AT&T and Apple Tightening Policies to Reduce iPhone Unlocking

[sam-i-am]

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 is exactly what I thought. It really doesn't add up - we need more info.

 

[Rocketman]

I never thought this day would come, but...it came.

Steve buckled today. He actually buckled and succumbed to the pressures of the poor people! He even said so himself: "...one of the main obstacles people had to buying an iPhone was price." Blah blah blah and you know the rest cuz your ears were bleeding as bad as mine!

This was undoubetedly the worst day in his life. You could see it in his demeanor! He lacked the characteristic enthusiasm that usually accompanies these events. To stand up there on stage before thousands in person (and perhaps millions online worldwide) and sell his Love Child, the iPhone, at such a dirt cheap price -- not unlike a mother in northern Thailand would do with her 5 year old daughter into the sex trade industry LOL -- just took all the life out of him!! I mean you could actually see it on his face!!

There's a reason the 1st gen iPhone costs what it costs. Because it was an innovation. A technical marvel. Unlike anything else on the market. Not to mention that Apple is an elite brand that appeals to an elite consumer. Prior to today who could ever foolishly dispute this???

And with the highly anticipated release of this 2nd gen iPhone Apple had the potential to completely blow every other mobile product off the map. But what did they do instead? They buckled...and released some soon-to-be generic plastic abomination capable of being churned off automated, robotic assembly lines at the rate of 1,000 per minute!! Unfreakinbelievable.

I could go on, but what, truly would be the point? Futility at best.

What's next, a $599.99 17" plastic Apple Macbook Pro for the masses?? Lmmfao!

Watch what happens. They're gonna realize they're not some generic consumer electronics company [cough cough "Sony" wheez wheez "Microsoft" cough cough] that churns out affordable devices for the poor and get back to the business of what they've always done best: an all-aluminum/glass/stainless steel 32GB 3G iPhone with every frickin' feature available under the sun...for $999.99!

I hear you and feel you.

I actually disagree mildly. This is a strategy of dominance by market share and "follow on revenues". One could accuse him of running a copy machine on Microsoft, but probably not losing the magic of "insanely great."

But one thing I DO know, is the U.S. government nearly threw him in jail killing the dream. That will really put the scare into anyone, and I can tell you that changes your perspective, from forward leaning, to family focused conservative saving, in a real big hurry.

So much for the "American Way".

Rocketman

Fill those jails with workers!

 

[3Tabernacles]

Ain't Gonna Happen is Right!

I doubt this is gonna happen..... So like you wanna tell me that the same day the iPhone comes out there is gonna be not only a line for buying the iPhone but also a line for activation....?!?!? I don't think thats ever gonna happen.. and we all know one of the segnificant features of the iPhone is to activate it at home. And um... How the hell are people gonna get penalties if they don't activate their iPhone within 30 days?? LOL like seriously.... Who is gonna give Apple their credit card # or real home adress if they are gonna unlock it.... And what if you are gonna buy the iPhone as a gift for (Fathers day/ Mothers day) and you don't know the SS# of your parents so u can't activate it... This is not gonna happen I can asshure that, There is no way in HELL!! I'm standing in line not only for a iPhone 3G but also to get it activated. Who ever started this rumor is just making up more hype of fake rumors of the iPhone. Or it might happen but like all I can say is WTF! This can be confirmed by HELL NO ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN!

I was very disappointed when the announcement was made and the release was another month from now. I thought something was wrong with the rumors and noticed that the Apple Stores were not ramping up for any lines. So all the rumors of what the 3G iPhone would have and look like were short and of course we never saw a tablet. I think that Apple pays a lot of money to hire spies and leak decoys to thwart the real deal.

This rumor is BUNK!

There is no way that I will buy my iPhone from an ATT store, no, I'll buy it from an Apple Store with CASH! You can't penalize a cash sale! And there is no way I'll let some scum-bag lammo ATT minimum wage teenager activate my iPhone either. This rumor is a chain puller!

