For information related to the purchase of the iPhone 3G and contract requirements, visit our FAQ: Can I buy the iPhone 3G without a contract?.
As we near the release of the Apple iPhone, on June 29th at 6pm, it is seeming increasingly likely that, contrary to previous reports, it will not be required to initiate a 2 year contract with AT&T in order to purchase the iPhone.
Of the 15 Apple retail stores we surveyed today, each one reported no knowledge of their store handling proof of wireless service, contract establishment, or contract extensions with AT&T. More to the point, 6 of the stores specifically stated that no contract would be required to buy the phone, and that the customer would be responsible for establishing service with AT&T after purchasing the iPhone from an Apple retail store.
No only does this likely squelch rumors about through-the-roof non-contract prices for the iPhone (previously rumored to be as high as $899 and $999), but it introduces a new segment of demand to the iPhone launch: opportunistic buyers that have no plans for personal use of the iPhone, only resale at a higher price. As we've seen in recent months with the launch of the Playstation 3 and the Ninetendo Wii, large volumes of iPhones could be bought up by "entrepreneurs" looking to make a fast buck on the upcoming iPhone frenzy.
Clearly the possibility exists that Apple has continued to withhold details about contract requirements from employees at it's own retail outlets as part of an effort to contain as much information about the iPhone prior to launch. Should that be the case, information provided to iPhoneFAQ may be a result of assumptions on the part of these employees due to lack of information, rather than clear indication from Apple that no contract would be required. However, that said, most of the salespeople and managers we spoke with indicated clear knowledge of the no-contract policy. As with everything iPhone, only time will tell.
According to AT&T, purchasing the Apple iPhone at AT&T retail outlets will require a contract with AT&T.
Getting an Apple iPhone? We've got you covered. Find out how.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
You must be kidding, right? Of course the iPhone will require a contract with AT&T! Quit deluding yourself...
mr smith i am a at&t rep. u can buy the iphone n jus throw in ur sim card and not touch ur at&t contract
So if you buy the iphone from any apple store you don't need to sign a contract with the buying of the phone? Or do you need to sign with two year contract? If you dont how can you tell the sale person?
hi,
how can i get the new iphone 3g with out a contract? i'm just visiting the US, i don't live here and in my country we don't have AT&T or apple stores, so please if you don't mind tell me how to get the new iphone 3g with out a contract cause i really want to buy one but they won't let me get one unless i sign a contract.
Thank you and sorry for bothering
I spoke with my local Apple store (Providence, RI) and they confirmed no contract will be needed to buy the iPhone.
And, Mr Smith - the article says that no contract will be required to BUY the iPhone. It is clear that a contract with AT&T will still be required to USE the iPhone.
if i bye a i phone and unlock it and bye a sim card for prepaid..........that will be better.....
A contract will be required if you purchase your phone from Cingular. If you purchase your phone from Apple no contract is required. However, the phone does not work with any other service provider, unless your lucky enough to get an unlocked one, which is highly unlikely! And this people is the hard core truth.
hey.....
dipshit u can unlock the iphone and use it with the tmobile service only service that works with it.......
Lay off. At the time that was written (June 2007) nobody actually owned an iPhone yet, let alone had there been any effort made to unlock it.
So for those looking for shorter lines, the best bet might be to head to an AT&T store, since there wont be "entrepreneurs" looking to ebay their phones, instead only folks who are genuinely interested in buying iPhones for their own use.
Yeah, the fact that we're going to have to deal with people trying to resell the phones is a real downside to the Apple stores not requiring contracts. It stinks, in fact.
This does not squelch the rumors about through-the-roof non-contract prices for the iPhone. There is also the possibility that although you can buy the phone without a contract, there will be a rebate to get the price down to $499/599 with a contract. Steve said those prices were with a contract. So, maybe the store will sell them at a higher price without a contract, then if you activate with Cingular you get the rebate to account for the difference.
Also the phone still has many other functions even if it's not activated as a phone.
the iphone doesn't have anything that a PSP doesn't have except multi-touch. PSP has full internet even the ability to download files, even flash support (which the iphone doesn't have), mp3, aac, WMA (not on the iPhone), pics, mp4, h.264, movies via UMD or memory stick, REMOVABLE BATTERY. Plus the PSP only costs $170 70 for 4gb of memory. So for less than half the price you get all the features with the same screen size just no touch screen which I could do without. I thought I heard the PSP played all these cool videos games too but IDK!!
