Shortly after I got my mini, I called the Apple Store and asked them that same question. The answer was that I was covered for the first 90 days for phone support, and for a full year after that. The person also explained that I could purchase the Apple Care any time in the first year. They explained that it is simply an extension of the one year to a three year, and that you are really paying for two years of extended maintenance - plus phone support past the 90 days. I think I have all this correct.