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1. If you buy through Apple, you may not need a plan at all. It may be sold unactivated, and it might be possible to use pay-as-you-go (prepaid) SIMs from AT&T, etc., but we won't know for sure until Friday (or until more information is released).

2. You'll never pay for the entirety of a plan up front. You'll have a credit check, and you'll start getting billed for whatever plan you chose monthly. There is nothing magical about it.
 
There may be an activation fee of about $30, but how would they yet charge you for a plan you hadn't started using yet?
 
Yup still gonna puke.

But really...I doubt Apple will make you pay for a plan that is not where they're going to make their money.
 
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