Linking back to my post on O2′s iPhone exclusivity ending, it seems that T-Mobile is offering British customers the iPhone 3G.

Many rumors lately suggest that O2′s iPhone 3G exclusivity is due to end soon, and may extend to the 3GS too. Word has now spread though that T-Mobile has been selling unlocked iPhone handsets, and the criteria is that their customers must have a monthly bill of £75 and up to be eligible.

This doesn’t seem to be illegal, as the handsets are most probably coming from Germany where T-Mobile is the exclusive carrier of the iPhone. This is also a good chance to get your hands on an iPhone on T-mobile but it seems like only a 150 customers a week will be lucky enough to get one.

However, it is possible to buy an iPhone on Pay As You Go (PAYG) from the Apple or O2 shop for £440; unlock it and use it on whatever network you want (some customers have complained of problems after unlocking so just do a bit of googling first). O2′s recent contract pricing on the iPhone 3GS has made it a more sensible option too, buy the phone on pay as you go for £440 (16gb 3GS) rather than paying for the cheapest 24 month deal @ £35 p/m which totals to £840. This leaves you with the equivalant of a shortened 12 month term and £30 a month to play with on a sim only deal, so you don’t have to be tied into a 24 month contract if you choose not to.

More details on the contract prices at the carphone warehouse here

Via pocket-lint [image source: pocket-lint]

Tesco Direct (£440.00)