Prototype iPhone 3GS on eBay? (No, No Matte Case)

MacRumors · Jul 3, 2009, 02:59 PM

Cult of Mac reports on a "sketch-looking" non functional white iPhone that is being sold on eBay as a prototype iPhone 3GS.

Quote:

The seller says there’s a problem with restoring the software: “This device is not eligible for the requested build,” iTunes says when he tries to restore it.

The seller, vofffka, of Ocean City, New Jersey, says an Apple genius at his local retail store verified the iPhone as an Apple product, but can’t service it, “because it’s never been sold.”

For those curious, the additional photos of the device's casing show that it does not have the rumored matte case that was thought to be destined for the iPhone 3GS. We can't be sure the auction is real, but prototype Apple devices have been known to find their way onto eBay. A prototype of the original iPhone was also sold on eBay.

Article Link: Prototype iPhone 3GS on eBay? (No, No Matte Case)

kirky29 · Jul 3, 2009, 03:02 PM

Pretty cool. I'd not buy it though

xIGmanIx · Jul 3, 2009, 03:07 PM

another compelling iphone article on the front page

opnr2000 · Jul 3, 2009, 03:08 PM

Would have been a great find 6 months ago...

Capt Underpants · Jul 3, 2009, 03:10 PM

You people are missing the point.

This iPhone has a cable built into the screen.

It's definitely some kind of prototype...

actorkid · Jul 3, 2009, 03:15 PM

ummmm i dont think its a 3GS..i think its just a 3G....the lettering on the back isnt mirrored, its just gray, and unless you open it up or find a way to turn it on you wont be able to tell the difference

TheSlush · Jul 3, 2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt Underpants

You people are missing the point.

This iPhone has a cable built into the screen.

It's definitely some kind of prototype...

Totally. Obviously not a prototype of the iPhone 3GS, but rather of the rumored iPhone E10633 with front-facing USB cable! The "E" stands for "Edgy"!

alexmadison · Jul 3, 2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by actorkid

ummmm i dont think its a 3GS..i think its just a 3G....the lettering on the back isnt mirrored, its just gray, and unless you open it up or find a way to turn it on you wont be able to tell the difference

I'm sure it will sell, only on ebay can you get away with this.

raggedjimmi · Jul 3, 2009, 03:20 PM

Can someone put up a comparison photo, I don't own an iPhone so I'm curious to see the difference.

MacbookAlum1536 · Jul 3, 2009, 03:30 PM

If you look at the picture in the ebay auction it has the same iPhone id and FCC # as the 3g so im saying itsjust a 3g that won't restore

Morod · Jul 3, 2009, 03:32 PM

Maybe the seller will get a ton of money for it and be able to buy himself a decent digital camera for future pictures of his stuff for sale.
I'm not bidding....

WestonHarvey1 · Jul 3, 2009, 03:32 PM

Is that iPhone laying on top of a piece of bloody gauze? Gross!

Scottsdale · Jul 3, 2009, 03:33 PM

If it were cracked open, and was a 3GS, could the software be loaded to the RAM and Swapped from another real 3GS? Just wondering if there is a way to get it working???

I do believe that if it is a 3GS prototype, Apple will know exactly who is selling it as it has a stamp right on the glass???

MrCrowbar · Jul 3, 2009, 03:40 PM

It looks like a regular iPhone, except for the stamp on the glass. eBay is a good place for selling non-functional dummies. There's always someone who didn't read the description and bids a high price for it. And then, there are the collectors who would kill to own a prototype. I wish the seller luck.

mudenza · Jul 3, 2009, 03:47 PM

Wow, we haven't had this scenario since the Macbook Air a few months back

Apparently, it was "found in an airport"

toxictrix · Jul 3, 2009, 03:49 PM

Lol I wouldn't be surprised if it was just a bricked 3g. But he says it was found in an airport. Weird. Anyway it's pretty cool.

franzmueller · Jul 3, 2009, 04:01 PM

It was indeed a working phone , the owner lost it and could not find it so it has been erased thru mobile me .

