iTunes account required for iPhone setup

In AT&T's latest missive on the iPhone, they rehashed a bunch of well-known information about the device, just to make sure those who signed up for the "notify me" emails are well prepared for the June 29th launch -- though, of course, actual launch day info is nowhere to be found. At the bottom of the email, it's casually mentioned that you'll need an iTunes account to set up your iPhone. This should come as no surprise to those familiar with the practices of Apple, who regularly confines its users to fairly enclosed systems out of "ease of use" or "privacy" concerns, but anyone who was hoping to manage the iPhone and its contents with open and free (as in speech) software should probably give up hope now. Or make friends with a really good group of hackers.

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[strider_mt2k @ Jun 13th 2007 10:43AM]

HA HA!

(points)

[Matt @ Jun 13th 2007 10:56AM]

I don't see what the big deal is? It's their product, their software, how else would you expect to use it? As far as needed an account, I think it's most likely going to be for billing purpose and account management.

[strider_mt2k @ Jun 13th 2007 11:05AM]

Relax everyone iKid, iKid.

Please, put away your long knives.
It's not even nighttime yet!

[cs0875 @ Jun 13th 2007 11:49AM]

@Matt

What if you are using the iPhone for things other than music or movies? What if you are using the phone to *gasp* make phone calls or use the internet? Why should I be forced to sign up for this? Also what would billing have to do with anything? Billing will be through at&t

[Fungifred @ Jun 13th 2007 1:34PM]

Engadget is going to make me get an account with WSJ just to read the article too.

You mean Apple puts my name in any unprotected song I get from iTunes. That means if I decide to put it on BitTorrent, I will get caught doing something illegal (WHINE).

Oh and, they are going to make me get an iTunes account (most likely so that they will be able to push software updates to the thing) I sure as heck hope that AT&T doesn't ask for my name, address and billing information.

[jeromefoster @ Jun 27th 2007 8:22PM]

The big deal is that once more Apple iCuffs and iHandicaps you. They are fast becoming the Big Bro MSFT they so like to mock! Suppose i dont want, like or even use buggy iTunes? Not an option, sorry!

[Revels @ Jun 13th 2007 10:54AM]

How did anyone think you could use this WITHOUT an 'Apple ID'/iTunes?

[MichaeLC @ Jun 13th 2007 11:08AM]

Ummm... because it's a phone?

It should not be assumed I want to buy music because I buy a phone that can play music.

It's like Comcast making me sign up because I buy a TV

[Kyle @ Jun 13th 2007 11:49AM]

This is directed at Michael. Even though it's a phone, it is also an ipod and video ipod. That means it needs to snyc with iTunes no matter what. So in order to use these functions, you need iTunes, and for billing purposes I think the easiest solution would be to go through an AppleID. Why is this such a big deal? Does it bother people that you need iTunes in order to use an iPod? Because if that's the case, learn how business works.

[Chris @ Jun 13th 2007 11:57AM]

No, it's like Comcast making you sign up for because you bought a Comcast TV (doesn't actually exist, just making a point).

[craig @ Jun 13th 2007 12:11PM]

Kyle, you can sync an iPod with iTunes without an iTunes ID. All the content in iTunes can come from sources other than Apple. There appears to be no justification for this requirement at all.

I seem to recall a lot of complaints with MS requiring similar accounts with the Zune. Now the shoe's on another foot.

[Tyk @ Jun 13th 2007 10:54AM]

Looks like Apple has you by your balls.. and you're paying for it too!

[dan @ Jun 13th 2007 10:56AM]

can someone explain why this is bad?

[strider_mt2k @ Jun 13th 2007 11:07AM]

Because it hurts?

[Rob @ Jun 13th 2007 10:55AM]

awesome picture...

aural erotic asphyxiation

[Matt G @ Jun 13th 2007 10:58AM]

I don't see how that's an awesome picture, the arms are all wrong, I'd like to see if you bend like that ;)

[Rob @ Jun 13th 2007 11:03AM]

Her (his + mullet) arm is obviously broken... which just goes to show you how maniacal and ruthless Apple truly is

[yoshi @ Jun 13th 2007 10:56AM]

"free speech"??? What are you smoking? Go take a civics class for christ's sake.

[dan @ Jun 13th 2007 11:03AM]

correct me if I'm wrong but what does "free speech" have to do with using an electronic device?

[fred @ Jun 13th 2007 11:00AM]

Um, so yeah, what did you think was going to happen? That's like saying you need a gmail account to use gmail, seems pretty obvious to me. You're not going to go out, and drop 600 clams, and not have itunes already. It's not about being "confined" to anything. Why is that the chant of Mac haters everywhere? If you don't like that system don't particiapte! It seems REALLY simple to me. I use iTunes, on my Mac, with my iPod. I like that system, I don't feel constrained by it. It doesn't limit my options, or keep me "enslaved". Just because I'm not playing OGG files on my home made Altoids tin MP3 player doesn't mean that I'm one of the sheep, ok?

