According to some setteB.IT international sources the iPhone 3G will need a double activation.
One will be the carrier activation made in carrier stores or in carrier’s partners stores, exclusively.
The other activation is required by the App Store via iTunes using the iTunes Store account. It must be made using a Mac or Windows PC.
Full article (in Italian) here.
Full article (in English via Google Translation) here.
MacNN reports, “If confirmed the plan would contrast sharply with that for the original iPhone, under which people were able to simply buy an iPhone and take it home, and subsequently sign up for a carrier contract on their own time through iTunes. Apple is said to have become frustrated, however, by the number of people buying iPhones and unlocking them for an unofficial carrier, thus depriving Apple of shared revenue streams.”
Full article here.
For what it’s worth: Telcel (The iPhone provider in Mexico) says the same thing in their FAQ (Link Here).
¿Cuándo puedo empezar a usar mi equipo nuevo?
Sólo es necesario insertar el chip para comenzar a usar tu equipo. Sin embargo el iPhone lleva un proceso de validación y actualización en el que se debe conectar a una PC o Mac antes de empezar a usarlo.
Which translates to:
When can I begine to use my iPhone?
You’ll only need to insert the sim chip to begin using the phone. However, the iPhone has a validation and update process that requires that you connect it to a PC or Mac before using it.
Which is a confusing way of saying that you’ll need to connect it to (presumably) iTunes before being able to use it.
@Willie G I bought an iPhone and unlocked it because I was getting more minutes for less money at T-Mobile and refuse on principle to own a locked phone, not because I’m an opportunistic douchebag. In most parts of the world it’s illegal for carriers to lock phones to their service. IMO it would be better for US consumers if carriers were forced to earn their loyalty, by I dunno, providing better service and more competitive rates instead of adding artificial roadblocks to make it as difficult as possible to switch to greener pastures. It’s worked out well for me so far and even with the $200 incentive on the new ones it’ll still cost less money to unlock and stick to T-Mo than switch to ATT. But to each his own.
@MacDaddy It probably won’t even take a new hack. People in the states will probably have to get their iPhone from overseas instead of the opposite but I’ll bet that once the dust settles it’ll probably cost about as much to get an unlocked 3G phone as it did to buy a locked version of the current gen. $400, maybe $450 for the 8GB.
Priused –
The diff. is that you have to do it twice, and once with AT&T;directly, which was the beauty of the iPhone’s registration process in the first place — Apple experience (simple & “just works”) rather than AT&T;experience (lengthy, confused, liable to be done wrong one or more times, interrupting your service, etc.)
I still haven’t seen anything about the new device worth buying. For the vast majority of people who were waiting, they’re getting nothing but a price increase. Suckers.
Those complaining about “whiners” are hypocrites–Mac fans are the ones the sneer at PC users for taking abuse without question.
Things do not improve if people don’t complain, and taking away past conveniences is worthy of a complaint or three.
Us Mac users are notorious for complaining to writers about how poorly they wrote about Apple (I’m sure they think writers coming at them from an MDN story are “whiners”), don’t fall into the double-standards trap.
Some people will always complain about Apple products, as is their right as a potential or current customer. Just as long as they’re not outrageous demands, so be it.
@Petey Not only is it not illegal to unlock a cellphone but the FCC drafted a special provision specifically to stop carriers from prosecuting or trying to stop consumers from unlocking their phones. If you’re going to refer to people who disagree with you as idiots it might be a good idea to have a clue what you’re talking about and to invest in a spellchecker.
You sound like one of those Hollywood villains who want to stop the kids from having their sock hop because of “corrupting” influences except that you’d probably spell it coruppting.
Love the Google translation from Italian to English. What is the “seeping fat’? Sounds like a grilling problem to me. Are they trying to BBQ the iPhone?
@mossman
You summed it up perfectly.
People here don’t seem to wanna think. There will be little to no unlockers. Why? Would you unlock your iPhone if you had to sign two-year contract first, before they gave you the device?
Apple was selling original iPhones at a discount (subsidised) price. When activated on an AT&T plan, Apple’s sales price for the iPhone was between $550 and $700 (upfront subsidy, plus monthly revenue sharing for two years). When you bought a phone and unlocked it, you were depriving Apple of their expected revenue.
To prevent you from unlocking, Apple forced an up-front contract of two years. Only with a signed contract, AT&T would pay up the subsidy. That way, Apple doesn’t need to worry what was going to happen with your phone. You may as well unlock it if you wish, Apple already got their AT&T money.
Now, if you bought the iPhone and signed the two-year deal (with sever early termination penalty), what possible benefit for you would be an unlocked phone?
On that subject, I wouldn’t be surprised if AT&T actually does allow unlocking of iPhones, just as they allow unlocking of all other phones. We’ll have to find out soon, but they have really no reason not to, since they rope you in for those two years anyway.
Which reminds me, I need to call them to ask them for unlocking instructions for my Sony-Ericsson; I’ll be flying overseas very soon, and roaming as a service is useless when staying for an extended period of time. Local number always makes more sense.
