Here is the key to iPhone activation!!!

[DanUC6]

http://images.apple.com/chatterbox/us/2007/06/5326/img/itunes.gifTo set up your iPhone, you'll need an account with Apple's iTunes Store. If you already have an iTunes account, make sure you know your account name and password. If you don't have an account, you should set one up now to save time later. To set up an account, launch iTunes (http://insideapple.apple.com/redir/cbx-cgi.do?v=2&a=7jWWwWgze%2FfIuB0BYJyNzfWumHDWoKyDyfAEgq%2B5H38f Em51XLEf4y91JXWqfsdmBcxTsP8kKLkcEwKOdVIUwUSD6PvQlq O2KVey3nzxZONfeDvb%2FgTmHzAiFrJM5Id7), select the iTunes Store, and click the Sign In button in the upper right corner of iTunes. Sign in and you're ready to go.

***Taken from the email Apple sent

You will buy it and then you NEED an iTunes account to set it up!!!

[bluetiger20]

Maybe thats registration for support?

[jesse_thomas]

It make sense to me you'd need an iTunes account. You can't do much with Apple devices without one.

[ahactor]

Yeah, I definately agree with jesse_thomas, you need iTunes for the iPhone, we kinda figured that. The e-mail didn't say that that was how it is activated.

[wjp09]

^^ Was all of that in an email sent recently?

[DanUC6]

yup. Got one from Apple and AT&T

[Saiko]

^^ Was all of that in an email sent recently?

Yeah, apple sent an email this morning.

This is a copy of what it said -

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/12/apple_offers_tips_on_how_to_prepare_for_iphone.htm l

[wjp09]

Thankyou for the link. I think those are just general tips and what not, not exactly activation info

[DanUC6]

It does say you need an account to setup. I think when you buy at Apple they will give you instrutions to activate it on iTunes. There is no way they will be able to handle activations there because they would need at the software that at&t uses. You may be able to activate when bought at at&t though.

[chris]

Yeah, apple sent an email this morning.

This is a copy of what it said -

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/12/apple_offers_tips_on_how_to_prepare_for_iphone.htm l

Yes, this site does have a home page (http://www.everythingiphone.com) with news.:tounge:

[Saiko]

Yes, this site does have a home page (http://www.everythingiphone.com) with news.:tounge:

Haha sorry, Chris! :tounge: :embarrassed:

[ahactor]

It does say you need an account to setup. I think when you buy at Apple they will give you instrutions to activate it on iTunes. There is no way they will be able to handle activations there because they would need at the software that at&t uses. You may be able to activate when bought at at&t though.
I doubt that, all phone activations will be done in the store. Or else you could buy one off of ebay or something and activate it. Also, you need a special SIM, and that will be done in the store, and your phone needs to be activated frist. iTunes can't conduct business for AT&T. I have never seen self-activation with a plan.

[ColsTiger]

http://images.apple.com/chatterbox/us/2007/06/5326/img/itunes.gifTo set up your iPhone, you'll need an account with Apple's iTunes Store. If you already have an iTunes account, make sure you know your account name and password. If you don't have an account, you should set one up now to save time later. To set up an account, launch iTunes (http://insideapple.apple.com/redir/cbx-cgi.do?v=2&a=7jWWwWgze%2FfIuB0BYJyNzfWumHDWoKyDyfAEgq%2B5H38f Em51XLEf4y91JXWqfsdmBcxTsP8kKLkcEwKOdVIUwUSD6PvQlq O2KVey3nzxZONfeDvb%2FgTmHzAiFrJM5Id7), select the iTunes Store, and click the Sign In button in the upper right corner of iTunes. Sign in and you're ready to go.

***Taken from the email Apple sent

You will buy it and then you NEED an iTunes account to set it up!!!

You're not going to activate the phone through iTunes. You're going to sync the phone through itunes. In other words, you'll use iTunes to sync your phone so you can load your address book, appointments, songs, photos, and all those other things discussed in the email that went out today to everyone that left their email at Apple.com and At&t.com.

It doesn't say anything about activating your iPhone.

[ColsTiger]

It does say you need an account to setup. I think when you buy at Apple they will give you instrutions to activate it on iTunes. There is no way they will be able to handle activations there because they would need at the software that at&t uses. You may be able to activate when bought at at&t though.

If you buy at the Apple store, you'll probably activate it over the phone, just like you do when you buy a phone from at&t's online store. It's just a matter of inserting the sim card and calling a toll free number.

I don't see activations happening on iTunes. I know some do, but there's a big difference between setup and activate.

[Fafafoooey]

If you buy at the Apple store, you'll probably activate it over the phone, just like you do when you buy a phone from at&t's online store. It's just a matter of inserting the sim card and calling a toll free number.

I don't see activations happening on iTunes. I know some do, but there's a big difference between setup and activate.


Or they might have some ATT booth set up in the stores to do the activations on the spot.

[ColsTiger]

Or they might have some ATT booth set up in the stores to do the activations on the spot.

They could, but i doubt it.

[mav]

I don't think we will be activating through iTunes but who knows?

I also doubt we will be activating at the Apple Stores. Why? Just think of the logistics involved. For each iPhone buyer, they will have to fill out an application, apply for credit, select a voice/data plan, set up their account, switch their old number over and answer questions about the plans and AT&T service. The entire process takes 10-15 minutes if they rush through it.

And there are too many variables involved. What if the credit app is denied? What is the credit app is approved but a deposit is required? What if the iPhone buyer is already an AT&T customer? What if they are an AT&T customer and wants to add a line to their account?

