iPhone 3G purchase and activation will be in-store only
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted June 9th 2008 9:35PM
posted June 9th 2008 9:35PM
"There is no question that many enjoyed the convenience of at-home activation, but we also found that many others wanted to complete purchase and activation in one step so they could walk out of the AT&T store with their iPhone up and running. We have decided to take the latter approach and we think customers will like it. It will be especially helpful if any questions or issues arise during activation. They can be resolved on the spot and in-person.
This is the way our wireless phones have been activated for years and customers have been very happy with it.
And, activation should take just a few minutes."
Question - is there any way to ONLY get 3G data (no voice) with the iPhone 3G?
I have a pretty good deal with VZW for voice right now, and I would like to only have data with this.
i guess there's a plus to in store, you can find out how.
but that's the only one i can think of. I HATE my local verizon store, the sales people are terrible (though maybe it's just there) and it's never a good experience.
Apple retail stores on the other hand...
I'd love to see a "iPhone Activation Station" in the store. That'd be great.
One thing that is being pointed out that you can buy the phone with a plan.. ($199.99), cancel after one month (ETF = $175) = net $374.99 + 1 months cell phone fees (use the hell out of it!) not TOO much more than the original.. then jailbreak / unlock and you are good to go. a little more work, but may be the best option for some people who don't want to drop 2-3 grand on data / voice plans for 2 years..
Nope, in order to have a Data plan, AT&T requires a plan with a minimum of 450 minutes.
then jailbreak / unlock and you are good to go. a little more work, but may be the best option for some people who don't want to drop 2-3 grand on data / voice plans for 2 years..
Completely new radio, the developers have to start from scratch on unlocking it. Do you remember how long it took to unlock the first one? Then add in the fact that Apple learned from how they unlocked the first one and will make the second one even more difficult to unlock.
I suspect it will be quite awhile before this one is unlocked. And this is a new OS, who knows what changes they have made as far as jailbreaking it. It's a clean slate from Apple on jailbreaking and unlocking and I suspect it will be much, much more difficult this time around.
:(
So many epic fails.
I'm close to a couple of Mac store workers.
They had big problems with people buying a bunch of iPhones - cash - and then unlocking them.
Apple then decided to make it so you couldn't buy with cash (in stores I know of in NYC).
so these bastuds got together, bought a bunch of giftcards and then proceeded to buy a bunch of iPhones.
I haven't read all the posts so I don't know if this has been brought up. What if you buy your iphone at apple store? Do you need to bring your phone to AT&T and activate it there before you head back home? Are you kidding me????
ATT is the devil!!!!
It is possible, I did this with my EDGE iPhone. Just go to the AT&T store, and tell them that you have some sort of smartphone device and you want to get data service for it.
Of course I got my iPhone off of craigslist for dirt cheap and all I got from AT&T was just the SIM card. All I had to pay was the activation fee + $35 monthly fee for the 3G unlimited data smartphone plan and best of all no contract, but you have to find the phone through someother means. You get a phone number as well, but it is $0.40 a min - so don't use the phone to make calls or don't answer calls either.
"I'm close to a couple of Mac store workers."
How would MAC cosmetics workers know about iPhones??
http://img409.imageshack.us/my.php?image=attiphone3gsv1.jpg
Heheeheee! You hater! :D
Lol at picture.
Indeed. Out loud, I'm laughing. Inside, I'm crying.
Someone forgot to delete the white space in the A and ampersand above the background layer!
Man I hate that I noticed that... Now back to my lair...
still cheaper than most data plans.
Buy your iPhone and.. RUUUUUUN!!!
the reason people are upset is simple. They can no longer easily get a subsidized phone contract free by using some shady methods. Legal to unlock? Under DMCA unlocking is definitely legal(IF not for resale). Legal to bypass the contract? before it was possible, not sure if it was legal, definitely immoral since you are essentially stealing the subsidy that ATT put in to make the phone cheap.
Now you have to sign that contract to even buy the phone, so unlock away, after you pay your cancellation fee.
Meh. I bought my 1.0 iPhone in the store. Is this a big deal?
What the problem is, my dear, is that unlike most phone carriers, the iPhone cannot be purchased outright, only with a plan. The same was true last year, but you could buy the thing without a contract, and do a bit of hacking.
That's why there were people like the iPhone Dev Team, this year, and last year, working so that you COULD buy the phone without having to pay ridiculous monthly payments.
NOW, however, there is no choice but to activate a 2 year contract in store. So even if you choose to jailbreak your iPhone, you're still stuck with a two year contract.
BIG DEAL!
Won't be able to buy an iPhone on the cheap to unlock at home.
Ohhhhhh, so CJ, sweetie... You mean they're doing whatever they can to prevent you from violating their EULA? Ooh, how *evil*.
"You mean they're doing whatever they can to prevent you from violating their EULA? Ooh, how *evil*."
Well, if it's an evil EULA, then I'd say you're right.
