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AT&T and Apple Tightening Policies to Reduce iPhone Unlocking
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When unlocking iPhones has become so rampant that even my 60 year old mom knows that it's trivial to get one working with another carrier, you knew that they were going to do something to try to clamp down on it. I understand why people are disappointed; I don't understand why people are so surprised.
It would be nice if Apple could offer the 3G model at $399 with a $200 credit from AT&T if you activate a new contract; I don't know whether their contract with AT&T would have allowed it. But Jobs is clearly betting that the number of lost potential sales from pissed-off would-be unlockers is going to be a lot smaller than the number of consumers who will greedily snap these things up at the mall at $199. And you know what? He's right.
This is an aggressive move designed to blow all the iPhone competitors right out of the water preemptively. Apple's trying to establish an iPod-like dominance in the for-personal-use smartphone market right now, before Android and any of the other so-called iPhone killers make it to market. Remember how the RAZR phone went from status symbol to EVERYWHERE in about 20 minutes once carriers started deeply discounting it? Same thing's going to happen again. They'll sell 15m of these things by the end of the year.
It would be nice if Apple could offer the 3G model at $399 with a $200 credit from AT&T if you activate a new contract; I don't know whether their contract with AT&T would have allowed it. But Jobs is clearly betting that the number of lost potential sales from pissed-off would-be unlockers is going to be a lot smaller than the number of consumers who will greedily snap these things up at the mall at $199. And you know what? He's right.
This is an aggressive move designed to blow all the iPhone competitors right out of the water preemptively. Apple's trying to establish an iPod-like dominance in the for-personal-use smartphone market right now, before Android and any of the other so-called iPhone killers make it to market. Remember how the RAZR phone went from status symbol to EVERYWHERE in about 20 minutes once carriers started deeply discounting it? Same thing's going to happen again. They'll sell 15m of these things by the end of the year.
are you seriously not getting this? att will take a hit when they sell the iphone 3G for $199 that they expect to make up through the plan. unlocking the iphone 3G and using it on t-mobile is essentially stealing $1680 ($40 x 24 months of voice + $30 x 24 months of data) from att that you would have paid had you honored your contract.
Last time I checked the "democratic mindset" embraces voting with dollars, not seeking sanctions against business for legal activity.
By the way, love your use of the icons.
That would be "capitalistic mindset", which has nothing whatsoever to do with democracy.
Why the sudden influx of armchair civics lessons?
That is, had you signed a contract with AT&T. You are saying that there is an implied contract just from buying the phone which I disagree with.
Why do you think that they are requiring that you sign a contract/eula at the store with the new phone? If you can get one without signing a contract for the service then you are stealing nothing as you didn't enter into any agreements.
That's right, it's a smartphone blitz. But if it's still a locked phone I wonder what the contract roaming terms will be. Will you get the same cheap data rate moving from one iPhone country to another? Otherwise we'll still have to own two ones, one for local use and one for travel.
props to ryanmcv on the doc...
key point here... Apple stores will also perform this tether process, however in the event that a customers device is not tethered in the Apple store, their device will be inoperable until they get home and tether through iTunes. Prepaid and Pick Your Plan will not be allowed on the 3G device.
sounds like if you purchase it and activate it in the att store, they go through the credit check and normal cell phone procedures. go to the apple store, and they'll sell you the phone and then go through itunes and do it...
they wouldn't take out a huge portion of itunes that did the activation part would they? Is apple going to lose that much in retail sales by having the apple store crew doing cell ph activations?
sounds like if you buy it in the store, you just need to activate it within 30 days w/ itunes and then it'll be fine..
Give ziphone and the others a week after its launched and the unlock and jailbrake will be released...
just don't go through the att store if you have credit issues and tell the apple store that you're buying a gift. As long as its activated within 30 days, no problem
key point here... Apple stores will also perform this tether process, however in the event that a customers device is not tethered in the Apple store, their device will be inoperable until they get home and tether through iTunes. Prepaid and Pick Your Plan will not be allowed on the 3G device.
sounds like if you purchase it and activate it in the att store, they go through the credit check and normal cell phone procedures. go to the apple store, and they'll sell you the phone and then go through itunes and do it...
they wouldn't take out a huge portion of itunes that did the activation part would they? Is apple going to lose that much in retail sales by having the apple store crew doing cell ph activations?
sounds like if you buy it in the store, you just need to activate it within 30 days w/ itunes and then it'll be fine..
Give ziphone and the others a week after its launched and the unlock and jailbrake will be released...
just don't go through the att store if you have credit issues and tell the apple store that you're buying a gift. As long as its activated within 30 days, no problem
1680$!!
