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Wow! This is a great idea. This should cut down on the time the crowds need to spend in the stores on launch day - an iPhone purchase won't take any longer than any other purchase at an Apple store, or buying an accessory at an AT&T;store.

This is yet another great surprise.

Wonder what happens if you never activate?

And since this mentions the "Service Plan press release", it sounds like we'll get that Real Soon Now.

This is excellent news!

Dash in, buy, split.

**and one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later**

I was told at our local Apple store that Tiger was not a requirement; that only the latest iTunes was needed. Which is true?

Yes! Great news. Sounds like the out-of-the-box experience won't be ruined after all.

And best of all, the staff that they are paying to work in their shops will be free to do other things. Things that will make the companies more money from increased sales. It's not a difficult concept. It amazes me that with all the talk of efficiency in modern companies, there are so many things that are just massive time and money wasters for all involved.

If you don't activate...

I wonder if you can still use the iPod and Wi-Fi web browsing capabilities of the iPhone? It would be interesting if you could.

Any idea how we will be able to transfer our existing phone numbers?

I want an iPhone, but not for the "phone" part. My big question is if I buy one and don't activate it, will I still be able to use the Wi-Fi capabilities for web surfing, along with all the iPod features, and email (POP & IMAP via Wi-Fi)?

If I can then I'm going to buy one. If I can't I won't since I don't use the phone part and paying $720 a year for nothing is just not justifiable.

I'm going to guess that those of use who are switching providers and want to keep our non-AT&T;numbers might still get stuck in the store while they finagle that.

"Any idea how we will be able to transfer our existing phone numbers?"

Watch the video. You can transfer numbers from other carriers simply by typing it into the registration screen. They say it may take from 20 minutes to a few hours for it to happen...EASY!

With the do-it-yourself activation, what keeps these things from ending up on eBay for ridiculous prices? It's going to be just like the PS3 and Wii all over again....

iPHONE BITCH!!

Has anyone noticed the 7.27 GB of formatted HD space at the beginning of the video and then 74.70 GB at 6 minutes and 18 seconds video time frame?

Am I wrong? I noticed this since I'm always updating my iPOD.

There's a little note at the bottom of the rate plans at the above URL that says that the minimum 2 year wireless service plan and activation fee will be required to activate "iPhone features" including "iPod".

Wow, I'm actually very impressed with the rate plans! Its very affordable.

Should have noted this in my previous comment.....this looks like without the initial activation through iTunes this thing will pretty much be a brick, since they're tying the activation to the iPod and iPhone features (assuming that includes the web stuff as well). However I wonder if I stop paying AT&T;after the initial activation will the iPhone turn back into a brick or just a very expensive iPod?

Anyone notice the iphone in this video has 74gigs of space. Look at storage bar at end of video

AT&T;does not NEED anyone's social security number. That's your government retirement account and unless they are going to deposit money on your behalf like your employer does, then there is no reason for it especially in this day of identity theft.

Make your voice be heard! Don't provide an SSN just because someone asks for it. WHY do they need it? HOW are they going to protect it 100% (answer: they can't!). Or use 000-00-0000.

Apple and AT&T;are getting this iPhone thing right all the way. This is going to be big! They went all they way with unlimited data included at 59.95. I'm paying 49.95 just for the stinky voice line!

@Riley - that is the space on the hard drive.

Activating the iPhone with iTunes & therefore linking it to an Apple account, makes me wonder if this will help prevent stolen iPhones from being updated through another account if you report yours stolen.

Just a thought.

The real news here is the use of iTunes to activate the phone, This seems to be a big tech demo to the recording/movie industry. If this works as advertised it will open up many more posibilities for services to be rendered through the IMS. Cutting down brick and mortar expences is the key to profit making in this low margin arena.

p.s. MBP+20"+CS3 Suite is on order today, Yes!

The video shows a iphone with 74 gig of capacity!!!!!!

I want that one!

80 Gig iPHONE? Did anyone else see that at the end when they displayed the summary of media??? Someone please verify this... At the beginning it says 7.5 Gigs... But when they upload content the summary displays 74.40 Gigs.... Wouldn't that be great!!!!

dan I'm in 100% agreement. That line about the social security # was the first thing I noticed in that article.

>RC. With the do-it-yourself activation, what keeps these things from ending up on eBay for ridiculous prices? It's going to be just like the PS3 and Wii all over again....>


Why do you care?

http://acupo.com/?p=17

80GB iPhone seen in sync video.

Yea, whats up with the 80 gig capacity. ???? Error or is there something coming that we do not know about??? With Steve, you never know. LOL

I expect a flurry of stupid people - primarily Window users who will be left stumped on the activation process...oops, sorry..(speakin outloud)

Folks, any idea what happens to iPod functionality at the end of 2-yr contract? does it become a brick without a valid contract?
Just thinking off 'hand-me down' option after two years

Second item.

The 2 year activation is back. Whats up with that?? Also, if I already have a plan with ATT, then does it extend for two years?? or is it just continue like it is????

And didn't they drop the two year activiation required from the ads???

This requires more info. I can see a cheap plan cause you do not get a subed phone, you pay full price, so why do you need a two year plan??? Fishy fishy ATT.

en

USB2?!? I don't have no stinkin USB2 on my TiPB! How am I going to activate my iPhone, which I plan on getting on Friday?

