Prototype iPhone Spotted on eBay

MacRumors · 09:34 PM

iLounge points out a prototype iPhone recently listed on eBay.

Quote:

Here is a quite rare and collectable example of iPhone prototypes, one even running a beta OS. Only one of the phones works however. Neither unit says "iPhone" on them anywhere, or list the storage capacity which is interesting. I did some research on the serial numbers, it appears they were both manufactured about 6 months before the release of the iPhone.

Obviously, it is difficult to determine the authenticity of these claims, but the prototype operating system depicted closely resembles the diagnostic screens found on the iPod Touch.

Two prototype iPhones are being sold. Neither have the word "iPhone" written on the back of them. Based on serial numbers, each unit was manufactured in China in late 2006. The iPhone wasn't officially announced until January 2007, and didn't start shipping until June 2007. The working unit runs iPhone OS 03.06.01_g vs the launch version which ran version 03.11.02_G.

Beta units of Apple products have been known to escape Apple's labs before. Recently a prototype MacBook Air was purchased on eBay by a MacRumors forum member.

Article Link: Prototype iPhone Spotted on eBay

Dudeman486 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:09 PM

sweet! theyre not practical in any sense, but a rare gem to own. i might look into buying one

wheezy · Mar 9, 2009, 09:09 PM

That would be a pretty nice collectors item if it proves to be legit. Hmmmm

dewser35 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:11 PM

It's fake... I can tell by the pixels in my years of photo editing!

LanPhantom · Mar 9, 2009, 09:13 PM

hahaha. Under 2yrs old and they are already collectors items? Hell, I got a basement full of junk I'll add them too, someday I'll sell it all and retire!

techmonkey · Mar 9, 2009, 09:14 PM

why is the bezel silver? I thought the first iPhone had a black bezel...or was that the Touch?

slu · Mar 9, 2009, 09:15 PM

Cue all the "FAKE!" posts....

fleshman03 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:15 PM

LOL. I Remember those old serial numbers with a box of cherios from a while ago... I think those were seen right after the iPod Touch came out. Ah those were the days...

BTW- anyone up to taking bets on where the bidding will end? My guess is $1,500. (It's at $688 now)

mobius42 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:16 PM

Weren't these pictures posted here by a forum member a few months ago? I distinctly remember seeing them before.

lozanoj83 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:17 PM

Somehow I think I saw these a long time ago here in the forums, whom someone purchased them and was asking questions about them...

Scottsdale · Mar 9, 2009, 09:19 PM

I will bet this article placement here on Mac Rumors allows the item to fetch in excess of $10k, where it might have fetched $1500 if kept quiet. Hopefully the seller knows what he/she is doing by selling like this... and not keeping it a hush hush private sale.

abhimat.gautam · Mar 9, 2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lozanoj83

Somehow I think I saw these a long time ago here in the forums, whom someone purchased them and was asking questions about them...

Do you mean this?

hooch · Mar 9, 2009, 09:23 PM

I don't see a front side camera. I was hoping that then next iphone would have video conferencing / mobile ichat capabilities. So, I hope this is fake.

NeoMayhem · Mar 9, 2009, 09:24 PM

Would be interesting to see it the latest 2g firmware worked on it.

specify · Mar 9, 2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hooch

I don't see a front side camera. I was hoping that then next iphone would have video conferencing / mobile ichat capabilities. So, I hope this is fake.

probably prototype of the first generation

kastenbrust · Mar 9, 2009, 09:24 PM

The only way the person who's selling these iPhone prototypes got them is:

A) He is Steve Jobs

B) He Stole them from Apple

C) They are fake

A and C probably aren't true so this a case for the police not Ebay.

k2spitfire88 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techmonkey

why is the bezel silver? I thought the first iPhone had a black bezel...or was that the Touch?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hooch

I don't see a front side camera. I was hoping that then next iphone would have video conferencing / mobile ichat capabilities. So, I hope this is fake.

Guys, these are prototypes (or so they say) from before the first one came out.

Jayomat · Mar 9, 2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hooch

I don't see a front side camera. I was hoping that then next iphone would have video conferencing / mobile ichat capabilities. So, I hope this is fake.

you're joking, right?

Lexoticstylez02 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:27 PM

This has been covered months ago, I'm not sure why this is making front page news again..

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=627449

lozanoj83 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhimat.gautam

Do you mean this?

Yeah those. Somehow I knew I wasnt going crazy by thinking that I saw them again.
My question is, why is this news? *and I mean that with all sincerity, I just dont see why this should be front page given this was out in the forums since January. Maybe slow news day?*

adam1185 · Mar 9, 2009, 09:27 PM

Well if it's real it'll probably be taken down from eBay in about 3 seconds...

Jayomat · 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Beta units of Apple products have been known to escape Apple's labs before. Recently a prototype MacBook Air was purchased on eBay by a MacRumors forum member.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kastenbrust

The only way the person who's selling these iPhone prototypes got them is:

A) He is Steve Jobs

B) He Stole them from Apple

C) They are fake

A and C probably aren't true so this a case for the police not Ebay.

so how come we haven't heared that the guy who bought/sold the prototype macbook air has been "arrested" or at least sued

? as far as i know, buying stolen things is as illegal as stealing them

the light · Mar 9, 2009, 09:32 PM

haha, i get it... serial number, cheerios.

sleepneed · Mar 9, 2009, 09:32 PM

I forgot I had a username here until now. I don't know or care if this is real. The only question I have is why would apple use a Cheerios box with a green checked circle to use as the icon for Serial Number?

flopticalcube · Mar 9, 2009, 09:37 PM

Interesting but page 2 news really.