You're forgetting the lack of a phone on the PSP, eh?
i wanna get it but i dont want contract with it
how much will that be?
i would like to know if i can buy the Iphone with out a contract
You MrSmith told that you can change your operator. But I asked that in apple store, and everybody sed, that you can use iphone ONLY with AT&T. This is so strange!!! I wanna bring this iphone to Russia, and I'm actually ready to buy 3 or 4 iphones, by you guys termaneted my dreams. If you not gonna stay in U.S. for long time - forget about iphone. You know, i'll buy NOKIA. They think about people in the all world. Thank you, Apple
Cellular One Just got bought out by AT&T, so this means they will get the IPhone right?
In Other Europian countries and Asia u can get a iphone without contract they dont have fucking At&t over and so can u over here At&t jus wanna rip u off by sighning a 2 year deal
Thats not true mate, in European contries souch as England and Ireland you have to sign up for an 18month O2 contract...
I can confirm previous posters point.
Here in Ireland , you have to sign up to an 18 month 02 contract
The price for the basic 8gb model is 399 euro / 629 dollars
If you take 02's basic tariff for the set 18 mths it will cost you 815 euros / 1286 dollars
So for a basic iphone in ireland on a basic contract the total cost is 1214 / 1916 dollars assuming you stick to the tariffs messaging / data restrictions for every month of the 18 month contract
A colleague of mine bought his Iphone 8gb model in 2007 in the apple store in NYC He did not get the AT&T contract although the sim card was in the phone when he brought it home to ireland. Another colleague unlocked the Iphone for him and he is now using it on Vodafone network in ireland.
I want to buy an iPhone in the US as a gift for someone in India.
Will I be able to do the same?
Thanks
idon´t you think that you can unlock the new iphone soon after it is released!
it didn´t take a long time to unlock the last one and if you can buy it without a contract in the apple stores you only have to unlock it with some software.
i have many friends who bought an iphone in us without contract and unlocked it here in europe! that was relatively easy!
SO WHERE I CAN BYEEEEE
I am very disappointed with the price of the iPhones. A new customer can get the iphone for 199.00. Ive had Cingular/AT&T for 8 years now and I will have to pay 400 for it because I am not eligible for an upgrade for another year. They offer an early upgrade for $75.00 on other phones but the iPhone is excluded. So basically I am being punished for being a customer all these years.
Anybody know how to get around this?
could anyone plz tell me where can i get iphone for $199 without contract ?
Ok, You Can Buy One With Contract and Cancel It And Still Cost Less Than Buying It Without Contract
you dumb ass mort that's what contracts are for so you don't cancel and get a cheap or free phone fool
can i buy a iphone without contract in US? i can unlock the phone though.
read a recent article in PC magazine about a new website that allowed you to easily and safely sell your pre-used iPhone or even iPhone 3G. The difference with this website is they also offer you to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G in both capacities. Considering the dead/non-paying bidders on ebay and our recent recession in the States, i decided to give it a try, the website is located at www.iphoneresalespot.com
These folks are well reviewed and seem to answer their emails fairly quickly. The way the selling process works is you have to fill out their estimate form located at www.iphoneresalespot.com/sell.php, and receive an estimate - instantly! The amount of the payout depends on the iPhone’s condition, factory accessories present. You even get more if you include aftermarket accessories.
I threw in a car charger which brought up my payout to about $20 (paid 29.99 for it new - not so shabby!). Waited 2 business days and received a box with a pre-paid shipping label, insurred and all. Send my iPhone and 3 days later received my final offer which was surprisingly the same as the original estimate on the website (I had thought they would take off some $$$ due to some scuffs near the sim tray but no sir, the offer was just as expected, plus extra $$ for my aftermarket car charger!). If I had chosen to receive the cash, they would have send me a paypal payment but I decided to upgrade to a 8GB iPhone 3G. They give you a code to their sister website www.iphonedemocracy.com where you can use it to purchase your iPhone 3G. I ended up paying the difference of only $210 for a brand spanking new iPhone 3G fully unlocked to be used with any GSM carrier. Now thats what I call sweet! I highly recommend this website to anybody who wants to bypass all mess that comes with using ebay including dead bidders, auction fees, auction setup time and money and angry buyers. Do yourself a favor and visit www.iphoneresalespot.com and thank me later!