iPhone 3G Launch Day, Meetups and Activation

[MacRumors]

5th Avenue, NYC on original iPhone Launch day

The iPhone 3G will launch on July 11st, and we've consolidated a few tidbits about launch day. In the meanwhile, readers are organizing regional meetups for launch day.

- iPhone will launch in 20 countries on July 11th: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US
- In the U.S., the iPhone 3G will be sold at Apple Retail or AT&T stores.
- iPhone 3G sales time is rumored to be 6PM on Friday, July 11th
- If all countries launch the new iPhone at the same local time (6pm), then New Zealand will be the first country where customers will have 3G iPhones in hand. This corresponds to 2am Eastern time on July 11th.
- Both Gizmodo and Engadget have posted FAQs which address the basic questions about the iPhone 3G.
- Reports of required in-store activation for the U.S. remain, but one unconfirmed tidbit we've heard is that customers with existing iPhones will be shunted to a separate line and will simply need provide the new IMEI number (printed on the outside of the box) from their iPhone 3G. Activation will reportedly then be completed at home after switching your sim card to the new phone and plugging into iTunes. If true, this would speed up sales for those upgrading their existing phones and also leave the iPhone 3G's packaging intact (to the relief of many).

We expect more confirmed details to emerge in the weeks leading up to the launch.

Article Link

[DMann]

We're there! Great news about activation.

[Zwhaler]

I'll probably grab one the day after launch day, assuming I can cancel Verizon, port my number, and other things all in one day.

[oyebto]

sad.. if only Singapore was part of the July11th activation..

[DMann]

Originally Posted by oyebto

sad.. if only Singapore was part of the July11th activation..

Won't be long.

[Doctor Q]

The macenstein article is a tiny bit silly.

[koanage]

So here is a question. What if I just sold my jailbroken iPhone, still have the sim card and didn't make any changes to my cellphone plan (at&t)? Can I get in the "express" iPhone line?

[arn]

Originally Posted by koanage

So here is a question. What if I just sold my jailbroken iPhone, still have the sim card and didn't make any changes to my cellphone plan (at&t)? Can I get in the "express" iPhone line?

If the rumor is true, then I would think so. If you have an active iPhone account with AT&T... which means they have your billing info and a plan, giving them your new IMEI number should be all they need to switch phones. They probably will also make you agree that the new iPhone data service is $30/month instead of $20/month.

arn

[gugy]

I just hope they have a really quick method to activate the iPhones. The last thing we need is a gigantic line with very unhappy people dealing with activation issues.

[Noonzio]

From O2 Ireland's website:

"The activation process for customers who sign up to iPhone tariffs is very simple, with the SIM being activated immediately in-store. Once at home, all customers then have to do is sync the device to their PC or Mac, download the latest version of iTunes, follow the easy to use activation steps and the device will be ready to use".

Implying you walk out of the store with an activiated SIM card and an uopened box with an iPhone 3G in it?

[bowa]

the iphone3G will be launched in 21 countries ... although Belgium was on the list. The next day the belgian mobile operator launching the iphone - Mobistar (from the Orange group) - issued a press release stating that they were not ready for it yet. And that the iphone would be released, "later this year".

[MacMyDay]

Originally Posted by Doctor Q

The macenstein article is a tiny bit silly.

Yet quite brilliant

[HiRez]

If I buy a 3G iPhone and move my current SIM card over to it, how would a person activate my 2G iPhone if I give it to them? Do they need to then go into an Apple/AT&T store and take care of setting it up there? Will they get a new SIM card?

In any case, I'm staying far away from an Apple or AT&T store on July 11, as badly as I want a 3G iPhone. I have a feeling it's going to be a nightmare, special lines or no.

[CormacMaclaggan]

I waited in line last year but I don't think that I am going to this year.

[obibobi]

If you buy the iPhone in New Zealand and take a flight to Los Angeles, will you be there BEFORE they release it in USA ?

I want to see a video on YouTube later ...

[Bokito]

2 countries have a delayed introduction and will see a 3G iPhone later than July 11 while announced at the event: France and Belgium

[aLoC]

Originally Posted by obibobi

If you buy the iPhone in New Zealand and take a flight to Los Angeles, will you be there BEFORE they release it in USA ?

I want to see a video on YouTube later ...

Hehe. Not bad, but the ultimate Apple fan would fly from country to country attending *all* the launch events.

[88888888]

hmm get it on july 11th, unlock it, then use for tmobile

[jerryfanyang]

Originally Posted by 88888888

hmm get it on july 11th, unlock it, then use for tmobile

Won't that make you end up paying both AT&T and Tmobile service since you will get an activated AT&T SIM card?

But either way why would you want a "3G" iPhone with tmobile? Even if you are in NYC the 3G iphone won't work in that band. Unless you need a personal GPS that badly?

[verniesgarden]

Originally Posted by obibobi

If you buy the iPhone in New Zealand and take a flight to Los Angeles, will you be there BEFORE they release it in USA ?

I want to see a video on YouTube later ...

logistically probably not, the flight is like 12 hours right?

[zkarj]

Thankyou MacRumours for taking an international view on this event. I'm sick of reading about people worried about upgrading their iPhones when for most of the world this is day one.

[erostratus]

Originally Posted by aLoC

Hehe. Not bad, but the ultimate Apple fan would fly from country to country attending *all* the launch events.

If that's the case, then you've just confirmed that the ultimate Apple fan is not human. I knew it!

[fastbite]

London had no real queues last the first time around (except in the Apple Store) so i'll be there on the 11th!

[MartiNZ]

Originally Posted by obibobi

If you buy the iPhone in New Zealand and take a flight to Los Angeles, will you be there BEFORE they release it in USA ?

I want to see a video on YouTube later ...

The flight is about 11 hours, so it should be doable. For me, however, the iPhone's cost (whatever it turns out to be here, probably $NZ799 for the 16GB ) will be enough for the one day, so unless this could be a sponsored trip...

[mackiwi]

that is all.