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Member Since: 6/2006Last Seen: 9/09/2009

Apple and AT&T Announce iTunes Activation and Sync for iPhone

News Type: Event — Seeded on Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:19 AM EDT
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Apple® and AT&T Inc. today announced that iPhone™ users will be able to activate their new iPhones using Apple's popular iTunes® software running on a PC or Mac® computer in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated. Activating iPhone takes only minutes as iTunes guides the user through simple steps to choose their service plan, authorize their credit and activate their iPhone. Once iPhone is activated, users can then easily sync all of their phone numbers and other contact information, calendars, email accounts, web browser bookmarks, music, photos, podcasts, TV shows and movies just like they do when they sync their iPods with iTunes.

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4.4
{"commentId":812988,"authorDomain":"elvo86"}
Elliot Vos

Now we know why you need an iTunes Store account when you buy an iPhone. You will activate your iPhone at home using your iTunes Store account--no waiting in line at the AT&T store.

A brilliant idea, actually.

{"commentId":812988,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"elvo86"}
  • 5 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:20 AM EDT
{"commentId":813355,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
Brian Ford

Definitely.

I have to admit, I'm tempted by this deal, but won't be able to do anything until my wife and I end our contract with t-mobile.

Not sure how long that will be.

{"commentId":813355,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"brianford"}
  • 4 votes
#1.1 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:01 PM EDT
{"commentId":813532,"authorDomain":"elvo86"}
Elliot Vos

Yeah, I'm stuck on a Verizon family plan with my parents currently, which I'll probably stick with until they kick me off--it's much cheaper that way. The iPhone looks very cool, but I'm a poor college student and it just ain't happening any time soon.

{"commentId":813532,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"elvo86"}
  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:48 PM EDT
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{"commentId":813554,"authorDomain":"geejay"}
TheJonesGirl

That does it--I am saving my pennies, nickels and dimes for an iPhone. :)

{"commentId":813554,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"geejay"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:54 PM EDT
{"commentId":813613,"authorDomain":"elvo86"}
Elliot Vos

There's a good idea. Maybe by the time I accrue $600 in pocket change, I'll be able to afford the monthly plan.
; )

{"commentId":813613,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"elvo86"}
  • 3 votes
#2.1 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:09 PM EDT
{"commentId":813635,"authorDomain":"geejay"}
TheJonesGirl

The monthly plan would be less than I pay now for my service through AT&T, since the data is included (I pay $20 extra for it a month).

{"commentId":813635,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"geejay"}
  • 2 votes
#2.2 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:14 PM EDT
{"commentId":813779,"authorDomain":"elvo86"}
Elliot Vos

But it's more than twice the cost of my share of a Verizon family plan. Of course, I just have a cheap voice plan and the smallest SMS add-on.

Not to mention AT&T hasn't really made it into Southwestern New York, where my parents live, and where I still list as my permanent residence.

Anyway, my point is, maybe by the time I save that much change, it actually make more sense for me to get it. Right now, I just think it's cool, but I certainly don't need it.

{"commentId":813779,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"elvo86"}
  • 3 votes
#2.3 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:54 PM EDT
{"commentId":813798,"authorDomain":"geejay"}
TheJonesGirl

It's better not to be an early adapter, anyway...or so I am telling myself as Friday nears :)

{"commentId":813798,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"geejay"}
  • 2 votes
#2.4 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:59 PM EDT
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{"commentId":813609,"authorDomain":"elvo86"}
Elliot Vos

I just watched the activation & sync video and discovered something interesting: "iPhone can sync your web bookmarks with Safari on the Mac, or Internet Explorer or Safari on the PC" (approximate quote--you can't rewind the video and I didn't feel like starting over).

Notice anything missing from that list? That's right, Apple is trying to eclipse Firefox by tying the iPhone to Safari.

{"commentId":813609,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"elvo86"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:08 PM EDT
{"commentId":814364,"authorDomain":"spudsstuff"}
Spuds Stuff

The iPhone gets more tempting by the day. If only I lived in the US I would be queuing for one already.

{"commentId":814364,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"spudsstuff"}
  • 3 votes
Reply#4 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:30 PM EDT
{"commentId":814591,"authorDomain":"davegillam"}
David Gillam

As I'm already an AT&T customer, and paying $80/month for the Nation 700 plan (3 phones, shared minutes), with no data plan (data plan would cost me more than $20 a month), this is practically a no-brainer. Yes, I'll pay an extra $20/month to get all the stuff the iPhone offers. I wouldn't pay $20/month for just the badly-designed cell phone browser stuff on the Motorola/Nokia/Sony phones. I think this data rate plan is going to make the iPhone a real success.
BTW, technically this is a 1.0 product, but according to the AT&T test engineers, it's been tested twice as hard and long as any other phone out there, and Apple has already patched everything the testers could come up with. In my book, this makes it at least a 1.5 product. Also, since a simple software update while inside iTunes will update the phone, we can expect simple fixes and more capability (ie: more s/w) as time goes on, without needing to buy new hardware. The only reason to buy new hardware will be if/when Apple adds something physically new to iPhone, like GPS, or 3G (instead of 2.5G).

{"commentId":814591,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"davegillam"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#5 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:35 PM EDT
{"commentId":814694,"authorDomain":"michaelspencer"}
Michael Spencer

I'm also interested in buying an iPhone. Just one question: do all the people on this thread work for Apple or AT&T?

{"commentId":814694,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"michaelspencer"}
    Reply#6 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:05 PM EDT
    {"commentId":814761,"authorDomain":"elvo86"}
    Elliot Vos

    If they worked for Apple, they'd be in a bit of trouble. I'm pretty sure they're not allowed to discuss Apple products.

    I know you meant it as a joke, just sayin'.

    {"commentId":814761,"threadId":"118380","contentId":"802920","authorDomain":"elvo86"}
      #6.1 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:24 PM EDT
      Reply
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