Apple sends iPhone 3G FAQ to retail employees: play dumb over activation
by Chris Ziegler 
posted Jun 30th 2008 at 4:40AM
A frequently-asked questions list apparently recently distributed to Apple retail store employees doesn't reveal a ton of exciting new information, but it does address the simple reality that neither Apple nor AT&T are entirely sure yet how the hell they're going to complete the activation process for iPhone 3G customers come July 11. If a customer asks about how activation is going to work -- something we've previously said might be able to be finalized from the comfort of your home -- staffers are instructed to simply reply "I don't have any details at this time about activation." Well, screw you too, Mr. / Mrs. / Miss Apple Store Employee! Also funny is Apple's prediction (a correct one, we'd bet) that shoppers will be curious about the iPhone / iPod touch price matchup, to which the response is "iPhone 3G is offered at such a terrific price because, like most cell phones, it requires a 2-year carrier contract." There's quite a bit of reading material in here, including details on multi-phone activation for businesses -- so it's worth a quick read if you're into that sort of thing.
Filed under: Apple
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jorge @ Jun 30th 2008 7:27AM
"iPhone 3G is offered at such a terrific price because, like most cell phones, it requires a 2-year carrier contract."
as opposed to the iPhone which did not require a 2-year contract? who are they trying to fool with that answer?
m.haines2 @ Jun 30th 2008 7:45AM
... You mean the one that cost three times as much?
ward @ Jun 30th 2008 7:53AM
I had the old 2G iphone, but dumped it due to lack of apps. I have recently bought a HTC Diamond, and i just cannot believe how good it really is. The 640x480 VGA screen really spoils you, and its not bad speed wise.
Plus it has tomtom out of the box, and loads of WM apps available.
Apple will have to pull their thumbs out to get me back i tell u!
Eastman @ Jun 30th 2008 9:00AM
err.. iPhone Software update 2.0 & iPhone 3G
Nuff Said..
TomWBrowning @ Jun 30th 2008 9:06AM
I give it until a week after the iTunes app store launches before you feel sorry for jumping ship.
I personally can't see the point of that resolution on a 2.8 inch screen.
firesign @ Jun 30th 2008 10:41AM
except that wm sucks. slow, crashy, and bloated. i have a samsung blackjack 2 with wm6 on it. i love the hardware, but i will be dumping it for a 3g iphone because i cannot stand windows mobile.
Jeff @ Jun 30th 2008 11:09AM
AT&T offers AT&T Navigator, Powered by Tele-Nav.
Don't be surprised if there's an app for that soon.
PeterF @ Jun 30th 2008 11:29AM
look at all those blind apple fanboys! cute.
stiltskin @ Jun 30th 2008 11:57AM
My mom bought me a HTC Mogul from Sprint and i was so excited but its slow and windows mobile is shitty nothing is as easy as on the iphone
but i still like it and i'm thinking about getting the HTC Touch Pro when it comes out on Sprint if my parents will buy it for me. I do not want an iphone some people just don't want an iphone stop telling them they want and need one
TomWBrowning @ Jun 30th 2008 8:18AM
It'd be useful if when relating stories such as this that refer only to the US market, you'd include 'US' in the title.
Apple makes the same iPhone the world over, but there is no reporting here on any memos they have or haven't sent to UK retail employees, eh?
So when I read 'Apple sends iPhone 3G FAQ to retail employees', my immediate assumption is that it's a global thing. Its only when someone finally mentions AT&T that I realise it isn't.
Ta
Nerm000 @ Jun 30th 2008 9:14AM
I am an apple fan. I own two laptops, three ipods (1 of them's an iTouch - jailbroken and hacked to hell), and two macs.
I will not be getting the iPhone and sticking with WM devices because even if the staff at the store know nothing (which is most of the time in cell phone stores) I already know what I can and can't do
Roll on the HTC Touch Pro...
moonmen @ Jun 30th 2008 9:33AM
Ya BUT WHAT TIME ARE THEY SELLING IT? I hope not 6pm like last year!
Jeff @ Jun 30th 2008 11:09AM
I think I saw in a previous EngadgetMobile iPhone posting...
8 am.
retro77 @ Jun 30th 2008 9:47AM
Yet another reason to hate Apple.
MadMike @ Jun 30th 2008 11:13AM
I seriously doubt they have to play dumb. They probably won't have a clue on how they will complete the activation because I doubt AT&T/Apple have a clue on how they will accomplish it.
I'm going to be at my shore house, so I hope that AT&T store isn't going to have a long line. I'll probably show up at 8am anyway to scope it out.
MadMike @ Jun 30th 2008 11:14AM
I seriously doubt they have to play dumb. They probably won't have a clue on how they will complete the activation because I doubt AT&T/Apple have a clue on how they will accomplish it.
I'm going to be at my shore house, so I hope that AT&T store isn't going to have a long line. I'll probably show up at 8am anyway to scope it out.
Red Delicious Apple @ Jun 30th 2008 11:38PM
I work at an apple retail store, and we seriously don't have any idea whats going on. I love how everyone assumes we have all the information, but for some reason we stay so tight lipped. Look, us at the store usually are the biggest fans for Apple Inc. and we read every blog about Apple (its kinda sick with the amount of stuff we read), and we are frustrated that we have no info. But just like our company, we get info at the same time as the rest of the world!!!!
socalfrank @ Jul 1st 2008 12:40PM
Sales of the 3G are going to be disappointing. Lots of us who bought the original iPhone feel screwed by the price drops...who knows what goodies Apple will announce in 60 days.
Also, if you already have an iPhone, is double the data speed on 3G worth re-buying the same device? Edge is so slow, even at double the speed it's not good enough. I enjoy my Wi-Fi connections and won't usually wait for a web page on Edge....tooo slow.
Apple has proven this year that it can build a great product and at the same time, piss off all the customers who ran out and bought it at 3 times the price of the next gen one less than 1 year later.
Also, if you are forced to use AT&T, even worse. I have 2 iPhones, 1 on T-Mobile (ziphone.org hacked) and the other is with AT&T. Guess which one I use more....