(Image courtesy of TechCrunch Europe)

Some days, it just doesn’t pay to live in the United States. Take today, for instance, as Apple begins taking pre-orders for the iPhone 4 both here in the U.S. and in a handful of international locations, including the United Kingdom. While we’re SIM-locked to one carrier, the often-controversial AT&T, U.K. iPhone 4 buyers not only have plenty of choices for their carrier, they can even buy a totally unlocked, SIM-free handset, too.

TechCrunch Europe is reporting that, along with iPhone 4 pre-orders on Tuesday comes the good news that the new handset is also available totally unlocked and SIM-free, of course at a higher price.

“Apple today has announced the availability and pricing of its latest smartphone SIM-free (sans contract) for British iPhone-touting wannabes shy of signing on the dotted line,” TechCrunch Europe writes.

“It’s not going to be cheap though, with Apple’s shiny new toy starting from £499 for the 16GB and £599 for 32GB version, although both come ‘unlocked’, leaving you free to jump networks on a whim or stay price-savvy with the latest SIM-only or pre-pay deals,” the tech website explains.

Those prices translate to about $736.21 US for the 16GB model and a whopping $883.74 US for the 32GB model, but it’s nice to at least have the option at all, unlike us poor souls across the pond who seem to be eternally chained to AT&T.

It’s a bit early for U.K. buyers to completely jump for joy about this just yet, since not all of the five -- yes, five! -- carriers have played their hand as yet and revealed what their iPhone 4 tariffs will be (that whole story should play out today, however). Still, for the country-hopping European on the go, a SIM-free, unlocked iPhone should be just the ticket…

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