iPhone 3G activation in store only?
Gizmodo is reporting that the days of activating your iPhone at home via iTunes are over. That's right, AT&T says you'll have to activate your iPhone in store either at an AT&T store or an Apple store. The process will take between 10 to 12 minutes per phone. Oh, and you won't be able to order an iPhone 3G online at launch, so you'll be at a store anyway.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Seth A said 7:04PM on 6-09-2008
I saw this coming, you can't sell a phone subsidized at $199 and "Trust" that people will sign up for a 2-Year contract.
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Rubbinz said 7:08PM on 6-09-2008
I wonder what the price and process will be for those who have our current iPhone's on one of AT&T's sanctioned GoPhone plans. Will it be sold at full retail of $200 more than the $199 subsidized price?
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z said 7:09PM on 6-09-2008
This sucks. I wish Apple would just offer an unsubsidized phone for $400 as an alternative. I guess I'll be looking on ebay for iphones from outside the US.
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fishbert said 7:11PM on 6-09-2008
Or, go have it activated in store, then turn around and pay the early termination fee to cancel your contract. That probably comes out to around the same $400 ballpark figure.
Cycomachead said 10:42PM on 6-09-2008
Aren't carriers required to have a 30 day policy with a full or near full refund? Besides I think that was in ATTs contract last time for the iPhone....
GrizzlyAdams said 5:25AM on 6-10-2008
Cycomachead: But if you get a refund you don't keep the phone. Pay the early termination and you do. Which I believe was fishbert's point.
PJ said 7:15PM on 6-09-2008
this is absolutely true
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PJ said 7:16PM on 6-09-2008
to cancel you are going to be required to return the equipment
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puhsitch said 8:02PM on 6-09-2008
You know that for a fact?
kevinm said 9:53PM on 6-09-2008
Not required, you just need to pay the early termination fee which i believe comes out to be around $175 so your iPhone would be $375.
Rich UK said 4:18AM on 6-10-2008
But if you're buying a phone at a lower rate due to AT&T subsidies surely AT&T will want the phone back?
krisa said 7:16PM on 6-09-2008
100 people line w/ 2 activators = 8 hours.
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kevinm said 9:54PM on 6-09-2008
LOL great point, it's gonna be one hell of wait.
LuminousNerd said 4:18AM on 6-10-2008
Are you crazy? Have you ever BEEN to an Apple event before? There will be AT LEAST 20-30 greeters, and I would not be surprised if there were over 100.
krisa said 7:28AM on 6-10-2008
Luminous, that's greeters – there are usually only 4-5 register people at the most; and ATT stores usually don't have more than 3 physical stations that they can activate from.
Although, apparently they're doing some sort of print out system (but how many people won't know/do it?)
and also it appears from the latest ATT release that if you're not qualified for an update on your plan you're going to have to fork over more cash.
Gadget Chick said 7:17PM on 6-09-2008
what about current iPhone users? can we just get it as long as we extend our contracts?
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Matthew Bray said 7:20PM on 6-09-2008
I think we've been spoiled by the iPhone 1.0 retail experience.
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Alex Paris said 8:51PM on 6-09-2008
amen... this is bullshit. ATT needs to get their shit to gether. Its totaly a buzkill after the announcement.
jimmie said 7:25PM on 6-09-2008
I spoke to AT&T's GoPhone Support today and was told they would offer the 3G iPhone as a GoPhone.
http://gadgetsonthego.net/2008/06/at-will-offer-3g-iphone-as-prepaid.html
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Rubbinz said 7:27PM on 6-09-2008
At what price? I doubt it's going to be $199.