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ummm....

norollovermin

Jun 23, 2007, 4:49 PM
OK, if I sign up on a two year contract and get an Iphone at the same price as everyone else. Because it does not have a 2 year contract discount (like most phones)... what is stopping me from using my 30 days (trial period) and canceling my account and keeping my Iphone? I paid 600 bucks for something, get rid of the contract, use the Wifi to serf the internet and watch utube, oh and of course... listen to my CDs and watch movies. Or just wait for the hack to come out and use it on T-mobile or over seas on Vodaphone?
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ricerhater

Jun 23, 2007, 5:11 PM
If you pay the ETF fee you could keep the I phone or any phone for that matter and have no plan. Your talking a lot of money for the phone then. If you use the 30 days, and "cancel"(your word)..aka return everything, that includes the phone also and you get your money back. Its a 30 day trial, if you are not happy you can return everything and not be charged an ETF fee.
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norollovermin

Jun 23, 2007, 5:19 PM
If I pay full retail price for the phone... why wouldn't I just keep it? The trial period is for the voice services. The phone is something I pay for at retail price.

If I decide to go to the cingy store right now and buy a phone under 2 year contract pricing. Cancel my service and don't return the equipment. They will send me a bill for the full retail price of the phone.

Why would this be any different? The phone is already full retail... What else could they bill me for? The ETF would be credited back to me because it was under a 30 day trial period for the voice services.

Am I missing something here?
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chainmail311

Jun 30, 2007, 7:18 PM
I bet they just won't let you do that. Because it seems too easy. Oh, the phone doesn't work without valid voice activation, I imagine.
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dizzydas

Jun 30, 2007, 8:14 PM
it has a 2 year contract
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Djanifer9512

Jun 23, 2007, 5:20 PM
The iPhone will only work w/ the the at&t service being active. No at&t service, no functioning iPhone. And when I mean non-functioning, I mean not even the iPod functions will work. So cancel if you will, have fun with your $600 paper weight.
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GeeK.dLL

Jun 23, 2007, 5:23 PM
Djanifer9512:

How do you know it will not work at all without a AT&T account in it? were did you get this information? If this is true maybe it just needs a sim card in it.
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norollovermin

Jun 23, 2007, 5:23 PM
I find it hard to belive that the ipod function will not work. I have seen it work work with out any RF signal. (check out the 20 min vid on apples site). It shows it working in "airplane mode". That shows that you can use all the funtions of the ipod and wifi with out even having the phone talk to AT&T.

You don't need a sim card for Wifi last I checked...
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GeeK.dLL

Jun 23, 2007, 7:43 PM
I just watched the iPhone Guide tour which you can find on tube also on the last part of it it says that you can use the iPhone on a plane but you have to turn on airplane mode which turns off cell phone/WiFi/Bluetooth.
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norollovermin

Jun 23, 2007, 5:43 PM
ok... just for a moment pretend that I am right...

whats going to stop people from selling these on EBay for 1000+ bucks 29 days later? Then they can take there new iphone (bought from some guy over EBay) and activate it with AT&T later??
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Versed

Jun 23, 2007, 6:51 PM
It will work withour RF, people use phones all the time in airlines, in airline mode, and I'm sure Apple did the exact same thing.

Now, why would you want an iphone without its phone functions, one can a far better ipod for less money, for a few hundred more you can get a base macbook under openbox which will be a far better websurfer.

I am an AT&T user and have no intention of getting an iphone, and those who do, great and enjoy them. I don't understand all this angst. There is no right or wrong to this. I just rather use my 8525 with a mediaplan, thats me. Don't make me better then others who think different and want the iphone. Heck, I'd still like to play with one.
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ice21

Jun 25, 2007, 8:20 AM
Djanifer9512 said:
The iPhone will only work w/ the the at&t service being active. No at&t service, no functioning iPhone. And when I mean non-functioning, I mean not even the iPod functions will work. So cancel if you will, have fun with your $600 paper weight.