Oh, haha, there's nothing like a fanboy's attempt at defending gutwrecking extortionate service "fees", even if those "services offered" aren't taken.
Good job, my man.
It's funny, though, do you think that we, living in a country where the max tie-in period is six months - will have to have those US$1680 spread out over 6 months, because otherwise it's "theft"?
Man you guys need some competion over there.
O2 Tariffs
Not sure if it's been noticed yet but O2 (UK) have released their new iPhone tariffs:
http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paymonthly
Minimum contract is now £30 and basically data only (a very good move I think) and you only pay £99 for the iPhone (for once we pay the equivalent dollar price!).
Getting a £45 or £75 tariff gets you the iPhone for free.
Also says that 1st gen owners can upgrade as though they were new customers.
The activation info page http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/activation implies that it'll still be done over iTunes, not in store like AT&T.
Oh and there's also going to be a pay as you go option. I think O2 got a pretty good deal on all of this.
Not sure if it's been noticed yet but O2 (UK) have released their new iPhone tariffs:
http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paymonthly
Minimum contract is now £30 and basically data only (a very good move I think) and you only pay £99 for the iPhone (for once we pay the equivalent dollar price!).
Getting a £45 or £75 tariff gets you the iPhone for free.
Also says that 1st gen owners can upgrade as though they were new customers.
The activation info page http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/activation implies that it'll still be done over iTunes, not in store like AT&T.
Oh and there's also going to be a pay as you go option. I think O2 got a pretty good deal on all of this.
so what happens after the 30 days? will it explode?
give me the iphone and its unlocked in 10 minutes lol
and it looks like you are not going to be able to get one without signing a contract, and if you do somehow att will penalize you. so if you want to incur a penalty and possibly have your purchase become a brick then thats the a gamble att is willing to take i guess.
WARNING: Cynical post.
No problem. Just 'simply' sign up to the $40 a month plan.
After all, 'the Internet wherever I go' is a pretty tall order, and tall orders dont come cheap.
If all you consumers want 'consumer rights' (LOL), start voting for real people instead of all the dummies they offer you.
Just being black or a woman aint quite enough, you know....as you will soon find out.
Freedom - precisely what the USA just cant seem to hold on to - and all their 'enemies' are half a world and an ocean away!
How do they screw it up?
Its all political baby, including your iPhone!
They took away all your 'freedoms' and now they wont let you have your unlocked iPhone. Its a crying shame.
No problem. Just 'simply' sign up to the $40 a month plan.
After all, 'the Internet wherever I go' is a pretty tall order, and tall orders dont come cheap.
If all you consumers want 'consumer rights' (LOL), start voting for real people instead of all the dummies they offer you.
Just being black or a woman aint quite enough, you know....as you will soon find out.
Freedom - precisely what the USA just cant seem to hold on to - and all their 'enemies' are half a world and an ocean away!
How do they screw it up?
Its all political baby, including your iPhone!
They took away all your 'freedoms' and now they wont let you have your unlocked iPhone. Its a crying shame.
It's hard to believe Apple has abandoned its innovative iTunes activation. I not only hate AT&T stores, but Apple stores too. This is not a consumer-friendly move.
Let me buy it online, please.Why do people keep saying that ATT will brick your phone? I know one can do an erase with exchange, but seriously, imagine ATT erasing all the phones in a corporate environment by mistake or because of a dispute. I seriously doubt they will be able to do so legally.
it will not be only the $40, its plus that to you rate plan. thats alot of money..
and steve said it will be affordable for all?
The funny thing is though, you act like the internet doesn't exist. It shouldn't be too hard to order one off of the internet from a country where offering locked phones is either illegal or no kosher and then do what you want with it.
Also, unlocking 1st gen iphones is neither dishonest or illegal as there was no upfront agreement to buy one.
I don't belive you Steve!!!
When you say that the main reason people do not buy an iPhone is because of the price. Its because we are forced to use a certain carrier. I'm am perfectly happy with my phonecompany and spent some time finding the best for me. I would like an iPhone, but NOT if it forces me to use another more expensive carrier.
FREE THE IPHONE NOW!
When you say that the main reason people do not buy an iPhone is because of the price. Its because we are forced to use a certain carrier. I'm am perfectly happy with my phonecompany and spent some time finding the best for me. I would like an iPhone, but NOT if it forces me to use another more expensive carrier.
FREE THE IPHONE NOW!
Yup
"We listened to people who said it was to expensive"
(so we lowered the outlay, but made the full product price take a hike upwards)
ITT: People whining about paying for an AT&T contract when that's what's actually making the phone cheaper in the first place.
Cos, you know, it's the carrier subsidising the unit, not Apple.
Cos, you know, it's the carrier subsidising the unit, not Apple.