Apple retail chief details Friday's iPhone 3G launch procedures

[AppleInsider]

Speaking to Bloomberg on Tuesday, Apple retail chief Ron Johnson offered some clarity on how his retail staffers will service droves of queued iPhone 3G hopefuls this Friday, how long each activation will take, and what kind of supply stores will have on hand.

A list of data points from Johnson's interview follow:
Apple Specialists should be able to activate customer accounts with AT&T within 15 minutes. "Our expectation is that in 10 to 15 minutes, you'll be set up and ready to go," Johnson said.
Each of Apple's 185 US-based retail stores aim to handle about 100 customers an hour.
Apple Specialists will take 30 customers at a time from the line, bring them inside the store, activate their iPhones, then repeat.
While Apple aims to make sure the activation process is a quick and painless process, it will also take care not to rush customers during their buying experience. "We'll spend as long as it takes with our customers to make sure they're happy with the phone,'' Johnson said.
On the issue of supply, Johnson said: "[There's] pent-up demand because we haven't had phones for a while. Our goal is to always have enough supply for every customer." Readers can read into that what they will...
"To make sure customers aren't buying handsets to resell overseas or modify them for use on unauthorized wireless networks, Apple will require customers to pay with a credit card and supply a Social Security number so the device is activated immediately."
Apple has no current plans to offer the iPhone 3G through its online store, Johnson said.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[norton]

Still no information on whether there is a limit per customer

[l008com]

Since you have to activate every phone you buy right then and there, there probably won't be much demand for people buying 10 at once etc

[JuNxXxReY]

I've called three different Apple stores, and they've given me three different answers. Here's my situation: I'm eligible for an upgrade, but the account is NOT under my name. However, I am an authorized user, which I have confirmed with AT&T. My question is, would I still be able to go to the Apple store and purchase an iPhone on the day of the launch without the main account holder being there? Basically, would the main account holder need to be there or would they be able to verify with AT&T that I am an authorized user and sell me a phone? I would rather go to an Apple store for the launch than wait at an AT&T store and have them run out of stock. Thank you in advance.

[mbene12]

I stilll dont understand why they wont sell them through their online store for say $550 or some such. I am not a big fan of any one service provider, and if there were people who were unlocking them when they were 600 there will be more at any price lower than that. It really seems AT&T is getting the better part of this deal imo. AAPL is gettin a nice subsidy per phone but the loss of the monthly revenue has to offset that nearly completely. Add to that the fact that AT&T is sooooo lackluster in advertising the phone (making AAPL do it at their expense) and I just cant help but to wonder why they are still honoring the exclusivity contract. Is AT&T the only 3G US provider out there?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by JuNxXxReY

I've called three different Apple stores, and they've given me three different answers. Here's my situation: I'm eligible for an upgrade, but the account is NOT under my name. However, I am an authorized user, which I have confirmed with AT&T. My question is, would I still be able to go to the Apple store and purchase an iPhone on the day of the launch without the main account holder being there? Basically, would the main account holder need to be there or would they be able to verify with AT&T that I am an authorized user and sell me a phone? I would rather go to an Apple store for the launch than wait at an AT&T store and have them run out of stock. Thank you in advance.

IF they are doing it like AT&T, the authorized user needs to have an ID as proof o how they are AND know the last four SSN of the main account holder. The second party on my AT&T account has never had to supply more than that. Of course, that may not carry over to Apple Stores. I think we'll just have to wait until Friday to get reports.

[l008com]

I hope some 2G iPhones make it to the apple onlien refurb store soon. Screw $75/mo

[raghupro]

guys this might sound a bit irrelevant to the topic but can anyone plz let me know when i can make a purchase without any waiting in long queues ans stuff?? my brother is working and he will be buying an iphone for me.. but i dont think he will leave his job and wait for so long to get me an iphone..

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by mbene12

I stilll dont understand why they wont sell them through their online store for say $550 or some such.

It might simply be a supply issue. There is at least memo that you will not be able to buy the iPhone in AT&T or Apple Stores for the full retail price of $599 and $699 right away. They maybe worried that the people buying these devices without a contract will be shipping them overseas to the 200 countries that aren't getting them come Friday.

This might change after the sales die down or Apple realizes they have enough supply. The cheaper solution by $124 to get a contractually-free iPhone is get it with AT&T and then pay the cancelation fee. This still won't get you an unlocked iPhone, you can only get a factory unlocked device through a few EU countries as it's required by law. It will soon be unlocked by savvy hackers, but you can still only use it with AT&T in the US if you want to benefit from 3G speeds.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by raghupro

guys this might sound a bit irrelevant to the topic but can anyone plz let me know when i can make a purchase without any waiting in long queues ans stuff?? my brother is working and he will be buying an iphone for me.. but i dont think he will leave his job and wait for so long to get me an iphone..

