Apple and AT&T bring back iPhone home activation
by Nilay Patel 
posted Dec 11th 2008 at 10:46AM
Online shoppers looking to spend the holiday season firmly planted on the couch can add the iPhone 3G back to their lists -- we've just confirmed that Apple and AT&T have quietly brought back in-home activation. Sure, it's been available in limited circumstances before, but now it's here and for real, just like with the first-gen unit. Would-be unlockers looking to score a phone for $199 flat can't start celebrating just yet, though -- you'll still have to provide your billing details and face an ETF if you don't activate within a set period of time. Oh well -- at least it's convenient, right?[Via Boy Genius Report]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jekkel @ Dec 11th 2008 1:15PM
So.. anyone wanna make an updated guide on scoring a 3G with as few fees as possible?
The big questions are:
Is it better to cancel within 3 days or within 30 days?
Do they still make you return the phone?
bernardino @ Dec 11th 2008 3:23PM
It looks like you can use promo codes with the iPhone now! Unfortunately it also looks like they've disabled all promo codes, probably because of the fiasco where users could enter a promo code multiple times for unlimited discounts, giving them everything in their cart for free.
@Jekkel If you cancel within 30 days or even if you don't activate it within 30 days, AT&T will make you return the phone or they will charge you the unsubsidized price for the phone. Cancel after 30 days and you can pay the $175 ETF and keep your phone.
JetLi @ Dec 11th 2008 6:36PM
Actually there is one way I've done here and there for friends. I sell them whatever size 8gb or 16gb memory for $199.00=8gb/$299.00=16gb with a two year contract of course. now here is the trick.
1. Buy a new 3g iphone and say someone stole your iphone 3G at full retail price.
2. Then cancel your service over the phone or in the store.
3. Return the 2nd iphone 3G you purchased at full retail price to avoid the ETF fees. Only loss you probably would have is the 10% restocking fee and the prorated charges from at&t.
Sp @ Dec 16th 2008 5:14AM
Uh, isn't that illegal?
squiggleslash @ Dec 12th 2008 10:44AM
Does the 3G version of the iPhone still completely get GSM wrong by requiring a non-standard SIM card to work?
Amazing how the company famous for "just works" could completely, and unnecessarily, balls-up the "just works" way of switching handsets GSM uses. I really hope they got rid of the custom SIMs and that this announcement doesn't reintroduce it.
dhaasgob @ Dec 12th 2008 12:10PM
I'm seriously wondering if you have really done this as your comment doesn't make sense. There is no official 'full price' iPhone, just 'early upgrades' that still require a contract renewal and a $200 price increase. Plus, even if you return the 'second' iPhone, the account would then revert back to the 'old' contract before cancellation, thus incurring an ETF upon cancellation. It's like returning a 'upgraded' handset within the 30-day window in that they don't retain the new contract post-return.
dhaasgob @ Dec 12th 2008 12:11PM
Oh, this response was a post @JetLi.
jetLi @ Dec 13th 2008 11:45AM
Yes you're right there isn't a true retail price on a 3G iPhone. I've done this several times for friends so I know it works. Keep in mind if you do lose your 3G iPhone within your 30 days you get to purchase one at a non discounted price only ONCE. So the price at&t store will give you is 8GB/16GB will cost you $399.00/$499.00. So once you purchase the full retail price wait a few days and return it and keep the original one you bought at the discounted price.
@dhaasgob
egloskerry @ Dec 15th 2008 1:51AM
The full price of the iphone is $500 and $600. But yeah, his comment makes no sense. Just do what bernadino said. Wait 30 days, cancel, then pay the ETF. Boom, 16GB for $475 instead of $600. I never tell customers this though, because it would look suspicious if we started having tons of customers canceling a week after they get the phone.
By the way, this will work with any phone.
Antonio @ Dec 12th 2008 3:00PM
squiggleslash- what are you talking about? Neither the iPhone 2g or 3g had this "custom" sim card you talk of.
squiggleslash @ Dec 15th 2008 8:46AM
The iPhone 2G required a special SIM card. Existing AT&T customers couldn't just insert their existing SIM card into their iPhone. Apparently it was implemented by installing a special SIM application on the card itself.
I was asking if the iPhone 3G has it. I wasn't asking if the iPhone 2G had it: I already knew it had. I don't know why you believe otherwise, it was a significant problem with the unlocking communities, and was well documented.
JetLi @ Dec 15th 2008 1:58AM
@egloskerry
Like I said I only do it for friends and not your regular stranger who walks in my store. .