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AT&T and Apple Tightening Policies to Reduce iPhone Unlocking

You get $200 off a new iPhone 3g, the money has to come from somewhere.
This is not new, all phones are sold this way. Still cheaper than most data plans.
 
iToaster said:
I don't know if anybody thought of this, but because Apple is including a SIM tray popper-outer, perhaps AT&T will activate SIM cards for you in the store and you can take them home and put them in your iPhone once you open it. (the iPhone uses a special SIM, yes?)
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no the iphone sim is a normal sim, it works in any other phone whenever you want too.

NO ONE realizes this. You can not take a razr activated sim and put it in an iphone, that won't work. But you can go the other way. I take my apple iphone sim (which happens to be 100% identical to every other sim card in the universe, including its normal AT&T logo - and i put it in my RAZR on the weekends when I go out.
 
brucku said:
no the iphone sim is a normal sim, it works in any other phone whenever you want too.

NO ONE realizes this. You can not take a razr activated sim and put it in an iphone, that won't work. But you can go the other way. I take my apple iphone sim (which happens to be 100% identical to every other sim card in the universe, including its normal AT&T logo - and i put it in my RAZR on the weekends when I go out.
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Yup, it's the phone, that's locked to the sim card, not the opposite.
 
brucku said:
no the iphone sim is a normal sim, it works in any other phone whenever you want too.

NO ONE realizes this. You can not take a razr activated sim and put it in an iphone, that won't work. But you can go the other way. I take my apple iphone sim (which happens to be 100% identical to every other sim card in the universe, including its normal AT&T logo - and i put it in my RAZR on the weekends when I go out.
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They thought about that - people that may want to use it in their old phone in case they break their iPhone or want to take a cheaper phone on vacation instead.
 
gkarris said:
They thought about that - people that may want to use it in their old phone in case they break their iPhone or want to take a cheaper phone on vacation instead.
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No, that's simply how it works. You lock the phone to a given carrier's sim cards. It's not about how they thought about the customer in case the customer wants to bring a cheaper phone.

Even cheapo phones work like that if they're locked.
 
gkarris said:
They thought about that - people that may want to use it in their old phone in case they break their iPhone or want to take a cheaper phone on vacation instead.
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I hope this works with iPHONES too... I didn't sell my iphone and I fully intend to keep it around for such a reason.

By the way... should I just unlock it after I get my 3g iphone so I have another ipod touch? :confused:
 
O2 in the UK appears to be letting us not sign up for an 18 month contract, although no details on the prices yet!

Customers will soon be able to enjoy all the great features of iPhone without a monthly contract with the iPhone for Pay & Go.
(https://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo)
 
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 w
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Good, well are we going to get insurance on them now? Should be, seeing how they are so cheap and big brother can zap them anytime should prevent fraud. So here is an issue that consumer rights should fight for. GO CONSUMER ACTIVISTS!
 
matttrick said:
that's exactly what i plan to do. lost sales are lost sales.
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Exactly why the underpaid retail Apple employee's get, well, so underpaid. For every one of you there are 20+ people wanting (why?) to work there for no commissions, bonus', insurance, health, dental and minimum wage.
 
im sure people here don't like this, but having a phone locked to a carrier in the US isn't something new and if you don't want or can't have At&t then the iPhone isn't your option. There are plenty of phones I would have liked in the past from Lg Samsung, etc that were carrier specific. Just because its an apple product why force it to be different, after all its not apple as much as its ATT in this situation. For those who think the old way was the better way, I would agree, however it may not be the correct way att and apple wanted this all to happen, and now its been fixed to att's likings.

As far as someone else touching my phone, really people, is that what mac users have become, disgusted by the fact that an apple or att employee with possibly touch your phone, thats sad...
 
matttrick said:
you do realize there are perfectly modern, non-communist countries that do not allow carriers to lock their phones?
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I'm with you on this one. Business is one thing, greed is another. Nearing $5.00 a gallon of gas soon, in the US. (Thanks CHINA and thanks to the US and the NAFTA agreement for making that happen.

