Question: Where Can I Buy an iPhone 3G?

Answer:

Thinking about purchasing an iPhone? Currently, there are four authorized iPhone retailers: Apple, AT&T, Best Buy, and Walmart.

But not all of these retailers handle the iPhone sales process the same way. AT&T, for example, is the only retailer that sells iPhone 3Gs online; all of the other shops require a visit to one of their retail locations.

For all the details on where you can buy an iPhone 3G--and how much you can expect to pay, see my detailed guide to the stores selling iPhone 3G handsets.

And, to find out how much you can expect to pay for monthly service on your iPhone, see my guide to AT&T's iPhone 3G service plans.

Remember, these four retailers are the only authorized sellers of new and refurbished iPhones. They all require that you sign a two-year service contract with AT&T to get these subsidized prices on the phone.

You will find a slew of retailers on the Web claiming to see unlocked iPhones--those not tied to AT&T--but you should be very careful before purchasing such a phone. You'll need to do a bit of work to the phone to get it to make calls and access the Internet, plus the phones can be expensive ($600 or more), and you may be left with little recourse if it doesn't work.