I keep seeing people saying it is illegal to require a contract before you can buy something. How do the phone companies do it with every other phone?

Oh, my iPhone 3G has crashed, I need to restore it using iTunes.
Then, after restoring I need to go to a store and activate my iPhone 3G again.

Or, can I use iTunes for activation as I do today???
What about iPhone 1.generation, after a restore in iTunes, what do I do for activating if iTunes 7.7 is "removing" the possibility to activate at home?

Originally Posted by thefewtheproud

I keep seeing people saying it is illegal to require a contract before you can buy something. How do the phone companies do it with every other phone?

Because it's not illegal. (apart from in Germany and France it seems)

Originally Posted by geircito

Oh, my iPhone 3G has crashed, I need to restore it using iTunes.
Then, after restoring I need to go to a store and activate my iPhone 3G again.

Or, can I use iTunes for activation as I do today???
What about iPhone 1.generation, after a restore in iTunes, what do I do for activating if iTunes 7.7 is "removing" the possibility to activate at home?

i dont believe they will remove teh posibility of activating, they will control this at the point of sale,

no contract = no iphone

Its no longer possible to bring in iphone from US since you're contract binded upon purchase. Only alternative is outsource from countries that requires phone to be freely available as well.

Answer:
Is possible to still unlock iPhone but it will cost alot of money.

The iPhone G3 will be available on July 11 both in Apple Retail Stores and Online. You do not have to ACTIVATE IN STORE. You will activate via iTune when you go home. Get it through your head and screw AT&T!

That´s what I´ve been thinking like for 3 pages now, I read that you asked in a couple of Apple store about that, did you asked if you have to sign any contract in order to get the phone?

Originally Posted by neo

The iPhone G3 will be available on July 11 both in Apple Retail Stores and Online. You do not have to ACTIVATE IN STORE. You will activate via iTune when you go home. Get it through your head and screw AT&T!

why are you so shure bout this? i wish i could belief in this. i want to belief in this!

Originally Posted by neo

The iPhone G3 will be available on July 11 both in Apple Retail Stores and Online. You do not have to ACTIVATE IN STORE. You will activate via iTune when you go home. Get it through your head and screw AT&T!

Not according to the AT&T press release yesterday - the chief exec or whoever the hell he is states no more signing up via itunes and in store only!!

The leaked AT&T memo over at Gizmondo suggests otherwise. It seems you will require activation both at AT&T and Apple stores before walking out with the iPhone.

If you later claim you have lost or damaged your phone they will want the damaged phone back and incase of loss you will have to pay full retail price ie not $199 for a new phone. This is standard practice with phones on contract when lost. At least in the US it will be very difficult to get hold of iPhones without contracts. Things are not looking good.

http://gizmodo.com/5014909/att-memo-...hone-3g-policy