O2 Offering iPhone 3G Contract Signups Prior to July 11th?

[Digitalclips]

From the moment I bought my Mac, I have seen the world in a different way. And I've got to see what being obsessed (in an unhealthy way) with something is. Really, don't dare overestimate Apple fans. They are the most crazy, strange and unpredictable lot out there.

It wouldn't surprise me if we see an incredible amount of people there just for registering for the iPhone.

hehe ... fear not fellow lunatics, I have lasted since 1978 as an Apple user without a mental break down ...
Repeat after me: I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy

 

[luckygyrl83]

Each Apple store and ATT store will only have about 100 iphones each
on July 11. Best thing to do is get there really early and stand in line.

I find that very hard to believe. I live in a pretty populated area, and with the Apple store only 10 min away in Brea, 100 iphones will be gone in about 1 hour. There was at least 200 ppl in line last year and 1/2 of those people left with 2 phones. It was crazy.

 

[bmk]

What happens when you abuse something that was meant to make it easier for consumers. Apple too corrective steps and now you have to go through the same hassle everyone else has to go when purchasing a phone.


People whine about DRM but then they do stuff to make DRM a reality. Soon OS X will have the same DRM as vista with registrations etc..

Am I the only person who doesn't understand a word of what this person is trying to say?

 

[mdtsuk]

I received a phone call from a company called ADSI on Friday advising that they have been employed to follow up O2 customer accounts for possible improvements. Which was mainly around my business account and personal account for the iPhone. I initially thought it was one of those spoof calls but he knew every detail of my accounts and I later found a letter from O2 informing me of this.

Anyway, he advised me that I could get two iPhones on my business account and get them sent our to my address for the 11th July. Sharing minutes and text allowances. He is ringing me back to arranged this within the next two weeks. I'm not getting my hopes up too much, but this would be convenient.

 

[137489]

From the moment I bought my Mac, I have seen the world in a different way. And I've got to see what being obsessed (in an unhealthy way) with something is. Really, don't dare overestimate Apple fans. They are the most crazy, strange and unpredictable lot out there.

It wouldn't surprise me if we see an incredible amount of people there just for registering for the iPhone.

I agree with you Roco. Now that i got my mac, I see the world in a whole new light also. With the ease, flexibility, and cheaper software - I am kicking myself from not making the switch earlier - but then again I also had a problem (and kinda still do) with separating my work from my outside of work needs (home, ministry, etc)....

I am never going back to Windows-only for my personal needs again, unless Apple does something totally stupid. mostly I have been looking at where I can ditch Windows.

Also, as for the crasy, obsessiveness yep - I had a few arguments with people on this board. Funny how people will argue there point when they have no clue what they are talking about I have also never seen such a crazy group just salvating at the mouth at just a whisper of something coming out. I never seen another computer company followed so much, mostly just rants - but here people are just down right crazy

- no wonder they call it a religion and a cult if only people spent more time reading their Bibles

 

[SirOmega]

It certainly would help with the long lines - having all the tedious crap done earlier. The problem is AT&T - are they smart enough and do they have the computer system to pull something like that off.

 

[know-it-all5]

And this is why I wish I was European. Better Iphone deals, Early Registration....etc.

Att is too much of a bum company to ever think of doing this.

 

[notsofatjames]

Isn't the real backlog caused by people who aren't already with the company? I mean, you don't need to do a credit check on someone who's already with the company (at least you shouldn't) and further more if the person already owns an iPhone shouldn't you just be able to get their number, register the IMEI and call it a day?

I still have 1 question tho - what about my current iPhone? Can I give/sell it to a friend and have them get the $20 a month data plan?

Just because your with a company already your accepted for any credit agreement. Maybe because I work for a bank I would say that, but peoples circumstances change all the time, as do their credit arrangements. If I went to work and said that anyone who has an account with us can have a mortgage, I'm sure we'd go bust pretty quick. I can understand what your saying though, if your tariff isnt changing, it should be without check, since your already making the necessary payments.

Hopefully exisiting iPhone owners will get it easy and will just be a matter of giving them your Phone number, and let them do the rest for you. It would only be a matter of activating the SIM with your new number ?

 

[afd]

The other thing it says on o2's website is that existing iPhone customers can get a 3G iPhone before 11th July . . .

 

[bigmc6000]

Just because your with a company already your accepted for any credit agreement. Maybe because I work for a bank I would say that, but peoples circumstances change all the time, as do their credit arrangements. If I went to work and said that anyone who has an account with us can have a mortgage, I'm sure we'd go bust pretty quick. I can understand what your saying though, if your tariff isnt changing, it should be without check, since your already making the necessary payments.