If this is true then how did apple/att get around the law that just passed that cell phones cannot be locked to specific carriers? Am I missing something? I figured the iPhone would be unlocked but features like "visual voicemail" and other collaboration projects that apple & att worked on would not work on like t-mobile. That is the way i thought it would work. Anyone heard different?
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s_scott15

Jun 27, 2007, 3:12 PM
just about all cell phones are locked. have yopu ever tried to take an att phone and put a t-mobile sim in it? it dosent work. you have to go through the process of unlocking it first. I believe the law says, as long as you are not in contract they cannot deny you the privelage of unlocking your phone. but you have to fullfil the 2 years first, then att will provide an unlock code.
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chainmail311

Jun 30, 2007, 7:21 PM
motorola will give you the unlock code to their phones hands down.

tmo will give you unlock code after 3 months of service.
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sage11x

Jul 1, 2007, 12:04 AM
You are absolutely 100% right. The iphone WILL NOT WORK until activated in itunes with at&t service. And when I say activated the damn thing has to be CONNECTED to the computer when you do it. That's what at&t gets from the deal...
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LicorShot

Jul 2, 2007, 10:54 AM
there is ONLY one way around it as i found it out yesterday troubleshooting one at work

the lady activated it and it did not work at all for service but ONCE the SIM was activated and the Iphone knows it was .... even if the service was turned off IT WILL WORK WITH ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS ........!!!!!

that is the ONLY way it works without service
activate cancel and then NEVER CHANGE THE SIM

i tried putting a different sim inside and it knew immediatly this was not the sim activated from the start

so if u want the phone to work without service then do it just as i posted

have fun ...
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Blightner

Jun 23, 2007, 6:54 PM
Okay...there's numerous flaws in your posts, aside from the spelling. You walk into a Cingular/AT&T store, and sign up for a 2 yr. contract. You start off by running a standard credit check, provided there's no deposit, you shell out $499 for a 4GB, or $599 for the 8GB. That is the discounted price with a 2yr. agreement, if you pay the "RETAIL" price, that will be $150 more, no questions asked, i.e. - $649 4GB, $749 8GB. So you sign up for 2 years, take it home and call Cingular/AT&T to cancel your contract, they'll ask if you returned the equipment, and verify with the store it has been returned, then cancel your plan If you keep it 3 days or more, you'll get billed a prorated period of usage and the $36 activation fee. If you cancel within...
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troyboy657

Jun 23, 2007, 8:06 PM
last time i checked it was same price whether you resign or not..

correct me if i'm wrong?
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Bigbmc26

Jun 23, 2007, 8:22 PM
no, you have to resign. there is no non-contract price. only 2 year.
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DarkStar

Jun 23, 2007, 8:36 PM
Whoa!!! Talk about flaws. There is no discounted price for the iPhone. $499 and #599 are the full retail prices. But why wouldn't one just buy one outright. And why would I sign a two year agreement if I am paying full retail price? If I want a phone at full retail price I don't want a two year agreement.
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norollovermin

Jun 24, 2007, 8:23 AM
Thank you... someone who gets what i am trying to say.

Sorry about my spelling in the first post. It was a quick post.

Anywho... 499.99 and 599.99 are full retail price for this phone. There is no 150.00 discount.

And, why would anyone charge me an activation fee during a trial period? I should get a full refund if I am not using the service. Yes, I understand that I would have to pay for the calls I made.

Again... what is stopping me from going to AT&T buying the phone and the plan. Cancel out the plan the next day. Post it on EBay. Sell it for 1000 because some guy in IL can't find one in his area? Even if no one wants it on EBay.. hell, I still have 28 days to return it for a full refund.

Thoughts?
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Ms.Li

Jun 25, 2007, 3:31 AM
This is a confirmed fact... The iPhone return period is only 15 days so the last sentence of your scheme will not work. Also, the sim cards are pre-built into the phone so NO sim swapping which puts some cracks the E-Bay idea. You have to remember that while AT&T is not too bright and these things usually work with them, Apple is a whole different entity. Bottom line, be extremely careful with this idea of yours!
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rytr23

Jun 25, 2007, 6:52 AM
Source regarding the sim? It has been verified that there is a Sim tray..
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MaximusAnonymousConfucios

Jun 25, 2007, 2:03 PM
It's been said before. You can switch simcards
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Versed

Jun 25, 2007, 9:08 AM
AT&T may stop you, but Apple won't, go into an AppleStore and plunk down $599.99 plus your local sales tax and you have the phone. Or sign with AT&T there.

I just don't understand why would you want to pay $599.99 plus for an 8 gig ipod, even if you have AT&T and pop the sim card in, at the most it will do is the ipod function and maybe simple phone calls.

Here it is, if you don't want to use AT&T, no iphone as its ment to be used, moan, groan, bitch here, bitch there, its a fact.

I'd wait till Friday and see what the whole deal is? As I said, it looks real nice and for those who get them, I hope they enjoy them.
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ahopkins224

Jun 24, 2007, 8:38 AM
even with having to pay full retail, you still have to sign a two year "agreement" it's right on the website. no vaseline, no reach around. 🤭 🤭
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Ldiablo0010

Jun 24, 2007, 5:52 PM
Actually when I heard the "2 Year contract required" line this is the first thing that popped into my head.

