iPhone 5 Spreads: US Regional Carriers Plus 22 New Countries Today

Availability for Apple's iPhone 5 increases today, as select regional carriers across the US release the iOS 6 smartphone, as well as 22 new countries across the globe. Appalachian Wireless, Cellcom, Cricket, C Spire, GCI, and nTelos all follow AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint to offer the coveted LTE Apple smartphone, PC Mag reports, including the US's first no-contract option at $499.99.

Prepay carrier cricket will be offering the iPhone 5 with no contracts to sign. The 16 GB model will begin at $499.99 on its network, with a variety of voice, text, data packages to choose from.

Meanwhile, other regional carriers will undercut their US-wide competition, with a $50 discount on Apple's regular prices for the iPhone 5. Appalachian, Cellcom, and nTelos will all be kicking off offers at $149 for the 16GB model. They'll also have the 32GB for $249 and the 64GB for $349.

Apple too will be offering broader availability on its newest smartphone, kicking off sales in a further 22 countries around the world.  Ongoing stock shortages, however, do mean that, even in the new countries added to the roster, there's a wait involved for online orders. New purchases from Apple's official store online are subject to a 3 to 4 week shipping delay.

The new countries to offer the iPhone 5 are as follows. Get up to speed on the smartphone in our full review.