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![Buying An iPhone 3G Was Surprisingly Easy. Activating It Was Not.](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/whiteiphone_01.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Buying An iPhone 3G Was Surprisingly Easy. Activating It Was Not.
As Consumerist’s resident Apple fanboy, I spent the last few hours standing outside an AT&T store waiting to buy the iPhone 3G, then waiting for it to activate in iTunes. Here’s what went down.
![Some New iPhone 3Gs Sport Yellow Tinge](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/yellowmellowiphone.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Some New iPhone 3Gs Sport Yellow Tinge
Reports on the MacRumors forums and Gizmodo comments assert that some of the new Apple iPhone 3Gs look distinctly iJaundiced. Needless to say, the owners are pissed. Did you get one of these banana phones? Send an email with a pic to tips@consumerist.com or let us know in the comments.
![Limited New iPhones At ATT Stores, Latecomers Pay Extra To Have Phones Shipped](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/iphone3gebay.jpg?w=300&h=130&crop=1)
Limited New iPhones At ATT Stores, Latecomers Pay Extra To Have Phones Shipped
Only the first lucky clutch of people in line today at AT&T stores will walk out with a new iPhone 3G in-hand. There were only 30 phones available in total at the the biggest AT&T store in Waterbury CT, at the Brass Mill Center, according to a store employee. Reporting from the line, reader Kevin says that everyone else was given an option to buy a slip of paper for $226.79 (see a scan of it posted inside), have the phone shipped from the warehouse to you, then you come back to the store to activate the phone. Customers will have to pay for the shipping charges for this favor.
![National iPhone 3G Activation Failure Due To Apple's "Short Tether" System?](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/shorttether.jpg?w=300&h=164&crop=1)
National iPhone 3G Activation Failure Due To Apple's "Short Tether" System?
When I heard that the iPhone activations were completely borked, I thought, man, that’s what you get for partnering with the Death Star. But from what reader Justin heard from an ATT rep, oh-so-pristine Appple might actually be the one with blemishes. He writes,
![iPhone 3G Activations Fail Nationwide](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/godphonedisconnect.jpg?w=300&h=163&crop=1)
iPhone 3G Activations Fail Nationwide
A nation-wide epic fail of the iPhone activation systems has gutted the release of the new iPhone 3G. Here’s an account from reader Tyler:
![Don't Live Near A Big City? Here's Something You Should Know Before Upgrading Your iPhone](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/3gcoveragemap.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Don't Live Near A Big City? Here's Something You Should Know Before Upgrading Your iPhone
The new iPhone is 3G–but AT&T’s 3G network isn’t exactly “nationwide,” so you might want to check the coverage map to make sure that there’s a 3G network in your area.
![Want The New iPhone? Here's How To Escape Your Current Cellphone Contract ETF-Free](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/burningcontract.jpg?w=158&h=225&crop=1)
Want The New iPhone? Here's How To Escape Your Current Cellphone Contract ETF-Free
As the second coming of the Jesusphone 3G draws near, we wanted to remind customers of other wireless carriers that there are ways to escape your existing cellphone contract free of early termination fees, and trade your piddling Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile bills for hundreds of pages of gloriously itemized AT&T charges. Or just switch carriers.
![Both Dell And AT&T Cash Checks Not Made Out To Them, Cause Much Sadness](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/deathstar1.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Both Dell And AT&T Cash Checks Not Made Out To Them, Cause Much Sadness
It’s sure to be a pain in the butt if you accidentally switch two of your payments — but we’d always assumed that companies like AT&T and Dell wouldn’t cash checks that were not even made out to them. We we wrong!
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../../../..//2008/07/10/the-senate-passed-the-fisa/
The Senate passed the FISA bill today, which effectively puts an end to any chance of legal repercussions for telcos who helped the government spy on citizens. Senator Obama voted for it, Senator McCain didn’t vote, and Senator Clinton, for what it’s worth, voted against it. Find out how your senator voted here. [TechCrunch]
![Leaks: Need ID And Social To Buy iPhone 3G?](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/buyingiphones.jpg?w=158&h=119&crop=1)
Leaks: Need ID And Social To Buy iPhone 3G?
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:
![With The New iPhone On The Horizon, Now Is The Time To Threaten Your Cellphone Company](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/hilariousapple.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
With The New iPhone On The Horizon, Now Is The Time To Threaten Your Cellphone Company
With the debut of that new super iPhone thing only a few short days away, now is the time to threaten your current cellphone company. What’s that? You have no intention of switching cellphone companies for the iPhone? Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon’s retention reps don’t know that. Do they?
![Stop Making Fun Of Me: Confessions Of An Early iPhone Adopter](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/iphonepillow2.jpg?w=158&h=188&crop=1)
Stop Making Fun Of Me: Confessions Of An Early iPhone Adopter
Those of us who bought iPhones when they came out haven’t been very popular over the last year. We’ve been viewed as impulse-buying fanboys who got suckered into paying to beta-test an incomplete product on an inferior network. Then Steve Jobs sold us out. Now our co-workers won’t stop making fun of us. I bought my iPhone on June 29th, I still love it, and I can’t wait to buy a new one next week. Inside, my reasons why.
![Help! AT&T Wants A $750 Deposit, But I Really Want An iPhone!](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/iphone3g.jpg?w=300&h=201&crop=1)
Help! AT&T Wants A $750 Deposit, But I Really Want An iPhone!
Dana’s divorce left her with crappy credit and now AT&T wants a $750 deposit! She’s wondering if anyone has any advice for avoiding such a large deposit…
![NCIC Airport Payphones Are A Ripoff](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/payphone1.jpg?w=158&h=147&crop=1)
NCIC Airport Payphones Are A Ripoff
Reader Victor wrote to alert us to NCIC payphones which are charging outrageous rates and fees in various airports across the country. At first, Victor used some spare change in an NCIC payphone and received a reasonable long distance rate of about $1 for 4 minutes. But Victor ran out of change and used his credit card to make 3 more quick calls. When Victor received his bill he discovered that he’d been charged $11 per call. He directed us over to ripoffreports.com and as far as we can tell, he got off easy. We read numerous reports of customers being charged exorbitant rates for local and long distance calls. The amounts that their customers are being charged vary so wildly that we’re not even sure what NCIC’s rates are supposed to be. Victor’s letter, inside…
![AT&T Turns That Whole Warrantless Wiretapping Thing Into A Hilarious Marketing Joke](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/ihateyousomuchattpleasedienow.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
AT&T Turns That Whole Warrantless Wiretapping Thing Into A Hilarious Marketing Joke
Meet Ms. Suspicious, a member of the “Online Liberation Movement.” According to AT&T, Ms. Suspicious “has nothing to hide,” so she certainly won’t mind when AT&T and their traitorous telecom buddies trash the Constitution and violate her right to privacy!