ABBA NETWORK

AT&T has confirmed a report that it will offer iPhones without a two-year contract starting next week.

The Associated Press quoted an AT&T representative Thursday confirming plans to sell no-contract iPhones for $599 or $699 starting next Thursday, as first reported Wednesday by the Boy Genius Report. There’s a catch, however; those phones will still be locked to AT&T’s network.

A regular AT&T iPhone account will be required to operate the phone, although theoretically you could activate the phone one day, cancel your account the next, and only be out activation fees and a month’s worth of service, rather than two years worth of service. But then you’d be reduced to using your expensive iPhone over just Wi-Fi networks unless you’re willing to unlock it for other networks.

An Apple representative did not immediately return a call seeking comment on whether a similar offer would be in place at Apple’s retail stores, which the AP was also unable to confirm.

AT&T Wireless, which is the exclusive provider for the iPhone, doesn’t offer service in Deschutes County. It provides coverage in a sliver of rural Crook County and around Madras, but otherwise, Bendites are out of luck - mostly. But more on that later.

So how about Google Inc.’s much-hyped Android phone, also a touch screen with a full flip-out keyboard? It was introduced to the public as the T-Mobile G1 phone in August, and while it’s available for purchase online, it’s not sold in the company’s Bend store because T-Mobile has yet to extend its Third Generation network - commonly referred to as 3G - into Central Oregon.