Prepaid iPhone in a Nutshell
After spending far too many hours trying to set up pre-paid iPhone directly with AT&T, I decided to take matters into my own hands this evening. Instead of trying to connect my newly provisioned AT&T account, I iSigned up using iTunes and entered 999-99-9999 as my social security number (as recommended by one of the more clueful AT&T people).
Of course, this failed the credit check and I was offered the prepaid plan. I selected it, agreed to the terms, and pretty much 1-2-3, I was put into the activation queue. At this time, I'm getting the "Your activation requires additional time to complete"/"You will receive an email confirmation", but my iBrick has taken some major steps forward in its uselessness.
Gallery: iPhone Prepaid Gallery
It LIVES! Update and advice here
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Matt McLellan said 9:18PM on 7-01-2007
So this would mean you technically COULD get an iPhone for use as just a really sweet ipod huh?
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Erica Sadun said 9:19PM on 7-01-2007
That FAQ certainly seems to imply that an unfunded or cancelled account leaves you with a $500 iPodPhone
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Invader J said 9:30PM on 7-01-2007
Here's my big question though: if you choose one of the Prepaid options in the iTunes Activation process, does it give you the opportunity to port your number over from another carrier? (Like it does for normal postpaid service options?)
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chris said 9:22PM on 7-01-2007
i thought you couldnt do prepaid with an iphone. Hell, if you really can just buy minute cards for the iphone ill sure get one.
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Ben said 9:24PM on 7-01-2007
I did the same thing and when I finally got the regular account sorted out, they gave me a new SIM and I reactivated using my real account. Then I canceled my go account and got a refund, but apparently if you actually make phone calls you may not get a refund.
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a ham sandwich said 9:37PM on 7-01-2007
could somebody also either explain or link the prices of the pre-paid minutes plans, because i have verizon now and REALLY want to switch for an iphone and this might make it easier. this really intrigues me! any information would be greatly appreciated.
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Erica Sadun said 9:37PM on 7-01-2007
Ham Sandwich: Here's a direct link to the gallery shot of the price plans
http://www.tuaw.com/gallery/iphone-prepaid-gallery/296285/
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Drnkusv said 9:42PM on 7-01-2007
For those who have activated on a pre-paid plan -- are you constantly getting messages every ten minutes telling you something like "the last transaction cost $0.00 and your balance is X"? They seem to come every ten or twenty minutes and they are incredibly annoying. Anyone know how to get rid of them? Thanks.
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Alex Hutton said 9:43PM on 7-01-2007
only somewhat related, Drudge is reporting that Universal is NOT renewing it's contract to sell music on iTunes.
If true, it's kind of crazy - they're a pretty big music distributor.
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Matt Tyndall said 10:27PM on 7-01-2007
Prepaid accounts dont require contracts! So you can have the iphoen for $500 and use it but quit when you want. NICE!
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scott said 10:37PM on 7-01-2007
If I'm reading Erica's link correctly (and I could be wrong), then ATT no longer offers any "X amount of minutes good for 1 Full Year" kind of Prepaid service. If that's true, then the whole concept of prepaid loses its effectiveness. Prepaids are great for those of us that rarely use a cell, except perhaps when traveling. So, for my current prepaid phone, I purchased 600 minutes for $100. These are good up to one year. This is great, because I won't use my phone for a full month or two, and then use 100 minutes a day when I'm traveling for business during a solid week. A monthly fee for folks like me is a true waste. I *love* paying for exactly the minutes I use. No more, no less.
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Erica Sadun said 10:32PM on 7-01-2007
Scott: The kind of prepaid plan available with the iPhone is the Pick-a-Plan. It's a lot more expensive than the GoPhone plans (like the $100 of minutes good for a year card) but like them allows you to cancel at any time. There's no contract, no credit check, no deposit.
As far as I know, no one has tried out their GoPhone SIM in an iPhone yet after activation. If it *does* work with a GoPhone SIM, that would totally rock.
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Rubbinz said 10:36PM on 7-01-2007
Got the iPhone and did the Pre-Paid yesterday. Love it! Unlimited data for 50 a month is perfect for me since I only talk on any phone maybe a total of 5 minutes a month. Maybe now, I'll make some lame ass excuse to actually use more minutes to talk. Dunno, I still hate phones.
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Chris P. said 10:36PM on 7-01-2007
I tried doing this over the phone with at&t but they just wouldn't have any of it - the woman on the phone told me that there was no GoPhone plan for iPhones and she supposedly confirmed it with her manager. I'm guessing they don't want people going that route so they're going silent about it over the phone.
I had her cancel my previous attempt and now I went back and input 999-99-9999 as my SSN. Hopefully, I'll get the email telling me my attempt to review my credit failed and to go for the iPhone GoPhone plan. :)
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True said 10:41PM on 7-01-2007
Here is an idea, don't be a cheap bastard. Just buy the phone or don't and get a contract or don't. That is how it works. Why is everyone trying to buck the system all of the time. If you don't like how the cell phone industry works then don't get a cell phone. Its pretty fuckin easy... And if you can't afford the contract, then you shouldn't get one either. What is so hard to understand.
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Chris P. said 10:41PM on 7-01-2007
How long does the activation failure message take? I really want to fire up my iPhone ASAP!
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David said 10:46PM on 7-01-2007
This is very impressive that people figured this out. I'll be sticking with my post-paid plan, but very good to know. Props to people for figuring it out.
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igtats said 11:30PM on 7-03-2007
Rubbinz, please post instructions on how you did this....
I couldn't activate my iphone because I had a 'corporate account' with AT&T, so I have to wait till Monday. But i would love unlimited date for $50/month; I hardly use the phone part - I want the iphone for web/email.
Thanks in Advance!!!
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Rubbinz said 11:05PM on 7-01-2007
uhh igtats, erica posted instructions in the post. You may be hampered by the corp acct if you're using that.
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moabfireball said 11:10PM on 7-01-2007
@True (#17): Let me guess, you're the type of person who blames a rape victim for wearing skimpy clothing?
No one's trying to be a cheap bastard about things. AT&T offers a pre-paid option with the iPhone. Some people want it. End of story.
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