[iphonenut]

this sounds good for all of us. because as we all know, itunes is super easy to use.

but as i've read else where...if apple and at&t really want to sell the iphone to businesses, are they going to have to be running itunes on the corporate servers to activate and keep running? this sounds a bit sketchy for them.

[rollerbones]

If you buy your phone at a Apple store how are they going to do the credit check to see if you can get phone service? I really dont think you would want to buy it, go home and find out you cant activate because of bad credit...

[mav]

I remember reading somewhere that Jobs promising that everything regarding the iPhone will be innovative and revolutionary, including the activation process.

Maybe they will do some basic stuff at the store, such as having people choose if they are a new AT&T customer or a current AT&T customer. Current customers will just need to move their account over to a new plan and restart a new two year contract. New customers will go through a credit check to make sure you qualify for AT&T service and maybe given a phone number and a special unique activation code to call AT&T to finish the activation process. Or maybe it could be done online?

[iphonenotify]

havent u guys heard that Apple will not be doing the activation stuff, just selling? I remember reading this somewhere. They may have u take it in to an At&t store.

[lasquintanas]

Im willing to bet the process will be online for the most part. But i bet the reason they are lagging with the info is because it's still up in the air and they are trying to nail down the details as we speak.

[rollerbones]

I am sure they could integrate the iPhone activation into iTunes..Apple would stand out VERY well from that one being the first to do this.

[ColsTiger]

I am sure they could integrate the iPhone activation into iTunes..Apple would stand out VERY well from that one being the first to do this.

I don't think so. the service is sold by At&t; the phone is sold by Apple. They can setup your phone with all your stuff, but At&t will have to activate your sim card.

[rollerbones]

Well, whenever I buy certain tmobile phones a sim is included in the box then you call and activate. Apple could very eaisly have a deal to activate with itunes to for att service, itunes could linked to the phone and read the new sim then send info to att database for activation....remember the activation is supposed to be a lot quicker and that would do it....you never know....

[joe]

I don't think so. the service is sold by At&t; the phone is sold by Apple. They can setup your phone with all your stuff, but At&t will have to activate your sim card.

Is that how other places like Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, etc. work? Not doubting, just not up on that type of thing.

[rollerbones]

Is that how other places like Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, etc. work? Not doubting, just not up on that type of thing.

Remember Apple like to be "different" :smile:

That would be crazy if you buy your phone at Apple, then take it to a ATT store...they will be packed. Would be nice if it was pick up with the sim and activate online or over the phone. I dont think you will leave the store without signing something...they wont let people walk away with no contract will they?

[ColsTiger]

Is that how other places like Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, etc. work? Not doubting, just not up on that type of thing.

Wal*Mart, Radio Shack and hundreds of independent agencies sign into a Cingular web site to sign up the potential customers. Apple could do the same thing, but it couldn't be done on iTunes. When the Cingular agencies sign up a new customer, there is actually a credit check done. This is usually fine, but sometimes a deposit is required to set up the new account.And lastly, there is the assignment of the phone number. I can't believe that iTunes will have the capabilities to port numbers from your old carrier.

I just don't think iTunes could handle the credit check, deposit collection, number assignment and activation process. Itunes will be fine for syncing your contacts, appointments, photos, videos, and songs, but activation of your At&T account is too much to hope for.

[spacerog]

If you are a new or even an existing AT&T customer all activation can be done remotely. There is no need to actually go to the AT&T store. All cell companies have this capability. You buy the phone, charge the battery and then call customer service. Customer service takes down all your info and then activates the SIM inside the phone remotely. Hole process takes about 20 minutes (Which is why you need to make sure the battery is charged first.)

In the case of iPhone it looks like you will also need an iTunes account to activate the online features. I susepct that the phone activation and the iTunes activations will be seperate and activate different things.

The only thing for me that is up in the air is if you are porting a number. In other words if you have an existing phone number that you want to port from one cell carrier to another. I do not know if that can be done over the phone or not but I suspect it can.

Personally if I was a new or existing AT&T customer I would go to the Apple store. Since I want to port my old number over from Sprint I will be heading to one of my local AT&T stores.

- SR

[lennyboss]

hi guys,

first off, im very new to this so please be gentle.

i was wondering if anyone knows if you can buy the iPhone without setting up phone service. the reason im asking is because my current contract with sprint is up in about 2 months, and i've wanted an iPod for a while, so i was thinking about buying the iPhone and using it as an iPod for a couple months, then buying the ATT service.

thanks!

[ColsTiger]

hi guys,

first off, im very new to this so please be gentle.

i was wondering if anyone knows if you can buy the iPhone without setting up phone service. the reason im asking is because my current contract with sprint is up in about 2 months, and i've wanted an iPod for a while, so i was thinking about buying the iPhone and using it as an iPod for a couple months, then buying the ATT service.

thanks!

Your best bet might be to buy from Apple.com then. Though no one really knows yet whether they'll sell you the phone without an At&t account.

Or if the rumors are true, you could just buy the pre-paid version.:)

[mav]

hi guys,

first off, im very new to this so please be gentle.

i was wondering if anyone knows if you can buy the iPhone without setting up phone service. the reason im asking is because my current contract with sprint is up in about 2 months, and i've wanted an iPod for a while, so i was thinking about buying the iPhone and using it as an iPod for a couple months, then buying the ATT service.

thanks!

I don't think you can but no one is really sure at this point.

[mav]

Maybe iTunes is required to activate the device, similar to how the Sidekick authenticates with the Danger servers. The iPhone could require authentication with Apple upon power-on?