iPhone 3G Release-The Cheek of Apple and AT&T

TheZenWithin

Ok so I'm subscribed to some Apple email newsletter and I just got and email from them today announcing the release of the 3G iPhone to me for a second time but I still went and had a look at a page linked to it on "Where to buy It"

And then i found this on the page:

"To purchase and activate iPhone 3G, you need the following:*
Credit card
Social security number
Valid government-issued photo ID
Current wireless account number and password or PIN (if you’re new to AT&T)
If you already own an iPhone, remember to sync it with iTunes one last time before you get your new iPhone 3G."

As you can guess this is for America....but the absolute cheek. How can Apple or AT&T expect consumers to go to that hassle to get a phone whe they could get a phone easier and lets face it for less too.

Does anyone else agree with me that it is quite extreme what both companies are asking for for such a device?

heggie

do you not need all that for any bill phone with AT&T ?

jahalpin

What's wrong with that?

The iPhone isn't a pre-pay phone, you have to sign a 2 year contract to buy it

To get a bill phone here you need;
- Government issued ID eg Passport
- Utility Bill
- You also need a credit card or bank direct debit info as you have you have to pay your bill by direct debit

The phone companies are subsidising the phone this time around and need to insure that they don't lose their investment

Tom Dunne

TheZenWithin wrote: »

How can Apple or AT&T expect consumers to go to that hassle to get a phone whe they could get a phone easier and lets face it for less too.

Does anyone else agree with me that it is quite extreme what both companies are asking for for such a device?

Is anyone else utterly baffled by this rant?

WTF are you on about?

How is that any different from signing up for a phone here?

HeadBangersBall

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Is anyone else utterly baffled by this rant?

WTF are you on about?

How is that any different from signing up for a phone here?

They're actually giving you more information than here!
Nothing wrong with what they are asking.

Sam Vimes

jahalpin wrote: »

- You also need a credit card or bank direct debit info as you have you have to pay your bill by direct debit

only on meteor

jahalpin

Sam Vimes wrote: »

only on meteor

One of the conditions of the O2 iPhone contract is that it is paid by direct debit

Deep Thought

No idea what this rant is about....

No different that what other networks look for (except SS number)

GerardKeating

Szondi wrote: »

No idea what this rant is about....

No different that what other networks look for (except SS number)

I think the "rant" is that fact that Apples were spamming Irish users with details of AT&T iPhone

I was also spammed by them, but did not feel the need to rant.

Random

GerardKeating wrote: »

I think the "rant" is that fact that Apples were spamming Irish users with details of AT&T iPhone

I was also spammed by them, but did not feel the need to rant.

You should start a thread. Ranting / venting is great

towel401

what the hell do they need a 'social security' number for?

chrislad

Probably to stop non-Yanks taking out contracts.

art

Hand up: I'm baffled by the rant.

Tom Dunne

chrislad wrote: »

Probably to stop non-Yanks taking out contracts.

I have a social security number.

It's just another form of identification.

chrislad

Tom Dunne wrote: »

I have a social security number.

It's just another form of identification.

You have an American social security number, being an Irish national, then?

Tom Dunne

chrislad wrote: »

You have an American social security number, being an Irish national, then?

Yes, that is correct.

I lived there for a while.

chrislad

The point I was making was that asking for an American social security number weeds out the number of non-Yanks taking out contracts, which leads to less cancellations on AT&Ts part. I'm sure you're one of the very few Irish people who have an American SS number

JoseJones

Hi, I just want to ask a question here, not sure if anyone will know the answer but I'll ask anyway...
I'm in the states at the moment, and I have everything you need to buy an iphone, SSN etc...
If I buy one when it goes on sale here in a few hours, is there anything stopping me disappearing off back to Ireland in a month which I intend to do, unlocking the phone and clearing my US bank account so I don't have to pay the monthly fees?
The only thing I'm worried about is the bank have my Irish address, they would never give that to AT&T to track me down would they? Would AT&T even be bothered trying to track me down?