I think , unless the owner restore it on his computer that iphone will remain a brick .

Makes sense ?

Saludos

Franz

richmonddjs · 04:12 PM

wonder if it could be jailbroken?

2E23G · Jul 3, 2009, 04:05 PM

Gauze ?, I thought they were Burn Marks, isnt the 3gs supposed to be running Hot!!!!

xIGmanIx · Jul 3, 2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2E23G

Gauze ?, I thought they were Burn Marks, isnt the 3gs supposed to be running Hot!!!!

i just think its fabric and the rest of it is washed out

michael.lauden · Jul 3, 2009, 04:14 PM

nice closing tag after the update MacRumors... probably why you should be using HTML 4.01

Revival Cr8tive · Jul 3, 2009, 04:37 PM

It says on the ebay listing now that the seller...

bought off Ebay a month ago, from a guy who "found it at an airport".....

That old chess nut...

joro · Jul 3, 2009, 04:40 PM

I wonder how long this one will last before Apple has eBay pull the listing?

fixyourthinking · 04:49 PM

First of all ...
I'm a little bit peeved that Engadget and now Macrumors are linking to Cult of Mac's entry on this - I posted this on MY site within 20 minutes of being listed LAST Friday.

I don't want to take credit if I'm not due it - but this is creditted to me at Cult of Mac.

Second...

I ran this serial number (I'm able to do that)

This phone was reported stolen in April.

The Apple store employee would have had to confiscate the phone - you are not allowed to bring prototypes into a store for repair.

At the very least, the manager would have to be notified ... and he/she would have recommended the phone be kept "for a day" - he/she would have called Apple - they would have recalled it and the owner/evaluator would be severely reprimanded.

Morod · Jul 3, 2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrotunda85

I wonder how long this one will last before Apple has eBay pull the listing?

Or some fool bidder with more dollars than sense offers the seller an enormous amount of money to end the auction early.....

Jul 3, 2009, 03:07 PM	#3
xIGmanIx macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2008	another compelling iphone article on the front page __________________ Loading Signature......

Jul 3, 2009, 03:10 PM	#5
Capt Underpants macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Austin, Texas	You people are missing the point. This iPhone has a cable built into the screen. It's definitely some kind of prototype... __________________ come on come on it's the end of the world

Jul 3, 2009, 03:15 PM	#6
actorkid macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2008	ummmm i dont think its a 3GS..i think its just a 3G....the lettering on the back isnt mirrored, its just gray, and unless you open it up or find a way to turn it on you wont be able to tell the difference __________________ 2.4 GHz Penryn Blackbook; 8 GB 1st gen iPhone; 16 GB black iPhone 3G S⃣ ; 60 GB black iPod video

Jul 3, 2009, 03:20 PM	#9
raggedjimmi macrumors 604 Join Date: Jan 2005	Can someone put up a comparison photo, I don't own an iPhone so I'm curious to see the difference. __________________ www.bossbaddie.com

Jul 3, 2009, 03:30 PM	#10
MacbookAlum1536 macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2008	If you look at the picture in the ebay auction it has the same iPhone id and FCC # as the 3g so im saying itsjust a 3g that won't restore __________________ 13" AluBook 2.4 Ghz 2 GB Ram 250 HD:$1753 iPhone 3Gs 16 GB 3.1+MMS iPod Touch 1g 8 Gb 3.0 Software Awesomeness of : priceless

Jul 3, 2009, 03:02 PM	#2
kirky29 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, England	Pretty cool. I'd not buy it though

Jul 3, 2009, 03:08 PM	#4
opnr2000 macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2007	Would have been a great find 6 months ago...

Jul 3, 2009, 03:32 PM	#11
Morod macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: On The Nickel, over there....	Maybe the seller will get a ton of money for it and be able to buy himself a decent digital camera for future pictures of his stuff for sale. I'm not bidding.... __________________ Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. Albert Einstein

Jul 3, 2009, 03:32 PM	#12
WestonHarvey1 macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2007	Eww... Is that iPhone laying on top of a piece of bloody gauze? Gross!

