The iPhone 3G on AT&T: we ask the burning questions
By Chris Ziegler 
posted June 10th 2008 5:00AM
posted June 10th 2008 5:00AM
So wait just a second here -- you say you have to activate the iPhone 3G in-store, and unlimited data is going to run another $10 a month? With the new model comes an entirely new way of doing business, it seems, and that brings on a whole slew of new questions for the good folks at AT&T. Here are a few we've managed to ask so far, the official answers, and in some cases, information we've managed to gather on the side. Will it be available as a Gophone (prepaid service)?
"No, only available with a two-year contract." Pretty cut and dried there. We're also told that there will be no contract-free price on postpaid service; the one and only way to get in on this action will be to re-up your commitment to AT&T. Unofficially, we've been slipped information that AT&T's typical upgrade eligibility rules apply when signing the new contract, and there will be a separate (read: higher) pricing scheme for "non-qualified upgrades." These prices have not yet been set.
How does contract sign-up work when a customer is in an Apple store?
"You will need to speak with Apple for more details on their retail operations, but the activation process will take place in the store." That's the official line, but we're also hearing that customers in Apple stores may take their purchase home with them without being physically activated, in which case the activation process is completed later through iTunes. Either way, though, they're not letting you out the door without signing on the dotted line.
In AT&T stores, the process should be pretty similar, except that customers will be obligated to physically activate before they leave. The stores will be receiving "tether cords" to make that happen. Just a warning, AT&T: whatever software you're activating these puppies with is going to be reverse-engineered in no time, we'd wager.
What will the per-customer purchase limit be?
Official: "We haven't discussed this yet." Unofficial: at AT&T stores, we hear that the limit will remain three. Difference is they've now all got to be activated in-store, so that would be one heck of a commitment if you somehow felt compelled to buy more than that in one helping.
Will FAN (corporate) discounts apply?
Another "We haven't discussed this yet" for this one. Since the iPhone will continue to have its own set of plans, it's entirely possible AT&T could make them ineligible for discounting. The counterargument, though, is that the iPhone is now being offered like any other phone -- deeply subsidized by the carrier, that is -- and details of the device's service should fall in line with that as well. We'll see.
Remember, iPhone will sell even to those who don't want a contract if the fee for early termination is not too high--then they can pwn/break/unlock/etc the iPhone.
It does what most people want a phone to do, and most people are not needing CLI on a phone. If "third-party" apps keep arriving, I see no problem with available solutions.
What else does one need? A keyboard? While not a "great" answer (it has its own set of problems), those of us who speak and write more than one language will like the ability to have separate languages/alphabets available on the on-screen keyboard (until oleds replace pre-typed keys).
Good, bad, indifferent. It is a subjective call, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I would just like it to stream Quicktime movies from Univ. Texas' language department... Why doesn't the current iPhone do this?
People - the iPhone looks good, has a familiar UI, and it's easy to use. Windows Mobile, while more tweakable than OS X iPhone/iTouch doesn't offer stability and ease of use. The BlackBerry platform is as close to a iPhone competitor as it comes.
If you guys want to call a phone a toy, I suggest going to your local Verizon store.
I'm acutally thinking of jumping ship from Morizon and getting the iPhone but I might reconsider. I don't much feel like being chained to AT&T and I don't know if the iPhone data plan includes 200 text messages.
i was just ready to get in the action, but forcing me a contract down the throat, no way, i'm gonna wait till ebay starts to get some and get one to use with a pre paid fido/rogers sim, there is no way i'm taking a contract with rogers or fido
Optus apparently will be offering prepaid iPhones in Australia. It's a big part of the market here.
Does anyone know if the iPhone will be "released" at the same time as it was last year? My question is referring to the actual time and not the date as pretty much everyone know it's July 11th. I'm in Texas; the iPhone started selling here at 6 p.m. last year.
I am one of Apple's greatest fanboys - apple since 1980 and mac 84 with about 2 new systems per year turned over.
But this is bullshit.
My cell bill is more expensive than my two voice lines, an efax account, broadband and cable put together already. Screw this.
The current SIM works in a 3G phone at 3G speeds - WHY does the Apple way have to cost us more? This is total bullshite.
I doubt Apple will lose money on the iPhone as AT&T and other providers will have to pay some quantity back to Apple. Even if this isn't the case and Apple does lose money on the phone, they have now introduced the AppStore. They keep 30% of the revenue of each sale which is a huge revenue stream.
It's the sell the blade not the razor model...
I am a huge apple fanboy - I will NEVER buy an iphone as long as it's tethered to AT&T, ever.
