[nucFlash]

I understand your particular situation exactly. So don't buy an iPhone.

[cnorth3]

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Uh, interesting remark. How is reselling stealing? No one is signing a contract promising to sign-up with AT&T when they buy an iPhone. Apple is using draconion methods that will hopefully be found to be illegal to force people to do so.

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Uh, ever heard of a EULA?

[dingonv]

All this complaining and not a single person has mentioned the obvious.
Prepaid creditcards
go to a coinstar machine and get one if you really need to buy more than 2.
Who in there right mind is going to pay MORE for the phone than apple charges in the first place.

[tomtom]

Viva Ameritech and Chicago
Dick, Bruce C, Andre, Tom, Bob, Nancy and especially Ali - where are you now?
These guys know how to keep customers and corporates happy all over the world.
IMHO
The new AT&T is doing just great - give them time

[B_Badenov]

"Uh - ever heard of a EULA?"
Let's not start confusing breach of contract with theft. We really don't want to go there.

[tomtom]

It's all about the extra things you can do and the supporting infrastructure.
This is the legal stuff.
Plop goes my (or rather your) heart!

[hayesk]

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such a stupid deal.
Being beholden to a telco provider is the lowest form of slavery.

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A bit melodramatic, don't you think? The lowest form of slavery is, without a doubt, actual slavery.

[iron_chef]

Hyperbole , my friend.
relax.
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[AtomicPunk]

Well... their loss. At least from my perspective.
See, I plan to purchase a new Mac Pro. Very soon, I might add. I have all the cash saved up right now. I was going to add an iPhone to that purchase, but if they're not going to accept Cash for the iPhone, then it is their loss. I mean, I really don't give a sh*t. I am not really motivated by the idea of owning a PDA, I am more motivate with the idea of getting a new Mac. PDA, Phone, don't much care about that... I'll get a lame ass Motorola and I'll be fine with that.
But, just to add fuel to the fire. What if some guy came to the store and said, "I have a Wife, two Daughters, a Son, my brother, our Mother and of course, myself... We're all on Cingular. To surprise them, I want to purchase iPhones for my entire family for Xmas " Now, the guy whips out a credit card, ready to pay. What do you say to client then? Yet, add to the fact, most would pay with a CC, but, some like myself, I prefer to pay with debit, or cash. This depends on how I have my money. In the bank or in hand. Whatever... no big deal for me. If companies want to start refusing cash, well, I certainly will find other solutions that will take cash.

[jldinsdale]

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You may be able to come up with a DMCA argument, but that's not "stealing," per se...

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Actually, the DMCA has a provision written in it for this very situation, allowing people to unlock their phones and use whichever carrier they want. According to Leo Laporte, I haven't looked it up personally.

[trinigianetti]

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I applaud Apple. What people have been doing is stealing. If they don't act to protect themselves then they cannot go after the thieves.

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You know what? That has to be one of the dumbest remarks ever.
I don't live in your country. I wanted an iPhone. I BOUGHT one. Not stole. And I unlocked it as soon as the technology allowed me to. Some other person said only 2/3 of the features work when you're not on AT&T. Not true. The only feature that doesn't work is visual Voicemail. Not a big deal for me. The iPhone has everything I need and more. Perfect. If it breaks. I'll buy another. Voided warranty. Also no big deal. I have what I want in a country my phone carrier would never sell. Not buying one was never an option. It was just a matter of when.
So I applaud the Hackers for giving us a choice.

[the_oyster]

Editors of Macworld...
Please explain to me why this story has legs. Please explain why anyone...ANYONE...seriously cares. Just so I have the jist...
1. You have to buy iPhones with a credit card that has your name on it.
2. You can't buy more than 2 at a time
That's it? Slow day in news today, huh? I have to tell you...I HATE this story. I hate it because this policy only affects people who would do things counter to Apple's agreement with AT&T. It doesn't hurt anyone else. It doesn't hurt anyone who wants an iPhone for themselves. It doesn't hurt anyone who wants to buy an iPhone as a gift for someone else. It doesn't hurt anyone who intends to use the iPhone as it is meant to be used, in the way that Apple has made no secret of since months before its release.
So now... Why does this story matter?
Engadget today proposed the most absurd scenario I've ever read. They proposed:
1. A teenager wants an iPhone.
2. He lobbies multiple family members to chip in for the purchase.
3. Those family members individually go to an Apple Store and buy Apple gift cards for our teenage hero.
4. Now the teen goes to an Apple Store with a pocket full of gift cards worth assorted dollar figures and is denied the iPhone he so desperately wants because he isn't using a credit card.
5. Those Apple bastards, denying our poor teen his iPhone in the name of being greedy corporate monsters.
Can you imagine anything more utterly asinine than that?
Its almost 2008! Everyone has a debit or credit card. If you don't, and you need a prepay phone, then you're SOL on the iPhone, and Apple made no secret of that either. Additionally, you can't light up an iPhone account unless you're 18 (not legally, anyway). And if you're over 18, and carry no plastic, and generally buy large ticket items with wads of cash, then I have no sympathy for you because you need to grow up and join the rest of us adults. So now I ask again...
Why is the fact that Apple wants plastic for a $400 device any story at all?
Thanks.

[Deano1964]

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You want an iPhone that can be used anywhere, then you should have invented one yourself. The world is not Burger King, you can't always have it your way.
Apple has just as much right as anyone else to do anything damn thing they want in the selling or marketing of THEIR products. Just as Microsoft has the right to do anything damn thing they want with theirs.

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You are 100% correct!
However, customers, potential customers, and just plain interested bystanders also have just as much right as anyone else to "bch because the toy they want can't be bought on their terms."
Why does it bother you? If you don't want read other people's "bching because the toy they want can't be bought on their terms" then don't.
As Apple becomes less and less a niche company and more and more a dominant player in it's various sectors, it's inevitable that the business model is going to get more hard-nosed and less customer friendly.
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the years to come.

[JaxbNimbel]

Personally, this issue doesn't really affect me that much since I'm happy with AT&T & like my iPhone.
However, it's worth noting that in many countries and possibly soon in the U.S. with recent FCC statements about the use of the public's airwaves and the new frequency auctions to happen soon,
UNLOCKED CELL PHONES WILL EVENTUALLY BE THE LAW OF THE LAND.
It's only a matter of time as public opinion is clearly against the locked phone cell phone company policies and yes, let me repeat, it IS YOUR PUBLIC AIRWAVES, not AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, or T-Mobile's!
You're only paying them for your phone and the use of their services.
I personally did not use cash to buy my iPhone, but in my opinion, this is an ominous sign that Apple is acting like "the new Microsoft" instead of the Apple we all know and love. :-(