 

[sam-i-am]

pay for phone
pay for plan
pay for data
pay for texts
pay for mobileme
pay for apps
get locked in for 2 years (when a new iPhone will presumably be out in one)

Pay more for what you already have.

Everyone knows cell phone companies are blood sucking maggots, but I expected more from Apple.

 

[ariza910]

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...

This could be a big reason for making people sign up in the store. Apple would much rather sell the iPhone at 199 euros in Italy (which converts to $360 with the current exchange rate) than having people take advantage of the weak dollar and buy a whole bunch of them here and ship them back to Europe. That and I'm sure ATT would be pissed to have subsidized a phone thats not going to be used on their network.

 

[SchneiderMan]

just came back from the applestore, they said it will be just like last time, you buy the iphone like any ipod.. no new rules!

 

[FF_productions]

This could be a big reason for making people sign up in the store. Apple would much rather sell the iPhone at 199 euros in Italy (which converts to $360 with the current exchange rate) than having people take advantage of the weak dollar and buy a whole bunch of them here and ship them back to Europe. That and I'm sure ATT would be pissed to have subsidized a phone thats not going to be used on their network.

He clearly said, no other country would pay more than $200, convert it to any other currency, and it will still ring to $200.

I hope this rumor is just full of shitt and never happens. The price is nice and cut in half but then they stab you in the back with the carrier.

 

[bigjohn]

How is what I pay a premium? I used to be a Windows user. If I had to factor in anti-virus, anti-spyware software, a usable firewall, a photo editing suite, a platform that works when you need it to etc... then what I am paying is NOT a premium. It is a bargain - especially if I factor in the time I save by not fiddling with my OS in order to make it work the way I needed it to. How again, is this a premium?

D

An EeePC is $500, a Macbook Air is $2300 and the Eee has more features.

 

[spidermitch]

Mildly Disappointed

I think I'm echoing more of what's been stated, but after the "hoo-hah" died down today, I'm not that jazzed. Sure some features that everyone thought would be there weren't. I can get over that.

BUT now the info surfacing about the AT&T situation. Part of what made the first iPhone sooo friggin' cool was the model: Apple sells the hardware, AT&T provides the network. It was very revolutionary to see that a company was not going to lay on a barrel for a mobile provider, but rather, dictate the terms. Not to mention the activation method was great. I am one of those anal people who insist on opening the box, smelling, touching, having the experience.

Now I gotta let some AT&T schleb or Apple punk(sorry, but some of you dudes aren't that cool or knowledgeable despite the tats and colored hair) set me up. That may be enough to push me back from this purchase.

Price? Steve, that's the worst excuse I've ever heard of!! Since when did pricing matter to Apple?! I don't know. This whole thing starts to stink more and more now the wind is dying down....

 

[koobcamuk]

Well, he did have cancer at one point, and when people are seriously ill, they tend to go abnormally skinny. Well, obesity and the diabetes that comes with it aside.

Obesity is not a disease... proof.

I agree. Phones sold in the west can all be unlocked to my knowledge. You just said "name a phone" so I did. The 910SH hasn't been unlocked. It would require someone to rewrite the software/firmware and that won't ever happen.

 

[Rocketman]

pay for phone
pay for plan
pay for data
pay for texts
pay for mobileme
pay for apps
get locked in for 2 years (when a new iPhone will presumably be out in one)

Pay more for what you already have.

Everyone knows cell phone companies are blood sucking maggots, but I expected more from Apple.

Okay.

Look at it from Apple Corporate perspective (a trust, seeking computing nirvana going forward).

The phone has several times the "benefits" of a Mac+ which cost about $2500, for $199. This device is a good value.

The plan involves cellular which is clearly a mob like scheme which will evaporate when the cloud makes cellular irrelevant via technology and competition. Give it a year or three.

Data over cellular is still a novelty and let's face it, despite the high price they are charging it still beats most dial-up or broadband rates and is mobile.

Texts fees are evil. I agree. Reminds me of pagers!

