Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

AT&T and Apple Tightening Policies to Reduce iPhone Unlocking

iPhone v3.0 will have Video Conferencing.

Since :apple: is giving away the software for free on all iPhones, the only way it can have new and existing customers buy the new product is to incorporate new hardware, which cannot be obtained via a SW update. ;)

Its the iPod/Mac strategy playing once again, only the iPod strategy was very restrictive. :rolleyes:
 
ddTaylor said:
If the original iPhone was not subsidized why would Apple give a thought to what you did with the phone? It was not subsidized by AT&T but Apple did loose on a monthly kick-back.
Click to expand...

Clearly both Apple and AT&T were unhappy with the unlocked phones out there, and decided to toughen up their policies. Both were losing money by people not signing up with AT&T.

Apple is clearly pushing for massive marketshare here with the lower price, but in order to sell AT&T on the subsidy, they had to agree to bring the hammer down on the unlocking market -- at every user's inconvenience.

In any case, I agree -- it sucks.
 
The new iPhone is quickly becoming less and less appealing. The $10 increase puts the new iPhone almost back at its original price price over 2 years. Plus the in-store activation?
 
isn't this how all phones are sold? If I buy a blackberry, I buy the phone, pay a subsidized price, and get a plan before I leave the store or online. I've gone through a TON of phones. This is how they have all (blackberry, Samsung, Nokia, etc) been done.

The only thing I will say is that if I want to go to a store and buy a phone, just to buy the phone, I can. It cost a hell of a lot more without a plan, but I still can do it, and its MINE. I can do with it what I want. Which means, they HAVE to give me an unlock code or unlock it for me (which I've done several times). Where is this option?
 
RidleyGriff said:
...

Bottom line? To get an iPhone, we have to go to the hassle of dealing with AT&T brick and mortar stores, cell phone employees, and all the hassle and inconvenience that comes with that. Is it enough to encourage me to not upgrade my phone?

Strangely, yes. This is perhaps the most disappointing development in the iPhone up to this point.
Click to expand...

Agree with you. I will wait for another year before my current contract expires. By then, ATT + Apple will have figured out what they did wrong this time (and ready to make new mistakes, of course).

In any case, iphone-1 will have every thing except GPS. Big deal... and iphone-1 is better looking, I think. :)
 
Aperture said:
The new iPhone is quickly becoming less and less appealing. The $10 increase puts the new iPhone almost back at its original price price over 2 years. Plus the in-store activation?
Click to expand...

How spoiled Mac users have become... $10 for someone who regularly pays a premium for specialized hardware vertically integrated with software and support is peanuts (echoing other poster's thoughts). In-store activation is a bonus for people - if you're worried about some part-timer getting their fingerprints on your new device, buy some white gloves and bring them to the store with you.

IF you don't like the rules, you lame-ass people are more than welcome to not play the game.
 
sigh. just terrible. i was all set to buy one for use on t-mobile. i can't get any contract with ATT after i called them to cancel my first cell plan, they never did, and tried to charge me $350 a year later. i refused and now i am not allowed a contract with them. wtg apple you just blew a sale to someone who buys and convinces others to buy apple product in droves.

not to mention t-mobile is the only provider i can get service with in my home, is only $9/mo for data plan, and my whole family is on it.
 
bigjohn said:
How spoiled Mac users have become... $10 for someone who regularly pays a premium for specialized hardware vertically integrated with software and support is peanuts (echoing other poster's thoughts). In-store activation is a bonus for people - if you're worried about some part-timer getting their fingerprints on your new device, buy some white gloves and bring them to the store with you.

IF you don't like the rules, you lame-ass people are more than welcome to not play the game.
Click to expand...

that's exactly what i plan to do. lost sales are lost sales.
 
You don't know what the in-store activation process is yet. Maybe there's a barcode included inside the box that needs to be quickly scanned before you leave the store, which would mean they don't have to touch your iPhone. That, and maybe you need to choose your plan then. After that, walk/drive home. People here are just guessing how the process will go.

drater said:
isn't this how all phones are sold? If I buy a blackberry, I buy the phone, pay a subsidized price, and get a plan before I leave the store or online. I've gone through a TON of phones. This is how they have all (blackberry, Samsung, Nokia, etc) been done.

The only thing I will say is that if I want to go to a store and buy a phone, just to buy the phone, I can. It cost a hell of a lot more without a plan, but I still can do it, and its MINE. I can do with it what I want. Which means, they HAVE to give me an unlock code or unlock it for me (which I've done several times). Where is this option?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't really get what all the fury is about. People are getting too worked up over in-store activation. If this is all it takes to say, "I was 80% sure I wanted this phone, but if I need to activate the phone in-store, which ruins the Apple experience for me, there's only a 10% chance I'll get it", then you're a whinger/whiner, and thankful that your life is so comfortable that this sort of thing would set you off.