Are you wanting us to ring you when there are no lines or look into the future? You're best bet is to, this week, look up the phone numbers for all the AT&T and Apple Stores in your area so you can call them just before you plan to leave to see if they have lines, how long the wait is, and if they have any stock left.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by l008com

I hope some 2G iPhones make it to the apple onlien refurb store soon. Screw $75/mo

What's wrong with Craigslist?

[ravedog]

Originally Posted by raghupro

guys this might sound a bit irrelevant to the topic but can anyone plz let me know when i can make a purchase without any waiting in long queues ans stuff?? my brother is working and he will be buying an iphone for me.. but i dont think he will leave his job and wait for so long to get me an iphone..

According to Apple's page on "Things you will need to bring" to purchase the iPhone and activate it that "you will need to have a credit card, your social security number, a valid government-issued photo ID, and your current wireless account number and password or PIN (if you’re new to AT&T)." In other words, they do NOT want people other than the account holder activating the phone. Fairly inconvenient, but I cannot remember the last time I activated a phone where they didn't at least ask for a SSN.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by raghupro

guys this might sound a bit irrelevant to the topic but can anyone plz let me know when i can make a purchase without any waiting in long queues ans stuff?? my brother is working and he will be buying an iphone for me.. but i dont think he will leave his job and wait for so long to get me an iphone..

Wait for a week or two.

[Wildcat_1]

I am a little confused here. He stated no purchase from online store yet I heard that corp users had to go through online ??????

[onceuponamac]

Originally Posted by Wildcat_1

I am a little confused here. He stated no purchase from online store yet I heard that corp users had to go through online ??????

no - unfortunately- corp users have to go to ATT...

[Wildcat_1]

I have no real issues with going to an Apple or AT&T store except that as a corporate account user with a FAN account number we have to go through Premier as we cannot sign new agreements in the store. So now this could put a stop to a number of CRUs out there wanting the new unit

[lonestar1]

Originally Posted by JuNxXxReY

I've called three different Apple stores, and they've given me three different answers. Here's my situation: I'm eligible for an upgrade, but the account is NOT under my name. However, I am an authorized user, which I have confirmed with AT&T. My question is, would I still be able to go to the Apple store

If you're pushing the edge of the envelope in terms of AT&T signup procedures, you're probably better off going to the AT&T Store. The people there will be more experienced in handling exceptional situations. Especially on Friday, when many Apple Store employees will be dealing with AT&T stuff for the first time.

[nvidia2008]

What is the process for the UK? The UK will not be selling Pay-As-You-Go/ Pre-Paid until much, much later.

[wanchaiman]

Originally Posted by raghupro

guys this might sound a bit irrelevant to the topic but can anyone plz let me know when i can make a purchase without any waiting in long queues ans stuff?? my brother is working and he will be buying an iphone for me.. but i dont think he will leave his job and wait for so long to get me an iphone..

Come to Hong Kong a week later and you can get a new, sim-unlocked Iphone 3G

[l008com]

Originally Posted by cameronj

What's wrong with Craigslist?

The price. I want prices equal to or lower than 3G prices. Not super inflated prices.

[one9deuce]

Do you need an iTunes account to purchase a 3G iPhone? It seems as though it isn't needed with the new iPhone and the new way of activation.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by l008com

The price. I want prices equal to or lower than 3G prices. Not super inflated prices.

I saw iPhones on Craig's List last week for $250. That is $349 cheaper than the full retail price of the iPhone 3G; of couse you meant the subsidized price that requires a 2-year contract, but that is still only $51 over that price. But you seem to have missed the fact that there has been no supply of iPhones for over 2 months and constrained supplies before that. Perhaps if you wait until the 3G iPhone is actually released will you be able to find one for under $199 on Craig's List.

Originally Posted by one9deuce

Do you need an iTunes account to purchase a 3G iPhone? It seems as though it isn't needed with the new iPhone and the new way of activation.

Since they are activating it in the store, no. But if you want to add media from iTunes to it you will have to use iTunes. However, unlike the pre-v2.0 firmware you can now synchronize your bookmarks, contacts and calendars by simply having a MobileMe account, so for those that have absolutely no desire to use the iPod app you can forego iTunes altogether.

[johnmcboston]

With all the identity theft out there, now Apple wants a copy of your SSN??? nice.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by johnmcboston

With all the identity theft out there, now Apple wants a copy of your SSN??? nice.

apparently the system doesn't record it. to the point where if there was an error and they had to go back to the input screen to try again, the SS was missing and had to be typed back in.

i hope when Apple issues a statement of gratitude to the customers for the various issues they make Mr Retail Chief be the spokesman again. He really dropped the ball on the timing issue. Should have said "baring any account or system issues, the whole process should take about 15 minutes"

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by johnmcboston

With all the identity theft out there, now Apple wants a copy of your SSN??? nice.

In the US they require a credit check to finance products and services.