Mobile Me is 20 GIGABYTES. That is actually a good deal and is clouded!

Apps are in the $9.95 range! Microsoft and People Soft and every other software vendor be damned! You rock Apple!!

2 year lock in? Ever heard of a Go Phone? SSN #999-99-9999.

Hello?

Rocketman

Be happy.

 

[thaitillidie]

Good luck

So let's see now --- you introduce this piece o' crap at $199 and in over 70 countries so that billions of people and lowlifes now have access to it and the idea is to prevent it from being unlocked???

Shyeah, right. Good luck with that one! I saw it'll be hacked in under 60 seconds the 1st day it's released lolol!

 

[Cmax]

So, what about firmware updates?

I've never attempted -- let alone even considered the mere possibility of unlocking my iPhone. Nevertheless, at least one of the iPhone firmware updates (via iTunes) when thru some sort of iPhone re-activation process.

Anyway, if the initial phone activation takes place in-store, well fine we me as long as the coffee is free. However, if required to visit my local AT&T store for firmware updates requiring re-activation -- well that's just stupid.

No doubt -- I'm missing some fine print stipulation regrading the use of iTunes for iPhone firmware updates. So, can anyone clue me in here?

Cmax

 

[bigjohn]

uuuuuh i'm so busted, here in mexico we don't have iphones, so we have to wait to somebody go to th United States, so now the 3g will be mor imposible to reach, thanks at&t

how's the 3G network in mexico?

 

[bigjohn]

If you look at an AT&T coverage map it says I should have coverage in many more places than I do, the map is a lie, pure and simple. Had the map been accurate I wouldn't have bought the phone to begin with.

I've had several times when the EDGE network went down and I needed it. I went to sleep in Waddy, KY after surfing a bit on the phone when I woke up I wanted to check the miles to my stop, no EDGE. The EDGE was down until I got into South Carolina. A couple days later it was down in on my trip from Albuquerque, NM to Phoenix, AZ. It was out between Boise, ID and Salt Lake City for several days. I use my phone everyday in my route planning and I can't have these silly outages.

I've never had an EDGE outage with T-mobile. That alone is reason enough to unlock your iPhone.

What did truck drivers do before cel phones? Why didn't you use your Millenicom connection?

 

[bretm]

This could be a big reason for making people sign up in the store. Apple would much rather sell the iPhone at 199 euros in Italy (which converts to $360 with the current exchange rate) than having people take advantage of the weak dollar and buy a whole bunch of them here and ship them back to Europe. That and I'm sure ATT would be pissed to have subsidized a phone thats not going to be used on their network.

No. Apple was losing revenue from unlocked phones. It hurt att too. Now, Apple wants to sell more phones. Att wants to guarantee revenue. Apple wants to lower the price via subsidy. Att says only if you remove revenue sharing and force activation. They both win. Apple sells a crudload more making volume profits. Att locks in more contracts and gets $10 more per data plan, plus don't have to pay any revenues. They have a win win relationship going on right now.

 

[SchneiderMan]

I've never attempted -- let alone even considered the mere possibility of unlocking my iPhone. Nevertheless, at least one of the iPhone firmware updates (via iTunes) when thru some sort of iPhone re-activation process.

Anyway, if the initial phone activation takes place in-store, well fine we me as long as the coffee is free. However, if required to visit my local AT&T store for firmware updates requiring re-activation -- well that's just stupid.

No doubt -- I'm missing some fine print stipulation regrading the use of iTunes for iPhone firmware updates. So, can anyone clue me in here?

Cmax

then you have missed alot! you did not use your iphone to its full potencial..
plus you have been ****et with big fees, every new fw update that apple gives out on itunes is hacked and you can update your iphone like anyone..

