According to an AT&T executive, Apple’s new 3G-capable iPhone will initially be sold only at AT&T and Apple stores, and will require a 10 to 12-minute in-store activation, a procedure that could create long purchase lines and crowded stores. Currently, iPhones are activated after purchase through a buyer’s iTunes software application, skipping the uncomfortable wait that’s typical of cellular phone purchases. In statements to Gizmodo, AT&T president of national distribution Glenn Lurie said that iPhones will be activated before the buyer leaves the store, eliminating unregistered iPhones. If true, the in-store activation process also means that Apple’s packaging will change, to allow quick access to the iPhone at the store, while retaining a customer’s “delight” while unboxing the product. There’s been no confirmation of Lurie’s account by Apple. Update: A later report by BoyGeniusReport states that iPhone 3G buyers must only commit to a service plan before leaving a store, but do not also have to perform a plug-in while in the store to activate the iPhone. Instead, they could activate the phone later using iTunes.
Also read...
|
e-mail this story
There will be a kiosk type section in apple stores for this with a dedicated iMac or Specialists will be able to activate it over wi-fi using the ez-pay. I’m venturing it’s the first method - which will create a lot of detractors during the apple store experience.
In the UK the only places listed to buy the iphone 3G are O2 and carphone warehouse - the implication seems that apple stores may not be selling the new iphone due to the activation process?
Check the link which makes no reference to the apple stores.
Similar scenario in Canada. Apple has Rogers and Fido stores listed as the only places to buy the iPhone (so far). If this is true, I certainly don’t understand why Apple would ever agree to this. iPhones, I’m sure, are contributing to the halo effect we are seeing with their Mac products. Wouldn’t they want to have as many iPhone buyers in their retail stores as possible?
Perhaps they used this as leverage with their carrier deals …
All I know is that I hate Rogers and Fido stores.
This rundown on iPhone sales and activation shows a lot of convoluted ideas about how you can get an iPhone, and must you activate it with (ugh!) ATT? I don’t know about your experience with ATT, but I went on vacation last year and missed a monthly payment and they SHUT DOWN my iPhone! They are doing this deactivation threat on HOME phones now with a computer genearted letter threatening deactivation! What is wrong with these Telecom LOONIES? Is ATT turning into Silicon Valley Pirate using deactivation as a gangplank? Anybody else angry with ATT?
Wow Mike. You didn’t pay your bill and they cut off your service? How DARE they! They should just give it away free I until customers decide to pay, right? Okay okay… I’m being sarcastic but really, they don’t care if you were on vacation. They only know you didn’t pay.
All this about in-store activation reall doesn’t matter does it? An extra 15 minutes to make sure everything works sounds good to me. I’ll bet there were plenty of 1st day buyers last time around who wished they left the store with a working iPhone rather than gotten home only to realize it didnt work properly. This one extra step at point of sale only makes a difference to those who want to use the new iPhone for other uses that are not exactly keeping with the hardware/software agreement. And screw them!
