Apple: iPhone 3G purchase to take 10-15 minutes

Apple employees get ready to start taking iPhone orders last year in San Francisco.

(Credit: Erica Ogg/CNET News)

Apple has revealed how it plans to handle the iPhone 3G crowd on Friday at its retail stores: about 30 iPhone buyers at a time.

In an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday, Ron Johnson, Apple's retail chief, explained the company plans to admit iPhone customers into its retail stores starting at 8:00 a.m. local time on Friday. There will be an orange-shirted "concierge" at each store, according to Apple, who will herd iPhone 3G buyers approximately 30 at a time to the "iPhone bay" for processing.

Apple did something similar last year, when it let iPhone customers dozens at a time into its downtown San Francisco store, alternating between the first floor and second floor. Last year, however, iPhone customers could activate their iPhones at home, which made for a much quicker buying experience. Despite lines that stretched around the block as the doors opened, after an hour anyone could walk in off the street and buy an iPhone.

This time, as we all know, Apple is requiring in-store activation. Johnson said that Apple thinks each transaction will take between 10 and 15 minutes, which means the company could conceivably process between 120 and 180 buyers an hour, depending on how quickly things move. Johnson told Bloomberg to expect something more like 100 customers an hour.

A few things to remember: if you plan on buying an iPhone 3G on Friday, you're going to need a credit card, Social Security number, a government-issued photo ID, and the account number for your current wireless account if you're not an AT&T customer. You'll have to pass a credit check, and you have to be at least 18 years old, according to the fine print on Apple's iPhone page. If you're planning on buying an iPhone using a business account, you'll have to visit an AT&T store.

[aaron_lewis]

Ok, so I've read practically every article and report out there about this release, the pricing, the activation process, yada yada. But what I've yet to hear about is whether at&t customers eligible for the discount pricing (like me) will be able to get my phone and have it activated at an apple store. I've read about them using portable devices to quickly process the accounts, but how will they go about confirming that I'm eligible for the discounted price? Another article I read suggested ppl in my situation go straight to att&t instead b/c Apple might not be able to do this. I'd rather deal with an Apple rep over an at&t rep, however. Anybody know any details about this? Thanks

[Tom Krazit]

You've verified with your AT&T rep that you're eligible? Theoretically, you should be ok at an Apple store, since Apple should be able to look up your account information when you start the purchase process, and I would imagine that would have your upgrade status in the database. But if it's not too much trouble, you might be better off at an AT&T store just to be on the safe side. Let me know how you make out, either way.

[dwaine777]

yes, you can buy the phone and alternate later and if your company has a dicount you will be able to that dicount on the phone and the service unlike the G2 model of iphone

[Galaxy5]

After researching the issue, I found that existing ATT customer with FamilyTalk plans can simply add the $30.00 unlimited data plan to their bills for an iPhone purchase.

Unfortunately, the ATT "iphone plans" page doesn't disclose this....so if you're on a $60.00 FT plan, you don't have to upgrade to the $129.00 plan to simply add an iPhone to your pool.

[Zippy-T-Pinhead]

I just spent a few minutes with my AT&T rep. If you are eligible for an "upgrade", it will only cost you an additional $18 - plus the additional $10 for data (due to the 3G, according to them), AND, you will no longer get 200 free texts - that will cost you $5 extra. Now, whether your eligible or not depends on your plan, but if you have an iPhone now, you're automatically eligible for an upgrade. If you just joined AT&T and bought an inexpensive package with, say, a Razr - probably not. Call AT&T and ask about your specific account to be sure - otherwise you're going to be paying $399 and $499, respectively, for your 8G & 16G phone. Sorry.

[Galaxy5]

If you bought an inexpensive phone like a RAZR - or anything else for that matter - you're eligible for an equipment upgrade when your original contract ends. The only exception seems to be 2.5G iPhone buyers, who are eligible for upgrades before their contract ends - because their phones were never subsidized by ATT.

[Shielafriend]

ATT is sqeezing the money from the people. They have Tilt, in which some of the representatives tell, you should have data plan to browse the net.
But the phone is capable of Wi-Fi. If it isc apable of wi-fi, why you need a data plan. It is upto the individual, who want to have data plan or not. If the device is capable, then it should allow to browse the net.

They dont know what they are talking. ATT reps are useless.

[Galaxy5]

Quite to the contrary, Joe at the El Camino@Kiely store in Santa Clara was extremely helpful today. ATT's phone reps are less helpful, but still extremely polite and informative about the process. YMMV.