Hopefully exisiting iPhone owners will get it easy and will just be a matter of giving them your Phone number, and let them do the rest for you. It would only be a matter of activating the SIM with your new number ?

Well yeah - I don't think giving someone the privilege of paying you $70 a month as opposed to, let's just say, $40 is really worth a credit check. I mean - is there a credit rating you're willing to accept for a $40 a month bill but not willing to accept for a $70 a month bill?

I'd think that as long as you aren't a PAYG customer they've already performed a credit check on you and if you've been late with your payments you don't need a credit check for that - they have that info on hand.

Ultimately AT&T isn't going to lose *that* much money if a few people default on their iPhone bill - that obviously wouldn't work for a bank as they would lose tens of thousands of dollars for each person that defaults on their mortgage.

 

[babyj]

The other thing it says on o2's website is that existing iPhone customers can get a 3G iPhone before 11th July . . .

Where does it say that? Everything I've read on their website specifically states 11th July as the release date and the first date you can get the phone, nothing about getting one early - just registering early to be one of the first to get it.

I'd imagine that everyone with an iPhone at present can just say which one they want and the tariff they want and then the phone will arrive on or shortly after release via courier. It would be pretty stupid making everyone go in to a shop, or sign any new paperwork when you've already got a contract with them.

 

[DrCamel]

The other thing it says on o2's website is that existing iPhone customers can get a 3G iPhone before 11th July . . .

No, I think you will find the wording is quite careful.

The front page reads "Upgrade early to 3G. Get the new 3G iPhone before 11th Oct. 2008 ".

Note that it says October 2008!.

Then if you follow the link, you get a section which reads "we're offering you an early upgrade to the iPhone 3G when it launches on 11th July 2008. You won't have to wait until the end of your existing contract".

In otherwords they will allow you to start a new 18 month contract on July 11th and get the subsidised iPhone.

From that point on, you are at the mercy of O2 for any subsequent iPhone upgrades (you know, the 32GB iChat video enabled one ).

DrCamel

 

[rickdollar]

What happens when you abuse something that was meant to make it easier for consumers. Apple too corrective steps and now you have to go through the same hassle everyone else has to go when purchasing a phone.


People whine about DRM but then they do stuff to make DRM a reality. Soon OS X will have the same DRM as vista with registrations etc..

Am I the only person who doesn't understand a word of what this person is trying to say?

No, you're not. It's an aggressively confusing post.

 

[afd]

No, I think you will find the wording is quite careful.

The front page reads "Upgrade early to 3G. Get the new 3G iPhone before 11th Oct. 2008 ".

Note that it says October 2008!.

Then if you follow the link, you get a section which reads "we're offering you an early upgrade to the iPhone 3G when it launches on 11th July 2008. You won't have to wait until the end of your existing contract".

DrCamel

oops!

 

[petej]

A note of caution to those planning an in store sign up with O2.

Be careful with your credit card details.

I just recently signed up with O2 and as part of the credit check I handed over my credit card. The main account was set up with a direct debit. Whilst I never let the card out of my sight, the guy who took the order disappeared out the back just after noting the details. I presume he wrote down the numbers that are starred out on the subsequent paper work. With hindsight I realise that he studied my card for much longer than one would normally need just to transcribe some numbers.
Two days later I get a transaction from T-mobile and then a whole string of credit checks from other phone related stores. Whilst this hasn't cost me anything yet, my bank is refunding me, my credit rating is probably about to take a dive and I'll likely get some more letters demanding payment of whatever has been signed up to in my name.
Normally, I don't use a credit card so it is very easy to pinpoint the place where my details were compromised - O2 store.

I do not intend this to be a blanket slur on all O2 stores and staff, just a note of caution. If you see the person taking your details paying a bit too much attention to your card and running out the back, check your credit card bills and notify your bank of any fraudulent transaction and mention the suspected place of compromise.

Enjoy your new iPhones - I will.

 

[happydude]

hehe ... fear not fellow lunatics, I have lasted since 1978 as an Apple user without a mental break down ...
Repeat after me: I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy, I'm not crazy

hmmmm, crazy being a relative term . . . i'd say most people in here are a touch crazy if not full blown crazy . . . about apple, of course

 

[TonyHoyle]

Went to Fulham Broadway O2 yesterday and they said the same thing. They said they would be able to do all the credit checks and everything beforehand. He didn't say I had to wait until the 1st of July however. Plus he said they were opening 7:02PM on the 11th.

