you can buy an iPhone without the AT&T subsidy, I think, but it's full cost ($600?).

that's too expensive

it's only $99/$199 if you're getting a contract, unfortunately.

if you're buying one here to bring to your brother to use in China, or are you buying on in China to use here on another carrier?

my brother wants to buy one here to use in China

I don't even have one. many my friends in China are more "fashion" than me!

there's a reason it's so expensive without the subsidy, unfortunately.

well, and one would want to be careful about plans. the data can be very expensive on some plans...

no idea what it would be like if/when used in china

are they not available in the Chinese market?? (I'd thought they were..)

it's about $1000 in China market.

my brother just heard you can get here without plan for $299. I don't know where to ask...

pretty sure that's not true. Possibly the 1.0 or 2.0 hardware, refurbished...