It is what it is. If you don't like it, don't buy it.
Actually, it is your complete and total right to unlock any phone that you choose, guaranteed even by draconian US law in the DMCA. There is a special exemption specifically to allow consumers to unlock any phone they want to.
"It is what it is."
That's such a meaningless statement: A = A. Of course, it is what it is.
What people are trying to figure out is a way, through personal action, to change the "what it is" part to something more sensible.
In other terms, A + B = C, where A = standard activation procedure, B = beating the system after purchasing, and C = the result we want, which is an iPhone without chains.
"Peter @ Jun 9th 2008 10:22PM
Actually, it is your complete and total right to unlock any phone that you choose, guaranteed even by draconian US law in the DMCA. There is a special exemption specifically to allow consumers to unlock any phone they want to."
I have never heard of this. If that's true, then people should unlock away. But if Apple is requiring you to pay for service activation before you leave the store it makes unlocking somewhat pointless. So, it may suck but again if you don't like it you don't have to buy it. Go get a Touch Diamond. They look awesome.
"I have never heard of this. If that's true, then people should unlock away. But if Apple is requiring you to pay for service activation before you leave the store it makes unlocking somewhat pointless. So, it may suck but again if you don't like it you don't have to buy it. Go get a Touch Diamond. They look awesome."
You haven't heard of it because it's not in the common interest of carriers to inform you about such inconvenient legislation. Understand that while corporations may bribe (*ahem* lobby) to get laws passed, they can't write them.
A EULA has NEVER been legally binding. Just ask SonyBMG.
True, the Diamond is awesome. True, no one HAS to buy an iPhone. However, we don't have to accept the choices that are handed to us by companies. A little innovation by the online community can go a long way in empowering consumers.
The point is you can't take it home. You'd have to activate right there. I'm guessing it's to keep a closer lock on keeping these phones with AT&T. I think Apple is kinda shooting themselves in the foot by closing out web orders.
I thought by law, you can get out of a phone contract within 30 days without a termination fee or anything
i will wait til jailbreak and hack-tivation come out for this. the 3rd party apps from the community make this device what it is. well at least the 1st version. i hope to see it on 2.0. actually i just used the 1.0 for and mp3 player and apps. Its not enough phone for me.
Ok has no one else read where it was said there were going to be repercussions for those who don't activate with AT&T within 30 days? That means they MUST be selling them like normal!
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSN0926011020080609
last paragraph.
I buy on ebay - no activation needed
Do these Boobs seriously think this is going to stop people from unlocking/jailbreaking the 3G iphone? Congratulations Apple/AT&T/Every other carrier that will do this. Hax0rs will figure it out after a week.
If freedom is outlawed, only outlaws have freedom.
(I read that somewhere... Can't remember.)
How do you 'hack' the fact that you have signed a contract in-store?
If you have a contract they don't care if you jailbreak it or unlock it. If you're having to pay AT&T anyway, why would they care if you are paying T-mobile as well?
If you guys are worried about having to engage in a contract- fear not. You guys can buy it from Australia. Here they are releasing it on lots of providers and are also offering reselling opportunities (or so I've heard).. even if they don't, Vodafone is planning on releasing it pre-paid, which means you can just dog the sim card and unlock it (if its not).
An_asshole: actually, this is an interesting point.
Jailbreaking an iPhone and running it on a different carrier are two separate issues, and Apple seems to be tacitly acknowledging it. They seem to be suggesting they don't care if you jailbreak it, so long as you honour the agreement they made with x carrier.
That's great for me as I have no issues maintaining a contract, but I have serious objections with not being able to run whatever software I like.
What pisses me off is why don't they just say it? What spit some BS in my eye about how I prefer activating in store?
I bought mine legally and pay an AT&T contract and ENJOYED not having to deal with the people in the store, so don't tell me what I prefer.
Just tell me you don't want people hacking the phone, or don't care after they've signed two years away.
@David: "How do you 'hack' the fact that you have signed a contract in-store?"
You forge utility bills for an address outside of AT&T's coverage area (which you "moved to") effectively allowing you to break your contract fee free.
It is because of people like you that "Break the System" that we have a system in the first place. If AT&T knew they could sell the phone subsidized at $199 and 100% of the phones would go home and be activated for a 2-year contract, they wouldn't be doing this. AT&T is just trying to cover their ass by selling the iPhone for less than they buy it from Apple for.
is the 3g iphone going to be locked to AT&T still or are they going to be unlocked?
LOCKED.
uh.. maybe because the phone is so subsidised this time they can't afford to have people ducking out of the contract..
I think that I will pick up a last gen iPhone with the cool metal back. I will be like $50 on craigslist.
Do you really need to ask "why"? It's simple, you go and buy an iPhone, they activate it before you leave the store, thus preventing you from unlocking it, and using it on a network of choice without being tied down to AT&T with a nice early termination fee.
I wonder what they'll do if someone want's to pay the full price and not the 199/299 Subbed. Will they even allow that