AT&T: iPhone pre-sales will not be allowed

[AppleInsider]

In a pre-launch channel communications sales brief to its retail stores, wireless carrier AT&T has instructed employees not to form wait lists or conduct pre-sales for Apple's upcoming iPhone.

According to the internal document published at the BoyGeniusReport blog, the world's largest wireless carrier will soon provide its staffers with web based training, workbooks and other iPhone product overviews to help in preparation for next month's launch.

The memo also includes the following notes of interest:
"The exact date has not been announced, specific dates should not be provided to customers.""Sales for the iPhone will be on a first come, first served basis.No wait lists of names will be taken and NO pre-selling is allowed."Two models of the iPhone will be available, a 4GB will retail at $499 and an 8GB will retail at $599.""If asked what the price will be, answer that the prices have been announced as $499 for the 4G and $599 for the 8G, respectively.""There should NOT be any additional speculation/discusson about pricing.""AT&T will be the only wireless carrier in the U.S. launching the iPhone and will have exclusivity for the foreseeable future."
For those interested, a copy of the two-page memo can be seen in its entirety on the following page.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[david_oc]

Sounds like this is the answer to all those stories which began:

A sales rep in my local Cingular/AT&T store said...

[EagerDragon]

I come up blank on the image for some reason.

[EagerDragon]

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/Documents/iPhoneATT.pdf

[kenaustus]

Pre-sales will not be allowed, but if your friend or family member works in one of those stores you'll find one waiting for you. The paperwork will have been filled out before and you won't even need to be first in line.

Speaking of lines, it will be interesting to see how many lines develop for the store opening on the first day. Apple Stores will probably have the best supply and the longest lines.

[floccus]

"There should NOT be any additional speculation/discusson about pricing."

Sounds like there's going to be some nice pricing deals going on after the launch when sales start to cool off. And I wonder how many people are going to buy insurance and have their friend "steal" their phone from them so they can get a new one and sell the "old" one to europe or asia???

[michaelb]

No indication on "real" price? That is, what you commit for when signing up on a 2 year voice and data plan.

Am I correct in thinking that no one can walk into a store, pay $499 and come out with an iPhone WITHOUT having also signed up for a $___ 2-year plan?

So, everyone knows that the iPhone is $499/$599, but what does an iPhone + plan cost?

[pmjoe]

I seriously doubt demand is going to outweigh supply in this case. The hardware itself has probably already been in production for some time. Plus, this device is cost prohibitive for most people. Not to mention that given its unique interface, many are going to want to try before they buy. Anyone who thinks there are going to be lines of people waiting to buy a $600+contract phone outside of a handful of major metro stores is going to be sadly mistaken.

[Louzer]

Originally Posted by floccus

"There should NOT be any additional speculation/discusson about pricing."

Sounds like there's going to be some nice pricing deals going on after the launch when sales start to cool off. And I wonder how many people are going to buy insurance and have their friend "steal" their phone from them so they can get a new one and sell the "old" one to europe or asia???

Well, since the US versions won't be G3, they won't be much use in Europe or Asia. And your faith in human nature is great. Apparently the big apple fans who are clamoring for the iPhone are also big thieves who have no morals! Woohoo! Can't wait for the mac/pc commercial!

[k squared]

Originally Posted by kenaustus

Pre-sales will not be allowed, but if your friend or family member works in one of those stores you'll find one waiting for you. The paperwork will have been filled out before and you won't even need to be first in line.

I wonder if there are no pre-sales because the iPhone hasn't been FCC approved yet?

[drhamad]

Originally Posted by michaelb

No indication on "real" price? That is, what you commit for when signing up on a 2 year voice and data plan.

Am I correct in thinking that no one can walk into a store, pay $499 and come out with an iPhone WITHOUT having also signed up for a $___ 2-year plan?

So, everyone knows that the iPhone is $499/$599, but what does an iPhone + plan cost?

Supposedly, that is the price WITH plan. In other words, the price will not be reduced based on a 2-year contract, because it is available ONLY with a 2-year contract.

Originally Posted by floccus

"There should NOT be any additional speculation/discusson about pricing."

Sounds like there's going to be some nice pricing deals going on after the launch when sales start to cool off. And I wonder how many people are going to buy insurance and have their friend "steal" their phone from them so they can get a new one and sell the "old" one to europe or asia???