What if we revolted the way they did at the Boston tea party and blew up gas stations? Yeah, I'm sure we would be hero's - I guess the minute men were terrorists.

Viva La France'

I smell legal issues stemming from this and its not even out yet - - one hacking program to access FREE 3G and AT&T is toast on this market plan. Just think OSX86, remember, you could NEVER EVER build a mac. (grin).
 
ddTaylor said:
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?
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I reckon they'll block the IMEI - rendering the phone useless in that country.

ScottP said:
Customers will soon be able to enjoy all the great features of iPhone without a monthly contract with the iPhone for Pay & Go.
(https://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo)
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This is a huge step forward for the UK iPhone. I still hope I can unlock one... I wish they sold it SIM free.
 
kavika411 said:
Again, go to them. Give them your money. That is your right, and in the world you choose to live in, your vote. Teach Apple and AT&T a lesson.

Or, perhaps we should pass a law against this nonsense AT&T and Apple are up to.
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Actually, in California, they are trying to pass a measure that restricts rebates and taxes on those rebates as they can be misleading plus you pay for taxes that you DO NOT get back on your rebate. More power to the people if you ask me. Probably cost Apple about $20 to make one iPhone if not less, and GASOLINE? Don't get me started. Health Insurance? Can't wait for a new president - not that they will change much. :mad:
 
what legal issues can you be talking about...every major US phone manufacture has phones locked to specific carriers, and they all are activated in the store, or online...they (att) are just trying to run the game the same way they do with all their other phones, whats the uproar...
 
and guys! stop worrying...the iPhone 3G will be unlocked shortly after release ;)

iPhone 2.0 will be as well...as if AT&T really thinks they can stop people unlocking the most popular smartphone on the planet :p


hiimamac said:
Nearing $5.00 a gallon of gas soon, in the US. (Thanks CHINA and thanks to the US and the NAFTA agreement for making that happen.
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an obvious economics graduate speaking here:rolleyes:
 
Wow, so what the hell happens when X-Mas rolls around and people want to wrap the iPhones up? Good luck ATT....
 
Wow, what a damper. I was all set to give my current iphone to my girlfriend and get the new one.

Now there really isn't that much of a reason. 3g and gps? For 15 more a month and another 2 year contract, plus the price of the phone. Not happening for me unless I can buy the new phone outright and keep my current rate plan.

I will keep my 1st gen and see how other people make the switch from 1st to 2nd generation.

The only good thing about AT&T is their horrible oversight when it comes to your plan. I have always been able to use some of the lower end rates with the higher end phones, like the regular phone unlimited data for 9.99 on my treo when it should have been 29.99.

Thoughts?
 
Genghis Khan said:
and guys! stop worrying...the iPhone 3G will be unlocked shortly after release ;)

iPhone 2.0 will be as well...as if AT&T really thinks they can stop people unlocking the most popular smartphone on the planet :p
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I have a feeling I am going to be unlocking the 3G iphone.....just to stay with AT&T and my current plan. Just wonder about the 30 day service fee if not activated.
 
Tosser said:
I can't. But then again, I can't name any other company than Apple/ATT that will "penalize" you for not activating.
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Very good point.

But you know... this whole thread is really speculation. We won't know anything for sure until July 11. So let's chill till then.
 
If you don't like it, maybe you should stick to a phone made by a different carrier. RIM will always be there for you whiney babies... :eek:
 
kellen said:
I have a feeling I am going to be unlocking the 3G iphone.....just to stay with AT&T and my current plan. Just wonder about the 30 day service fee if not activated.
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Is that their wording?

Haha, the irony, that they're charging you a "service fee" for something if you DON'T want the service.
 
how much of a penalty could it be? they arent going to come and torture us into activating our iphones :)
 
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