[iPhone 3G] Without AT&T Contract ?

[ahasnaini]

I myself called 1.800.MY.APPLE and asked if we would be forced to sign a 2-year contract with AT&T. They Replied "No,We will just give you the iPhone.Thou you can not use it without AT&T Contract"

In simple words you can buy iphone from Apple store without a contract.Then wait for an unlock to come and use it.
Anyone thinking this is bullshit can call themselves. I am so Happy :)

I know its hard to believe as it "Defies the law of economics" A/C to CPICH(iphone3g on irc.osx86.hu)

Give reps if you liked my post.

[riyadhNY]

man i think am in love with u.


now thats what i call GOOD news..

thanks man.

[wildonrio]

This isn't proof at all, gonna need a higher authority figure than an Apple phone tech.

[aranmor]

Well I just made 3 calls and this was the result:

1-800-my apple: the lady after "trying" to get some information regarding the contract she told me to that she didn't know anything about that and advised to call my local retail store for info.

store1: the girl there told me that she had no information about that and that not even the store manger knew anything

store2: the lady told me that I was not going to be able to walk out without signing a contract.

So what's the truth?



well I called like 4 more stores around the US, and none of them know anything about the contract since information on that hasn't been released yet, they advise to call earlier to july 11th, only a lady at a florida small town told me that "as of her understanding" they are going to handle it the same way as the edge iphone.

[keyexpres]

its seem good news, hopefully we can walk out the door without 2 yrs contract, otherwise i will boycott Iphone hehee

[fire88]

i seriously doubt AT&T will let you out of the store Apple or AT&T for that matter without a signed contract for the 3G iphone. They are certainly not out to give away money.

[Former Bender]

This isn't proof at all, gonna need a higher authority figure than an Apple phone tech.

That's why i removed the [Confirmed] in the title.

[bluerockuk1]

i seriously doubt AT&T will let you out of the store Apple or AT&T for that matter without a signed contract for the 3G iphone. They are certainly not out to give away money.

whilst I agree with you about At&T not letting you out of THEIR store without it being activated

Apple on the other hand can do what they want with their store. They want the unit volume sales and the iphones on the streets, unless they do get a commission kick back for each phone they connect then, they wont give a S**T. The press have already been reporting that Apple and AT&T have signed a new deal that sees the revenue sharing gone.

My OWN opinion

Apple stores will sell the iphones for the "Apple" stated prices $199/£99 but not offer any further subsidy on the handset like the operators like o2 have promised for FREE on high tariffs. You then go home and activate just you did with the current handset

[Former Bender]

The press have already been reporting that Apple and AT&T have signed a new deal that sees the revenue sharing gone.

They don't get money from monthly fees but from AT&T that subsidizes the phone.

When Apple sells the iPhone 3G (8GB) 199 USD, in fact they sell it more expensive but AT&T takes in charge a part of it by redistributing the money they get from the 2 years plan.

If Apple sell the phone without requiring the 2 years plan signature in their store, AT&T won't have any reason to pay them.
Steve is not stupid and he's not gonna let this happen.

[fire88]

Apple on the other hand can do what they want with their store. They want the unit volume sales and the iphones on the streets, unless they do get a commission kick back for each phone they connect then, they wont give a S**T. The press have already been reporting that Apple and AT&T have signed a new deal that sees the revenue sharing gone.

Iam not sure how other carriers outside the US operates, but here in the States, Apple wont be selling the 3G iphone at the pricing of US$199/US$299, if ATT wasnt SUBSIDIZING the phone.

Since there is an exclusivity contract between Apple and ATT on the Iphone, Apple will be playing by the rule of ATT on this new model Iphone, as i stated before ATT is not going to give money away. This can be different elsewhere just not in the US.

[bluerockuk1]

They don't get money from monthly fees but from AT&T that subsidizes the phone.

When Apple sells the iPhone 3G (8GB) 199 USD, in fact they sell it more expensive but AT&T takes in charge a part of it by redistributing the money they get from the 2 years plan.

If Apple sell the phone without requiring the 2 years plan signature in their store, AT&T won't have any reason to pay them.
Steve is not stupid and he's not gonna let this happen.

I really dont understand what you mean

There is 2 chains of thought on this subject

AT&T buy the handset from Apple at a higher price and then AT&T discount it and making there money back through monthly revenues.

AT&T buy the handset from Apple at the same price then AT&T make there money from the monthly airtime revenues.

So you may ask were to Apple make there money - well its very simple iTunes and App store, plus through repeat Apple sales

Both of these ideas are unconfirmed and we will never know. Also you must also appreciate that everyone does not live in the US and be tied to AT&T,

AT&T are saying no sales online, were as o2 in the UK are saying it will be available online at launch.

There will be all types of clauses to protect the operators and Apple. One type of clause that I am aware of (Not aware of in any Apple/Operator agreement)

That the phone manufacturer must make all responsible endeavors to ensure that phone locks are maintained. Also another one that I suspect they could employ here.

That if the ratio of connected handsets to not connected handsets exceeds X then Apple must pay the operator the subsidized element of the iphone back. This will then

This clause is used in my contacts were the risk of stock going missing due to high risk connections methods is used

[bluerockuk1]

Iam not sure how other carriers outside the US operates, but here in the States, Apple wont be selling the 3G iphone at the pricing of US$199/US$299, if ATT wasnt SUBSIDIZING the phone.

