Apple Streamlines iPhone 3G Sales with Online Signups

MacRumors · Sep 23, 2008, 02:07 PM

Apple has started offering users a way to sign up for AT&T service online prior to visiting an Apple Store. The online tool allows you to:

1. Enter your billing information.
2. Review eligibility and pricing.
3. Select your AT&T rate plan.

Once done, you simply need to visit an Apple Retail store to complete your iPhone purchase. This new "at home" option generated some speculation over the weekend. As it turns out, this still requires in-store activation of your iPhone upon purchase.

The most recent analyst numbers predict that Apple will sell 5 million iPhones in Q4 2008 which could bring the total close to Apple's state goal of 10 million iPhones sold during calendar year 2008.

Article Link

tny · Sep 23, 2008, 02:10 PM

Does this suggest that the associated rumor that the iPhone 3G will go to 32 GB *soon* was correct?

mainstreetmark · Sep 23, 2008, 02:14 PM

Well, it's a start.

Given that buying iPhone Edge was my best phone buying experience and buying iPhone 3G was my worst phone buying experience, and very close to my worst buying experience ever. I've bought cars from dealerships with less hassle. They had us stand out in the Florida sun for 1.25 hours, even though I had showed up that morning to wait in a DIFFERENT line to get my little line pass thing.

You still have to go into a store to activate it...

arn · Sep 23, 2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tny

Does this suggest that the associated rumor that the iPhone 3G will go to 32 GB *soon* was correct?

No. not at all. That rumor was completely wrong.

arn

BLACK MAC · Sep 23, 2008, 02:14 PM

Give it up! There is no 32GB until MacWorld or the next iPhone due out next summer.

hob · Sep 23, 2008, 02:15 PM

Not yet for UK users it would seem!

sjjordan · Sep 23, 2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLACK MAC

Give it up! There is no 32GB until MacWorld or the next iPhone due out next summer.

Who needs 32GB? I don't want to be flamed, but with SimplifyMedia out, and with most of us 24/7 accessible to 3G/Edge/Wifi, why have your phone full of songs. I have an 8GB iPhone and only sync 100 of my favorite songs. I use SimplifyMedia for the rest.

eyephone · Sep 23, 2008, 02:19 PM

Time to step it up apple. Lets keep the momentum in our direction.

armaster73 · Sep 23, 2008, 02:19 PM

Strange that this website to pre-qualify (that requires your SSN) isn't even encrypted using HTTPS?

gehrbox · Sep 23, 2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armaster73

Strange that this website to pre-qualify (that requires your SSN) isn't even encrypted using HTTPS?

They have changed the site to HTTPS now.

For those that were stuck on step 3, it appears to be fixed now. Must have been down during the switch to a secure link.

SirOmega · Sep 23, 2008, 02:20 PM

I take it to mean the morning lines outside of Apple stores are basically gone at this point. Apple wouldn't have implemented something like this until the line-waiting part was over with.

drumpat01 · Sep 23, 2008, 02:23 PM

The goal was 10mil iPhones by the end of 2008, not in 2008 it self. This means they include all the phones sold in 2007 too.

joneill55 · Sep 23, 2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirOmega

I take it to mean the morning lines outside of Apple stores are basically gone at this point. Apple wouldn't have implemented something like this until the line-waiting part was over with.

Lines................what line!! I was in the Apple's Chicago flagship store on Michigan Ave last Thursday at lunch time and there were more pesky Apple Sales Associates than customers at the iPhone table display. Hell, there were more folk at the iPod tables come to think of it.

You wanna by an iPhone, no line in Chicago!

Stella · Sep 23, 2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjjordan

Who needs 32GB? I don't want to be flamed, but with SimplifyMedia out, and with most of us 24/7 accessible to 3G/Edge/Wifi, why have your phone full of songs. I have an 8GB iPhone and only sync 100 of my favorite songs. I use SimplifyMedia for the rest.

"Who needs more than 640k of memory".

