Purchase Iphone Without A Plan

[Mr.PS]

Im purchasing the Iphone as a gift for someone who is not on AT&T (they will be though). I can't seem to purchase the phone without a plan. Bestbuy, Amazon, Apple, etc are a no go. Any idea what I can do?

 

[SFStateStudent]

Im purchasing the Iphone as a gift for someone who is not on AT&T (they will be though). I can't seem to purchase the phone without a plan. Bestbuy, Amazon, Apple, etc are a no go. Any idea what I can do?

You might have to buy the v1 iPhone, since all 3G iPhones are bricked and activation must be via iTunes...

 

[NotFound]

buy them something else, or get a first generation off eBay

 

[shinenjk]

Im purchasing the Iphone as a gift for someone who is not on AT&T (they will be though). I can't seem to purchase the phone without a plan. Bestbuy, Amazon, Apple, etc are a no go. Any idea what I can do?

They won't let you do this YET. I'm not sure about the exact date (no one is) but eventually they will let you purchase the iPhone 3G WITHOUT a contract at a more expensive price. Google unsubsidized iPhone 3G or something to find out more.

 

[pyrodex]

Im purchasing the Iphone as a gift for someone who is not on AT&T (they will be though). I can't seem to purchase the phone without a plan. Bestbuy, Amazon, Apple, etc are a no go. Any idea what I can do?

Why don't you give them a Credit card for the iPhone amount + tax + extras and that way they can spend the amount when it comes time to get it?

 

[Mr.PS]

I can't believe people are recommending a first gen. Who wants a year old inferior phone?

Anyway, looks like I will have to have them purchase it and I will pay for it.

 

[SFStateStudent]

I can't believe people are recommending a first gen. Who wants a year old inferior phone?

"Oh, you DI'ANT!" Dude, you are the one that asked for advice about what to do and you didn't specify which iPhone you wanted to purchase... The advice that we gave you is the only way to meet you specific needs, but apparently you are above that. Maybe you need to stand in line for about 4 hours to find out that you can't get a NEW 3G iPhone without a plan.

 

[Inukami]

You want an Iphone 3G? Okay

Buy the Iphone($199 or $299), activate it(that's $30 right?), stay with your contract for 1 month(you have to, $60), cancel the contract with a fee of $170(since every month its -$5 if you cancel early).

 

[Mr.PS]

You want an Iphone 3G? Okay

Buy the Iphone($199 or $299), activate it(that's $30 right?), stay with your contract for 1 month(you have to, $60), cancel the contract with a fee of $170(since every month its -$5 if you cancel early).

You obviously did not read my original post. Wait a month? It's a gift for someone. I need it sooner then a month.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies (some of them). I'm going to pick one up locally in an hour or so and will just activate it on the spot with the person I'm buying it for.

 

[SFStateStudent]

You obviously did not read my original post. Wait a month? It's a gift for someone. I need it sooner then a month.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies (some of them). I'm going to pick one up locally in an hour or so and will just activate it on the spot with the person I'm buying it for.

That's good to hear; that's a really nice gift BTW.

 

[manhattanboy]

You obviously did not read my original post. Wait a month? It's a gift for someone. I need it sooner then a month.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies (some of them). I'm going to pick one up locally in an hour or so and will just activate it on the spot with the person I'm buying it for.

good luck with that.
You have to have that person physically with you for some strange reason. Go figure.
I hate this activation thing in store. Just let us do it at home for Christ's sake.

 

[tomashi]

i totally hope she's worth it

 

[Inukami]

You obviously did not read my original post. Wait a month? It's a gift for someone. I need it sooner then a month.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies (some of them). I'm going to pick one up locally in an hour or so and will just activate it on the spot with the person I'm buying it for.

Who said anything about waiting a month? Just give him/her the phone and let him/her use it. After that one month tell him/her to add it to his/her plan(ATT/T-Mobile only/no data plan available unless you sign a new 2 year contract with ATT)

 

[yode]

i totally hope she's worth it

It's a man

edit: *He's

 

[tritonj]

why don't you bring him to the store on the special day and buy it for him

or you could gift cards, those are your only choices pretty much

 

[illidian]

I can't believe people are recommending a first gen. Who wants a year old inferior phone?

How about the people who don't get/want 3G, GPS, or are on other carriers. Or those who want a better back on their device.

 

[Bearxor]

Doesn't Apple have special iPhone gift cards for sale just for this purpose?

 

[ubersalad]

You obviously did not read my original post. Wait a month? It's a gift for someone. I need it sooner then a month.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies (some of them). I'm going to pick one up locally in an hour or so and will just activate it on the spot with the person I'm buying it for.

Open up a line, buy it and do early termination after a month.

Or do EBay and pay.

 

[deannnnn]

You could get creative with it! Make an iPhone cake or something! Then go get the real thing

 

[Bambeezer]

I wish there was an easy way to do this. My little sister wanted a white one for her birthday and I had to wait in line with her to pay for the phone with my credit card on her ATT account. It would have been a lot easier to just pick it up for her and wrap it.

 

[skubish]

I can't believe people are recommending a first gen. Who wants a year old inferior phone?

Anyway, looks like I will have to have them purchase it and I will pay for it.

I disagree the 1st gen phone has better battery life and better build quality than the 3G phone. Also the sexy aluminum back doesn't scratch nearly as easy as the plastic back does.