Buy a plane ticket to the nearest AT&T or Apple Store (at least $350 to Seattle) and misrepresent oneself as a Washington resident. Get ready to pay sales tax for the phone plus a yet-unknown amount for the service plan. Or find a friend in the Lower 48 to do the misrepresenting, in which case shipping runs $1.48 to $16.25.How to keep AT&T's nosy location-tracking network from disconnecting you after illicitly acquiring your precious, precious iPhone, after the jump...]]> AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel refused to tell the Daily News how long iPhones would work on Alaska's network, so the paper had one of its interns call AT&T customer service and ask.
An obliging customer service agent explained that if AT&T's computer sees four months of chitchatting in Alaska (or elsewhere out of AT&T coverage area), service will be automatically canceled.For those who mess with Texas, really, you should try Alaska sometime. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGERBut if you call AT&T ahead of time and explain to them that you'll be on an extended trip, you can avoid service termination -- at least for a little while.
In a second phone call, Siegel testily confirmed the four-month figure.
Shut out of service, tech-head Alaskans will need guts to get hands on an iPhone [Anchorage Daily News] (Thanks to Eskimo Joe!)
]]>I need an iPhone so I can update my Sitka Luxury Fishing Lodge while having an Adventure Travel.
]]>
@tedyc03
GSM carriers in the USA: [www.gsmworld.com] (hint: 60 live networks of various sizes)
@cac67: Ye of little faith. Make a few more comments like that on other forums and someone will take it as a timed challenge to hack the phone.
Trust me, someone will figure it out. It might even end up on here...
]]>"People seem to be assuming it will be possible to unlock this phone. Given apples history, do you really think they're going to make it possible to use their device in a manner they dont approve?"
Assuming the phone isn't a bust and truly becomes a must have item, I don't think it will take too long to crack.
As much as it can do, I'm sure some people will want to do more with it.
]]>Dont forget, most manufacturers add the subsidy lock only for the american carriers branded phones. They're making unbranded phones too. Apple isn't making any unbranded phones and has an exclusive contract with att for 5 years. I don't think it will be so easy to get unlocked. I'm certain neither apple or att will unlock it for you.
That being said, I firmly believe that there is no security that cant be broken. There is just security that is so hard to break it's not worth the effort. I give it no more than 6 mos before we see iphones running linux.
]]>Re: using the 4-month roaming service cancellation as a way to get out of the contract without ETF: I wouldn't want to be the first one to try it, it wouldn't surprise me if they still wanted the ETF just for meanness, though if THEY cancel you they're probably not legally entitled to it.
]]>people can send me their iphones and i send them one that i have been using for 4 months in alaska.
charge them 33% of what the fee would cost.
niiiice
]]>He's using Cellular One now. I think.
]]>Sweet.
]]>
So because you don't like the phone (or for whatever reason can't/don't want one), its stupid, and the whole issue is irrelevant?
The iphone is eagerly anticipated for a reason. I see no justice in being upset at Alaskans for having a beef.
Also, most phones end up at other carriers after some period of time, like 6 months.
Dude, the phone would need to make my bed and wash my dishes to make me even consider flying somewhere and going through all of this proposed effort just for a cell phone.
]]>@endless:
Now, is this a way to get out of paying the 195$ early termination fee?From what I've heard, Cingular/AT&T customers canceled for "excessive roaming" have not been charged ETFs. YMMV, of course. ]]>
thats because they are sold in other countries not other states.
If they sold JDM Intregras in alaska and not california, their would be plenty of complaining.
Now, is this a way to get out of paying the 195$ early termination fee?
bhahahahahah
]]>It works. Because it roams. AT&T doesn't offer non-roaming.
I don't see why there's this huge fuss about this. I don't see people whining because they can't buy the JDM Integra Type R in the US. (why not? because it's not sold here! Duh!).
]]>Yeah, considering last time I was there, you couldn't get service in half the areas their maps claimed you could. (Fairbanks was a mine field of dead zones)
]]>Phones getting beyond WAP (the biggest fucking waste of time and effort in the history of computing) is about the only thing that could compel me to get anything above the basic 20 dollar plain white box with black lettering phone.
I think that feature is a big deal.
]]>The phone works there, AT&T just doesn't want to support/sell it.
]]>I guess that fancy, whiz bang full-featured internet (as opposed to the kinda-sorta internet we're all used to) is going to tax their data streams too much.
Anyways, when has AT&T ever been for the consumer? Anytime they say something's "good for the customer" RUN LIKE A BEAR, FAST!!
]]>