06/09/2008, 8:30pm, EDT
Monday, June 9th
iPhone 3G: in-store activation only, free upgrades
The AT&T exec said that the would takes only "10-12 minutes" and that his company would provide more details regarding the sales procedures for the new iPhone sometime "in the next week or so;" however, he suggested that there may not be online sales of the iPhone 3G at launch and thus users may have to travel to retail store to purchase the new device.
In addition, Ars Technica says that consumers who purchased an original iPhone on or after May 27 will be eligible to upgrade the device to an iPhone 3G at no additional cost.
Further elaborating the details on contracts, the publication reports that AT&T will make all iPhone 3G buyers sign a new 2-year contract, effectively replacing their current contract. Some had speculated that AT&T may add an additional 2 years to existing contracts, but report said that buyers would start on a fresh new contract of 2-years from date of purchase, regardless of the term left on their contact. Existing customers will also be able to purchase the iPhone for $199, the report said.
Filed under: iPhone
Other story tags: AT&T, iPhone 3G, retail
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Activation
"all iPhone 3G handsets must be activated at the time of purchase in the retail store"
What a colossally inconvenient and poor move. And I thought only the lack of 32GB was the bad news for the day.
?!?
What happened to us 1st gen iPhone users from getting "Grandfathered" into an extended contract?
*I can't IMAGINE the CHAOS on 7/11 if each person on line has to activate the phone in-store. Wow...
And what about...
...the aftermarket for all those used 2.5 iPhones on unlocked GSM networks? (wishful thinking)Or do they all go to landfill to help Edward Burtynsky make his next feature film 'Manufactured iScapes'...?;-)
meh
I refuse to give out my personal financial info the the.. um characters at the only ATT or Apple store within a 6 hr drive of me.. sry Apple, you just lost a sale.. off to ebay I go ..
What did you expect?
The iPhone 3G costs $199 because it's being subsidised by AT&T so they are not going to sell you one unless you first sign a contract with them.
Now that's a LINE
So, I want to buy one as a gift...no?
No cash, must be in store activation. And you must hold it with your right hand and look forward the entire time.
Or, no soup for you!
iBrain 2009...
...temple implants will offer 4G communication speeds, infinite dopamine generation
...
and other 'undisclosed benefits' all for merely the assignment of principal assets (including offspring) and signing of an nda...
GPS & cash flow monitoring provided free of charge...
(previous post was cut off - conspiracy theorists may want to take note :)
No more jailbreaking?
The activation at the store is to make sure that hackers won't be able to buy the 3G iPhone. I Love It! Serves them right! So with activating at the store, hackers will now have to be committed to a iPhone and plan for two years if they want a 3G iPhone. That helps prevent someone buying the phone and doing a SIM unlock and using the iPhone on T-Mobile.
Activation Fiasco
How soon everyone forgets the activation fiasco when the iPhone was first released.