( although Gates really didn't say this the way people think )

acfusion29 · Sep 23, 2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLACK MAC

Give it up! There is no 32GB until MacWorld or the next iPhone due out next summer.

There's nothing that pisses me off more than this topic, right on par with people believing an iPhone Nano is coming...

840quadra · Sep 23, 2008, 03:00 PM

This is a great addition (had I any interest in AT&T).

I will recommend this process to a friend thinking about getting an iPhone as he has somewhat shaky credit, and would save some of the stress of dealing with this at the store!

saminsocks · Sep 23, 2008, 03:17 PM

I don't know why people had such a problem with their in-store activation. I must have had an amazing specialist. I was in and out in about 10 minutes, and that was with purchasing two phones, one of which was a new line. The longest part was when we had to call AT&T to have my FAN number removed, since I wasn't sure if I needed to since I had recently had it changed, so my discount wasn't active yet. The people who I met in line were in there a bit longer than I was, but not by much. And this was after standing in line for a couple hours.

I also didn't have either of my phones unboxed either, though, so that may have cut down a lot on the time. He scanned them, and associated them with my phone numbers, but they were still wrapped in celophane when I left the store.

Carlos E · Sep 23, 2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 840quadra

This is a great addition (had I any interest in AT&T).

I will recommend this process to a friend thinking about getting an iPhone as he has somewhat shaky credit, and would save some of the stress of dealing with this at the store!

I went to an AT&T store and my credit was denied. I just applied through the Apple site and I was approved.

*shrug*

Does anyone know if they run a credit check during the pre approval process?

Quote:

Originally Posted by timerollson

I'm assuming they tact on the deposit after the fact if you have no credit, correct? Or, is the price at the end screen the one you pay in the store? I'm confused. I don't really have credit, just a credit card that I haven't used in four years.

I wonder if a credit check was run.

cantthinkofone · Sep 24, 2008, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tny

Does this suggest that the associated rumor that the iPhone 3G will go to 32 GB *soon* was correct?

Where did you get that from that story

1steelers1 · Sep 24, 2008, 10:27 AM

Just tried again, and it still isn't working.

anansei · Sep 25, 2008, 10:04 PM

but it worked for me - no deposit and I went right through - good luck

twoodcc · Sep 23, 2008, 02:40 PM

wait, i thought they were already past 5 million iphones sold before Q4 2008?

w0ngbr4d · Sep 23, 2008, 03:04 PM

Well they are half way there...

I still don't see why they won't ship the damn phones.

beloved84 · Sep 23, 2008, 03:06 PM

is there an activation fee if you do this way?

pmpknetr21 · Sep 23, 2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beloved84

is there an activation fee if you do this way?

Yes. AT&T wouldn't have it any other way. (Neither would any of the other Big Telco's, for that matter...)

Sep 23, 2008, 02:07 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Apple Streamlines iPhone 3G Sales with Online Signups Apple has started offering users a way to sign up for AT&T service online prior to visiting an Apple Store. The online tool allows you to: 1. Enter your billing information. 2. Review eligibility and pricing. 3. Select your AT&T rate plan. Once done, you simply need to visit an Apple Retail store to complete your iPhone purchase. This new "at home" option generated some speculation over the weekend. As it turns out, this still requires in-store activation of your iPhone upon purchase. The most recent analyst numbers predict that Apple will sell 5 million iPhones in Q4 2008 which could bring the total close to Apple's state goal of 10 million iPhones sold during calendar year 2008. Article Link

Sep 23, 2008, 02:10 PM	#2
tny macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2003	Interesting Does this suggest that the associated rumor that the iPhone 3G will go to 32 GB soon was correct?

