[dubcanada]

Funny, it's extremely easy to do outside of US. I can walk into most cell companies up here get a 3 year contract with a new phone, pay some fee ($10-75 or so depending on the carrier) and walk out with a fully unlocked phone on a 3 year contract.

[meaty]

Similar here in the UK. I bought an unlocked Nokia Lumia 710 for £99 new and am on a £20 a month giffgaff pay as you go service. 800 mins to any number, free calls to other giffgaff users, free texts to any network and unlimited data.