Originally Posted by
Peter Cohen Apple is, for the first time, pre-selling iPhone 5Cs without SIMs in them from the online store. Typically they've only done that _after_ launch - sometimes a few weeks after launch. Assuming they do the same in retail stores, you _should_ be able to walk out of an Apple Store without activating the phone this time around, once they're on sale on the 20th.
Since we're on the discussion, I'd like to ask you why you think that is? Not necessarily about the iPhone 5C. But why is it
that sim-free, unlocked versions of the newest iPhone get released weeks later after launch? A manufacturing thing or is
it a budge that Apple gives to the carriers like a "Okay. For the most part we control what you do with our stuff. So we'll
give you this." And for those wondering what the advantage would be to carriers is doing that is simple. I see it as people
nowadays needing something NOW and just going with the locked version since it's the soonest they can grab one.