Apple simplifies iPhone 3G buying process

The Pacific Ocean ate my iphone some weeks ago -- coincidentally, right around the time the sweet new 3G model came out. No, seriously. When I went to the Apple store to buy a new one, there were very long lines. It seems that either the ocean ate everyone's 1st-gen iPhone, or people were excited about the new model. The lines were made slower by the fact that you had to register the phone and take care of the AT&T contract stuff right there in the store. I am a big fan of the device, truly, but the lines were a real drag.

Good news, though -- this week Apple added a new feature to the retail website that allows you to start the setup process online then finish in the store. Expect shorter and quicker purchase lines, and even more people stumbling out of the stores like happy zombies as I did, gazing into the iPhone's glowing eye as they walk, playing Super Monkey Ball or looking for nearby hummus on Yelp. iPhone 3G: Apple.

[#1 posted by aj , September 26, 2008 9:47 AM]

yes but you still have to be personally activated by a genius^H^H^H^H^H^H drone. The old system was better.

[#2 posted by Alan , September 26, 2008 2:59 PM]

I bought mine a little over a month ago. It didn't take too long; once it was my turn, the whole thing took less than ten minutes (with a new contract, though, which, for some odd reason, is faster). Buying a new computer takes longer. For a comparison, I was at an AT&T store later that day to get phones on the contract for my kids, and a couple buying matching iPhones spent close to an hour during the setup. I don't know why it took so long at the AT&T store.

[#3 posted by Spikeles , September 26, 2008 6:08 PM]

I bought one in Australia a little over 3 weeks ago from Optus. I walked in, said i wanted to buy an unlocked 3G iPhone to replace my current phone which i use pre-paid on. They took my old-sim card, replaced it with a new one (that had the same number and contacts, said it had to be upgraded to support 3G or something), chucked it in the new phone, plugged it into a computer with itunes at the store, pressed some buttons and zap. It was done. She said it would take 30mins to fully activate the new sim, but by the time she finished saying that it was ready to use. Took less than 10minutes, in and out, with the new phone already working. Oh, and it kinda helped i was the only customer in the store :P

[#4 posted by compnski , September 27, 2008 5:48 PM]

I got my iPhone 3g at an AT&T store without any hassles or lines. I had to transfer my number from Verizon as well.