Do unsubsidized no contract 3Gs iPhones require Activation?

[orbitalpunk]

Hi there,

Can any confirm that it is possible to buy a unsubsidized iphone at an ATT store for $599 and walk right out the store without signing up for any service?

My second question is if the phone is already activated or does still require some kind of activation thru itunes.

I know its carrier locked which is fine. I was hopping to buy one and just pop in my ATT pay as you go sim and work without requiring some kind of itunes activation.

Any input will greatly be appreciated,
Thanks guys.

 

[Ninja Dom]

In the UK they do. I bought a Pay as you Go 3GS on Friday.

To activate it needed a specific iPhone sim card. From then on it was fine with other O2 sim cards.

 

[Nipz]

The UK Pay and Go iPhones are still locked to 02 so need the 02 sim. I used my iPhone 3G sim when i bought my pay and go sim to activate it.

 

[orbitalpunk]

How about peoples experience in the US? Im in cali

 

[samven582]

no you do not have to activate it at the store if you are buying at the unsubsidized price. I bought mine at the apple store.

 

[orbitalpunk]

But will the phone require some kind of itunes activation and sign up or can I just put my att prepaid sim right in and work out of the box?

 

[orbitalpunk]

ok, so I called ATT and they said that it will still require some kind of activation thru itunes and said that a pre-paid number/sim would not do it. He did say tho that if i could find someone with a normal plan, that I could activate it with that sim and and then take it out and put the prepaid sim and it should work. and activation is a one time thing so the phone would never need reactivating again thru itunes.

Can anyone share any similar experiences? I just dont wanna play $600 for a paper weight.

 

[orbitalpunk]

could I buy the no contract phone with a no contract normal phone plan and then have it activated in itunes then later cancel my normal plan and Use my prepaid sim then. would my phone still require a new activation if cancel the normal plan or once its activated once, it never needs activating again?