Or it could be an indication that there is no new deals in the pipeline, and they don't want people holding off purchases based on bs information.

[kisin]

Did anyone else notice the "your music, your way" deal? can this mean music downloads from at&t? or iTunes via cellular network? I tought the only way to put music into your iPhone was through iTunes.

Kisin

[Elixir]

how much is this phone going to cost with a plan? it better be 599 with a 2 year commitment, cuz if not thats bull and this thing wont sell

[fastred]

Originally Posted by pmjoe

I seriously doubt demand is going to outweigh supply in this case. The hardware itself has probably already been in production for some time. Plus, this device is cost prohibitive for most people. Not to mention that given its unique interface, many are going to want to try before they buy. Anyone who thinks there are going to be lines of people waiting to buy a $600+contract phone outside of a handful of major metro stores is going to be sadly mistaken.

Well... we only have to wait and see, don't we. It will be interesting to see

J.

[freelander51]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

According to the internal document published at the BoyGeniusReport blog, the world's largest wireless carrier will soon....

Now wouldn't that be China Mobile in all honesty ? 45 Mio customers is certainly a large number - but it still does not make it the largest.

Even Telefonica, Orange, Vodafone and DoCoMo have more cutsomers

[ericson1149]

THIS IS FAKE. For a corporate communications bulletin, this sure is sloppily put together. I'm a graphic designer who works for a large company and I produce these types of collateral in a routine basis. This is not how corporate bulletins are sent out, especially if we're talking about the size and scope of AT&T distribution channels, right down to the store.

Download the PDF and look closer:
#1. At the bottom section, under "Key Facts:" section, first bullet (the dot) is red but bullets one and two are black. Why?
#2. On the third bullet, second sentence, the word "respectively" should have a period to end the sentence. And why is this inconsistently green instead of red, per two previous bullets?
#3. Last bullet, last word -- why is the period in red instead of green?
#4. Overall, sentences are inconsistently spaced -- most double-space, some single-space after each period.
#5. Under "Key Selling Points:" section, fourth line bullet -- why is "User Interface" capitalized?
#6. Most printed internal communications are in black & white (except for the masthead which are pre-printed, so we call them 'shells' in printing lingo).

I find it hard to believe that an internal communications writer (or graphic designer/production artist) would send out this bulletin with all the errors I mentioned above. Like most companies, AT&T has a writing style-guide for branding purposes and this sales bulletin doesn't cut it.

[ThunkDifferent.com]

I have been reading that people are all over e-bay with this baby. It will interesting to read what is happening to those people and what the auction giant will do about it.

http://ThunkDifferent.com

[CoolHandPete]

Originally Posted by drhamad

Supposedly, that is the price WITH plan. In other words, the price will not be reduced based on a 2-year contract, because it is available ONLY with a 2-year contract.

I'm considering waiting in line and buying an iPhone and turning it over on eBay - I figure I'll do somebody's work by waiting in line for them and make a little extra for my efforts.

Will it be possible to purchase the iPhone without activating it, so I could sell it to someone else? How would that work?

Thanks for your help -

[melgross]

Originally Posted by freelander51

Now wouldn't that be China Mobile in all honesty ? 45 Mio customers is certainly a large number - but it still does not make it the largest.

Even Telefonica, Orange, Vodafone and DoCoMo have more cutsomers

How about the 62 million customers that it really has?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by ericson1149

THIS IS FAKE. For a corporate communications bulletin, this sure is sloppily put together. I'm a graphic designer who works for a large company and I produce these types of collateral in a routine basis. This is not how corporate bulletins are sent out, especially if we're talking about the size and scope of AT&T distribution channels, right down to the store.

Download the PDF and look closer:
#1. At the bottom section, under "Key Facts:" section, first bullet (the dot) is red but bullets one and two are black. Why?
#2. On the third bullet, second sentence, the word "respectively" should have a period to end the sentence. And why is this inconsistently green instead of red, per two previous bullets?
#3. Last bullet, last word -- why is the period in red instead of green?
#4. Overall, sentences are inconsistently spaced -- most double-space, some single-space after each period.
#5. Under "Key Selling Points:" section, fourth line bullet -- why is "User Interface" capitalized?
#6. Most printed internal communications are in black & white (except for the masthead which are pre-printed, so we call them 'shells' in printing lingo).

