Apple and AT&T bring back iPhone home activation

Online shoppers looking to spend the holiday season firmly planted on the couch can add the iPhone 3G back to their lists -- we've just confirmed that Apple and AT&T have quietly brought back in-home activation. Sure, it's been available in limited circumstances before, but now it's here and for real, just like with the first-gen unit. Would-be unlockers looking to score a phone for $199 flat can't start celebrating just yet, though -- you'll still have to provide your billing details and face an ETF if you don't activate within a set period of time. Oh well -- at least it's convenient, right?

[Via Boy Genius Report]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 11th 2008 5:09PM]

didnt they make it unlawful to charge ETF in california?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 5:28PM]

not all at. it is only illegal to have a flat rate ETF. the companies claim they are paying all or some of the cost of the phone in exchange for the contract through which you pay back that cost a little each month. the ETF is supposed to cover what you didn't pay.

but if you paid off part of that cost each month then there is no way that the leftover is the same one month is as X months later. so you'd end up being overcharged in effect.

so now they have to reduce the ETF a little each month.

[Hydra Posted Dec 11th 2008 5:07PM]

Does that mean that they will sell the 3g iphone online finally? Having to go to the store is horrible

[czar Posted Dec 11th 2008 5:10PM]

YES! now I can use my mom's social to get an Iphone!!!!!

[pika2000 Posted Dec 11th 2008 5:14PM]

Here's an idea Apple, why don't you just sell the iPhone unlocked? No need for this kind of hassle in the first place. You're doing it in some countries already. I still don't understand why people in the US love paying for locked phones.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 5:28PM]

ATT paid part of the R&D costs for the phone. that's why they got the contract. there will be no officially unlocked phone until that cost is paid back.

[pika2000 Posted Dec 14th 2008 12:07AM]

lucas: How did you know that AT&T paid part of the R&D of the iPhone? I don't see that being mentioned anywhere (Apple was simply shopping for providers, and AT&T was the first one that agrees with Apple's revenue sharing). Obviously Americans love paying money for locked phones, since on the markets that don't (Hong Kong, Singapore, for example), Apple is selling the iPhone unlocked out of the box, even if it's under contract.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 11th 2008 9:42PM]

I don't get the significance. You update your firmware, then pwn the phone with quickpwn. It's activated, jailbroke and unlocked. AT&T and apple are out of the loop.

[drsbkumar Posted Dec 12th 2008 7:58AM]

What happens if you buy the iphone online and donot activate it on att?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 5:33PM]

your contract and line are set up before they ship the phone. so all you are doing by not activating is sitting there not using a phone you are already paying for.

[pika2000 Posted Dec 14th 2008 12:03AM]

As the post mentioned, I think AT&T will give you a time limit to activate the phone. Who knows what would happen after that (presumably you just have to call AT&T/go into the store to do activation the previous way).

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 12th 2008 12:29AM]

As an owner of a pwnd iPhone 2G, my question is thus:

1. Is an unlock available (yeah, I know, being a partner in the largest unlock seller for the 2G iPhone I should know this but I don't)?
1b. Yes, I know, 1700 MHz is T-Mobile's 3G network so the iPhone 3G won't be 3G unless it's on AT&T.
2. QuickPwn turns an unactivated iPhone 3G into an activated one, correct?
3. What's "full price" on the iPhone? $199/$299 + first month of service + $200 ETF? Not that bad, albeit one-month-of-service-minus-tax-on-4200 more expensive than the 2G iphone of similar stature.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 27th 2008 10:32AM]

They are Brand New, Unlocked, Original, Full accessories and come with
1 yr International waranty from the Manufacturer

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic...........$300
SAMSUNG I900 Omnia...............$350
SAMSUNG I8510 innov8 8gb..........$280
NOKIA N96 16 GB................$300
SONY ERICSSON x1....$300
Sony Ericsson C905 ....$350
HTC TOUCH DIAMOND........$350
HTC TYTN ....$290USD
Nokia 97...........$300
Apple iphone 8GB 3g ...........$350
Apple iphone 16GB 3g..........$400
BlackBerry Bold 9000....$350
BlackBerry 9500....$360
Apple iphone 8GB...........$280
Apple iphone 16GB..........$320
Sony Ps3 .....................$300
Nokia E71.....................$300
Nokia N85 ...................$280
Nikon D3 ....................$1300
Here is our Contact
Email: [e-mail]
Legit Forum Seller Registration No:TN047635623