Sep 23, 2008, 02:14 PM	#3
mainstreetmark macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL	Well, it's a start. Given that buying iPhone Edge was my best phone buying experience and buying iPhone 3G was my worst phone buying experience, and very close to my worst buying experience ever. I've bought cars from dealerships with less hassle. They had us stand out in the Florida sun for 1.25 hours, even though I had showed up that morning to wait in a DIFFERENT line to get my little line pass thing. You still have to go into a store to activate it... __________________ iTunesRegistry.com <-- v3.0 Now Playing

Sep 23, 2008, 02:14 PM	#5
BLACK MAC macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2007	Give it up! There is no 32GB until MacWorld or the next iPhone due out next summer. __________________ - Black MacBook 2.0Ghz C2D, 2 GB, 250GB HD, iPhone 3GS 32GB Black (MINE) - Black MacBook 2.16Ghz C2D, 2GB, 160GB HD, iPhone 3GS 16GB White (HERS)

Sep 23, 2008, 02:15 PM	#6
hob macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London, UK	Not yet for UK users it would seem! __________________ see robmac.net for my work

Sep 23, 2008, 02:19 PM	#8
eyephone macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2007	Time to step it up apple. Lets keep the momentum in our direction. __________________ ...love macs by nature, but am forced to use the PC by society.....

Sep 23, 2008, 02:19 PM	#9
armaster73 macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington, DC	Little security on new site Strange that this website to pre-qualify (that requires your SSN) isn't even encrypted using HTTPS?

Sep 23, 2008, 02:20 PM	#11
SirOmega macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2006	I take it to mean the morning lines outside of Apple stores are basically gone at this point. Apple wouldn't have implemented something like this until the line-waiting part was over with.

Sep 23, 2008, 02:23 PM	#12
drumpat01 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Denton, TX	The goal was 10mil iPhones by the end of 2008, not in 2008 it self. This means they include all the phones sold in 2007 too. __________________ Batman vs. Superman = Superman............duh!!! 12" iBook G4 1.33ghz; iPod Touch 16G; TV 40G; Ubuntu Box; and a partridge in a pair tree

Sep 23, 2008, 03:00 PM	#16
840quadra macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Twin Cities MN	This is a great addition (had I any interest in AT&T). I will recommend this process to a friend thinking about getting an iPhone as he has somewhat shaky credit, and would save some of the stress of dealing with this at the store! __________________ The iPhone is nice, but I am here for the Macrumors Neucast the European automotive podcast

Sep 23, 2008, 03:17 PM	#17
saminsocks macrumors regular Join Date: May 2008	I don't know why people had such a problem with their in-store activation. I must have had an amazing specialist. I was in and out in about 10 minutes, and that was with purchasing two phones, one of which was a new line. The longest part was when we had to call AT&T to have my FAN number removed, since I wasn't sure if I needed to since I had recently had it changed, so my discount wasn't active yet. The people who I met in line were in there a bit longer than I was, but not by much. And this was after standing in line for a couple hours. I also didn't have either of my phones unboxed either, though, so that may have cut down a lot on the time. He scanned them, and associated them with my phone numbers, but they were still wrapped in celophane when I left the store.

Sep 24, 2008, 10:27 AM	#20
1steelers1 Banned Join Date: Sep 2008	Just tried again, and it still isn't working.

Sep 25, 2008, 10:04 PM	#21
anansei macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2006	Credits not super bad but it worked for me - no deposit and I went right through - good luck

Sep 23, 2008, 02:40 PM	#22
twoodcc macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right side of wrong	wait, i thought they were already past 5 million iphones sold before Q4 2008? __________________ tville pump Smarter than the average bear

Sep 23, 2008, 03:04 PM	#23
w0ngbr4d macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Findlay, OH	Well they are half way there... I still don't see why they won't ship the damn phones. __________________ MacBook Pro 15" 2.4 iPhone 3G 16 GB Black

Sep 23, 2008, 03:06 PM	#24
beloved84 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2006	is there an activation fee if you do this way? __________________ Problem Prone Macbook 2.0 Ghz Animal Crossing: name: Jedidah town: Zion fc: 433868312746 AIM ME @ ACWWJedidah

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode