Reports are coming in that UK mobile provider T-Mobile is buying up all the iPhones it can get its hands on to keep customers from leaving for O2. The goal is to offer the unlocked devices to its users to keep them from leaving for the popular iPhone, an O2 exclusive.
Apple isn’t expected to intervene because the exclusive agreement with O2 doesn't prevent the sale of unlocked imported SIM-free iPhones from being legally sold. There is no doubt that any unlocked iPhones sold by T-Mobile will be more expensive.
There has been quite a battle by mobile providers other than O2 to get the iPhone 3G exclusive agreement locked down.
Via ITProPortal