Simply put, the Apps Store is going to make this iphone like NO OTHER phone available or soon available. It is the Apps Store that is going to make believers out of non-believers. Watch and See!
The burning questions?
Did you guys bother to ask about MMS, cut and paste, and video recording?
No? Flame on, then. You boys still have work to do.
I have used WinMo devices, and I currently own a iPhone. At first it seemed limiting but, I'm mature enough to know that it's not all about the features.
All devices I have used including the nokia n series, HTC devices, SE phones, all have had their own problems.
Freezing. Browser crashes. Etc. tons of issues.
The iPhone isn't perfect either, almost all technology have the same problems right now. (Except if you live in Asia where I have never had a problem. Weird..)
I do like the responsiveness of the iPhone OS. It is "crisp" and I take advantage of what I CAN do on the phone rather than complain about what I can't do on it.
I'm not buying the iPhone 3G. It's not necessary for me. I might buy the next one after that when they implement video conferencing though. :) (loved using it in Asia)
Btw, no WinMo device or any phones for that matter is able to Video Conference at this very moment in the US. (It's very sad.)
Don't get the big deal about activating the iphone before 'walking out the door'. Isn't it the same for blackberrys, etc when it's subsidized by the carrier?
Apple doesn't lose a thing in this..it's a better deal than with version 1. Plus 70 countries! I'm for India, and I know ppl there would gobble this baby up! Hell, all of Asia is crazy about phones!
So what will happen to the prices of the current Ipods (Classic, Nano, Shuffle) and the Ipod Touch once the Iphone is out?
So, I am on my family's shared minutes plan, and as part of that plan, we also have an unlimited messaging plan. If I wanted to now get an iPhone, would I have to quit being part of the family plan and pay for a completely separate plan, losing all shared access to minutes and messaging?
The corporate discount that I get from work is big enough that if losing it would be enough to keep me from getting an iphone, given that I'm tacking on extra money for a data plan.
If At&t throws in free SMS I'll bite. As of now, no way.
Hi,
I've been a mac fan for years, but i have to agree the iphone has a long ways to go compared to the usability of a palm treo or WM based smartphone. even though i hate Microsoft with a passion.
Lets start by asking why for such an expensive 21st century phone does it not have a replaceable battery?
A clone wannabe managed to to provide that and dual sim support. Who's thinking different now?
The Slingbox is a fantastic invention but there is no sling player for iphone. An Alpha version exists which was run on a jailbroken iphone but Slingmedia has not been accepted into the official program so no official product. Do you think AT&T will allow that nope as they want to push their own service so why let people watch their recorded shows for free.
The browser sucks, does not do Flash, not safe with Paypal
Lack of a stylus is by design but people with long nails or big fingers have lots of difficulty typing or clicking on things. The I/O can be really cumbesome and painful if your one of these people. Personally, i don't think its sanitary to navigate my device with my finger, let alone the finger smudges. Can't connect a keyboard for longer emails or writing documents. A stylus can't be added because its engineered that way so the large rotund pogo stylus is the only way to go. Normal thin stylus like in smathphones will not work on the iphone as it requires the electrical charge from your finger to work. According to Apples Tech support site
Lack of applications and talk about the control they want over what gets accepted. Sling player for iphone was not and its an app i require before i buy such a device.
With all the apps, music movies and all the other stuff they want me to put on this device 16GB is to nearly enough. 32 GB would be the minimum. No flash card support so i can't expand or add card based software. Like AT*T will allow your to load up your own navigation software. not until you pay them for it per month.
No Radio remote, which for ipod touch and iphone is a necessary accessory for the gym. 1, provides line out for better sounding audio, 2 provides a remote that lets you control the ipod by feel and be clipped anywhere. Especially useful if you clip your ipod to your shorts on your waist under your shirt. The radio lets you tune into to the TVs in the gym.
With the new 3G iphone you have to buy the dock separately now, the extra $10 a month over 2 years is $240 so your paying $439+$29 for the dock. But 8Gb is not nearly enough space to be an ipod and a smartphone.
Tethering your iPhone to a laptop is only for the rich. An AT&T Store employee told me yesterday that $30 data plan is only for an iPhone and tethering would be another $59.99 and i don't even get 200 SMS included so, $89.99 for mobile internet access via 3G then i have the option of signing up for the $19.99 wifi plan that give me access to wi-fi spots all over the world.
Lets talk about their ridiculous international rates. So if i'm in canada making a call, its going to cost me an arm and a leg. T-mobile does well in this area.