 

[SchneiderMan]

No. Apple was losing revenue from unlocked phones. It hurt att too. Now, Apple wants to sell more phones. Att wants to guarantee revenue. Apple wants to lower the price via subsidy. Att says only if you remove revenue sharing and force activation. They both win. Apple sells a crudload more making volume profits. Att locks in more contracts and gets $10 more per data plan, plus don't have to pay any revenues. They have a win win relationship going on right now.

just asked apple and they said no new rules for buying the iphone, its still the same as buying the "old" ones

 

[Tosser]

Obesity is not a disease... proof.

True, but the diabetes that often follows is. And no, I'm not fat, far from it.

I agree. Phones sold in the west can all be unlocked to my knowledge. You just said "name a phone" so I did. The 910SH hasn't been unlocked. It would require someone to rewrite the software/firmware and that won't ever happen.

Well, at least not until Sharp tries the same stunt overseas (Europe, Aus, NZ, US).

 

[iRonn]

who cares that the phone price went down, att just jacked up the service another $10. so you save a few bucks up front. now you pay an extra $10 for two years. this is dissapointing. i was going to switch but the $10 is a big deal. i was going from a $35 mo plan to a $69 mo plan(with text messaging), now its $80. bad call apple and att

 

[Rocketman]

Anyway, if the initial phone activation takes place in-store, well fine we me as long as the coffee is free. However, if required to visit my local AT&T store for firmware updates requiring re-activation -- well that's just stupid.

Say what?!?

Apple if nothing else does not "regulate" updates. They sell HARDWARE that can only be used for proprietary updates, sells media with those updates, and does not regulate how you use that media on the assumption, no matter how false, that most people who buy it ( or acquire it) will use it on premium priced hardware they sold you.



Pay more, get more, whine less. It's why they have a minority market share and on balance, more honest customers than most.

Market expansion is beginning to kill that, starting with you.

Rocketman

 

[bretm]

I've never attempted -- let alone even considered the mere possibility of unlocking my iPhone. Nevertheless, at least one of the iPhone firmware updates (via iTunes) when thru some sort of iPhone re-activation process.

Anyway, if the initial phone activation takes place in-store, well fine we me as long as the coffee is free. However, if required to visit my local AT&T store for firmware updates requiring re-activation -- well that's just stupid.

No doubt -- I'm missing some fine print stipulation regrading the use of iTunes for iPhone firmware updates. So, can anyone clue me in here?

Cmax

You'd still get firmware updates online. Att and apple could care less if you unlock after you activate and sign your contract. Feel free. Theyll both have their money, and you'll go off the grid using less bandwidth.

 

[koobcamuk]

True, but the diabetes that often follows is. And no, I'm not fat, far from it.

Well, at least not until Sharp tries the same stunt overseas (Europe, Aus, NZ, US).

Yep. I have a friend who is currently being interviewed for SHARP Mobile in Japan. He wants to make the awesome phones from Japan world players. I hope he gets the job.

They have a win win relationship going on right now.

When the consumer is the one losing out... it's not win win (because they'll lose).

 

[Zoide]

just asked apple and they said no new rules for buying the iphone, its still the same as buying the "old" ones

Can we get this "in print" from a reputable news site? I've been hearing exactly the opposite all day, so it's a bit hard to believe. Still, I definitely want to believe you!!

 

[hiimamac]

Around here, carriers don't make phones. Hell, they don't even brand them as their own, and they certainly don't have them crippled (as in forcing the manufacturer to _exclude_ bluetooth et al).

I'm not whiney, as I won't be forced into any of that shyte any of you have to put up with, as I don't live in the US, but in Europe.

If any company tried that **** here in Denmark, they would get slammed hard and instantly.

This is America, where all the jobs are shipped overseas, taxes are high (although not as bad as other parts of the world, yet some systems have something to show for it), a place where they can have un-fair trade, if your credit stinks you pay more, the poorest are hurt the most. High prices at the pump, no insurance, bad gas guzzling old cars, heck, not sure how much the net (a necessity) is for most. I've been there so I know and while I used to vote somewhat republican (tax reason's were great), I have seen the other side and American people need your help - don't believe the misleading TV and the programming. LOL