Apple launches iPhone 3G online purchase tool

Worried about long lines for the iPhone 3G come this holiday season? Already breaking into cold sweats at the thought of standing knee-deep in snow for three hours so that your loved ones won't be filled with contempt for you? Take heart, consumers -- Apple has you covered. The company has just launched an online tool to take you through the process of purchasing an iPhone 3G, allowing you to just pop into your local Apple Store for retrieval and activation. Sure, this still doesn't let you just order a phone for delivery like a normal person, and it's a day late and a dollar short for the people who've already wasted precious time waiting for this thing, but it's nice to know it's there if you need it.

[chrisaroz Posted Sep 24th 2008 4:44PM]

Internet Shopping - now less convenient.

[maveric101 Posted Sep 24th 2008 6:51PM]

i like our avatars. we should be friends.

[DrDoomReturns Posted Sep 24th 2008 5:38PM]

What I'm really aghast by, is that even knowing that this is probably a totally useless piece of news for something that nobody asked for or would really want, Engadget still talks about it as if it's something really convenient and cool! :-P

Wake up, Engadget... it's just a buy-online-pick-up-in-store function... the same as with Bestbuy, Circuit City and what not! :-P Don't make it any more than it is.......

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 5:41PM]

iPhone 3G will be in awesome demand. I know where I will be about to get mine; but I am not telling!!

[matt merritt Posted Sep 24th 2008 6:07PM]

ebay?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 5:51PM]

Umm...the site is asking for a social security number on (according to Firefox's standards) a not completely secure page. Should I be worried? I mean, it is Apple, but still....

[Shravan Posted Sep 26th 2008 12:32AM]

I don't get this. If not getting them anything fills them up with contempt, then getting them a 3G iPhone with a "now I'm here, now I'm not" 3G signal is surely going to piss your dear ones off.

[MikeMacMan Posted Sep 24th 2008 7:38PM]

Why can't I just unlock, I mean order it online like a normal item?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 9:04PM]

Arrrgh! This will NOT work in Canada. US ONLY. We are left out again. The AppleStore does NOT work with Rogers (our carrier) with the iphone here.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 8:47PM]

FAIL, c'mon Apple get with it, offer online, in store etc. whatever the CONSUMER wants!!! seriously!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 9:36PM]

Remember Apple **STILL HAS THE REFERB iPHONE PAGE UP**. Why would it still be up other than to sell referbs online @ some point.

Now the question is will you have to run a credit check for the referb 3G when it becomes available. I say no, there is going to be so many
referbs that they are going to have to forgo all the crap and just sell you the damn thing!

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/9104000/wa/PSLID?sf=wHF2F2PHCCCX72KDY&nclm=EE08B570&wosid=Ue7hZVtzLQ8F30i6qJk1VaXdkwg

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[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2008 11:19PM]

sweet hopefully ill be able to get a 16GB, i wonder if they are going to release a 32GB model

[maccolar Posted Sep 24th 2008 11:28PM]

Nice, I think it's useful for me. Found some free iPhone games, share it here.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2008 10:55AM]

Haha, this just seems really pointless. Why? It's like, why not just go into the store and buy the thing straight away.

Someone at Apple didn't think this all the way through lol.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 30th 2008 2:17PM]

the online "tool" quotes me a voice rate plan $5 higher than my current iPhone 2.5G rate plan. anyone else seen this?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 21st 2008 3:18PM]

Wait... can't you just go there (in the apple store) and pick an iphone, and then go to your home and register...?