iPhone: Prepay the right way

It is now about 5:00 Mountain Time as I write this. I spent most of the day at the AT&T store from about 9 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon. Then I spent several more hours at home talking to AT&T and Apple support personnel. I have swapped SIMs so often that I deserve a SIM merit badge. I have set up no fewer than six separate phone accounts. My credit card has been beaten and battered funding those accounts.

Here's what I learned: If you want to set up your iPhone as a prepaid account, do not--no that's not emphatic enough--do NOT, DO NOT attempt to set up the account in advance with AT&T.

Just don't. Trust me. Here's how you should do it:

Buy the iPhone. Connect it to iTunes. Sign up using 999-99-9999 as your social security number. After failing the credit check, select a GoPhone plan. After signing up for a GoPhone plan and being assigned a number and passcode, connect to the AT&T GoPhone funding page as prompted, enter your credit card or debit card information and you're good to go. DO NOT attempt to fund your iPhone over the phone with AT&T. DO NOT set up your iPhone prepaid account in advance with AT&T.

As for me? After a certain number of failed attempts (all on the part of extremely warm, wonderful, but ultimately unsuccesful AT&T employees), the fraud detection system kicked into gear. That's where I am now. I can't move forward until AT&T closes down all those well meaning but useless accounts and lets me activate the one, good account that started and ended in iTunes.

As for the AT&T and Apple personnel? I've been working with them now for nearly 22 hours of on-phone and in-person time. (Yes, I was up way late last night). With the exception of one person[1], they have all been fabulously kind, patient and supportive. Thank you to you all, especially Diana Cruzan the retail sales manager for the Aurora City Place AT&T store, Jamshed Mulla, AT&T iPhone Guru, and Dan Callahan of Fleishman Hillard.

[1] There's always one.

Update: 5:25. Just off the phone with AT&T fraud detection people. It LIVES!!!! "iPhone is Activated". Woot!

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Source: http://www.apple.com/iphone

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It is now about 5:00 Mountain Time as I write this. I spent most of the day at the AT&T store from about 9 in the morning until 2 in...

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Spiritualquest

So, is there a way to activate and put the sim from my old phone into my iphone? I do not need the data plan through edge. I figure I can connect through the wifi at my convenience.

Any way to do this, please email or respond.

November 19 2007 at 12:56 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

so when you have this pre paid plan, you are connected to the internet? Is there time usage for this to? Seems the way to go esp since am waiting for Christmas:)

September 30 2007 at 1:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

frank

I have a question I unlocked my IPHONE everything works except the email,text and u-tube if I activate the phone as a pre pay plan with no data plan since I have my own wi-fi at home will the email utube and text work now for free with my own network.

September 20 2007 at 10:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ron

Yous a str8 up soldier, if apple weren't going on like they got lamposts up their u know what, then u wouldn't go to such lengths. HAs Apple Forgot the late 90's??? when they nearly went bust due to acting the same way??? some people never learn. :-(

September 19 2007 at 12:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

HELLO38

i finally got my iphone working after 3 trys
but be warned if you do prepaid option read the cingular options carefully i signed up for monthly payments and not the $89 for the year i was trying to sign up for now i have to find a way to fix that i have to wait 3 days my account can be accessed

September 12 2007 at 9:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Brian

Just wondering for your payasyougo guys, which I plan to pursue as well, do all of the extra features work still (ie: Visual Voicemail, Weather, Stock, YouTube, etc.)

Thanks!

September 12 2007 at 12:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

HELLO38

I TRIED TO ACTIVATE MY IPHONE USING THE INFORMATION ABOVE WITH THE 999-999-9999 AS MY SS#
BUT I JUST GOT AND EMAIL FROM ATT ASKING FOR MY REAL SS#
I HAVE TO WAIT AN HOUR AND TRY AGAIN AND I DON'T WANT THE CONTRACT
WHAT DID I DO WRONG

September 11 2007 at 11:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

solarfd

Did the 999-99-9999 social in iTunes. Now it's just sitting there with an "Activation Pending. You will receive email." How long does THAT take?
Thanks.

September 10 2007 at 7:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Brandon

Does anyone know for sure what the SMS charges are for prepaid? Some have said $.15 and some have said $.05

Also does it just deduct that from your balance or do you have to sign up for a Text plan?

September 01 2007 at 11:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Zalmansohn

I did get the "additional time" message. Was anybody successful registring to the Go plan after receiving this message? How?

August 31 2007 at 3:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply