$499/$599 = No Subsidy = No Contract?

[island]

Does the video finally clear this up for us? If you walk out of the store without giving details, does this mean no contracts needed (unless you need to activate new service at your house on iTunes)?

I myself have a contract free # with AT&T and I sure as hell don't think they can put me in a contract for throwing my SIM CARD in the phone....

 

[richard4339]

They specifically say two-year contract required. My guess is that it will prompt you in the activation window to accept or decline a contract. If you say no, it won't activate.

As far as the SIM card goes, I was under the impression the SIM card was not user-changable. And, since the activation is required to even start using the iPhone, my guess is that if you were able to get said SIM card in, you simply couldn't use any features.

 

[Antaios]

the iphone will not work until it is activated and a new 2yr contract has been assigned to it. Nothing will work, the phone, the ipod fucntionality, NOTHING. this is clear on apple.com You will be unable to just throw your sim card in.

 

[nickspohn]

I assume you have to pay the $36 activation fee in the store.

The rest you do with your itunes account.


-nickspohn

 

[fishkorp]

the phone won't work at all (other than 911) until you hook it up with iTunes and configure you existing account information. and it's plastered on every Apple page that "2 year contract and activation fee required for iPhone functionality, including iPod." no contract = $500/600 paperweight.

 

[fishkorp]

I assume you have to pay the $36 activation fee in the store.

The rest you do with your itunes account.


-nickspohn

activation fee is on your first bill.

 

[island]

I'm pretty sure if I call up and have them switch my blackberry data to iPhone data it will not put me in a contract. Also, since I have a SIM CARD from AT&T already, it should work fine in the phone. I am 100% sure the iPhone doesn't require a proprietary SIM CARD.

The 2 year contract should be only for new customers needing a new number or porting there number in.

Last, you can walk out the store without giving them personal information. Says it right in the video; you do everything from home.

 

[wakka092]

the iphone will not work until it is activated and a new 2yr contract has been assigned to it. Nothing will work, the phone, the ipod fucntionality, NOTHING. this is clear on apple.com You will be unable to just throw your sim card in.

Very true! You have to put the paperclip in the tiny SIM slot hole and put the SIM in. Then you find out that nothing will work.

 

[TheAnswer]

I'm pretty sure if I call up and have them switch my blackberry data to iPhone data it will not put me in a contract. Also, since I have a SIM CARD from AT&T already, it should work fine in the phone. I am 100% sure the iPhone doesn't require a proprietary SIM CARD.

The 2 year contract should be only for new customers needing a new number or porting there number in.

But you have to connect it to your computer...once you connect to your computer, then you will be prompted to agree to a contract, and once you agree will Apple unlock all features of the phone. You won't even have iPod capability or be able to use the Notes widget without signing the contract agreement.

As someone else said: no contract = paperweight.

 

[island]

Ok then that would open up people to go sign up today for an AT&T phone, get a subsidized phone for $200+ off the retail price, turn around and sell it for a profit and then go buy an iPhone with a new contract.

 

[sammyman]

Ok then that would open up people to go sign up today for an AT&T phone, get a subsidized phone for $200+ off the retail price, turn around and sell it for a profit and then go buy an iPhone with a new contract.

That is exactly what I am thinking. Maybe I will go down to ATT today and pick up some phones for me and my wife and then sell them.

 

[glide]

Ok then that would open up people to go sign up today for an AT&T phone, get a subsidized phone for $200+ off the retail price, turn around and sell it for a profit and then go buy an iPhone with a new contract.

It sure would. I bought 2 blackberry pearls last week on my family share and sold them. From what I can tell nothing is stopping me from buying an iphone and just renewing my contract. Thanks for the loophole AT&T...

 

[hcopp]

the downright ****ing stupidy and ignorance of so many of the posters in this forum is driving me up the ****ing wall. I cannot believe there are people out there that are this ****ing dense.