iPhone prototype surfaces on eBay, aims to fetch a pretty penny

Okay, so we'll go ahead and crush a few dreams up front -- there's nothing here that proves this isn't some funky KIRF iPhone or just an ad hoc or jailbroken app making things look completely funkadelic. Now that our skepticism is out in the open, we'll be honest and say we really, really hope this is legitimate. According to the eBay description, this here iPhone prototype was constructed a few months prior to the real iPhone's release, and it actually powers on, makes calls and receives SMSs. It sports a totally beta plastic matte screen, and the software is obviously pre-release. Oh, and the best part? The auction winner also scores a second beta phone that won't turn on (yet), but we're sure the right tweaker could fix it up into the most amazing secondary phone the world has ever seen. Forget all that bad economic news you've been hearing -- you best bring the bring the bank if you're thinking seriously about claiming this.

[Via iLounge]

[seriousam7 Posted Mar 9th 2009 7:47PM]

Can it forward texts?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 7:57PM]

hell, if it can receive calls without sending them straight to voicemail half the time it would be a step above my IPhone 3g

[Tercster Posted Mar 9th 2009 9:28PM]

Well, it has at least some credibility, that's the same cheerios box used in the diagnostics menu. As seen here:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/14/ipod-touch-ships-without-os-x/

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 9:31PM]

>>you
I had the same problem, got it warranty replaced, new phone did it WORSE
Went to the Apple store, they called it while holding it in their hand and it didn't ring
=new iPhone
Took me 3 months to get it replaced, but definitely worth the hassle

[flashpoint Posted Mar 9th 2009 9:34PM]

BUT CAN I USE THE PARTS FOR MY IPHONE?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2009 1:56AM]

@you @evan, Mine does the same thing. Thought I was always just missing hearing it ring. But after enough times of having it sit on my desk and suddenly beep telling me I had a voicemail I've been convinced of the issue.

But having it repeat this in an Apple store is completely hit or miss. It's akin to taking your car to the mechanic only to have it suddenly cure itself...

[jashsayani Posted Mar 10th 2009 1:41PM]

@Flashpoint: If you need parts, it would be cheaper to get a new iPhone 3G and break it up. The prototype bod has crossed $2000 ! :)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 7:50PM]

it would be really stupid to buy this
it only makes call and rgets sms
i bet some stupid fanboys will pay thousands for this

[kaimonkey Posted Mar 9th 2009 9:02PM]

yo igoon
eye eye
etc.
this is your calling !

[The WC Posted Mar 9th 2009 11:42PM]

Haiku is 5 syllables first line, 7 syllables next, then another 5 for the final line.

Just so you know.

[ScienceProUSAcom Posted Mar 9th 2009 7:53PM]

can it do mms?

can it copy and paste?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:09PM]

haha originality!

[EI8HT Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:44PM]

any jailbroken iphone can do both of those...stop complaining and being so damn ignorant!

[ScienceProUSAcom Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:45PM]

Oh I'm fully aware, I've been copying and pasting on my iPod Touch for months.

I wonder when Apple will feel the love and give us this feature out of the box? I think WinMo has had this since like 2001 lol.

[Arkv2 Posted Mar 9th 2009 10:24PM]

Some of us actually don't hack our devices or steal intellectual property (apps) from others.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2009 5:16AM]

@ark_v2

Jailbreaking our phones does not mean we have to steal any software.

[EI8HT Posted Mar 10th 2009 6:40AM]

yes, enlighten me...how is it that i am stealing anything after i jailbroke my iphone to be able to cut and paste and send mms?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 9:35PM]

I remember something like this turning up, I think even on engadget with the iphone 2G but I don't think that one could make or take calls.

[Zinger314 Posted Mar 9th 2009 7:55PM]

Cheerio's! :D

[astrodemoniac Posted Mar 9th 2009 7:57PM]

Why? ...pay a pretty penny for what is basically an iPhone, only crappier o_0

[jashsayani Posted Mar 10th 2009 1:44PM]

Well, its not just the iPhone that's on sale. It is a complete Prototype for the iPhone with documents, etc.

Nokia should buy it and learn from it. I know many would oppose this comments as Symbian can MMS, Forward messages, Copy/Paste, etc. But I am talking about the Touch interface and UI.

[DiGiC Posted Mar 9th 2009 7:57PM]

Cool for bragging rights amongst uber geeks but really

Why?

[Steve2000 Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:35PM]

You just said why, moron.

[mynk Posted Mar 9th 2009 9:21PM]

omg its steve jobs!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 9:22PM]

And what about the prototype?!

[pohatu771 Posted Mar 9th 2009 7:57PM]

I have a feeling Apple will have this removed, like they did with that un-released early iPod a few weeks ago.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:08PM]

Link?

[spin cycle Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:30PM]

http://writersblocklive.com/selling-rare-ipod-2009-02

[KarlW Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:31PM]

Here's a picture of AN iPod prototype. Don't know if it was this one, though:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unavoidablegrain/3286394887/in/pool-69453349@N00

[warmonk Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:16PM]

I can't believe this would be real. Apple would bring down the hammers of hell if it was.

[KarlW Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:21PM]

It's probably not a KIRF, it matches the diagnostic mode already discovered in production units:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/ipod-touch-diagnostic-mode-revealed-in-pictures

[ShyGuy91284 Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:24PM]

Is this even legal? I know all the prototypes my company makes have a big ol "Property of *" plastered on them...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:32PM]

You work for *?

Cool! Are you hiring?

[Cow Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:25PM]

FOURTH!!!!11111!!!!

[dcoaster Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:41PM]

more like FAIL.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:31PM]

SKANK PHONE? LOL.

SKANK IS THE NEW BLACK!

[Sofunnytom Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:34PM]

Maybe this mode is how that iPhone 3G at the Apple service center took that picture?

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/28/iphone-3g-accidentally-snaps-photo-in-factory-reveals-long-lost/

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:42PM]

Bring the bank bring the bank!

[ColinMcGraw Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:48PM]

Apple would never create something that ugly and confusing. This is an obvious fake.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 8:53PM]

If this is real, then its value is as a collector's item, not as a phone that can be tweaked and used for any real need.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2009 11:47PM]

That's the software they used to get through GSM certification testing. They didn't want to reveal the real UI in case it leaked. That's why it does everything needed to pass the tests (make phone calls, send SMS, browse the web, pick bands) but not much else.

[grruse Posted Mar 10th 2009 3:45AM]

This makes sense.

Kinda funny that people are going nuts bidding on this, when it's not really a special piece of hardware, just a regular iPhone with shitty software.

[whyteboy Posted Mar 9th 2009 11:56PM]

Anyone else think it is weird that it is a prototype but only works with AT&T?

[Dan Fruzzetti Posted Mar 10th 2009 12:54AM]

Seriously. This says it was built a few months before the product release... By anyone's definition, the iPhone was entirely FINISHED "a few months" before release.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2009 1:34AM]

Just looks like the diagnostic screen to me...(like on the iPod Touches).

[Anatidae Posted Mar 10th 2009 3:13AM]

Holy shit. it has cut and paste! (heh)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2009 6:50AM]

wow, he's posted a video of this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&v=sRxnZLLuLQs

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2009 7:32AM]

Wow! I bid $1 million for that baby. That was like the birth of the smartphone. I mean the REAL smartphone.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2009 7:59AM]

Did anyone else see that the text below the serial number on the one shot says "skank is the new black"?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2009 9:32AM]

That's a fake... can't be built BEFORE the launch (he say it was built 49th week of 2006... look at his youtube video, he open the diagnostic menu and the software say "build 8 : March 2007"... what a fake!