iPhone: Google Calendar, credit-check bypass

Google today rolled out an update to its web-based Google Calendar service designed to help iPhone users. The Google Calendar team, along with the mobile team, released an upgrade to the Calendar interface on the iPhone, according to the company's blog: "It is now tailored for the iPhone, and you can now see your different calendars in distinctive colors." iPhone users can simply visit the website on their device to see the new Calendar interface. Meanwhile, another new report indicates that users can bypass the credit check performed by AT&T during the iPhone activation process. The iTunes-based activation process allows users to activate -- and optionally switch their phone number from a different carrier -- but (usually) requires a social security number to perform a credit-check.

One blogger reports obtaining a special "141-11-1111" code --to be used in lieu of the social security number -- that will allow users to bypass the credit check, but still allow them to choose one of AT&T traditional service plans. Using the code, however, requires that users pay a security deposit of up to $1000 or register for a pre-paid plan.

Previously, the pre-paid iPhone activation hack -- using all '9' in the social security number -- allowed users to sign up for a pre-paid plan instead of one of the traditional iPhone plans -- all of which require a 2-year service contract.

"This is the number At&t uses internally for cases where they want to permit customers to bypass the SSN field," the reader wrote in his blog report. "Your phone will be registered but you have two options: either you can pay a security deposit of $90 to $1000 (since they can’t run a credit check without a SSN) or you can register for a pre-paid plan."

Filed under: software