No, it's not the case. Buying through the carrier is the main paradigm in place, but plenty of even "normal" retailers [1] offer unlocked phones, as well as pl

No, it's not the case. Buying through the carrier is the main paradigm in place, but plenty of even "normal" retailers [1] offer unlocked phones, as well as places like eBay, and Google (e.g. Google sells the Galaxy Nexus unlocked, directly). [1] http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Mobile-Cell-Phones/Unlocked-Mobile-Phones/pcmcat156400050037.c?id=pcmcat156400050037 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Mobile-Cell-Phones/Unlocked-Mobi...