[Macworld]

Post your comments for iPhone 3G activation will be required at time of purchase here

[louielu12]

How are stores planning on keeping lines short (or nonexistent) if you need to activate the phone right there?

[jldinsdale]

"I, for one, am counting the days until the iPhone 3G arrives."
Me too. The Canadian market always seems to be a market that Apple's in no rush to service despite being such close neighbours. I'm glad the phone is finally going to be available here.

[weshsu]

I can just see it now...AT&T's activation network will be overloaded just like last year. You're #300 in line and they make an announcement when they get to #60...We're sorry folks, but AT&T's activation network is having issues. We can't process any more phones until this guy's phone activates. Can we say riot?
This is exactly how they're going to keep lines shorter than last year. Only the true diehards will stick it out...even when they can only process 1/10 of the customers per hour compared to last year. I was blown away that they emptied that line of 500 in an hour. Absolutely amazing.
I much preferred last year's business model. It saves the customer money (overall, considering the data/SMS plans), is MUCH more convenient, and blew me away just how easy it was to activate the account. I didn't have to waste an hour of my time activating a phone, like I have had to do for the past 4 AT&T phones I bought...and that was with ONE person in line before me! There's no way I'll be standing in line. It could take all week to process a line of 500 people.

[moose_n_squirrel]

It will be interesting to see how long it takes to activate each customer. Let's be optimistic and say 3 minutes per customer. That's only 20 customers per hour per employee! Can we hope that AT&T and Apple will staff up properly for this one?......

The whole thing makes me want to wait a week or two before jumping in.

[KGBguy]

Let me guess.. the iPhone still be locked to AT&T network?
I have to agree that 3G version is not as lame as the first "joke".

[klagreca]

Is there still going to be a market for some kind of market hacked/unactivated iPhones simply because someone from Europe will get a better deal in the US because of the currency value difference?
And, could you not purchase a phone with a gift card "credit card" and then kill the account and the gift card -- while keeping the phone and avoiding the termination fee?
(nothing like coming up with ideas on how to thwart the 'system.)

[jml42691]

Why do I have a feeling that this is going to cause quite a bit of mayhem in the stores, they better come up with a quick activation process.

[louielu12]

jml42691 said:

Why do I have a feeling that this is going to cause quite a bit of mayhem in the stores, they better come up with a quick activation process.

I doubt it. I think I heard somewhere (possibly AT&T's press release or maybe a Macworld article) that it was expected to be about 15 minutes per costumer to activate their new iPhone 3G. I sure hope I'm wrong!

[scotts13]

Y'know,(without making a moral judgment)if people hadn't started jailbreaking the phones, and otherwise using them in unapproved ways, everyone else could still activate the easy, convenient way.

[nightshrill]

Or if the phone was actually available for other networks in the US that might cut down on hacked iPhones. I'd love one at the new price, but i'm w/Tmobile, I like Tmobile, and I think At&t's contracts are both invasive (w/the 'you cannot criticize at&t clause), overpriced, and the service is overall shoddy. So the Tmobile shadow is what I'm sticking with

[Mav]

They really should re-think the in-store activation. There's no possible way the Apple Stores will be able to keep up with the initial demand, and though AT&T's stores might add another 2,000 or so locations, it's still likely to be a huge mess.

[hillstones]

It doesn't take long to activate a cell phone, regardless of the carrier. And most other carriers require in-store activation.

[hillstones]

I don't think the demand for the iPhone 3G will be the same as the first phone. Most current owners are not willing to upgrade or spend the money on another phone, a higher phone bill, and less battery life. Also, most like the durability of the first phone and don't care for the new plastic backing of the new phone.

I am perfectly happy with my 16 GB model. I would prefer the longer battery life with Edge than to cut the battery life running in 3G. I don't care about GPS because I already have it in my car built-in. My iPhone will get 2.0 for free and have access to all the same Apps in July.

Rumors are floating that the monthly increase will be $15. $10 more for the 3G plan, and $5 for the SMS messaging that is now optional, and no longer bundled.

So the new monthly plan, for the base plan, is an increase of approx $360 (not counting tax) over the two year period. So I don't think existing iPhone customers will be jumping on the 3G bandwagon.