Can't Buy an iPhone Without A Contract?

[Compile 'em all]

A friend of mine is currently visiting the US (Washington DC), and I asked him to buy me an iPhone. He just emailed me back saying that the guys in the Apple store won't let him buy one unless he signs up for a contract!! Is this true? I thought you can walk into any Apple store and just buy the phone. And you can later do the contract stuff through iTunes!!

 

[DonWilson]

No, this is incorrect. You can walk in, buy one, go home and then activate it.

 

[Mac-Addict]

Or walk in buy one go home and unlock it (when ever those gad damn developers get out of their free new car and release the software already)

 

[Compile 'em all]

Ok, thanks. He will try again tomorrow, hopefully he will be able to get one.

 

[Clix Pix]

He should be able to walk into the Apple store, ask for the size iPhone that he wants (4 GB, 8 GB) and walk out with the box in hand. Activation is done via iTunes. At this point in time,though,activation is ONLY going to work in the US.

Don't know how things are done in the AT&T store if by chance he had ventured in there.... Maybe they insist that the customer be ready to sign up for a two-year contract. ??

I am guessing that he ran into problems if he proffered a credit card that was clearly based in some other country -- Europe, Canada, Asia, Australia, New Zealand.... and that may be why he wasn't allowed to buy an iPhone because the people at the store would know that he COULDN'T just go home and activate it the way it is meant to be.... They sure as heck aren't going to encourage hacking!

So how is a European or someone from another country who is visiting in the US to get the iPhone? Pay for it in cash. That way no one knows where it's going or what will happen to it....

 

[Compile 'em all]

So how is a European or someone from another country who is visiting in the US to get the iPhone? Pay for it in cash. That way no one knows where it's going or what will happen to it....

I agree. But what if I want to buy the iPhone as a gift for someone in the US? Then such made up rule doesn't make much sense, does it? . Anyway, thanks for chipping in . Hopefully in the next few hours he will contact me and let me know how it went.


EDIT: Got the iPhone