Now if Apple will just track the serial number of the iPhone to the one who purchases it. To activate you must have an iTune account = personal information. I hope that Apple will be able to track down and help prosecute iPhone thieves.

Okay, yeah, total verification on the 80 GB iPhone in the video. Either they have one last big surprise for us, or the PR department made a big blunder. I wouldn't want THIS Steve to throw a chair at me.

@ Harrison - you beat me to it, but I noticed that as well. Amazing! Wonder if they just used an 80gb ipod for that screen.
http://www.flashforwardmedia.com/static/iphone_itunes_status.png

Nukeman,

Did you ever have a cellphone for longer than two years? It continues to work!

Activation of iPhone seems to be a process more-or-less identical to the installation and setting up of Mac OS X on Macs. You provide your user name, your personal details, you 'egister your OS with Apple (online or off) and only then you're allowed to get into Finder. It seems that here you have the same ting. The phone needs to be personalised before you can get to its equivalent of Mac OS X Finder. In order to do this, you must sign up with a plan, get a phone number (transfer an old, or get a new one), provide your name, associate the phone with a copy of iTunes on one and ONLY ONE computer, and you're ready.

You can stop paying AT&T;after this and the device will work exactly as specified. You just won't be able to use any phone-related features unless you 1. put in a SIM card with an active account, or 2. continue paying for your original account.

This means that you could, hypothetically, buy the phone, sign up for a cheap plan, break your contract, pay early termination and then use the phone with any other AT&T;SIM card, until there is an unlock procedure, that is. Once there is an unlock, you can unlock it and put a T-Mobile, Vodafone, O-2 SIM and use whatever features the network would support.

If you already have an AT&T;account, you can transfer the old number (and sell the old phone), regardless of how early or late you are in your original two-year contract.

".... I can see a cheap plan cause you do not get a subed phone, you pay full price, so why do you need a two year plan??? Fishy fishy ATT. "

---------------------

Because with unlimited data, all of these plans are about $20 to $30 less than they'd cost on any other carrier.

$20 to $30 a month savings over a two year period is between $480 and $720. So basically, the iPhone is SUBSIDIZED.

being that we Apple heads literally salivate over every last detail -- I have to saw with confidence that this is a post-production mistake, I'm sure they were using stock footage of a 80Gb iPod and whomever approved this video missed this blatant mistake...let's just hope Steve J doesn't fire this production company.

Holy cow, Way to go Apple!! Way to remove one of the most annoying processes in purchasing a cell phone!

Hey, KenC:
Here's what you need for your TiPB:

http://www.bixnet.com/2poruspcmcic.html

@Predrag

Yes, my Nokia 6210 is going strong in its 4+ year! Other than replacing the battery, it works fine. I do keep/use a 2nd phone which I tend to change yearly and then pass on as contract expires and new contract comes with new phone.
No, not wasting money on the two phones since the 1st one is on unexpirable (i.e. top-ups don't expire after a limited time) pay-as-you-go credits and doesn't cost me anything to run as I use it for incoming calls only. Once/if its croaks, the Nokia 6125 will take its place (and its SIM and so on and so forth.

Still weird, though.. as it's clearly shown on the iPhone screen (w/ the iPhone tabs at the top). I guess it's just a build-it-yourself image background?

Doubly weird 'cuz it shows 7GB, then "zooms in" to the "syncing" bar, then "zooms out" to the full screen and into the free-space readout where it's now 80GB. No "cuts" so I guess that means it's not an actual live demo of the product?

I don't get it, where's the credit check?

Do they perform the credit check before you even leave the store?

No, they don't perform the credit check in the store, unless you want activation in the store. Credit check is done by AT&T;online, during the plan sign-up process. From iTunes, you fill out form with your personal data, including SSN, the system performs your credit check and, if OK, proceeds to create your AT&T;mobile account. You get your new number (or initiate transfer of the old one) and complete the setup of the phone. Simple and straightforward.

I switched service from my Samsung to my Treo myself via the Verizon website.

Is it just me or does anyone else also thinks iTunes is getting too bloated? It was a simple music player and organizer. Coupling it with iPod to manage it was a great idea. However, since then it has gained iTunes Store and video playback and it is used to sync AddressBook, photos, games and other stuff. Now it gained yet another function: iPhone activation. iTunes is no longer about tunes. I think it's time Apple offers a slimmer version alongside and let people choose which version they need. Or split iTunes before it gets too bloated.

Small type: activation fee. Anyone know how much. Didn't see it anywhere. And does monthly bill come offa the same card used for the itunes account, or do you get a paper snail mail bill?


mdn mw: only, as in, these are my only questions right now.

36 bucks activation. found it on NYT

authorize their credit

Well, that leaves me out, as I don't have a credit history. I've had a Virgin Mobile phone for 6 years. Apple or AT&T;needs to do something like a prepaid service, before the credit industry totally owns everyone. They should know there's millions of people with prepaid phones, and that's how much potential business Apple will be missing for the iPhone. Even a deposit, like utility companies and landline phone companies do for new accounts. Apple, please get free of the Credit Mafia.

@ Dan and Tommy Boy,

The SSN is for the credit check...I suppose if you have bad credit they won't activate your phone.