After going through the horrible in-store activation, go home and enjoy the iPhone and unlimited mobile internet for 2 years. Doesn't sound bad to me at all. The additional $10 per month is a valid complaint, but the number of real people (not online nerds) this activation process will bother will be very small.
 
bigjohn said:
How spoiled Mac users have become... $10 for someone who regularly pays a premium for specialized hardware vertically integrated with software and support is peanuts (echoing other poster's thoughts). In-store activation is a bonus for people - if you're worried about some part-timer getting their fingerprints on your new device, buy some white gloves and bring them to the store with you.

IF you don't like the rules, you lame-ass people are more than welcome to not play the game.
Click to expand...

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
 
pilotError said:
With all these pricing schemes changing, I would hate to see what the revised estimates from the analysts are going to be. I would expect both Apple and AT&T stocks to drop tomorrow.

They must be praying that the corporate world picks up the slack, because they are killing the consumer market off. The folks over at RIM must be doing back flips...
Click to expand...
The consumer gets the iPhone for $200 less than before, with 3G and GPS. Most will not even notice the extra $10 tacked on to the data plan. It is unbelievable how many people who plunked down $600 for the 1st gen are now screaming about $10/mo. ... :rolleyes:
 
matttrick said:
sigh. just terrible. i was all set to buy one for use on t-mobile.
Click to expand...

I don't understand how you thought this was going to be possible, let alone easy, when Apple has the 5 year deal with AT&T in the US.

Maybe you can get one from Canada or Mexico?

That will be the next thing shady travel agents shill: "Get your cheap meds and iPhones on our wonderful 4 day vacation."
 
Abstract said:
You don't know what the in-store activation process is yet. Maybe there's a barcode included inside the box that needs to be quickly scanned before you leave the store, which would mean they don't have to touch your iPhone. That, and maybe you need to choose your plan then. After that, walk/drive home. People here are just guessing how the process will go.



Yeah, I don't really get what all the fury is about. People are getting too worked up over in-store activation. People are just soft.

After going through the horrible in-store activation, go home and enjoy the iPhone and unlimited internet for 2 years. Doesn't sound bad to me at all. The additional $10 per month is a valid complaint, but the number of real people (not online nerds) this activation process will bother will be very small.
Click to expand...

some of us are disappointed we cannot use a different carrier. i would gladly pay the old price for an unlocked phone.
 
I think the in-store activation is bullsht. Totally throws out the whole "ease of use" thing. Well not entirely as after the activation, you're good, but still. It also takes away one of the unique characters of the iPhone. (Opening ceremony [lol], activating at home)

A lot of iPhones were being sent over seas. Now that they're gonna have 72 countries or whatever, why freak out so much? Almost every country will have it. But then again... some will want to be on T-Mobile or whatever.

ddTaylor said:
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
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
gugy said:
I doubt Apple will deal with iPhone activation at their stores. They probably will just sell it and issue some sort of code or activation number so you can take it home and do the activation yourself.

The last thing Steve wants is a Apple store full of angry people and the hassle of cell phone activation happening. Sometimes is a pain to go to the Apple store and see all the folks with computer and iPhones and iPods problems at the Genius counter.

Mark my words. :D
Click to expand...

Would be better if they just sold through the AT&T store, or Apple opened a simple AT&T customer service kiosk in store and sold the phones and contracts with a AT&T rep there.
 
realgenius said:
I don't understand how you thought this was going to be possible, let alone easy, when Apple has the 5 year deal with AT&T in the US.

Maybe you can get one from Canada or Mexico?

That will be the next thing shady travel agents shill: "Get your cheap meds and iPhones on our wonderful 4 day vacation."
Click to expand...

you do realize you can unlock current iphones to work on t-mobile right now..dont you?
 
You who are whining need to decide if you want this phone to be subsidized. And if your answer is, "Well, I want the option," get over yourself, and stop crying like a brat.
 
jrbdmb said:
The consumer gets the iPhone for $200 less than before, with 3G and GPS. Most will not even notice the extra $10 tacked on to the data plan. It is unbelievable how many people who plunked down $600 for the 1st gen are now screaming about $10/mo. ... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

It's funny how you guys seem to downplay 10$ a month. That is actually 240 dollars over 24 months. This sleight-of-hand apparently works on some people.

Again, I'm glad I'm not living (and therefore buying) in the US.
 
$30 data plan

I think it's rather sneaky of AT&T to charge $10 more than what they charged iPhone 1.0 users for unlimited data. As others have pointed out, over 2 years, you end up paying $40 more than the unsubsidized price.

My question is, and will probably not be answered until I mosey on down to either an Apple store or an AT&T store, whether I can get the $20 EDGE-only data plan seeing as how there is no 3G network in my area. Why should I pay a premium price for a service I can't even get? Unfortunately I don't know enough about cellular standards to know whether they can limit access to the 3G network at the tower (kind of like how satellite dish receivers know to give you that Pay-Per-View show you just ordered). My guess is they can't control it at the tower - if your phone has the hardware to communicate to the 3G network, and there is no way to prevent the cell tower from talking back, you gotta pay it regardless of whether there is 3G in your area or not. :mad:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back