An Apple store insider has leaked to us what they say will be some limitations and barriers on buying the iPhone Apple and AT&T stores will apply to the new iPhone 3g that goes on sale this Friday:
- Buyers will be ‘pre-qualified’ via a series of questions.
- Customers with corporate/business plans will have to go to AT&T to purchase their phones, only phone for personal use can be purchased at the store.
- You will be required to present valid US government ID to purchase the phone
- You will be required to provide your social security number to a store employee in order to do a credit check.
- You will be required to pick a plan and pay the activation fee at time of purchase.
- Phones will be activated in the store.
The last two have already been disclosed to the press but I think the rest is new information. If true, it looks like they’re really trying to cut down on iPhones being unlocked and getting resold overseas. Be sure to bring your driver’s license and memorize your social security number before camping out on Thursday night.
(Photo: hanapbuhay)
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The equivalent info for the Canucks (as far as I’ve been able to determine):
1. No info for or against
2. No business specific plans at launch
3. ID will be necessary as it isn’t available without a contract
4. If this is the same as the norm: Credit checks for new customers or existing customers wanting to set up whole new lines (assuming they have not had a recent check). Fido does not *require* a SIN though they ask for it first. If not provided additional info above the shown id is required (credit card number, bank details, passport, etc.) As they are under the same ownership I assume Rogers is the same but I’ve never opened a line there.
5. You are required to have a plan at time of purchase but it does not have to be an iPhone specific plan. It does need a voice option but does not need a data option (though with what they charge you’ll likely want one).
6. Not mentioned but I assume this will be the case if purchased in store.
As a note for existing Fido customers you can use any Fido dollars (their reward program) you might have towards the cost of the phone.
Fido also has much fewer restrictions listed on their website in regards to the phone but they may just be slow in coming. I doubt they will have the price plan downgrade charge that Rogers’ does as they’ve actively advertised their plans as free to change anytime during their contracts for all their past plans.
No information yet listed as to whether phone/internet orders will be allowed for either company or if any of Fido’s partner stores will be carrying the phone or if it will be only the main Fido stores (likely the latter). I’ve heard of a Futureshop that claimed they were taking preorders for the phone but both Rogers & Fido said they will not be doing them.
I recommend Fido over Rogers if you live in an area with their coverage though that’s just personal opinion and a healthy disdain for Rogers talking.
@barty: Sprint is cracking down on credit checks without SSNs. At RadioShack in the current era, we recently got a memo advising us not to run a credit check without a SSN. If the customer refuses to give their SSN, we are supposed to offer them Pre-Paid options. As far as At&t, I don’t remember, because I haven’t tried to run a credit check without a SSN. I believe that it spits out an incredibly high deposit due to a lack of credit history. Also, on the manual contracts, the carbon copy that the store keeps has the personal information area blacked out.
@Roxie: You can get the 3G iPhone without a contract, you just pay a lot more money for it. $200+ subsidy requiring a contract is nothing new. I’m glad they at least offered the option to buy it without. I believe I read somewhere that at the highest price it also comes unlocked. I don’t remember for sure, but if that is indeed the case, it would be nice as it’s something that most cell phone companies DON’T do. (Some of the European iPhones will be unlocked, as places like Germany don’t allow companies to lock in phones).
@awolcfh5150: No, because buying a computer is not extending a line of credit as getting a cell phone is (unless, as AdmiralApathy pointed out, you’re applying for their in-store credit card to pay for that computer).
@coolkiwilivin: A lot of the European tourists I’ve dealt with don’t seem to realize that the iPhone is launching all over Europe the same date as in the US.
@raskolnik: A credit check requires giving your SSN to some random employee. I’ve had some people write it down on a piece of paper for me to enter it, and then I give it to them afterward so they don’t worry about me keeping it for identity-thieving purposes or something. That would be the way to go for people concerned about other people overhearing it. Also, it’s not that the new iPhone COMPLETELY requires a two-year contract (and, hence, the credit check). Getting it for the subsidized price ($199) requires a contract (only for new customers, hence the need for the information for a credit check), but it’s also available for $599 without a contract.