Apple iPhone Preparation and Testing

[GooMan]

I wonder if the plan rates are going to be outrageous and so they are holding that info until the last possible minute to avoid the bad publicity. Seems like they would announce if it was good news.

It doesn't really matter to me since I'm not getting one, I'm just wondering.

[dscottbuch]

Originally Posted by sishaw

It remains to be seen whether the iPhone will showcase Apple's technical genius. But there is no doubt that the iPhone showcases Apple's marketing genius.

One is easy to measure - marketing=sales.

The other is much harder as it depends on the goals set. From what I read most (not all) of the contributors to these boards equate technical genius with feature sets. Cram more into a smaller cheaper package and your a genius. I don't believe that is the case and certainly doesn't fit with Apples goals of a usable high-tech product.

[Clive At Five]

It's funny how ape-**** at&t is going regarding this product launch... meanwhile Apple Store employees are left high-and-dry. I talked to one yesterday who said they "haven't (and won't) received any training for the 29th," followed by "shhh. I'm not supposed to tell you that."

at&t should send over some of their sales catalogs...

-Clive

[sishaw]

Originally Posted by dscottbuch

One is easy to measure - marketing=sales.

The other is much harder as it depends on the goals set. From what I read most (not all) of the contributors to these boards equate technical genius with feature sets. Cram more into a smaller cheaper package and your a genius. I don't believe that is the case and certainly doesn't fit with Apples goals of a usable high-tech product.

I agree with you--elegance of function is also important, maybe even more important, than numbers of features--the iPod should have proved that once and for all. We'll see on 6/29 for sure!

I am impressed by how much technolust Apple has created for a product that is yet to be released.

Personally, though, I'm going to wait for the first reviews and user reports to make sure it's what I really want, since I already have a smartphone that I rather like.

[samh004]

Originally Posted by p0intblank

You mean all this time there was probably someone around here with an iPhone and I didn't know about it? Ugh!

Exactly!

You should be ashamed you didn't get any photos for us on MR. Ashamed I say.

[b3beater]

Originally Posted by sishaw

I agree with you--elegance of function is also important, maybe even more important, than numbers of features--the iPod should have proved that once and for all. We'll see on 6/29 for sure!

I am impressed by how much technolust Apple has created for a product that is yet to be released.

Personally, though, I'm going to wait for the first reviews and user reports to make sure it's what I really want, since I already have a smartphone that I rather like.

I'm actually interested in hearing how it deals with being dropped...

Not that any of us have ever dropped their smart phone or Blackberry or anything like that...

That's a pretty big glass screen to crack

[Doctor Q]

In the past few months, he says dozens of AT&T technicians have been secretly testing iPhones — in bars, subway stops, office buildings, rural areas and elsewhere — looking for technical hitches.

That's a nice job: being paid to go to a bar!

But it might be hard to pull out an iPhone in Lucky Louie's Lounge and not have people take notice.

Originally Posted by MacSA

I wish we could have a iphonerumours.com site.....

Try http://iphone.macrumors.com/.

[gotohamish]

Originally Posted by liven2

the wife would let me by one! I still feel like a gitty kid before Christmas morning and I am not even buying one of these delicious devices. I will enjoy watching the frenzy though.

You likely wouldn't get signal under her thumb anyway...

I'm kidding, sorry. Just get one and tell her the guy gave you a special deal or something.

[tho]

"AT&T will be limiting the number of iPhones that an individual can purchase, but does not give the exact limit."

i thought this was an interesting tidbit.

[gotohamish]

Originally Posted by samh004

Exactly!

You should be ashamed you didn't get any photos for us on MR. Ashamed I say.

Indeed. I'm amazed there wasn't the usual gadget paparazzi with the no-knowledge-of-the-macro-function cameras at hand.

[GeekLawyer]

Originally Posted by tho

"AT&T will be limiting the number of iPhones that an individual can purchase, but does not give the exact limit."

i thought this was an interesting tidbit.

That actually is very interesting and it could speak to the lack of a required contract for purchase. Hmmm...

[gotohamish]

Originally Posted by tho

"AT&T will be limiting the number of iPhones that an individual can purchase, but does not give the exact limit."

i thought this was an interesting tidbit.

I only know of one person buying multiple, and only two at that. He's paying someone to stand in line too. If you have the means I guess!

[dernhelm]

Originally Posted by liven2

I still feel like a gitty kid before Christmas morning and I am not even buying one of these delicious devices.

I think you mean giddy. But gitty is much more entertaining, especially to our friends "across the pond".

[gotohamish]

Originally Posted by GeekLawyer

That actually is very interesting and it could speak to the lack of a required contract for purchase. Hmmm...

Excellent point. I will need to transfer a number and such from T-Mobile, so I'd be happy just getting the phone in hand, then figuring out the contract etc when all the craziness dies down.

Can anybody help me shed light on the process of changing a number from T-Mobile to AT&T?

Thanks

[xtbfx]

Originally Posted by Grimace

custom voice/data plans too...that was an interesting tidbit.

We've known this since it was launched.

Apple needs to release the pricing for them right now. It's stupid to keep potential customers in the dark. If it's over $80/mo for unlimited data + x amount of minutes, I'm not buying one. I'm also not going to wait in line to find out the pricing.

[b3beater]

Originally Posted by xtbfx

We've known this since it was launched.