[Yo Yo Smuggler @ Jul 12th 2007 3:32AM]

I figured you'd have to use itunes to synch the iphone, but I think it's silly to require setting up an account. (I'm not a fan of submitting credit card information frivolously.) itunes works fine with my ipod, and I never set up an account. Why require it for the iphone?

I also think it's absurd to require credit card info in order to obtain album art through itunes. WMP or Media Monkey does it out of the box without all the hassle. If I could synch my ipod with WMP, I uninstall itunes and never look back.

[Dragod @ Jun 13th 2007 4:59PM]

Yes, you're not one of the sheep. You use an iPod, the most underground mp3 player in the world. Such a rebel!

[craig @ Jun 13th 2007 12:13PM]

fred, you can have iTunes without having an iTunes store account. Until now, you've been able to sync everything the iPhone can without having any Apple accounts.

[Fred @ Jun 13th 2007 5:51PM]

I'm not trying to be a rebel, smartass. I'm using something that works. A sheep would be someone who only does something because it's what everyone else is doing. Again, just because I don't go for the most obscure thing out there, it doesn't make me a sheep. 100% of people breathe air, so just to be different, I'm gonna start breathing gespacho. It's edgy, and alternative. Uh huh.

[Craig McNeil @ Jun 13th 2007 7:19PM]

I was also shocked, shocked to find that you must have iTunes to use an iPod!

[Jeff @ Jun 13th 2007 11:03AM]

'"free speech"??? What are you smoking? Go take a civics class for christ's sake.'

Common nomenclature, dude.

There's free (as in speech) and free (as in beer).

The distinction being one is free legally, the other free monetarily. Otherwise nobody would know what you meant if you just said "free".

Learn something new every day, eh?

[yoshi @ Jun 13th 2007 11:07AM]

Yes, today I learned that you are an idiot. That's the second stupidist thing I've heard today.

[Jonhimslf @ Jun 13th 2007 11:04AM]

So wait, you're likening freedom of choosing which software program to use with freedom of speech? ... Regardless, I don't think this comes as any surprise.

[Jason @ Jun 13th 2007 11:05AM]

The big deal is the fact that you NEED A CREDIT CARD tied to your iTunes account... that could be a problem for younger people or kids (you know... the MAJOR market for the product).

Its one thing to require the use of iTunes software but requiring an account is a BIG issue for me.

[tim @ Jun 13th 2007 11:09AM]

the $600 iPhone is not aimed at kids. It is aimed at their parents.
And perhaps at the kids of parents who buy their kids expensive trinkets.

[Jonhimslf @ Jun 13th 2007 11:09AM]

I didn't know you needed a credit card for an iTunes account.. I have one on mine but I don't remember adding it until I wanted to purchase a song. Regardless, do you not need a credit card to sign up for cell phone contracts? It's been a while since I've done that as well... Finally, it's way too easy to get a credit card these days anyways and I see more and more young kids with them every day (which really sucks)

[Don @ Jun 13th 2007 11:12AM]

"that's the second stupidist thing I've heard today."
^^^^^^^^^
IRONY ALERT!

[fred @ Jun 13th 2007 11:18AM]

Well Jason, here's a question do you have an Xbox live account? I realize you may not, but here's the point: There are plenty of things that are tied to credit cards that people are not railing against.

[DirtHerder @ Jun 13th 2007 11:24AM]

There is a BIG difference there Fred.

When you buy an XBox you are buying it for games... almost exclusively. And given that one of the XBox's main selling points is Live, it is not a far cry to tie Live to the XBox.... BUT EVEN STILL You DON'T HAVE TO BE CONNECTED to Live to enjoy your XBox.

Live is not a requirement for the XBox (just a "your experience would probably be a lot better if you had it" sort of thing). Apparently iTunes is a REQUIREMENT for the iPhone.

Big difference there.

[tr @ Jun 13th 2007 11:24AM]

wait, hold on...someone is buying a $500 phone, and they don't have a CREDIT CARD? oh, come on.

[Dragod @ Jun 13th 2007 11:34AM]

Fred, you don't have to have a credit card to sign up for Xbox Live. You can buy a card from Target/Walmart/Best Buy and put in the code. That's what I did. I didn't have a credit card on mine for nearly a year until the Halo 2 maps came out. I even bought the Gears of War map pack using a points card.

And besides, it's like me putting in my card info so that I can go through the basic setup on my 360. It should work like that. it should be you set it up through iTunes, that way you can put on any non-DRMed music on it, without feeling pressured into using iTunes. No doubt they locked it to iTunes only.