Jul 3, 2009, 03:33 PM	#13
Scottsdale macrumors 68020 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: E.E.U.U./U.S.A.	If it were cracked open, and was a 3GS, could the software be loaded to the RAM and Swapped from another real 3GS? Just wondering if there is a way to get it working??? I do believe that if it is a 3GS prototype, Apple will know exactly who is selling it as it has a stamp right on the glass??? __________________ "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein

Jul 3, 2009, 03:40 PM	#14
MrCrowbar macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2006	It looks like a regular iPhone, except for the stamp on the glass. eBay is a good place for selling non-functional dummies. There's always someone who didn't read the description and bids a high price for it. And then, there are the collectors who would kill to own a prototype. I wish the seller luck. __________________ NOOBIE NOOBINSON Is it Funk? Is it Metal? Is it Electronica? Listen For yourself on youTube! Hamachingo Records

Jul 3, 2009, 03:47 PM	#15
mudenza macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2006	Wow, we haven't had this scenario since the Macbook Air a few months back Apparently, it was "found in an airport"

Jul 3, 2009, 03:49 PM	#16
toxictrix macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2009	Lol I wouldn't be surprised if it was just a bricked 3g. But he says it was found in an airport. Weird. Anyway it's pretty cool.

Jul 3, 2009, 04:01 PM	#17
franzmueller macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Spain	It was indeed a working phone , the owner lost it and could not find it so it has been erased thru mobile me . I think , unless the owner restore it on his computer that iphone will remain a brick . Makes sense ? Saludos Franz __________________ White´s G3 700 MHz & G4 1,2 GHz, Black 2,4 GHz ,shuffle 1 Gb ,video 60 Gb , Touch 16 Gb , 3G 16 Gb .

Jul 3, 2009, 04:03 PM	#18
richmonddjs macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2009	wonder if it could be jailbroken? Last edited by WildCowboy : Jul 3, 2009 at 04:12 PM. Reason: fixed :)

Jul 3, 2009, 04:05 PM	#19
2E23G macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2009	prototype Gauze ?, I thought they were Burn Marks, isnt the 3gs supposed to be running Hot!!!!

Jul 3, 2009, 04:14 PM	#21
michael.lauden macrumors 68020 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA	nice closing tag after the update MacRumors... probably why you should be using HTML 4.01 __________________ Collectors Edition UMB, 2.0GHz Intel C2D, 4GB RAM; Mac mini, 1.66GHz Intel CD; 8GB iPhone 2G; - Facebook - Twitter

Jul 3, 2009, 04:37 PM	#22
Revival Cr8tive macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2009	iPhone found at the Airport ? It says on the ebay listing now that the seller... bought off Ebay a month ago, from a guy who "found it at an airport"..... That old chess nut...

Jul 3, 2009, 04:40 PM	#23
joro macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Carolina	I wonder how long this one will last before Apple has eBay pull the listing? __________________ 15" 2.66 GHz MacBook Pro \| 32GB iPhone 3GS 2 Canon 50D \| L Lenses \| 580EX II & 430 EX II Flash Units InFocus Forums \| A Forum For Photographers, By Photographers

Jul 3, 2009, 04:41 PM	#24
fixyourthinking macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greenville SC	Two things: Credit & Discredit First of all ... I'm a little bit peeved that Engadget and now Macrumors are linking to Cult of Mac's entry on this - I posted this on MY site within 20 minutes of being listed LAST Friday. I don't want to take credit if I'm not due it - but this is creditted to me at Cult of Mac. Second... I ran this serial number (I'm able to do that) This phone was reported stolen in April. The Apple store employee would have had to confiscate the phone - you are not allowed to bring prototypes into a store for repair. At the very least, the manager would have to be notified ... and he/she would have recommended the phone be kept "for a day" - he/she would have called Apple - they would have recalled it and the owner/evaluator would be severely reprimanded. __________________ WWW.FIXYOURTHINKING.COM Last edited by fixyourthinking : Jul 3, 2009 at 04:49 PM.

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