Are you going to buy an iPhone 3G on July 11, launch day? If so, how long are you prepared to wait?
A bit of information that started circulating after the WWDC launch of the iPhone 3G was that AT&T and Apple would now require buyers to activate their new phones before they left the store. The thought is that this would help curb the rather large problem the companies had during the first generation of the product with people buying the device, never activating it, and instead unlocking it to use on other networks — and often in other, non-supported countries.
While some people expressed displeasure over this heavy-handed move to ensure carrier lock-in, the other very real problem with this idea was that it would make the lines on the iPhone 3G launch day exponentially longer.
Even in best-case scenarios, in-store activation would add at least 10-15 minutes to each purchase, and that’s if the process runs like a well-oiled machine. “Launch day” could quickly turn into “launch week.”
But new reports indicate that this might not be the case. A leaked internal AT&T Mobility memo suggests that users might be able to pick a new plan and sign an agreement online prior to launch day and then show up with a code they are given to buy the new iPhone.
Another possibility is that the stores could allow you to buy the iPhone 3G, sign the 2-year agreement with AT&T and then go home to actually activate the phone. This would work because Apple or AT&T (depending on who you buy from) would note the device’s IMEI number to keep track of all iPhones sold, according to Mobile Magazine.
Both of these ideas go against what Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive of AT&T Mobility, said following the recent unveiling of the new phone. “The way that these phones are going to be sold is that they are going to be activated in the stores,” de la Vega said.
So which is it? We’ve contacted Apple for clarification, but the company is still keeping silent on the process for the time being.
If customers will have to activate all iPhones in-store, I’d bring a book to launch day — or several. Otherwise it should be relatively smooth sailing like last year.
[photo: flickr/TheQ!]
4:30 am
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Report: For every iPhone 3G sold, Apple is getting $325-$425 from AT&T » VentureBeat said:
[...] from the unlocked iPhone epidemic that swept the world this past year, but all indications are that Apple and AT&T are now taking more stringent steps to ensure that no one can buy and use an iPhone without activating it [...]
12:18 pm
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Want an unlocked iPhone 3G? Grab $600, head to Europe » VentureBeat said:
[...] this, Apple and AT&T are reportedly finalizing a way in which every iPhone sold in the United State would have to be activated with AT&a…. In other words, there will be no unlocked iPhones sold in this country unless you don’t mind [...]
1:08 pm
Want an unlocked iPhone 3G? Grab $600, head to Europe » VentureBeat said:
[...] this, Apple and AT&T are reportedly finalizing a way in which every iPhone sold in the United State would have to be activated with AT&a…. In other words, there will be no unlocked iPhones sold in this country unless you don’t mind [...]
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Cult of Mac - News and opinion about the Mac and iPod communities » Blog Archive » Market for Original iPhones Looks Robust said:
[...] Apple and AT&T seeming to have foiled the unlocking/jailbreaking movement that flourished in the wake of iPhone’s initial release, [...]
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Market for Original iPhones Looks Robust said:
[...] Apple and AT&T seeming to have foiled the unlocking/jailbreaking movement that flourished in the wake of iPhone’s initial release, [...]
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As the iPhone 3G launch looms, Apple preps displays, 2.0 software, App Store » VentureBeat said:
[...] probably hold off on waiting in line — until the night before. Given the fact that every iPhone must now be activated in stores (likely adding at least 15 minutes per person to the buying p…, this year’s lines may make last year’s look like the ones for an amusement park ride [...]
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