Aisha, I was talking in general... the thing is, over the cell phone companies, like ATT release phones... In dubai or Pakistan you can just walk into a store and buy any phone whenever you want... thats why the phones here with contracts are discounted.
I honestly don't like this whole package system that is implied in the west and most parts of Europe, I mean my friend bought this iPhone 3G off a shop for 95 k.d ($355) brand new boxed just because the previous owner got one off eBay and it turned out to be locked to AT&T or Verizon maybe, lol the shop keeper couldn't unlock it so he was selling it brand spanking new, my friend got it and went on the internet, did some research and in a few hours unlocked it him self, so eventually he got a new iPhone 3G for less then a price of a second hand iPhone (Kuwaiti Market).
this is one reason I can't have the T-Mobile Sidekick, I love those thing but they come locked too.