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Wait, so you mean that I won't be able to just swap out my sim cards and use the new phone? That blows if that is the case. It's not like we are getting a subsidy on the price so why shouldn't I be able to do just that?

pirloui wrote:

If Apple didn't have anal deals with carriers, there wouldn't be a problem either.

They had to do something to get the short-sighted wireless carriers to go along with them.  It will be interested to see what happens in about 4-years, when/if the iPhone hits an "iPod status" of success about the same time that the exclusive deal with AT&T wears off......

that's going to suck for those buying on the first day. I would imagine the line up to get your new iphone activated will be quite long.

Random User wrote:

Wait, so you mean that I won't be able to just swap out my sim cards and use the new phone? That blows if that is the case. It's not like we are getting a subsidy on the price so why shouldn't I be able to do just that?

Actually you are getting a subsidized price. They upped the data plan by $10 so if you don't have a discount from your employer the 3g iPhone actually ends up costing the same as the old one (well a little more technically). Thankfully though those discounts will now work on the iphone contracts.

The Psystar line tastes like it's been under the lights at least a month, tho. Kan we haz a fresh one plz?

NAG wrote:

jeremiah256 wrote:

Czachorski wrote:

Well, I suppose you could still hack it if you wanted to, but to get a 3G iPhone, you will now be signing an AT&T contract before you walk out the door.......


So it looks like hackers have killed the Apple experiment of at-home activation.  Once again, hackers for the benefit of the few have killed the activation convenience of the many.  It also goes to show how easy it is for a company like Apple to shut down such hacks, without resorting to complicated legal action.  Psystar's next.......

Isn't it federal law that you can cancel your cell phone service within a certain amount of time without penalties?  If so, their still not going to stop the hackers.

Yeah, but you have to return the phone too, apparently.

That's only if you have a 2.5 iPhone purchased after 27 May and want to swap it out for a new iPhone.  I can't see them making you turn in the 3G iPhone in order to cancel your contract but I guess we'll see if they've got the law on their side.

I'm reading conflicting information concerning the in-store activation.  Namely, that AT&T and Apple are trying to find a way to punish people who don't activate in 30 days.  That means you will still be able to buy an iPhone as a gift during X-Mas and not have to break it out of the box and activate it then or there.  The battle will continue...

So, are the improvements of iPhone Software 2.0 enough for anyone with a version 1 unlocked iPhone to switch to AT&T or will you risk not being able to use the new software version?

robco wrote:

I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.

The new lower price is subsidized. Apple & AT&T are now using the common model.

AT&T Inc. says its profits will take an estimated $600 million hit because of the iPhone's new lower price.

AT&T, which is the iPhone's exclusive U.S. carrier, confirmed it's subsidizing Apple Inc.'s latest multimedia gadget, which goes on sale July 11 for $199. AT&T put the cost at 10 cents to 12 cents per share, or roughly $600 million.

AT&T expects to the new iPhone to add to revenue in 2010 since no further "revenue sharing" will be required. That points to Apple and AT&T dissolving a rumored arrangement whereby AT&T paid Apple a share of the service fees paid by iPhone users.

The dissolution of that deal means Apple is switching to the business model used by other handset makers, whereby carriers subsidize the retail price of the phones in exchange for a two-year contract.

http://news.smh.com.au/technology/att-t … -2o3s.html

And as consequence, the iPhone is more expensive than before. The initial cost is lower, the monthly fees are higher.

It will be hacked. Maybe people will have to pay more to get a hacked iPhone. They will.

Has anyone seen any details on Apple's new Ad Hoc method of distributing apps and how much it'll cost?  I ask because the only reason I've been resisting restoring my iPhone and going with AT&T has been the issue with tethering.  I don't need it often but once in a while I've been in a situation where I need to get online and do work with my laptop away from a WiFi spot or an ethernet port.  In one case, I had to tether my phone to someone elses laptop to enable them to get online.  I don't need the option enough to pay for an additional broadband card but when I need it, I need it.  So while I personally won't be disadvantaged if iPhone 2.0 software prevents unlocking, I would be if it prevents jailbreaking since I doubt AT&T is going to allow any developer apps in the APP Store that circumvent their rules.  So one option would be buying the source code directly from a developer and then building my own app and distributing it to myself.  Depending on the price.