done and still be
within the boundaries of French law requiring that phones be offered
unlocked. We certainly wouldn't put it past the terrible twosome, but
fortunately, it looks like the fears were a little overblown; iLounge
is claiming that they've confirmed with Orange that the unlocked units
are not country locked. We imagine it's not a big deal for the
locked, a rather unusual (but still perfectly valid and real) form of
SIM lock that would require that the SIM of a French carrier be
installed in the phone. Now, by our calculation, this would've been
about the crappiest thing Apple and Orange could've done and still be
within the boundaries of French law requiring that phones be offered
unlocked. We certainly wouldn't put it past the terrible twosome, but
fortunately, it looks like the fears were a little overblown; iLounge
is claiming that they've confirmed with Orange that the unlocked units
are not country locked. We imagine it's not a big deal for the
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