Customers who wish to buy an unlocked iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in the US, can now do so on the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Web store. Prices for the sim free models start at $649 for iPhone 7 and $769 for an iPhone 7 Plus. The announcement is a big relief for customers who wish to hop from one carrier to another without restrictions.

Unlocked iPhone 7

The unveiling of sim free devices in the US by Apple follows similar releases in the UK, Canada and Australia. Because the unlocked devices work with any network, users will no longer have to contend with expensive contracts from carriers.

Just like locked devices, the sim free models will be available in a wide range of colors and storage capacities. Customers will, however, have to contend with a delivery estimate of between three to four weeks given that the devices are limited. Apple has also warned that delivery time could rise to six to eight weeks for the popular jet-black version.

Sales Push

Unveiling unlocked devices barely two months after their release comes as a surprise if history is anything to go by. Over the years, Apple has always waited for people to buy a good number of locked devices from carriers before flooding the market with unlocked versions.

iPhone sales have been on a downward trajectory in the recent past, a major concern for the tech giant given that the product accounts for a huge chunk of total sales. By selling unlocked phones, the company should be able to attract more sales given the recall mess that Samsung is facing with Note 7.

Selling unlocked iPhones could also allow Apple to flood the market with its own products before the likes of Nokia Corp (NYSE:NOK) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) can hit their ground running with their own devices.

Apple’s share price gained 0.56% to close the week at a high of $117.63 a share.