No it's not. Cell phone companies are much more lenient in giving credit than any other potential creditor. If they weren't, probably 30 percent of people who have smartphones wouldn't be able to get them.
I know people who have horrible credit who have been able to get an iPhone and not had to pay a deposit. I'm talking about people who have defaulted on 5 or more loans or credit cards.
Now the people who have to pay a deposit, their bad credit has to be through the roof. I'm talking obscene.
Depends on the carrier. Apparently AT&T is the tightest, T-Mobile checks your pulse, and then gives you a contract.