EDIT: This is for the UK, no idea how easy it is to unlock in other countries.
OK, so I have spent a long time today contacting Nokia, EE, Phones4u, and Orange, and this seems like the only solution unless you get an import.
Buy it from Phones4u as a PAYG handset on Orange or T-Mobile.
You'll have to buy a ?10 top-up at that point.
Find out the unlock fee from the network once you have inserted and registered the SIM, for Orange it's ?20, and top-up the remaining amount (so an additional ?10 for Orange).
Request an unlock code.
Orange have just confirmed once you register the phone with the SIM it becomes their responsibility to unlock it, and that I wouldn't have any problems doing this.
Obviously I can't confirm this until Friday at the earliest (provided any of the stores near me have stock), but bearing in mind it's confirmed that you can buy it PAYG on Orange or T-Mobile from Phones4u and Nokia, and that they have to unlock it upon request, it sounds legit.
The "SIM free" models will also be locked to EE, however you're paying the same price for the handset as PAYG with the ?10 top-up, an you'd still have to pay to have it unlocked, so would work out ?10 more. PAYG seems like the best option.
OK, so I have spent a long time today contacting Nokia, EE, Phones4u, and Orange, and this seems like the only solution unless you get an import.
Buy it from Phones4u as a PAYG handset on Orange or T-Mobile.
You'll have to buy a ?10 top-up at that point.
Find out the unlock fee from the network once you have inserted and registered the SIM, for Orange it's ?20, and top-up the remaining amount (so an additional ?10 for Orange).
Request an unlock code.
Orange have just confirmed once you register the phone with the SIM it becomes their responsibility to unlock it, and that I wouldn't have any problems doing this.
Obviously I can't confirm this until Friday at the earliest (provided any of the stores near me have stock), but bearing in mind it's confirmed that you can buy it PAYG on Orange or T-Mobile from Phones4u and Nokia, and that they have to unlock it upon request, it sounds legit.
The "SIM free" models will also be locked to EE, however you're paying the same price for the handset as PAYG with the ?10 top-up, an you'd still have to pay to have it unlocked, so would work out ?10 more. PAYG seems like the best option.