[Fantastipotamus]

On PDA phones like the Tilt, the older 8525 and 8125s, it really is for YOUR benefit to have the unlimited data plans. A lot of things on these phones automatically update themselves via the net, so that basically means that even if you don't think you're browsing the web, you could easily be costing yourself money just by having the phone on. If you think having to fork over $30 for the iphone plan (vs the $40/mo for the PDA phone plan) is expensive, wait until you see your bill after a few minutes of browsing without any data plan. You'd be surrpised how quickly you burn through what $30 would get you on a non-data plan.

[Manwh0re]

People who are waiting for the iphone in Australia, have little to no life, and are being sucked in by one of the biggest marketing machines to date. These guys would do anything to sell you another useless product, why not waste your money on something a little more worthwhile.

[longschlong]

Surely you don't mean like feeding a starving American child for a year for what that phone costs do you? Wouldn't that be anti-cultural?

[aaron_lewis]

Alright, so does anybody have any information to the initial post I put up? I'm eligible for an upgrade and the upgrade price of $199/ $299, but want to know how apple reps are going to be able to confirm that I am eligible for this price. I've been told to just forget going to apple, that it'd be better off going to at&t than taking a chance. Has anybody heard or read how this process is supposed to work at apple?

[chowza]

Wait another week and all will be clear, grasshopper.....

[twodogmom]

I work for Apple. Don't worry, there's a process in place to determine your upgrade status in our stores. Can't wait for Friday for the party to begin!

[Vegaman_Dan]

It takes less paperwork and background checks to buy a new car than it does for an iPhone.

What does that really say? I'm sorry, AT&T, but you do NOT need my social security number.

[smcarter]

Maybe if you're paying cash for a car; however, a car does not need a service to run, unlike the iPhone. I do wish that they had a pay by use option for iPhones. Unfortunately, that isn't a possibility right now.

[Fantastipotamus]

Cell phone companies will run a credit report on you before approving you for service, that's why your SSN is necessary. Plus, if you decide not to pay, then can send you to collections, which also needs your SSN. And yeah, Pay As You Go isn't an option for the iphone at this point, though you might be able to get it to work if you buy the no-contract iPhone for $699/$799.

[jag0]

I was at an AT&T store earlier today to get the process started (as recommended on their website) but they told me that if I started the process, I would either be without a phone (I have T-Mobile right now) until Friday or I can get a temp number and phone. I'll be going back to the store on Thursday night to start the process so I can get most of the stuff out of the way on Friday morning.

[alex94121]

Why CNet puts a link to thieves's website? Iphonegeek.com I mean. see ziphone.org. They are trying to sell software that is free, even interface is the same, better donate to Zibri

[alex94121]

Why CNet puts a link to thieves's website? Iphonegeek.com I mean. see ziphone.org. They are trying to sell software that is free, even interface is the same, better donate to Zibri

[gabichi23]

patheric morons, that is all i have to say. even i who love new gadgets would not make a fool of myself by lining up outside to get a stupid phone knowing that there are much better phones already outhere. i have to give credit to apple by marketing such a thing so marvelously that i even fell for it, luckily i was able to sell mine on ebay. most people i know who have an iphone just have it to be "cool" not because they know that itunes is a pain in the ass as well as a lot of functions on the iphone. the iphone is only cool but is not by no means practical. that is the magic word that most people choose to ignore, they rather be cool than use something that is practical. excuse my english!

[eddie_w]

It's easy for us geeks to look down on the non-techies in disdain, gabichi23. However, keep in mind that these devices are, on purpose, easy-to-use. Yes, some think it's "cool" to have one, but that's not all. There are people in our office who are, shall we say, dumb as a brick when it comes to computers. You should see them light up when they show us on the engineering team all the clever things they can do with their toy. I use an HTC Advantage and have no interest in the iPhone, but sometimes I wish we had the same plug-n-play-n-always-work environment on the Windows side!

[Tinman52]

I love these articles. I'm a Verizon customer, so this all seems kinda silly to me. I ordered an LG Dare 2 weeks ago and it was overnighted to me. once I received the phone, all I had to do was call an automated 800 number to activate the phone. It took me less than 5 minutes once the phone had finished charging.

[2900se]

now just why the bloody hell does apple/ at&t need my social security number? thats a crock of ****

[2900se]

now just why the bloody hell does apple/ at&t need my social security number? thats a crock of ****

[kjc1210]

OK, all you SS# paranoids, you're applying for credit when you purchase a phone that's not pre-paid. If someone has a track record of never paying their bills, why would AT&T give someone credit, have them use thousands of minutes and dozens of downloads, and then not pay their bill on a phone that was subsidized by the carrier in the first place? If you pay your bills, it's not an issue that they want to verify that you are the good risk that you are. If you don't pay your bills, why would they want to lose a ton of money giving service and a subsidized phone to someone who's going to shaft them? All carriers (Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile) ask for SS numbers to check credit.
Chill, dude.