Best way to purchase iPhone 3G without contract?

[ehaugan81]

Guys, I'm finally getting an iphone and I have t-mobile service already. I would switch to AT&T service but I only pay $10 a month for 2000 minutes + unlimited data (dont ask) so I dont have any reason to get a contract.

I was at the Apple store today ready to purchase and an Apple rep told me I HAD to buy the phone with a contract and could not get around it. So I left.

I came home to research it some more and seem to be stuck with 3 options and just wanted to verify with others before i pursue one of them.

1 - Buy phone, cancel the AT&T service and pay $175 ETF, plus pro-rated minutes for that month, plus activation fee, plus tax all for around $499.

2- Find one on craigslist

3 - Find one on ebay.

Sorry to bother with such a noob question but I figured someone here would be able to help me out.

Thanks!

 

[Tomorrow]

I thought you had to buy the phone, take it home, and connect it to your computer and activate it through iTunes? If that's the case, I suppose you could buy the phone and take it home, then just not activate it - but I don't know how much good that would do you.

 

[mrat93]

I thought you had to buy the phone, take it home, and connect it to your computer and activate it through iTunes? If that's the case, I suppose you could buy the phone and take it home, then just not activate it - but I don't know how much good that would do you.

This was only with the first generation iPhone.

 

[KingHuds]

Whichever one is cheapest? Pretty simple...only way to be sure its new is if you buy unopened off CL or ebay or get it straight from ATT or Apple.

 

[Acronym]

if you buy off of CL or eBay there is always YellowSnow for your unlocking needs.