Mar 9, 2009, 09:09 PM	#2
Dudeman486 macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2008	sweet! theyre not practical in any sense, but a rare gem to own. i might look into buying one __________________ White MB 2.16 c2d; Ipod Video 30gb; Ipod Mini 4gb; Ipod Shuffle 1gb

Mar 9, 2009, 09:09 PM	#3
wheezy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Alpine, UT	That would be a pretty nice collectors item if it proves to be legit. Hmmmm __________________ MacPro 2.8x8, 10GB, 3.5TB * Dell 2005 FPWx2 * iPhone 3GS 32GB * Canon 5DII * 17-40 F4L, 135 F2L, 50 1.8 mkI * CA Sunbounce Mini Zebra unculturedswine

Mar 9, 2009, 09:11 PM	#4
dewser35 macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Arlington, TX	Fake! It's fake... I can tell by the pixels in my years of photo editing!

Mar 9, 2009, 09:13 PM	#5
LanPhantom macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Puyallup, WA	1st Gen iPhone "Collectors item" hahaha. Under 2yrs old and they are already collectors items? Hell, I got a basement full of junk I'll add them too, someday I'll sell it all and retire! __________________ iPhone 3G Black 16Gb iPhone 3G White 16Gb MBP 2.4Ghz PB 1Ghz PB Pismo G3 450 & Multiple iPods

Mar 9, 2009, 09:14 PM	#6
techmonkey macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2007	why is the bezel silver? I thought the first iPhone had a black bezel...or was that the Touch? __________________ MacBook Pro 2.2GHz SR 2GB-RAM,120GB-HDD,128MB NVIDIA 8600M GT

Mar 9, 2009, 09:15 PM	#7
slu macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Buffalo	Cue all the "FAKE!" posts.... __________________ Rev A. iMac G5 / iPod classic 160 GB / Macbook 2.4 C2D / 3G iPhone

Mar 9, 2009, 09:15 PM	#8
fleshman03 macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tampa, FL	LOL. I Remember those old serial numbers with a box of cherios from a while ago... I think those were seen right after the iPod Touch came out. Ah those were the days... BTW- anyone up to taking bets on where the bidding will end? My guess is $1,500. (It's at $688 now) __________________ Penguin: Early 2008 MacBook Pro C2D @ 2.5GhZ, 2GB, 250GB / iPhone 3GS 32GB Monkey: Early 2006 MacBook Black CD @ 2GhZ, 2GB, 80GB / iPhone 3G 16GB

Mar 9, 2009, 09:16 PM	#9
mobius42 macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2008	Weren't these pictures posted here by a forum member a few months ago? I distinctly remember seeing them before.

Mar 9, 2009, 09:17 PM	#10
lozanoj83 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SoCal	Somehow I think I saw these a long time ago here in the forums, whom someone purchased them and was asking questions about them... __________________ Unibody MacBook Pro, 2.8 GHz, 4GB RAM, 500 GB FreeAgent Desktop 500GB FreeAgent Go 250GB Time Machine, Seagate 320GB

Mar 9, 2009, 09:19 PM	#11
Scottsdale macrumors 68020 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: E.E.U.U./U.S.A.	I will bet this article placement here on Mac Rumors allows the item to fetch in excess of $10k, where it might have fetched $1500 if kept quiet. Hopefully the seller knows what he/she is doing by selling like this... and not keeping it a hush hush private sale. __________________ "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein

Mar 9, 2009, 09:23 PM	#13
hooch macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago	Front side camera? I don't see a front side camera. I was hoping that then next iphone would have video conferencing / mobile ichat capabilities. So, I hope this is fake.

Mar 9, 2009, 09:24 PM	#14
NeoMayhem macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2003	Would be interesting to see it the latest 2g firmware worked on it.

Mar 9, 2009, 09:24 PM	#16
kastenbrust Banned Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Korea	The only way the person who's selling these iPhone prototypes got them is: A) He is Steve Jobs B) He Stole them from Apple C) They are fake A and C probably aren't true so this a case for the police not Ebay.

Mar 9, 2009, 09:27 PM	#19
Lexoticstylez02 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orlando, Florida	This has been covered months ago, I'm not sure why this is making front page news again.. http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=627449 __________________ MacBook 2.4GHz Aluminum, 2GB RAM \| iMac 20" 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM \| iPhone 3G[S] Black 32GB \| iPhone 3G White 16GB \| Apple TV 40GB \| iPod Photo 40GB

Mar 9, 2009, 09:27 PM	#21
adam1185 macrumors regular Join Date: May 2004	Well if it's real it'll probably be taken down from eBay in about 3 seconds...

Mar 9, 2009, 09:32 PM	#23
the light macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2009	haha, i get it... serial number, cheerios.

Mar 9, 2009, 09:32 PM	#24
sleepneed macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	I forgot I had a username here until now. I don't know or care if this is real. The only question I have is why would apple use a Cheerios box with a green checked circle to use as the icon for Serial Number?

Mar 9, 2009, 09:37 PM	#25
flopticalcube macrumors 601 Join Date: Sep 2006	Interesting but page 2 news really. __________________

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