I'll pass on the swampland, thanks.

http://windows-mobiles.com/?p=78

I could be wrong but I think that the credit check system uses a combination of data to determine if you are who you truly are.

I used to work at a credit card call center which took applications, and we'd get as much as information as possible to run a credit check.

If the DOB didn't match, we'd ask for other information, such as last employer, last address, etc, as well as use the SSN to try to get the accurate profile. It has to match a few criterias at the credit reporting agencies or it won't find a profile.

From what I've read so far, it seems ATT is only going to offer the pre-paid option if there is a successful credit check, and the credit is too poor to qualify for an account.

If the applicant fails to provide sufficient credit information to get a successful credit check, then no account can be established, not even pre-paid. ATT also asks for a $200 deposit for the pre-paid account.

So providing a false DOB won't help the applicant bypass the credit check requirement.

Interesting. A loophole exists?

If so ATT has got some xplaning to do. :)

Can yo do web surfing and email on ATT prepaid
 

Im starting to perk up about this afterall :)

Yes, you can browse the web, but the "prepaid" plan is around $40.

Why bother? You have a 3G TyTn don't you? Browsing on edge is just sucky...

Unlike many others, I have no plans to buy the iPhone 'just yet'. However, I would not ever consider alternative that runs on Windows, IMHO.

However, notstanding the sucky 'edge' network, i was at the apple store for a different reason sunday morning...to get help on my son's powerbook. Genius bar temporarily solved my problem, and in the hour it took to run diagnostics, boot, repair disk, etc. etc. I played around with a demo in the store. Gotta admit, the screen is cooooooool. Controls totally intuitive, able to post messages, write notes, surf internet (yes, slow) and even listened to some tunes.

The positives aren't enough for me to invest $2000 with AT&T but if and when iiPhones is available and can be unlocked to accept other sims, and if it ever gets 3G (guess they need to solve battery life problem), then it would be something that I personally would invest in.

Also, surprised how quiet apple store was on D-Day plus 2. Guys - keep on buying iPhone first generation and keep that stock up!

Loaner program as well as battery replacement program
 

Already available....that was fast!


http://www.macrumors.com/
One of the early criticisms of the Apple iPhone was the lack of a user-replaceable battery. Apple received some negative press about their iPod's battery life, which prompted an official iPod battery replacement program.

Apple has similarly launched an iPhone Battery Replacement program, providing battery replacement for $79 plus $6.95 shipping. The program requires a 3 business-day turn around for service.

iPodBatteryFaq.com notes that Apple is also offering an iPhone rental program for $29 if your iPhone requires service (for any reason, not just battery replacement).

It does, and my credit reports probably show both the real and the fake date. I don't care if AT&T wants to check my credit -- that's fine, as they're extending credit. They do not, however, need my DOB to do so.

Sure -- it's in the bank's interest to do so, and I'll usually provide that information to a bank, as it acts in the capacity of a fiduciary and has legal obligations to safeguard the data. Phone companies aren't fiduciaries and don't have the same obligations on them.

As I said, with a bank, that's okay. I won't give that kind of information to phone companies, cable companies, car rental companies, etc. -- essentially anyone who doesn't have a fiduciary relationship with me.

I wasn't suggesting doing that as a way of "flunking" the credit check requirement, but as a technique for ensuring against identity theft. Lots of businesses insist on SSN so they can check credit and won't do business with you if you don't supply it. Accordingly, SSN is insecure. DOB, however, is not necessary for a credit check nor is there any reason for a business to have it, other than they like to collect as much information about you as they can.

it looks like it works just fine, and if one cancels within 3 days, they even refund the activation fee...

http://alexking.org/blog/2007/07/02/...ithout-service

Well, since my TyTN is on TMobile Im browsing on EDGE anyway. And my Treo is on EVDO but Treos arent nearly as fast as the TyTN. But the real reason is for an interest in the iPhone is that I, well, have a certain irrational attraction to gadgets. ;) Maybe Ill get a camera instead to get a fix.

Which is exactly what a proprietary closed system is supposed to be. The iPhone is nothing without the telcom system it is linked to, and that will remain exclusively ATT in the US, and other carriers in various countries when it rolls out over the Globe. That's what differentiated Apple in the first place and what will continue...as iTunes has proven. You want superior technology, the price is a closed system. Apple never promised the iPhone would be a universally accessible utility.

That's also why it works in conjunction with iTunes, so Apple can monitor how you use your phone and determine upgrades and enhancements as deemed necessary out of use patterns.

Apple is not going to fall into the trap that Motorola, Nokia and the other cellphone manufacturers have, being held captive to cell system operators and controlling their margins by deep discounting subscriber packages. That's a luxury both Apple and ATT can afford since they control the market they've created and will face no direct competition.

But it plays videos on a big screen. Honestly, that seems to be something the folks who don't care about the phone part are looking for. Doesn't make sense to me, but hey. Although I do wonder: bad battery life compared to what? Just wondering. I don't have a sense of what's good and bad anymore.

And apparently the Wi-Fi still works after cancellation. So I guess it's a Wi-Fi web/email/calendar/contact device and audio/video iPod, that syncs with your computer, with too-small storage, for $764. Still crazy, but apparently some people want it like that. $175 is way less than keeping it on service. Despite the notes here and there, I haven't seen anything that makes it clear what the "prepaid" service would do. It's clear it doesn't allow pay-as-you-go, so that suggests it requires direct debit in advance each month and may not get around the $175 fee.

How do you figure they have no direct competition? there are at least 2 other touch screen phones currently and well over a dozen smart phones with similar or better feature sets.

Because you've never heard of them yet doesn't mean they don't exist.

Im still waiting for an answer to the question I posed a few pages back. In the EU I believe providers have to provide unlock codes on request at a "reasonable" cost. Is that not correct? If it is correct how is Apple going to circumvent the laws in those countries?

Im tempted to buy an HTC touch just for spite ;)