$175 AT&T contract termination fee

[ksampanna]

Greetings!
My friend in India is getting the iPhone 3GS from the USA for something like for like $99. He'l be unlocking the phone for usage in India. I can't blame him since the iPhone prices are insane here (in India).
Now I know that AT&T requires you to pay $175 as contract termination fees if you want to migrate to other carriers. So my question is - is there any way to circumvent this? Or is it mandatory that you pay those fees, if you don't want AT&T?

 

[ksampanna]

Anyone??

 

[buwish]

Pretty sure that is about the only thing you can do. He'll probably just have to pay the money and get it over with.

 

[ksampanna]

That's what I was afraid of
Well then, might have to get the iPhone, pay the contract terminatn fees n let the cheque bounce
Thanks a lot.
Any second opinion from anybody else will be much appreciated.

 

[uriel503]

The secound way that he can do this with is add it as another line to the plan it will cost you 10 dollers a month untill the contract is over, then switch the sim card and give it to someone that can use it.