![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-3865-100x100.png\")
I'm growing less and less interested in the iPhone...but I'm still interested in what the next gen iPods will offer.
Why can't a company make a phone like I want? Instead of spending the money on extra features, I want just a heavy duty phone, long battery life, ultra compact, with loud and clear sound. Strip all that extra crap out. Make it water proof too.
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This doesn't sound like a \"security\" feature, but a load of crap dished out by AT&T.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-70730-100x100.png\")
So if *they* replace your iPhone (for whatever reason) and you meet these conditions you are horked?
Wow, that's really 'raising the bar' isn't it..
@AlteredBeast: Clearly you're not looking too hard; otherwise you would have found a whole lot of Nokia candybar phones selling for $100 or less without contract that satisfies almsot all your criteria. And if you were willing to buy used, they'd be even cheaper.
Sorry, nobody sells waterproof phones. It's the nature of the device, you see, Captain Ahab. They'd have to seal the battery in, for starters; you'd probably complain about that. The keypad would most likely be membrane-based; \"no tactile feedback - oh noes!\". And then they'd never sell it as waterproof, only water-resistant, lest somebody sue them for false advertisement after dropping it into a lake or something and somehow manage to recover it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-69858-100x100.png\")
I have NEVER heard of a prepaid SIM being locked to a particular phone. EVER. My experience with prepaid (T-mobile, Mom has a prepaid phone) is that you CAN switch the cards and they're recognized without any trouble whatsoever -- my bf gave my Mom one of his old phones, and I had it up and running in under two minutes and she was more than pleased with her new phone.
I don't know what the heck AT&T is thinking. If they're so paranoid about prepaid SIMs being stolen, why wait so long to do this?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-24166-100x100.png\")
to ChrisC1234:
Of course this is a security feature. Job security for AT & T who force you into a contract regardless of your desire!
@qwertybot: I have had many (many) cell phones, various shapes, sizes, and manufacturers. I still prefer my flip phones, as I dont accidently dial anyone when my parot lands on it. What I am saying is, take the same expense that is spent on cameras, built in memory for mp3s, large displays, etc, and put that into longer battery life and a very sturdy design (like those toughbook notebook PCs). I'd have to say though, my favorite phone that Ive owned was an Ericson candybar phone from 4 years ago. Problem with that was, for some reason, the reception got worse and worse.
Basically, give me a phone with basic functions, but with all the effort and expense of new technology making those basic features better, and scrap the extra crap.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-10166-100x100.png\")
This is the first time I've heard of a pre-paid SIM card being locked into a single phone. I've swapped my Cingular prepaid SIM card into multiple phones without any issues. I'm currently using a Moto SLVR L7 and it works no different than the last 4 Cingular phones I've used my prepaid SIM card in.
If Apple and AT&T want to keep good on all of this, they will find a way to port your number to allow it be used on any iPhone without forcing you to do the 2-yr contract and mega deposit.
First step to repair your credit: stop buying overpriced gadgets.
you could always activate the phone using another option besides itunes like iActivator as desribed at [www.modmyiphone.com]
for the mac or with windows go to
When my contract runs out with Verizon, I'll tossing my phones into a drawer as a form of consumer protest about these contracts. Contracts have become nothing more than a way to keep you around while you explore crummy service.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-33183-100x100.png\")
Just get yourself a 6800 and save your ass the chafing. Comes with WM6 and kicks major ass...
well it all sounds like too much of a hassle, I will no be buying one
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@qwertybot:
Fortnately for the rest of us, engineers have have these marvelous things called gaskets. There is no really why a company couldnt make a mobile phone that would survive a quick dunk in a toilet, etc.
I too would rather have a simple phone that focused on battery like, and good reception rather than all the non-phone stuff.
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A little off topic but my wife is stuck in a At&t contract till January and her phone is fast approaching the end of its chain. I was checking out the prepaid phones and was wondering can you use a regular contract SIM in the prepaid phones? Anyone know, cause the prepaid ones are a lot cheaper than the regular ones they try to sell you. Anyone anyone...bueller bueller?
Yes, you can use a postpaid sim card in a prepaid phone. :)
What BloggyMcBlog said.
What a retard, spending how much on a phone he can't afford. Shoulda spent that money on paying his bills or funding an IRA. I've no bloody sympathy at all.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-80652-100x100.png\")
@nemesis_enforcer
you would be better off buying a phone off Ebay. It could just a crapper that lasts till January, or just buy a phone she wants. That's the cheapest route.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-7665-100x100.png\")
How about this:
Port your # to T-Mo, Sprint or VZN (all prepaid), then cancel within the trial period and re-port your # to AT&T (prepaid) by activating your new iPhone.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23360-100x100.png\")
I call BS on ATT/Apple for this one.
The SIM card worked in the loaner iPhone so clearly the SIM card and iPhone are not locked together forever.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-37033-100x100.png\")
Man, the iphone sounds worse and worse every day.
@Buran:
I had a phone from Tracfone that I bought about 3 years ago that was locked to that phone.
You could change to a new phone, but you had to deal with a live customer service rep to do it. Which is why I kept that crappy fone for 3 years.
@Chicago7: Yeah, I guess I should append that to say \"major cell phone carriers\", meaning \"those most people have heard of\".
Certainly I have never heard of AT&T doing this.
@Nemesis_Enforcer: Why not pick up a Cingular or unlocked phone on eBay? As long as it's GSM and a US model or a quad-band phone, it'll work.
iPhone dissapoints once again.
@ColoradoShark: Thats what I was thinking. If the loaner was supposedly some \"magic iphone\" why not just do whatever they did to the loaner to the new phone?
