Buy an iPhone without two year AT&T contract
Those with bad credit have the option to buy an iPhone without a two year agreement but are offered prepaid plans instead. AT&T performs credit checks on each and every person that buys an iPhone in its stores but not for the purpose of penalizing those with bad credit, it’s to get their business. Apple does not check your credit, so if you want to forgo that then buy an iPhone at the Apple store.
iPhone owners must use iTunes to activate the phone but AT&T customers with bad credit were offered the option of signing up for a slightly more expensive prepaid plan. AT&T customers with bad credit were given a special activation code to bypass the standard activation system in iTunes which gave them the option for the prepaid plans. At least everyone has to pay full retail price for the iPhone regardless of what plan you go with.
Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T said, “We want to give people an alternative if they don’t meet the credit criteria.”
That’s all fine, well and good but what about those that might want to purchase the iPhone without signing on for two years with AT&T. In my opinion, a prepaid iPhone plan for all customers would certainly extend the appeal.
This could almost be considered a reward for bad credit customers, sure they may not be able to get the two year agreement but on the other hand, they aren’t stuck with AT&T for two years if the service turns out to be horrible.
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July 1st, 2007
You don’t have to have bad credit to get the prepaid iPhone option; you just have to buy the iPhone at an Apple store, then register it online. You can then get—as I did—a very decent prepaid monthly package, which compares to the two-year contract plan but minus the two-year contract. Do you really want to be stuck with AT&T for two years?
July 1st, 2007
Maybe that activation code they hand out disables the two-year option and leaves those with bad credit with only the prepaid options but everyone else gets all the options?
I find this odd but okay, I’m surprised AT&T didn’t hide the prepaid options from everyone (except those with bad credit).
July 2nd, 2007
Umm…OK. So you’re not stuck with AT&T for two years, but you’re still stuck with a $600 phone that is locked to AT&T. I’m not seeing any real benefit here.
July 15th, 2007
Umm…Ok. Listen Matt. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!? If You Sign Up For The 2-Year Agrement Plan Thing, The Lowest Price You Can Per Month Is $59.99. That Means That In A Year You Will Be Paying More Than What You Payed For The iPhone! So How Is That Not A Real Benefit? And Keep in Mind That $59.99 Is The LOWEST Plan You Can Choose! So I Think That Is A Benefit, Don’t You?
March 10th, 2008
prepay man,
What was your pre-paid monthly package? Minutes & Cost?
THanks,
September 1st, 2008
i’m in Africa and i need to know whether i can purchase an iphone 3g and use it on the continent without a contract or d service.i travel frequently but i’m worried i might not b able to use it if i make the purchase
November 8th, 2008
jay, right now, there is no possibility for you to unlock the phone. You can use a stealth sim or turbo sim (i don’t know how it’s called right now) to have your phone working in your network.
Anyway..600$ seems a little to much to get it wiothout a plan anyway.