iPhone: Google Calendar, credit-check bypass
updated 04:15 pm EDT, Mon September 24, 2007
Google Calendar for iPhone
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.
Google Calendar interface
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."
never understood
09/24, 04:47pm reply
why these companies need to do 'credit checks' Esp. if you're buying the phone outright. Do you need to provide this stuff if you get it through apple?
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
ditto
09/24, 05:04pm reply
Why do they need a security deposit? An original iPhone buyer spent $600 on a phone to use specifically with their service.
If he doesn't pay his bill, he has a $600 iBrick. How much more is needed?
nhmlco
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2007
There' a reason
09/24, 06:47pm reply
AT&T is giving Apple $150 from every new iPhone, plus $9 per month for the first two years of the user's contract, totaling $366 over the course of the two years. They need to make sure they'll be able to recover this money from the subscriber. When there's no two-year monthly plan (pay-as-you-go), they must ask for a deposit instead.
vasic
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Joined: May 2005
darn
09/24, 11:12pm reply
Darn it, the iPod touch is not yet supported in the mobile google calendar. I think the user agent is slightly different, causing google to flag it as a OS X Safari browser.
mr100percent
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 1999
Re: there's a reason
09/25, 07:12am reply
There' a reason AT&T is giving Apple $150 from every new iPhone, plus $9 per month for the first two years of the user's contract, totaling $366 over the course of the two years. They need to make sure they'll be able to recover this money from the subscriber. When there's no two-year monthly plan (pay-as-you-go), they must ask for a deposit instead.
That's c***. A good credit rating doesn't mean they'll get paid, any more then a bad credit rating means they won't.
And if you don't have good credit, you can still get a pay-as-you-go plan, which is LESS money to AT&T and Apple. So they're still not getting their money back.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Re: there's a reason
09/26, 09:02am reply
I have to go with Testudo on this one_
Even if the Pre-Paid folks put $1000 down for a deposit - Apple doesn't see a dime of this money_ AT&T puts this cash into a non-interest bearing account_ Then when the Pre-Paid folks decide to take their business elsewhere the deposit - how ever much it was - they get back - that's why it's called a deposit_
Otherwise it would be called a "fee"_
UberFu
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Joined: Oct 2002