Apple says iPhone can be activated by users at home
Apple and AT&T Inc. said Tuesday that iPhone users will be able to activate their new iPhones using Apple's popular iTunes software running on a PC or Mac computer in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated.
Activating iPhone takes only minutes as iTunes guides the user through simple steps to choose their service plan, authorize their credit and activate their iPhone, Apple said. Once iPhone is activated, users can then easily sync all of their phone numbers and other contact information, calendars, email accounts, web browser bookmarks, music, photos, podcasts, TV shows and movies just like they do when they sync their iPods with iTunes.
"Users will be able to activate their new iPhone in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "There are tens of millions of people in the US who already know how to sync their iPods with iTunes, and syncing their new iPhone with iTunes works the same way."
iPhone, which goes on sale at 6:00 p.m. (local time) on Friday, June 29 at AT&T and Apple retail stores, introduces an entirely new user interface based on a revolutionary multi-touch display and pioneering new software that allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers.
The device combines three products into one small and lightweight handheld device -- a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and the Internet in your pocket with applications phone for email, web browsing and maps. It will be available in a 4GB model for $499 (US) and an 8GB model for $599 (US), and will work with either a PC or Mac.
iPhone activation will require an Internet connection; an iTunes Store account or a major credit card; a valid Social Security number (as required by AT&T); the latest version of iTunes; and a PC or Mac with a USB 2.0 port and one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later; Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later; or Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Enterprise or Ultimate Edition.
iPhone will require a new two-year AT&T service plan. Customers with existing AT&T accounts will have the option of keeping their existing phone number and upgrading their account to work with iPhone, Apple added.
An iPhone Activation and Sync video has been posted at Apple.com.
Activating iPhone takes only minutes as iTunes guides the user through simple steps to choose their service plan, authorize their credit and activate their iPhone, Apple said. Once iPhone is activated, users can then easily sync all of their phone numbers and other contact information, calendars, email accounts, web browser bookmarks, music, photos, podcasts, TV shows and movies just like they do when they sync their iPods with iTunes.
"Users will be able to activate their new iPhone in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "There are tens of millions of people in the US who already know how to sync their iPods with iTunes, and syncing their new iPhone with iTunes works the same way."
iPhone, which goes on sale at 6:00 p.m. (local time) on Friday, June 29 at AT&T and Apple retail stores, introduces an entirely new user interface based on a revolutionary multi-touch display and pioneering new software that allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers.
The device combines three products into one small and lightweight handheld device -- a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and the Internet in your pocket with applications phone for email, web browsing and maps. It will be available in a 4GB model for $499 (US) and an 8GB model for $599 (US), and will work with either a PC or Mac.
iPhone activation will require an Internet connection; an iTunes Store account or a major credit card; a valid Social Security number (as required by AT&T); the latest version of iTunes; and a PC or Mac with a USB 2.0 port and one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later; Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later; or Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Enterprise or Ultimate Edition.
iPhone will require a new two-year AT&T service plan. Customers with existing AT&T accounts will have the option of keeping their existing phone number and upgrading their account to work with iPhone, Apple added.
An iPhone Activation and Sync video has been posted at Apple.com.
Comments
Yea yea yea I know, it WONT be easy to unlock but lets not confuse things with the FACTS since the people over there certainly wont...
I guess this question has some merit even without unlocking since I would imagine this would allow someone to buy an iPhone for someone else without having to commit to any service contract in their own name.
Dave
Also, what about Vista Basic users? The article above doesn't say Vista Basic users can activate from home.
What about number portability for people not using ATT presently? The above article doesn't make it sound possible.
Also, what about Vista Basic users? The article above doesn't say Vista Basic users can activate from home.
Are they not legally required to provide this, now?
What about number portability for people not using ATT presently? The above article doesn't make it sound possible.
Yeah -- we're working on this. It's NOT clear from the PR. Kind of frustrating.
K
Also since you can not buy these things outright there is absolutely no need to have an iPhone service contract or iPhone pre-paid account because in theory there will be no iPhone not linked to a contract. Good luck to all those ebay people. There isn't even word at the moment if you will be able to transfer iPhone contracts between people.
As to will you be able to start using the other features of iPhone without first registering. I think it will be like what you get with Mac OS X or Windows XP/VISTA after an install or when you boot your machine for the first time. You simply can not get started with the phone until certain setup steps are taken.
Good luck finding a way around this.
I have to be strong. I am not buying an iPhone...especially on Friday...even though there are several AT&T stores nearby. I might.
I am not buying an iPhone...especially on Friday...even though there are several AT&T stores nearby. I might.
Does this man has WILLPOWER or WHAT!
I'm NOT buying it...
Well not on Friday...
Well...
Dave
What about number portability for people not using ATT presently? The above article doesn't make it sound possible.
Also, what about Vista Basic users? The article above doesn't say Vista Basic users can activate from home.
Apparently you CAN do it via iTunes -- transfer your number. Now that is pretty cool:
(Now we know why Apple recommended that users download iTunes if they want to use the iPhone. The bottom line is, this is is going to be substantially an "Apple product-use" experience [rather than an ATT experience], from the user's standpoint. The SPs are being rightfully put in their place. Finally, they are being told that they are just the providers of pipes/infrastructure through which we can finally begin to enjoy cell phones. It totally shatters the current model, which is sort of like an electric utility controlling which appliance I can use at what price for what use-type plans they approved!).
What about number portability for people not using ATT presently? The above article doesn't make it sound possible.
Also, what about Vista Basic users? The article above doesn't say Vista Basic users can activate from home.
The "activation video" shows that one of the steps is for porting your number over if you choose to. you put in the number, the account number and your zip.
nice because that can be such a pain in the ass.
I don't think they can since you're not going to be signing any contract (at the Apple store anyway)... but who knows.
You may be asked to sign on such a contract electronically on the first time you attempt to sync/activate the iPhone with iTunes. It is likely that without this activation the phone will not b e fully operational.
But, I would assume that there are folks out there that will do whatever they can in order to bypass the various roadblocks that Apple/AT&T setup
the devil is in the details.
:: update: doh! too late ::
Apple and AT&T Inc. said Tuesday that iPhone users will be able to activate their new iPhones using Apple's popular iTunes software running on a PC or Mac computer in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated.
After watching the activation video, it really confirms what Steve said right from the beginning?i.e., Revolutionary
I just watched the newly posted Activation video for iPhone on Apple.com. Did anyone else notice that in the sequence showing sync your data ( addresses, music, etc) the capacity size is the same as a 80 gig iPod... am I seeing things????
noticed that too. wtf...weird.
noticed that too. wtf...weird.
Maybe the Number One Secret Feature!! is that it's really 40gb and 80gb iPhones, rather than 4 and 8
"If you terminate this Agreement before expiration of your Service
Commitment, you will pay Cingular an Early Terminatin Fee of $175 for
each wireless telephone number associated with this service. To
terminate this agreement, call customer service."
It is safe to assume that the iPhone will not be usable as far as syncing content from iTunes until it is activated. Not sure whether they would disable syncing through iTunes if you terminated your agreement though.