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In the wake of Apple's iPhone 3G announcement and AT&T's press release detailing their new agreement with Apple, additional details are surfacing regarding the companies' attempts to reduce the number of customers unlocking their iPhones for use on other carriers.

Gizmodo spoke with AT&T's President of National Distribution Glenn Lurie, who revealed that all iPhone activations will take place in-store. This is in contrast to the current system in which customers may activate their iPhones from home using iTunes. Additionally, Reuters reports that AT&T has said that purchasers who do not activate their iPhones within 30 days will be subject to penalties. No details on these proposed penalties have been made public.

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hopefully this will help my current iphone keep some value so i can afford to buy the 3G phone!;)
 
I would almost pay the full price to have the new iPhone unlocked, I cant stand AT&T
 
So even if you buy online you still have to activate in store? Smart for foot traffic (and accessory sales), but kinda of annoying really.
 
Sounds pretty draconian. Apple and AT&T do have a right to protect their investment. People ain't gonna like this very much though. In the end, the iPhone's sheer momentum will prevail.
 
i can totally understand the subsidy att and other carriers pay, but there should after all be an officially unlocked sim-free iphone which could be sold at £269 or something. let's hope that turns out to be true after the initial launching period when there's just enough stock for the demand.
 
So even if you buy online you still have to activate in store? Smart for foot traffic (and accessory sales), but kinda of annoying really.

Not really, because you're not going to be able to buy it online at all it seems... I was looking forward to preordering today after the keynote, but it only refers you to where to go in person to buy it...
 
Every year Apple proves me that the devil lives in the details.

This itself makes the iPhone useless from my perspective. Thank God I got a refurb from AT&T months ago !
 
So even if you buy online you still have to activate in store? Smart for foot traffic (and accessory sales), but kinda of annoying really.
So far, the word is that you simply *can't* buy it online. Apple has said that it might let you buy it online "later" but for now, no dice.

From my point of view this is the last straw and I won't be buying one until at least that part changes.
 
A dream that becomes a nightmare.
Here in Italy we were already dreaming of magical journeys to USA and coming back home with 10 iphones to unlock...
So I will have to stick to those pricy Vodafone or Tim contracts...
 
"Additionally, Reuters reports that AT&T has said that purchasers who do not activate their iPhones within 30 days will be subject to penalties. No details on these proposed penalties have been made public."

First it's reported that they must be activated in-store. If there are penalties for not activating within 30 days, this has to be assuming that the phone is purchased, and then activated at a later date (a.k.a. not activated right at purcase, in the store)... right? What's going on here, which is it???
 
This kills one of the most innovative features of the original iPhone, imo -- activating at home. Where you the user control the process at your convenience.

This sucks. I get that AT&T is now footing some of the bill for each phone but c'mon -- this is a big step backwards. It's this kind of nonsense and greed that I'd come to expect from other cell phone providers and manufacturers. Not Apple.
 
In-store activation will kind of ruin the traditional unboxing ceremonies.
 
makes no sense...:(

you are forced to register in store but if you dont sign up in 30 days you get penalized??? what are people going to do, wait for 30 days inside the store before they register it, thus getting the penalty?
 
I wonder if this is only for brand new AT&T accounts. I'm thinking since Apple is now included a tool to open the SIM slot in the iPhone 3G, this was because they were going to allow existing iPhone owners to just swap the SIM card and then have a iTunes sync takes care of the rest. I would hate to think I would have to go through the hassle of heading to the AT&T store just to have it activated, if I were to say order it online when I upgrade.
 
What about Go Phone?

It is not that I cannot get a contract (I can) - I choose NOT to sign a long-term contract. AT&T service in Mid-Illinois is spotty at best and NO 3G in a Big 10 University town! Go figure! AT&T said with the prevalence of Wi-Fi in this area 3G is not a priority for my community.

Anyway - does anyone know the NON-subsidized price? I just sold my iPhone on Craigslist last week in order to get the new iPhone for GPS support (mainly) and now I read in order to buy the phone I MUST sign a 2-year contract. That blows...I like the old way it was done, but then again - the older I get the less I like change (I know, I sold one iPhoe to get a new iPhone, a bit of a Paradox).

Anyone? Can it be purchased without a contract? If I buy it and slap my SIM card in it and DO NOT activate the phone with a 2-year contract, what will happen? A $200 charge on my CC? Cancellation of my Go Phone service?

Thank you in advance - if you know.

D
 
So even if you buy online you still have to activate in store? Smart for foot traffic (and accessory sales), but kinda of annoying really.

Well, at present, you can't buy it online at all. The iPhone page on the US Apple Store says you can buy it at an ATT store or an Apple Store. I assume they'll have some way to do the credit check and ATT account at Apple stores now.

So, the first iPhone will have some value for people needing an unlocked phone for a little while.
 
Apple giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other.

I hope this isn't the same deal in the UK. (although, with the inherent links with the App Store, it would be presumably a lot easier to enforce such policies)

I guess Apple isnt financially bothered about it anymore, however, since they are not receiving any revenue sharing now. Steve even mentions how the iPhone is so popular, that people are using it in territories that its not officially available? I guess there are a lot of people with massive roaming charges then, eh?! Oh sorry, ill take off my rose tinted glasses.

Off topic: Id really like an official price for the UK and Europe!
 
Sounds like the wireless industry is biting back. It's a shame this awesome phone is so locked down to AT&T. :(
 
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