AT&T Gears Up for the iPhone 256
ElvaWSJ writes "In preparation for its exclusive launch of the cellphone industry's most anticipated device, AT&T is pulling out all the stops. It is adding about 2,000 temporary employees to cope with the influx of shoppers in the first few months. And it is planning for enhanced security to control the potentially large crowds and avoid theft of the phones, which will go for a steep $499 or $599, depending on memory capacity. Some sales agents expect to see people camping outside the night before. 'Apple, which plans to start selling the phone in all of its 162 retail stores on June 29, did not disclose any plans around training or staffing for the launch. Apple will also start selling the phone online on the launch date, but AT&T will first launch only in its stores ... AT&T, which is requiring iPhone shoppers to sign up for a 2-year contract, has not yet revealed the service fees it will charge iPhone customers.'"
thank the Steve there is only another week of this (Score:4, Insightful)
tell me when we get the contract terms, and let me know if I can get it pre-paid.
please give me some real info, Mr. Ramero.
Lame. (Score:0, Insightful)
The iPhone offers no improvement over the iPod except the opportunity to switch cell providers and play with the shiny touch screen. This device will bomb.
Jeez, I wish I could get an iPhone... (Score:2, Insightful)
why is service fee unknown? (Score:4, Insightful)
Is data going to cost more? Again, will there be something different in the way this iPhone sends/receives data for such things as mobile internet? If not, why does it need special pricing?
Re:Other Carriers (Score:1, Insightful)
you get a 2 year deal with AT&T. Then *maybe* you can get it on T-Moble. (Chances are it'll be broke or obsolete, like any other phone)
And, btw, its the same AT&T who is filtering their internet traffic to keep you from seeing the naughty stuff (see article from yesterday).
Of course, this new censorship, and end-run around net neutrality on the basis of helping the MPAA "take a bite outta crime" used to be something slashdot would be pissed about.
The old slashdot, not the new slashdot - which bravely promotes Apple products 24 hours a day.
AT&T is an awesome company, censorship is great. Besides, why would you want access to torrent sites, obviously it's better to buy everything through iTunes. God, I fucking love me some DRM in the morning. Apple has the hippest, trendiest DRM out there.
Just a reminder... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm an Apple fanboy myself, but for this reason I canceled my AT&T service and will not purchase an iPhone until they can be unlocked or subscribed with another provider.
More here [salon.com] and here [wired.com]. If you want to watch a Frontline about the domestic survellience program, check it out here [pbs.org].
Re:Am I the only one... (Score:3, Insightful)
Oh, and every Apple Fan bashing web traffic whore posing as a "tech journalist".
Simple put, they want it to fail. They are tired of having every single lame attack on Apple being repulsed by reality of Apple's success. The company that was supposed to be dead 20 years ago continues to make "tech journalists" look like fools and that's a damn good thing. The invented reasons why people don't want an iPhone are now more numerous than the feature set, and most of theses asses have never so much as seen an iPhone in the flesh.
I wanted the iPhone to be a success for Apple's sake, but now I want it to be a runaway smash hit just to continue to annoy the naysayers and expose them as the frauds they are. Maybe, someday, they'll stop letting their irrational biases taint their Apple articles and maybe, just maybe, stick to the facts and be the journalists they are actually paid to be.
Yes, I realise that this is a pipe dream.
I just don't get one thing... (Score:2, Insightful)
HOWEVER...
The current state of cellphone service in the US is such that 90% of existing cellular users will not be able to buy this phone, because only a small handful of users will be nearing the end of their existing contracts. Furthermore, the high price of this phone is going to dissuade some people that were on the fence already. Furthermore...Cingular isn't exactly a shining beacon of customer service these days, and their presence in some markets is outright laughable.
I just really don't see how they can expect a lines-around-buildings type of launch for this thing except in a few urban areas in high-profile stores.
Am I interested in the iPhone? You better believe it.
Am I prepared to get one? Absolutely not.
Re:thank the Steve there is only another week of t (Score:2, Insightful)
I got to check one out a week ago and after all the silly hype it was like "heh, yea this looks like what one would imagine a phone designed by Apple would be like". There simply isn't anything compelling about the phone. It sure as hell isn't something that would ever compel me to give up my current phone which I love.
Re:why is service fee unknown? (Score:3, Insightful)
Not that I'd place a whole ton of money on that, mind you, but based on their current strategy of announcing last-minute improvements, it makes sense. It wouldn't make sense to hold off this long if it was going to be more expensive.
Re:I just don't get one thing... (Score:5, Insightful)
Really, I don't mean that as an insult, I used to be that way too... carried a cellphone and pager, was constantly "tied" to something. Then I just got away from it. I don't think I could go back. I see people with all this gear strapped to them, and I feel sorry for them. Pagers, multiple phones, blackberries, etc. I see people sending emails while driving... saw a guy the other day - while driving - talking on one phone and sending a text message on another phone.
I think a lot of people want to seem important. Put it down. Walk away. You'll feel better. I know I sure as hell do.
Re:What is this "iPhone" thing you speak of, (Score:3, Insightful)