I find it hard to believe that an internal communications writer (or graphic designer/production artist) would send out this bulletin with all the errors I mentioned above. Like most companies, AT&T has a writing style-guide for branding purposes and this sales bulletin doesn't cut it.

Nothing you've said proves it isn't real.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by CoolHandPete

I'm considering waiting in line and buying an iPhone and turning it over on eBay - I figure I'll do somebody's work by waiting in line for them and make a little extra for my efforts.

Will it be possible to purchase the iPhone without activating it, so I could sell it to someone else? How would that work?

Thanks for your help -

No to everything.

[CoolHandPete]

Originally Posted by melgross

No to everything.

I don't understand. (Obviously, since I asked the question, "No to everything" doesn't enlighten me.)

What would be the problem with buying an iPhone for someone else (i.e., an eBay buyer) and allowing that person to activate it? Is the "no" because of a logistical limitation? AT&T and Apple get their money regardless, right?

Or must phones be purchased by the end user? If so, I guess it's one of the only products that cannot be bought as a gift -

Maybe it isn't possible - I'd just like to understand why not.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by CoolHandPete

I don't understand. (Obviously, since I asked the question, "No to everything" doesn't enlighten me.)

What would be the problem with buying an iPhone for someone else (i.e., an eBay buyer) and allowing that person to activate it? Is the "no" because of a logistical limitation? AT&T and Apple get their money regardless, right?

Or must phones be purchased by the end user? If so, I guess it's one of the only products that cannot be bought as a gift -

Maybe it isn't possible - I'd just like to understand why not.

It can't be easily done. You don't buy the phone. You subscribe to the service, and THEN buy the phone.

Now you have the service and the phone.

So, now what?

[CoolHandPete]

Originally Posted by melgross

It can't be easily done. You don't buy the phone. You subscribe to the service, and THEN buy the phone.

Now you have the service and the phone.

So, now what?

I get it. That's clever. So much for my get-quasi-rich-quick idea. And here I was, willing to sacrifice myself to wait in line for someone who was just dying to get an iPhone on opening day but just isn't able to endure the excruciating torture of being around other Apple fanatics...

Just wait till the Playstation 4 comes out...

[CRHain88]

Huh,

I'm wondering if this is just for AT&T stores, or if this is applied to Apple's web site as well. But hey, if I have to camp outside of my apple-store, I've got a fiend with a tent.

I would assume that Apple would let us pre-order as soon as they get the okay. Just maybe because cingular's stores are so chocked full of other garbage that they won't have room to hold pre-orders plus walk ins?

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by ericson1149

THIS IS FAKE. For a corporate communications bulletin, this sure is sloppily put together. I'm a graphic designer who works for a large company and I produce these types of collateral in a routine basis. This is not how corporate bulletins are sent out, especially if we're talking about the size and scope of AT&T distribution channels, right down to the store.

Download the PDF and look closer:
#1. At the bottom section, under "Key Facts:" section, first bullet (the dot) is red but bullets one and two are black. Why?
#2. On the third bullet, second sentence, the word "respectively" should have a period to end the sentence. And why is this inconsistently green instead of red, per two previous bullets?
#3. Last bullet, last word -- why is the period in red instead of green?
#4. Overall, sentences are inconsistently spaced -- most double-space, some single-space after each period.
#5. Under "Key Selling Points:" section, fourth line bullet -- why is "User Interface" capitalized?
#6. Most printed internal communications are in black & white (except for the masthead which are pre-printed, so we call them 'shells' in printing lingo).

I find it hard to believe that an internal communications writer (or graphic designer/production artist) would send out this bulletin with all the errors I mentioned above. Like most companies, AT&T has a writing style-guide for branding purposes and this sales bulletin doesn't cut it.

Excellent observations! Really.

[nevenmrgan]

Originally Posted by ericson1149

THIS IS FAKE. For a corporate communications bulletin, this sure is sloppily put together.

Count your blessings for working in a company where corporate communication is subject to serious quality control. It is certainly not the norm.

I could pick apart Cingular's official iPhone webpage in this manner for hours. It says to me that their design department receives very brief notes on the iPhone info they're allowed to publicize. That being so, it's probably handed off to a designer without going through the rest of the process where the AD and the marketing people carefully put together the whole campaign. All the iPhone promo material coming from Cingular has been really poorly put together. I'm not saying that proves this bulletin is real, but its lousiness certainly doesn't prove it's fake.