Normally you would save appx. 150$ by signing a 2 yr. contract with AT&T. But all the new that I have ever heard from AT&T them selves and internet resources says that the iPhone DOES NOT HAVE ANY SUBSIDIES(sp?) i.e. no discount for a 2 yr. agreement.

So following normal policies for AT&T (save any hidden traps) You technically CAN purchase a iPhone and cancel your contract with in 30 days, and only pay for any calls you made.

If you did this with a FREE phone say a Razr, the phone outright cost is 299.99, using this tactic would incur a 299.99$ "charge back" on your final bill for failure to return your equipment. But, as ...
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t.c.

Jun 26, 2007, 6:18 PM
you are awesome.
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ahopkins224

Jun 24, 2007, 8:35 AM
that will work only if you don't return the phone you would still be under a new two year contract. I believe a lot of people ar e going to shell out the bucks to get one, swap the sims back to their old phones and put the Iphone on Ebay. Especially those who already have the service. Shoot I've had Cingular for almost 10 years now with no plans on moving, so what's another two year agreement.
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norollovermin

Jun 24, 2007, 9:45 AM
See.. I think people are missing my point.

30 days to try the voice service as well as the device. The device is purchased at retail price with no 2 year discount (like the rest of the phones). Since there is no discount for the phone, why can't I cancel the service (voice and data) and sell the phone on EBay?

No ETF, no restocking fee (since I am not returning it), and my activation fees are credited back. Sell a few of these puppys on Ebay.. and there you go. I'm up a couple bucks.
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troyboy657

Jun 24, 2007, 4:05 PM
if i walk into a store with 600 cash to buy the phone, surely they're not going to deny my business if i don't resign a contract.

Am i right?
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rhyno75

Jun 24, 2007, 5:48 PM
No you are incorrect. You will NOT be able to buy an iPhone without a contract at an AT&T store. Period. No matter how much is in your hand.
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rhyno75

Jun 24, 2007, 5:50 PM
You have to sign a two year agreement to get the phone period. If you go home and call in and cancel you will be charged a $175 ETF. If you cancel within 3 days you won't be charged an activation fee but you will be charged the $175 because you're not returning the equipment.
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norollovermin

Jun 24, 2007, 9:49 PM
Dude.. the 175 is for the termination of the contract with ATT. The voice and data contract. It has nothing to do with returning the equiptment.

The phone is purchased at full retail and you have to buy the two year contract with it (at point of sale). When you ditch the contract the next day... what could they possibly charge me to make me give it back??

I have a feeling Apple is getting the purchase money for the phone. ATT is only getting money from the contract. If this is true... do you really think Apple cares if you give it back? Hell, they already have your money!!!
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klazziic

Jun 30, 2007, 7:57 PM
well if happen to get a phone from the aplle store and you dont have an account with cingular, they will tell you to take it to a cingular store to activate it ..... eaither way if you go to a corp. store you wont get one cause none of the cingular corp. stores got one around where i live. and if you buy it at the aple store you dont need to step into a cingular store!!!!
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Versed

Jun 25, 2007, 9:11 AM
Or just walk into an AppleStore and buy it there.
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ahopkins224

Jun 25, 2007, 7:45 AM
okay i'm feeling you know. I see the loophole.
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ahopkins224

Jun 25, 2007, 7:49 AM
And to think I used to work for Cingular.... Scenario, I want to setup new ATT service and purchase an Iphone. I purchase the phone at full retail price therefore I own it. Even though I have agreed to a two-year contract i have thirty days to change my mind. I call anc cancel on day 22. I have no contractual obligation and I own my phone. You can do this with any phone DUH!!
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troyboy657

Jun 25, 2007, 1:38 AM
i was informed by the manager at a cingular store by me, that the phone can be purchased for the same price with or without a contract. The phone is 499 or 599 no matter what. No discounts for new contract or anything. At the same time, its not more expensive to purchase without contract.
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shelby111

Jun 27, 2007, 3:04 PM
Wrong info again, it must have a two year contract you cannot buy it without one and the phone is valued @ 499.00 for 4g and 599 for 8 g
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shelby111

Jun 27, 2007, 3:08 PM
the training I've received for this fon says you cannot use another sim you need a paperclip even to open the draw where the sim goes also the sim and imei are attached so you won't be able use it with your old sim. so watch for those on e-bay you will be buying a brick.
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MORTFE