Since there is an exclusivity contract between Apple and ATT on the Iphone, Apple will be playing by the rule of ATT on this new model Iphone, as i stated before ATT is not going to give money away. This can be different elsewhere just not in the US.

o2 in the UK have exclusivity
Tmobile in Germany have exclusivity
Orange in France have exclusivity
Vodafone in swizleland have exclusivity

I could go on with this list, so just because its the USA, does not mean it will be any different AT&T are not the only carrier to have exclusivity on this handset

AT&T are not going to stock Apple stores with Apple products, unless they plan to put a AT&T sale point in there and man in themselves

Do you really think that Apple will let AT&T control them? I dont think so

Also I know its being reported that Apple and AT&T have signed a new deal that takes away the revenue sharing deal, I dont believe this is the case either.

[fire88]

obviously our points are not connecting. you might be right that Apple store in areas other than the US will sell the 3G Iphone without contract. my point is that this will not be the case in the US market.

you are right that the iphone will be sold at other markets, but within those market only one operator is exlcusive. Each operator might have a different term with Apple as to how they will proceed with the sell of the 3G Iphone.

All iam saying is that within this particular market (the US market) ATT will not allow it.

Even if Apple sells the 3G Iphone without a contract and lets say they do have to pay a certain amount back to ATT for phones not activiate for service. Where will Apple be getting those money back??? Certainly for sure we all know Apple isnt out to lose profit.

And i didnt say ATT is going to control Apple, if thats the case there would be rumors of ATT acquiring Apple all over the place. This is just how the US wireless market works.

[bluerockuk1]

obviously our points are not connecting. you might be right that Apple store in areas other than the US will sell the 3G Iphone without contract. my point is that this will not be the case in the US market.

based on what

its the same price around the world. Do you have it confirmed from AT&T

This may be your opinion -

This may be facts that you have

if this does turn out to be the case then the US customer will be on a loser here

[fire88]

LOL... you are totally right there. As the way it looks now the US customers are screwed.

and i based my opinion on that fact that i have been an authorized att reseller for the pass few year and i know how att business model work in the wireless market.

[bluerockuk1]

Regarding US customers being screwed

If this does happen then it wont take long for the importing to start and the measures in the US to stop unlocking to be totally broken

I suspect that if they do deploy this tactic then it will be worldwide

[aranmor]

and i based my opinion on that fact that i have been an authorized att reseller for the pass few year and i know how att business model work in the wireless market.

You are right fire, even the smallest regional wireless providers work the same way here in the states... it's like a regular model for all of them, the only thing that makes me think (and you tell me what you think being an att reseller) is how come that apple stores staff haven't received training for activation and att customer protocol if we are so close to launch? because none of them seem to even know how they will handle things that day according to my calls to stores around the US, sounds logical to me that it's not the same to sell apple products like ipods and macs than to sell wireless contracts with all the activation "problems" that could come up, or specific clients needs like "I want to keep my number and contacts but a new SIM" sort of things, correct me if i'm wrong since I've never worked neither an apple store or wireless provider retail store, just my 2 cents

[bluerockuk1]

You are right fire, even the smallest regional wireless providers work the same way here in the states... it's like a regular model for all of them, the only thing that makes me think (and you tell me what you think being an att reseller) is how come that apple stores staff haven't received training for activation and att customer protocol if we are so close to launch? because none of them seem to even know how they will handle things that day according to my calls to stores around the US, sounds logical to me that it's not the same to sell apple products like ipods and macs than to sell wireless contracts with all the activation "problems" that could come up, or specific clients needs like "I want to keep my number and contacts but a new SIM" sort of things, correct me if i'm wrong since I've never worked neither an apple store or wireless provider retail store, just my 2 cents

very good point, but how long do you think this will take to train out? 2- 3 days max

We are still a month away from launch and speaking with my local store in the UK, they have or have not been told about any o2 training

[aranmor]

or maybe they will asign carrier employees at apple stores just for some time while the rush goes, something like a booth or whatever, also there is always the "you need to go to an ATT store for that!" option

[fire88]

Their training to the resellers are takes about 3-5 hours and its not really a "Full Training Course" From my past experience they will mostly send out reps and "Train" the activation process. And i am sure it wont go smoothly, as it never does when their is a new rate plan.

But then activiating through itunes is pretty easy, iam sure Apple Programers will write up an easy UI for all the necessary info to be record, its the ATT activiation side of the system that iam betting on will have in issue.

[aranmor]

well maybe you can go home and activate there with itunes, but you can't leave without signing the dotted line

[idavid]

Its going to be same procedure as you have any other subsidized phones. You will sign the 2 year contract in store. AT&T will tether the phone in store or give you a cable to tether from you PC. If you purchase online same thing Apple will ship you only after you completed sign up of the 2 year ATT contract and once you receive it you can activate using itunes, if you fail to activate, ATT contract will charge ETF which will be $175 and also charge the discount (Subsidize $$) which may be $200. ATT will make sure this happen as they know iPhone users are desperate to do anything to avoid subscription. I am sure lawsuits will pop up soon ATT on this.