Honestly, I feel that Apple is really just trying to avoid making the mistakes they did with the Mac-I wouldn’t doubt it if things open up more and more as time goes by. I think it’s mostly instant gratification sickness that has people chomping at the bit (I want it perfect, and I mean NOW! Or else!). To remain competitive and vibrant, this’ll all have to evolve. Patience.
Anyone complaining about “pop-ups” and “pop-unders” on MDN needs to learn how to set up their browser. I haven’t seen a pop in literally years. Hell, I don’t see them at work with IE6!
——RM
BOOOOooOOOO YOu suck ATT-N-Apple…….
…….
…..
I’m still getting one. I-hate-them-but-I-needs-my-iPhone, homie!
Represent the hardcore streets of Pasadena, CA Baby
I have a feeling this “double activation” process is really just two steps:
1. Activate your phone on AT&T;’s network if you buy it at an AT&T;store. This is so that AT&T;makes sure it receives your monthly mobile payment and T-Mobile or some overseas carrier does not.
2. Register your iPhone with Apple for warranty protection and to include your iPhone on your iTunes account for purchases. AT&T;likely can’t or won’t do this.
No big deal. Yes, it was easier to handle one registration with Apple, but please recall that Apple/AT&T;had a VERY difficult time keeping up with initial demand for activation last year. Some people waited 6 days to get their iPhone fully activated.
With the significantly increased sales Apple is expecting with the iPhone 3G release, and the multiple carriers who now offer the iPhone, I suspect iTunes/Apple can’t handle the demand to activate which will occur on the release date and for a couple of days thereafter.
This is no different to the situation with iPhone 1.
One activation is for the network access. The other will be to enable mobileMe access.
Why is that a problem for anyone ?
>Petey wrote: An we can blame the idiots who bought an iPhone and tried to use it via unauthorised means. (snipped)THANKS FOR RUINING IT FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY ARE LAW ABIDDING.
For your money, you can bend over for anyone you’d like but don’t bother pushing that idea on everyone else. No one ruined anything for you. No need to put yourself on a pedestal.
@djfred
True.. but jail breaking the iPhone for me was not because I wanted to you another network but rather to not pay the extra International fee to AT&T;when I am traveling abroad…
That way I can get other chips in my iPhone and pay local fees.
Also, there are some great applications out there for the iPhone that I wanted to use… I am not too worried about them as the App Store is opening up and will open the door to all developers.
Quote Petey “thanks for ruining it for people who are actually law abiding”
If you are abiding then what’s the big deal? It would seem to me that this would effect those who were not abiding.
To be law abiding, there has to be a law. It seems to me, you should be advocating abolishment of law. Isn’t that the “Apple Experience” you are trying to protect.
Sorry Petey, I just like to pick on people who swear and shout. I took the liberty of removing the swear and caps lock from your quote.
re: @Petey Not only is it not illegal to unlock a cellphone but the FCC drafted a special provision specifically to stop carriers from prosecuting or trying to stop consumers from unlocking their phones. If you’re going to refer to people who disagree with you as idiots it might be a good idea to have a clue what you’re talking about and to invest in a spellchecker.
You sound like one of those Hollywood villains who want to stop the kids from having their sock hop because of “corrupting” influences except that you’d probably spell it coruppting.
—
FO Loser.
And yes, I DO know what I am talking about you fucking noob.
Petey may have expressed himself in an unclear way, but he has a valid point.
While there isn’t any law preventing unlocking (and therefore he doesn’t have much of a high horse to sit on), all those unlockers deprived Apple of planned and expected revenue. Therefore, those of us who signed the 2-year deal with AT&T ended up footing the bill and essentially subsidising iPhones of those who unlocked without paying (through AT&T) that subsidy back.
The new iPhone could have been cheaper (or the plan with AT&T could have been cheaper), had there not been 700,000 unlocked phones out there.
You better stop saying “Fucking” or i’ll chop the fuck out of you!!!
@Petey
thank you.
Enough said.
Some people were born as dumb as YOU!!!!
I am here to whine about the whiners who are whining about the whiners.
Like Huey Long? That loser? He has the brains of a cattle turd
@Banjo,
“In fact, I find myself revolting already. (as does my wife)”
Your wife finds you revolting? Not too good for your marriage.
“Therefore, those of us who signed the 2-year deal with AT&T;ended up footing the bill and essentially subsidising iPhones of those who unlocked without paying (through AT&T;) that subsidy back.”
Where’s the logic in that? Clearly they deprived Apple of revenue. But you obviously didn’t subsidize the other phone. If each account isn’t profitable on it’s, there’s no money to use to subsidize.
It’s unlikely that the phone or the plan would be cheaper without unlocking as neither ATT or Apple planned for this.
The money has come straight out of Apple’s pocket, not yours, and Apple, if they had that money were never going to return it to you by way of a cheaper price or plan.
What is the big deal?
What’s next, calling Apple ‘Fascist’ and Jobs ‘Hitler’?
Yes, whine when there is a policy that makes no sense or has no reason, like why can’t I make voice memos on my iPhone, but you people that live to bitch about anything are BORING!!!
And nice catch, Cubert. I was racing down to post the same thing.