Jun 25, 2007, 9:04 AM
You were informed wrong. Directly from Apple: phone ONLY with a contract. You want the phone - you buy the contract. Cingy reps are as knowledgeable as VZW reps, NOT.
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troyboy657

Jun 25, 2007, 1:58 PM
well i guess ill just buy it on apple.com then..
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shelby111

Jun 27, 2007, 3:02 PM
Again as an employee of one the companies, you can buy the iphone via apple website, apple stores and att corporate store on sale friday june 29th @ 6:00p.m.
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atlysshrugged

Jun 26, 2007, 3:40 PM
First of all, there's no law saying you can't SIM lock a phone. It says that once your contract period is up, a device manufacturer can't deny you the unlock code. Key words being "contract period is up." Second, the SIM isn't built into the iPhone so you can't get to it, it's inserted into the top of the device rather than in a slot under the battery like most phones. Jobs shows you this himself in the demo he does. Third, I'm not sure if at&t will prevent you from using the wireless features if you deact your at&t service, but it is possible to do that. Fourth, to the idiot who said you didn't need a SIM to use WiFi... hello, how do you think your device communicates with the WiFi network? Telepathy?

To answer your original quest...
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zimbo_yankee

Jun 26, 2007, 4:01 PM
This is just a thought:

Everyone remembers how Apple priced the phone
$200 or $300 (ipod) + $200 (smartphone)

Now think about it. Every smartphone AT&T sells is offered with a rebate when activating a 2 year contract. No smartphone from any manufacturer costs $200 at full retail. Overseas a smartphone will cost you $400 minimum.

So there may well be subsidies on the iPhone which would need to paid if you disconnect you service. I have no idea if this is true, I was just thinking about the pricing scheme.
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sprintg19

Jun 26, 2007, 4:45 PM
norollovermin said:
OK, if I sign up on a two year contract and get an Iphone at the same price as everyone else. Because it does not have a 2 year contract discount (like most phones)... what is stopping me from using my 30 days (trial period) and canceling my account and keeping my Iphone? I paid 600 bucks for something, get rid of the contract, use the Wifi to serf the internet and watch utube, oh and of course... listen to my CDs and watch movies. Or just wait for the hack to come out and use it on T-mobile or over seas on Vodaphone?

WOW!!! You're a genius! Why didn't I think of that! Only $600 to get an 8 Gb Ipod. That's way better than the $240 for a 30 Gb Ipod I can get at my local Sam's or Best Buy
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chainmail311

Jun 30, 2007, 7:12 PM
chances are, they'll deactivate the phone, and you can't use it at all. "invalid sim".

PLUS, when you cancel a contract, you have to return the phone...dummy.
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libra03

Jun 27, 2007, 2:34 PM
ok so here it is, the iphone will not work unless the sim card inside of it is activated, the only thing you can do with a non activated sim card is make emergency calls. so if you cancel service then you essentially will have a brick, sorry. the entire activation process is done through itunes, the imei is attached to your number. from what we've found out is that it is locked to att and will remain locked, attempting a third party unlocking service could brick the phone...you can always sell the phone and someone else can use their card/phone number in it as long as they have the data plan (its required no ifs ands or buts about it)
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shelby111

Jun 27, 2007, 2:58 PM
Just to set matters straight you have only 14days to return the iphone must be returned with box and to the point of sale and there is 10 percent restocking fee, you have 30 days to cancell your service with ATT, as an employee of one the companies I just wanted to set matter straight. 🙂
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bigmike99s

Jun 30, 2007, 7:45 PM
You buy the phone at full retail so yes you can keep it if you cancel. Also you have to activate your iphone through itunes not at the cingular store. also the ipod or wifi will not work if you do not have the phone activated. apple and at&t found a way to block these feature out if the phone is not activated. and another thing is it has an internal sim card so have fun trying to get that badboy out and switching carriers if you can get it unlocked.
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LicorShot

Jun 30, 2007, 9:27 PM
i am gonna ask about this cancel within 30 days policy (i don't think it would really matter because they know u have to have a contract) because the phone itself has a 14 day return policy with 10% restock fee like Libra03 said above

the phone can be bought WITHOUT contract BUT u can't use the phone without the contract really ... u activate with Itunes and once that is done it places u back on a 2 year commitment
who ever activates the phone on itunes each time will have NO choice but to return to a 2 year contract each time i believe

the phone really isn't worth the Money right now
its got too many stipulations on it like VZW has on their phones

best idea yet is to wait till end of year and buy a touch screen ipod .....

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1reality

Jul 2, 2007, 12:13 PM
probably been said...but as an at&t employee, you will be billed for the phone if not returned.
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