Does Anyone Know Anything About Activating An Original iPhone?

[iPh0neTy]

So I am having this debate in my mind. I bought an original iPhone as a collectors item. It's mint condition, open box, but never used. If you look up the serial on Apple's website it says it's never been activated and it's stuck on the activation screen.

I looked up the serial number to find out that it was manufactured the the 27th week of 2007. That's July 2-9th. The iPhone was first released on July 11th so it's a first production.


I am debating on whether or not to activate it. I know it was a different process to activate back then, cant just plug into itunes. I'm worried on one hand that if I activate it, it will lose value. On the other hand I am worried if I don't activate it now Apple may close the process required to activate it in the future and it may be stuck on the activation screen for good.

What do you think? And does anyone know anything about activating an original iPhone?

[numberforty1]

Originally Posted by iPh0neTy

So I am having this debate in my mind. I bought an original iPhone as a collectors item. It's mint condition, open box, but never used. If you look up the serial on Apple's website it says it's never been activated and it's stuck on the activation screen.

I looked up the serial number to find out that it was manufactured the the 27th week of 2007. That's July 2-9th. The iPhone was first released on July 11th so it's a first production.


I am debating on whether or not to activate it. I know it was a different process to activate back then, cant just plug into itunes. I'm worried on one hand that if I activate it, it will lose value. On the other hand I am worried if I don't activate it now Apple may close the process required to activate it in the future and it may be stuck on the activation screen for good.



What do you think? And does anyone know anything about activating an original iPhone?

No idea, but it's cool that you have a first production. I'd maybe give the apple store a call and do some investigating. Myself I'd leave it unactivated.

[Applejuiced]

Before on the original iphone you would need to pick your minute, data and text plan in order to activate on a certain line.
Now for over a year or so they have changed it so people cannot use it to activate unlimited data plans on their AT&T lines any more.
So all it does is it activates normal like all other iphones. Stick an active AT&T sim and plug it to itunes and it will activate.

[Beeplance]

Wow buying an original iPhone in mint condition in 2012 must be really expensive. Why don't you just leave it unactivated, at a higher value?

[Jordan921]

Just get a active SIM card and activate it. I've been trying to find an original iPhone to mess around with.

[iPh0neTy]

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

Before on the original iphone you would need to pick your minute, data and text plan in order to activate on a certain line.
Now for over a year or so they have changed it so people cannot use it to activate unlimited data plans on their AT&T lines any more.
So all it does is it activates normal like all other iphones. Stick an active AT&T sim and plug it to itunes and it will activate.

I tried it about a year ago when I bought it and it said it could not be activated. that I needed to contact Apple.

[zen]

I'd leave it unactivated as a collector's item.

[iPh0neTy]

Originally Posted by Beeplance

Wow buying an original iPhone in mint condition in 2012 must be really expensive. Why don't you just leave it unactivated, at a higher value?

I bought it a while ago from older guy who won it at work. He said he liked the phone he had at the time and didn't want to bother with activating it to his line so opened it to look at it and it sat in his closet ever since. He had no clue what it's worth cause I paid about what it was worth used at the time. I figured i'd keep it for a few years and see what it's worth. I think I will leave it unactivated though. It's killing me though. I want to start it up just to play with it and see iOS 1.0. I haven't ever seen an iPhone running the first iOS.

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Originally Posted by zen

I'd leave it unactivated as a collector's item.

You're probably right.

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Originally Posted by Jordan921

Just get a active SIM card and activate it. I've been trying to find an original iPhone to mess around with.

The Original iPhone is becoming extinct. I bought this one after I saw an unused original iPod go for several thousand on eBay. It's too the point where you can't even find the original iPhone in working order.

[zen]

Originally Posted by iPh0neTy

You're probably right.

Also, the iPhone 1 isn't such a great phone, compared with modern phones, and you can hardly run anything from the App store on it. If you intended to use it as your main phone, you'd just get frustrated eventually. Plus, you'll add wear and tear and the risk of damage.

The phone, mint and unactivated, might actually be worth a fair amount in say 20-30 years, too.

[iPh0neTy]

Originally Posted by zen

Also, the iPhone 1 isn't such a great phone, compared with modern phones, and you can hardly run anything from the App store on it. If you intended to use it as your main phone, you'd just get frustrated eventually. Plus, you'll add wear and tear and the risk of damage.

The phone, mint and unactivated, might actually be worth a fair amount in say 20-30 years, too.

Yeah, I'm not planning on ever using it. I just hope the battery doesn't crap out. I researched and found out that lithum-ion batteries will store for years and years at 68 degrees with 1/3 charge in a dry place so that's how i'm keeping it. Maybe not exactly 68 all the time but pretty close since that's about the same temp as my house stays in the basement 365 days year.

[kockgunner]

Originally Posted by iPh0neTy

I bought it a while ago from older guy who won it at work. He said he liked the phone he had at the time and didn't want to bother with activating it to his line so opened it to look at it and it sat in his closet ever since. He had no clue what it's worth cause I paid about what it was worth used at the time. I figured i'd keep it for a few years and see what it's worth. I think I will leave it unactivated though. It's killing me though. I want to start it up just to play with it and see iOS 1.0. I haven't ever seen an iPhone running the first iOS.

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You're probably right.

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The Original iPhone is becoming extinct. I bought this one after I saw an unused original iPod go for several thousand on eBay. It's too the point where you can't even find the original iPhone in working order.

I would definitely leave it as a collectors item. It's not every day that a single gadget changes the entire market. I think items like the first iPod, original Macintoshes, and the iPhone will be worth a lot in the future. If you want to play with iOS 1.0, I would just get a beat up original iPhone or even first gen iPod touch.

[Applejuiced]

Originally Posted by iPh0neTy

I tried it about a year ago when I bought it and it said it could not be activated. that I needed to contact Apple.

Weird.
Give it a shot again.
Make sure the AT&T sim in active.
Many have reported that it just activates fine now.

[Fant]

I believe when I activated my original iPhone it was thru iTunes. Either way I would make this the buyers problem and not touch it.