Its funny that Apple walked away from NBC stating its because they are protecting their customers from a greedy company yet they are in bed with the worst of the lot that are placing all sorts of hurt on their customers.
Apple talk's about thinking different i guess i will and think about picking another phone unless they smarten up and make some positive changes. For a company that was so anti big corporation sadly they have become the Big Blue in the '84 commercial. Way to go Jobs, you've become what you once hated and fought against.
Even Steve Wozniak thinks your iphone sucks and lists the above issues as your flaws.
The only reason this device has not joined the Newton in obscurity is because of idiot consumers like on this board who wait in long lines and pay $600 for something they will get in abundance just a little bit down the road for less and just want to try and act like they are somebody on forums making ridiculous statements and comments. Lets not forget the me too types who lack any originality, want to walk around trying to act like they are somebody or so cool. I feel sorry for people who have iphones because carrying one to me is not a status symbol but a statement of how idiotic and pathetic they are, and tells me everything about their lack of judgement or taste. I don't hire people with iphones.
As a smartphone it does not do much. Bought mainly by a generation who are groomed by corporations to be so moldable.
I'm not saying i'm smart or that i'm better than anyone, I've done my share of really dumb things but buying an iphone now , at this point is too big of a dumb mistake even for me. If we want change and want Apple and AT&T or any company for that matter to make changes we have to vote with our dollars. Right now we've sent Apple and AT&T a clear message "Flog me why don't you, its doesn't hurt enough!
Hi I'm from the Caribbean and I'm getting an unlocked Iphone 3g over here but i'm relocating to the states for school...Can i bring my iphone over there and have it activated with any carrier? Also, Can i get a cell plan seeing i'm international?
Hello
Can i buy ophone 3g and bring it to russia?
Thank you
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i want to get the iphone 3g but i have a family plan for at&t i only want to pay 199 but im not eligable for the upgrade yet. wat do i do???
It looks like AT&T is losing money on the iphone data plan.
http://www.geldpress.com/2008/07/att-lose-money-iphone/
I am amazed that no one has written extensively, and critically, about the iPhone 3G sales and activation process - and the treatment of customers throughout this process. This is especially surprising if you take into consideration the sales and activation process for the first generation iPhones and the usual quality of customer care delivered at Apple retail locations.
As an example, let me tell you my story (beware, it is rather long). Today my wife and I decided to make an attempt to purchase new iPhones. We called t the Apple Store on 5th avenue in NYC at around 3:00 to confirm it’s availability. The store associate told me that iPhones were in stock so we headed uptown to the store.
When we got to the store at 3:30 one of the associated told us that we had to return to the store 8:00pm with our numbered tickets, which he gave to us, in order to purchase the phone (I still have these tickets. Both feature today’s date, the time for us to come to the store and individual serial numbers).
We went back downtown to run errands because we had 4:30 hours to kill. We assumed that our numbered tickets would enable us to purchase the phones relatively quickly upon our return to the store. I thought that Apple was trying to make the process of buying the phone easier by asking buyers to come at pre-determined times, hence limiting their wait times (this would have been in line with quality of service I’ve come to expect from Apple stores).
We arrived at the store again at 7:42. We went up to the blue t-shirt wearing store associated standing in front of a store. I showed him that our two tickets and he told us to enter the back of the line that was located outside the store and contained about 30 people. Within 10 minutes we realized that this was a general line and that our tickets were worth nothing. Anyone with or without a ticket who wanted to purchase an iPhone was given equal priority on the line. By this point my wife and I were both disappointed and annoyed.
At the 30-minute mark we began to feel the type of breeze that precedes a summer storm. By this time the line had only moved by about 4 people. The Apple store associate did not seem at all concerned that the bottom was about to drop on a storm and that everyone in line was going to get soaked. 20 more minutes passed, only 4 more had been let in, and then the rain starts falling.
My wife and I quickly leave the line. We run over to a canopy across the street to seek shelter. We stood there looking for a cab for 15 minutes. For 10 of those minutes Apple left 40 customers who were waiting to purchase iPhones sitting in a downpour. My wife and I were outraged.
I have been a huge fan of Apple for over 15 years. They the only company that understands my digital lifestyle needs and they always seemed to respect me. This came across via experiences using their software and at the Apple Store. This is the first time that this company has treated me with such little dignity. It is counter to everything they have built with their intricately designed experiences. I feel they have sold their soul to AT&T on this one – as AT&T has no qualms about mistreating customers. However, at the end of the day the responsibility lies fully in Steve Jobs hands. I hear that nothing happens at Apple without his approval – so what the hell was he thinking when he approved this type of treatment for Apple customers.