Apple needs to release the pricing for them right now. It's stupid to keep potential customers in the dark. If it's over $80/mo for unlimited data + x amount of minutes, I'm not buying one. I'm also not going to wait in line to find out the pricing.

I've often wondered if the reason they haven't got into the cost of the data plan is because they know NO ONE will complain.

[darwen]

Originally Posted by Macrumors

Meanwhile, new iPhone specific service plans will also be announced on June 29th.

I know someone else already mentioned this, but what the hell? Why?

[rdowns]

Originally Posted by b3beater

I'm actually interested in hearing how it deals with being dropped...

Not that any of us have ever dropped their smart phone or Blackberry or anything like that...

That's a pretty big glass screen to crack

I think it will prove to be quite durable. From a USA Today article today:



To test iPhone's durability, Thandu says, they doused it with water, dropped it on concrete and bounced it off sidewalks.

Thandu says he took the iPhone with him on long runs, sweating all over it. "We wanted to test the limits of it."

[ajhill]

The only real iPhone question continues to be: How much will the monthly plan be? It's not likely that it will carry a premium, because 1. Att's network is not the fastest (compared to Sprint, Verizon). 2. Verizon turned down Apple's demands for the iPhone terms. This likely means Apple wanted either a low rate to make it a wide seller, or they wanted a high premium for their monthly take (i.e. >$5 per month kickback to Apple (pure profit!)

Either way a lower monthly rate, or a bigger Apple monthly cut, it's good news for share holders.

A high monthly plan would kill all the positive momentum, and Apple knows it. Look for reasonable if not good value monthly plans.

Apple ][ Forver!!

[daysleeper]

What's keeping them from releasing the plan details? It's a flipping PHONE Apple!

Stop dropping information like "YouTube included" without telling us how much it will cost to access that "included" content.

[studiomusic]

Originally Posted by gotohamish

I only know of one person buying multiple, and only two at that. He's paying someone to stand in line too. If you have the means I guess!

I'm getting 3. One for the wife, one for my daughter and one for me.
My wife is even pushing me to get one for her (not that she would need to push me... or that I wouldn't get one if she didn't... or that she wears the pants in the family... or something...).
Sucks that there won't be much supply here in Utah...

[io_burn]

I really wonder what kind of limit they're putting on how many iPhones each person can buy. I made a killing off the Wii and PS3, if there's any chance of an iPhone shortage... Hmmm....

[Clive At Five]

Originally Posted by studiomusic

I'm getting 3. One for the wife, one for my daughter and one for me.
My wife is even pushing me to get one for her (not that she would need to push me... or that I wouldn't get one if she didn't... or that she wears the pants in the family... or something...).
Sucks that there won't be much supply here in Utah...

How old is your daughter? If she's <18, she doesn't need one, nor would she put it to good use. Save your money.

I probably don't *need* one, myself, even though I'm a working adult and technology freak. I know my fiancee wants one but her reasoning is only for the convergence of the iPod and Phone. I told her to get an LG Chocolate and save $500 bucks. She didn't like that too much.

-Clive

[TitoC]

I don't know if anyone has brought this up, but it's something I had been thinking about for a couple of days. Since the iPhone will be sold as a "Locked" phone, activation will need to be required at purchase. Or worse, is an iPhone buyer going to have to wait all day in line for an iPhone, then drive over to an AT&T store and wait in another HUGE line to get it activated? This would mean major PR headaches for both companies.

As anyone who has had to go to a cellular store and buy a phone, get a plan and then get the phone activated, this usually turns out to be a 45 minute to an hour ordeal. All the while, people are waiting behind you in frustration. Now, can you imagine this same process when dealing with all the hoopla over the iPhone? Major mess! I don't believe Apple nor AT&T would want this.

So this is the question. How are the Apple stores going to be dealing with this? Obviuosly, the AT&T stores will have no problem with this. Buy the iPhone, then get it activated right there at the store. Because of all the extra man-power and security AT&T is going to have to supply to all of their 1,800 stores, I seriously doubt AT&T is going to be sending ADDITIONAL personel to all of the 180 Apple stores.

Apple and AT&T are telling (via their emails sent out to people opting to get info on the iPhone) that you will need an iTunes account. But if you look at the language, it sounds like they are saying you will need your iTunes name and password at time of "purchase" or at least on "activation" and not just for syncing your contacts, calendars, etc. This is what they said in their email:

"To set up your iPhone, you’ll need an account with Apple’s iTunes Store. If you already have an iTunes account, make sure you know your account name and password. If you don’t have an account, you should set one up now to save time later."

So this is what I predict will happen. I think that activation will actually happen through the iTunes store. I think that a user will end up selecting his or her own data and voice plan via iTunes, just like any othe purchase. You connect your iPhone, it starts up iTunes, the iTunes store comes up and you buy your plan throught it. This way, both the At&T stores as well as all the Apple stores can get people activated. I think this could possibly be part of the unveiled displays that the stores are preparing. You could get it activated there at the store or at a later time. What will probably happen is that you will end up signing a general contract, but the actual selection of plans and so forth will have to be done via iTunes. This way, you could also opt out to do the actual "activation" of the phone until you get home and get a chance to read all the fine print before any purchase.

Any thoughts?

[io_burn]

Originally Posted by Clive At Five

How old is your daughter? If she's <18, she doesn't need one, nor would she put it to good use. Save your money.

How exactly would someone not put an iPhone to good use?