I had a feeling they would do something like that to take the pressure off store staff on release day. I wonder if they'll have contract signup over the website as well - that would save me a trip out

 

[revs]

I think this is true: according to O2 Ireland, the iPhone is available to pre-order from the 1st July: http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/conn.../O2+to+Launch+iPhone+3G+in+Ireland+on+July+11

No sign of something similar on the UK site though. I ordered my PAC code on the 9th, just in case of "immediate availability", so the 11th is a terrible date for me, as my PAC will have expired 2 days prior, and I may not be able to get a new one in time for launch day... unless this pre-registration could make use of the PAC code?

Worst case scenario is that you request a new PAC on the 10th, and have it on the 12th. As per Ofcom rules, they have 48hrs to provide the PAC. They say it will be sent via letter or something, but usually you can phone up after 48hrs. In many cases its a lot faster. I phoned up under 24hrs later and got my PAC.

 

[Rocketman]

One thing this rumor does do, is sync up the KNOWN AT&T vacation delay dates and the KNOWN iPhone release date with a scheme that makes the disparate dates fit correctly.

Rocketman

 

[Samaritan]

Worst case scenario is that you request a new PAC on the 10th, and have it on the 12th. As per Ofcom rules, they have 48hrs to provide the PAC. They say it will be sent via letter or something, but usually you can phone up after 48hrs. In many cases its a lot faster. I phoned up under 24hrs later and got my PAC.

I contacted t-mobile today to get my PAC code ready to transfer my number over to an iPhone, thinking that it may take a little while to come through. I asked him how long it would take for the PAC to come through.. to which he said "have you got a pen?" and gave it to me there and then over the phone. A copy of the PAC is due to arrive in the post in the next day or two as well...

 

[voicegy]

Not necessarily, lines would have formed because a large number of people would have gone on the 11th in order to be the first to have an iPhone, and the contract sign up process would have created large lines. I could be wrong, but I don't think being one of the first to pre-register is something that people shout about, and so is not going to cause major queues on the day that pre-registration is launched.

Seems like a good idea to me if its true

-Dan

How is the casual customer supposed to find out that one could pre-register? Not everyone hangs out on the 'net like us. So folks will show up on the 11th and there may be major lines anyway.

 

[voicegy]

Rubbish

Each Apple store and ATT store will only have about 100 iphones each
on July 11. Best thing to do is get there really early and stand in line.

That is simply not going to be true. Take it from a 1st day iPhone purchaser (me). They will have PLENTY. Show up after the major hype and save yourself a (possible) headache come July 11th.

 

[/dev/toaster]

Each Apple store and ATT store will only have about 100 iphones each
on July 11. Best thing to do is get there really early and stand in line.

Not sure where you are getting this info, but I call BS. Last launch of the iPhone each store got quite a large number of them. Now that the price has dropped to $199, they are going to need 2 times the amount.

Apple handled the iPhone launch very well and they had the supplies to back it up. I am very confident they will do the same.

 

[abrooks]

A note of caution to those planning an in store sign up with O2.

Be careful with your credit card details.

I just recently signed up with O2 and as part of the credit check I handed over my credit card. The main account was set up with a direct debit. Whilst I never let the card out of my sight, the guy who took the order disappeared out the back just after noting the details. I presume he wrote down the numbers that are starred out on the subsequent paper work. With hindsight I realise that he studied my card for much longer than one would normally need just to transcribe some numbers.
Two days later I get a transaction from T-mobile and then a whole string of credit checks from other phone related stores. Whilst this hasn't cost me anything yet, my bank is refunding me, my credit rating is probably about to take a dive and I'll likely get some more letters demanding payment of whatever has been signed up to in my name.
Normally, I don't use a credit card so it is very easy to pinpoint the place where my details were compromised - O2 store.

I do not intend this to be a blanket slur on all O2 stores and staff, just a note of caution. If you see the person taking your details paying a bit too much attention to your card and running out the back, check your credit card bills and notify your bank of any fraudulent transaction and mention the suspected place of compromise.

Enjoy your new iPhones - I will.

What the hell! Do I smell a lawsuit?

 

[thePhilster]

Worst case scenario is that you request a new PAC on the 10th, and have it on the 12th. As per Ofcom rules, they have 48hrs to provide the PAC. They say it will be sent via letter or something, but usually you can phone up after 48hrs. In many cases its a lot faster. I phoned up under 24hrs later and got my PAC.

Hmm, one sticking point might be that the 12th July is a public holiday in Northern Ireland, though as it falls on a Saturday, that gets shifted to the following Monday. So, assuming that shops are open on the 12th, and that I get my new PAC code on the 12th, I'm good to go. But then I need to hot foot it to the O2 store to ensure that I get one before the Public Holiday strikes.

Just out of interest, I don't suppose I can phone Orange now and request a new PAC code that would be valid on the 11th? Or do I have to wait 'til the current one expires?