One of the major reasons I hate Apple. They think about their wallets, not their customers.

[Jason @ Jun 13th 2007 11:35AM]

Who cares how much the phone costs... lots of younger (18 year olds) don't have CCs... you can have $500 to drop on a phone without having a CC. Sure you can get a Visa check card from your bank but if you put something like that into iTunes your just stupid... And parents are not going to want to drop their CCs into iTunes for there kids.

[Bryan @ Jun 13th 2007 11:46AM]

The "major market" for a $600 phone is kids? You've got to be kidding me. Try not smoking whatever you're on before you make a fool of yourself on the intertubes.

[nicky @ Jun 13th 2007 11:59AM]

could this be a way to stop people buying iphones to use just as touch ipods outside the US. i have $600, i have a credit card, i want an iPhone, even without phoneability. BUT i dont live in the US, dont have a US credit card, cant get a US itunes account, cant use an iphone?

[Jake @ Jun 13th 2007 3:52PM]

Don't understand the logic here, it's the same credit rationale you have to go thru to get a phone in the first place. Unless your part of the pay as you go crowd. Than stick with you go phone.

[drdd @ Jun 13th 2007 11:09AM]

I think what people are saying is not that it sucks that you have to have an Itunes Account, but rather that if Microsoft had done this same thing, Apple fans would be laughing saying the same thing. I am a Mac User, and I love my Mac. But Mac users have this insecurity thing to try to convince the world that they are better. (which they are). But in the end, they are doing the same thing as Microsoft. I am glad that less people use Macs. Because if more did, we would surely have viruses. Lets keep it that way. But again, if Microsoft had done this, everyone would be bashing them.

[Todd @ Jun 13th 2007 11:10AM]

I don't use iTunes, but want an iPhone. Would it be possible to establish an account, set the phone up, then obliterate the iTunes account? Can you even close an iTunes account?

Also, this "requirement" doesn't line up with the promise that one can get an iPhone on a pre-pay GoPhone account. Pay-As-You-Go accounts do not require any valid personal information to establish and maintain.

[DirtHerder @ Jun 13th 2007 11:11AM]

You gotta laugh at ow when other companies attempt stuff like this, there is a mass outcry of "foul!!!" But when Apple does it, it is all good.

So lame.

[Jason @ Jun 13th 2007 11:13AM]

I hate putting any credit card numbers into applications... there is always a change one of my kids is going to buy something without me knowing... it I am spending money on something I want to have to put my CC info every time I am going to use it... I don't want a CC tied to my account.... just let me buy stuff when I want to...

[Jason @ Jun 13th 2007 11:15AM]

Do you need an URGE account to sync your Pocket PC phone with your computer???? NOOOOOOOOOOO Why in the hell do you need an iTunes account to sync your phone with your computer??? What does it have to do with a store??? Your syncing your data!!!! NO NEED FOR STORE ACCOUNT!!!!

[Neal @ Jun 13th 2007 11:19AM]

"I don't see what the big deal is? It's their product, their software, how else would you expect to use it? As far as needed an account, I think it's most likely going to be for billing purpose and account management."

No, having an account through AT&T is what handles billing and account management. Requiring this is for a *phone* is restrictive. Not everyone who has a phone wants to use it as a music player, even if they have one that can be used as a music player. My current phone does music and video, has a camera, etc - I don't use those features at all or very often though. Likewise, it runs Windows Mobile, but I'm not required to have a PC, run Windows on that PC, or setup any sort of account to buy or use that phone.

[Tim @ Jun 13th 2007 11:28AM]

"Requiring this is for a *phone* is restrictive."

I think this comes from a misunderstanding of the iPhone. I think someone willing to put down $600 for a "phone" that does music, video, etc. but who seldom uses those features is wasting their money. Most people I see interested in the iPhone are ones who are excited for *all* of the media features, not just people who want a phone with a touch interface. There are more economical options out there for that.

[macona @ Jun 13th 2007 11:53AM]

What the heck are you going to do with 8 gigs of space if your not going to use it as a music player?

99% of people buying this thing probably all ready have an account.

Big Deal. A total non-issue.

[cs0875 @ Jun 13th 2007 11:58AM]

I understand the above points that the phone will be used by most people s a music player or video player but what have an account? I understand having the software but many people don't buy music online and have no need for an account they rip their CDs or like I do take my video content from my TiVo and convert it so mpeg-4 or H.264 and sync it. I have never bought anything from iTunes and don't plan on it. So why should I be required to sign up for an account?

[John Brackett Jr. @ Jun 13th 2007 5:49PM]

It's not a big deal. There are tons of phones to choose from. If you don't want to download music and movied from itunes, then get another phone. It's really pretty simple.