Sprint denies claim that Apple iPhone 4S will be sold with unlocked micro-SIM slot

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Sprint has denied earlier reports that its Apple iPhone 4S would be sold with an unlocked micro-SIM card slot. An unlocked micro-SIM slot would allow travelers to use any local SIM card when traveling abroad, sparing them from paying exorbitant roaming fees.

Unfortunately, it seems like the iPhone 4S will be sold by Sprint with a locked SIM card slot, much like any other version of the phone sold by carriers across the world. Speaking to Ars Technica, Sprint representative Michelle Leff Mermelstein confirmed that the iPhone 4S would have a locked SIM card slot. Sprint will be offering international roaming plans to customers who travel with the iPhone 4S to countries that don't have CDMA networks, much in the same way it does with other global-capable phones that it carries.

International roaming fees can be very expensive, and vary from location to location. Some carriers charge as much as $2.99 per minute and $5 per megabyte of data usage for roaming. The ability to use a local SIM card eliminates these charges, and lets users pay local rates for calling and data services. Apple will be offering unlocked versions of the iPhone 4S in November, with prices starting at $649 for the 16GB model.