@Buran: Thats probably what I am going to do. I just don't trust Ebay for stuff like phones..Oh well Thanks!
Has he tried the activation hack on the web? Seems like that should work. After the phone has been activated, it should be able to make calls with the AT&T SIM card inserted.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-33953-100x100.png\")
I was kinda turned off by the fact that the Iphone used 500MB of the 4GB of advertised memory, I have 3GB of music so I figured all my music should fit on my Iphone with room to spare for Podcasts. Well that's not the case, I went to the Apple store and asked Why a 4GB Iphone is really only 3.5GB and not 3.9 or 3.8GB, like if I bought a USB thumb drive or something. The guy said that the OS took up space too and that if I wanted to exchange it I had to pay a restocking fee, I asked him why there wasn't any disclaimer on the box like hard drives or other items sometimes have saying \"hey we know it says 500GB but it's more like XXX GB's.? I was told it's not and too bad but they would gladly charge me a restocking fee if I wanted to exchange it. I declined, I'll never by a Apple product again after some of the worst customer support this Gadget freak ever had at the Apple Store in Mayfair mall in Milwaukee Wi.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-6838-100x100.png\")
@qwertybot: The Verizon G'Zone is waterproof.
View it here: [www.mobiledia.com]
It was seriously considering this phone because I've broken 3 other clamshell phones. But I really needed a PDA phone so I was leaning towards a Treo.
I ended up leaving Verizon and buying an iPhone, and I haven't looked back since. I love it.
To the story author's point trying to claim the iPhone is an iPod and should be subject to a 30 day return period: It's been well-publicized that you have 14 days to return it No Questions Asked, or to exchange for any reason. After that, you have the standard warranty for defects, and you can return it up to 30 days but will pay a 10% restocking fee. If you try, you might be able to sweet-talk the Apple Store reps into waiving the restocking fee.
But trying to call the iPhone not a computer so not subject to their posted policy? Fail.
Ok -- if you want to do this it's *very easy* to keep a single number.
Here's what you do:
Step 1: Head on over to www.grandcentral.com and sign up for a free account. They just got bought by Google so they'll be around for a while.
Step 2: Set up your various sundry phones with Grand Central. What this means is that if someone calls your GC number (which GC will issue you) all or some of your existing numbers will ring.
Step 3: Activate your iPhone with your pre-paid card and add that number to your GC account.
Call to your heart's content. If you have to set up a new account - no worries, just change the number in GC and you're good to go.
Also, this gives you a bunch of other very cool features and doesn't even break caller ID.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-25776-100x100.png\")
Apple has turned planned obsolescence into an art form, with a new iPod coming out every 6 months and now the iPhone. Apple fans drool over every new iteration and don't hesitate to shell out the bucks for the latest and greatest device.
Granted, Apple makes a pretty good product, but they're hardly original ideas.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1762-100x100.png\")
Why would you use a prepaid account with an iPhone?
Prepaid is more costly and if you can't afford a monthly account, you probably shouldn't be buying an iPhone.
Who the hell uses pre-paid for business calls? I read the article and can somewhat understand the guy's predicament with prepaid vs. contract, but still...
As for AT&T/Apple, they both deserve every bit of bad press they can get over this deal. The iPhone is a decent 1st generation product that is being crippled & slowed down by ineptitude of BOTH companies.
image credit: actually me, not the tool who took it from my flickr stream and reposted it under his own credit and with a cc-license. wtf?
I've had trouble with AT&T in the past when trying to keep my number. I have not been able to efficiently move from business to personal contracts while retaining my number.
Solution? Go to Verizon or T-Mobile and do a number port and get a new phone; activate your new iPhone with a new pre-paid account, and port the number back to AT&T. Voila. New iPhone, same number, no phone calls to customer service. There may be some limits on how often you can port a number - so I would look into that first, but this is how I resolved to deal with it after I almost lost my 8yr old number last time I changed contracts. Just make sure you can return your \"new\" phone within the return policy period.
I already own an mp3 player. I don't get why cellphone companies keep making phones that have all these extra features. I still use a startac motorola phone. It gets reception everywhere. It also has a great battery life despite being so old. I don't want a battery sucking, picture, taking, mp3 playing $700 phone. I just want one that gets good reception and makes calls.
Doesn't this violate number portability laws?
Something jumps out at me from your service at the Apple store:
If they were able to give you a loaner iPhone, then they're able to give you a replacement. They may not want to, but it is obviously possible.
Is there something about the differences between the loaner version of \"mobile OS X\" and the stock iPhone variety that would make this situation undesirable?
This isn't true. I have an iPhone with prepaid service. Had it replaced because of a bad speaker and the new one works just fine. No such problems.
@Killfile:
Tried to sign up for grandcentral and got this:
GrandCentral is currently a private beta service, which means you must receive an invite from GrandCentral or a GrandCentral user to sign up. Let us know where you would like a number in the form below and we will invite you as soon as the service is publicly available.
Anyone got an invite for me? send to mrrbob(at)gmail.com
Smell that? It's a big lawsuit coming on, mixed with a healthy dose of BS.
Clearly ATT is more eager to tie the rope around your neck for 2 years than sell you a cheap ass sim card in pay as little as you go money saving scheme.
If you can pull your regular sim card and put it in another iPhone, you can too with a prepaid sim card.
Security feature? Just about as efficient as banning real silverware on airplanes.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-76659-100x100.png\")
Wow. You can use prepaid accounts with the iPhone?
How does that work? Is the prepaid only for phone and for internet you have to use wireless, or what?