Amazon

[Grieve]

The iPhone starts at free (for a 3GS), $99 (for a 4), and $199 (for a 4S). The Galaxy Note is $300. So is the Droid Razr Maxx. Even the Blackberry Bold is $230!

Bzzzzt.

iPhone 3GS for "free" with a 2-year contract from AT&T.

You can get the Blackberry Bold for $79.99 with an AT&T contract, too (sold through Amazon...)

iPhone 3GS unlocked with no contract is still $375.

Apparently you can get the 4G HTC Thunderbolt (the phone I have) for 1 cent with a contract now, too (new Verizon Wireless customers -- existing customers can get it for $80.... this deal is offered on Amazon, too).

I'm not sure what point you are making - almost all phones in the US are sold with a contract. All the (higher) prices I quoted for Android phones are with a contact too. Yes, you can get older Android phones for free with contract, and yes you can get the older iPhone for free with a contract. My point is that there is not a price premium on an iPhone with contract - it's the same as everything else. Off contract price for the US really doesn't matter.