Most wireless subscribers in the U.S. are accustomed to buying subsidized hardware from their carrier every couple of years, but there are some folks that prefer the freedom of buying unlocked, contract-free phones, even if they typically cost a few hundred dollars more. It's always good to see manufacturers like Sony support the latter group by selling unlocked hardware direct to consumers, and today we can add another name to the list of device makers that cater to the commitment-free crowd.

BlackBerry is now selling unlocked versions of both the BlackBerry Q10 and Z10 on its website for $549 and $449, respectively. Black and white versions of both devices are available, and the models that BlackBerry is selling are GSM unlocked, include 4G LTE support and will play nicely with both AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S. One thing to note, though, is that BlackBerry is only shipping the phones to U.S. addresses.

Obviously paying full price for a new smartphone isn't something that every wireless user is prepared to do, but it's still great to see that option being made available by BlackBerry. Plus, these unlocked Q10s and Z10s are free of carrier branding, which could be another big selling point for some folks. If you're a part of the contract-free crowd or are interested in joining it with a shiny new BlackBerry 10 device, you can find all four versions of the Q10 and Z10 just waiting to be added to your virtual cart at the ShopBlackBerry link below.

Via CrackBerry, ShopBlackBerry