Activating your new Apple iPhone 3g

What you’ll need

Apple sent out an e-mail earlier this week in advance of the iPhone launch detailing what you need to bring to the store, Those items include:

• A credit card: Apple won’t let you use cash to buy an iPhone, though on at the store I was at Friday, you could use cash to pay for a gift card, which you could then turn around and use to buy a phone.
• A social security number: I assume this is used to run a credit check, a standard practice when you sign up for a mobile phone plan.
• A photo ID: Any drivers license, state ID card, or other government-issued form of identification will do.
• Your current wireless account number and password: If you’re a new customer, that is.

If you’ve got a corporate account and plan to use your iPhone through that, you’ll need to go to an AT&T outlet to pick up an iPhone 3G—not an Apple Store. A few people in line with me Friday made that mistake, and it’s not fun to be re-directed to a new location after you’ve waited your turn in line.

Wondering about iPhone 3G availability at your local Apple Store? As it did last year, Apple shows the availability of each of its stores,using a color-coded system of green and red dots to say if a store does or doesn’t have phones in stock. The page is updated after 9 p.m. each night to show next-day availability. Plan your shopping accordingly.

What to expect

So you’re at the Apple Store now—what happens then?

In my case, as soon as I entered the store, a woman was asking the people ahead of me their first names, and then introducing them to their personal store employees as they became available to help the next customer. When it was my turn, I followed an employee in a blue shirt further into the store, where he asked me what I was looking for in the way of iPhone goodness. I told him I wanted a 16GB white model, and he went into the back to retrieve one. He came back a minute later with a lovely box. That’s when the fun really started.

I took a seat on a stool (which felt good after hours of standing in line), while the employee—Apple calls them specialists—asked what rate planI was interested in. I told him what I wanted and didn’t want (no monthly text messaging plan, for example), and he produced the handheld device that store employees use to speed up regular purchases in the Apple Store.

The specialist punched in a few things on his handheld and informed me that my iPhone would cost $499. I politely corrected him that the price should be $299, since I’m a current iPhone user. After a few more taps, he said that must be the price before the promotion, and that it would end up at $299. I mention this in case you’re quoted a price that doesn’t sound right—Apple is touting the $199 and $299 prices for its 8GB and 16GB phones and while most people qualify for those prices

Like most big Apple fans, I couldn't wait to update my iPhone to 1.1.3, as soon as it was announced I went to run the updates and sync with iTunes.

The new Google maps was gonna make life so much better, as the government could find me even easier if they wanted too. Unfortunately, while Steve Jobs was getting applause I was being put out of business.

I've updated hundreds of Apple products as an ex-employee of Apple (yes, I left on good terms, yes, I love the company and yes, I still own the Stock). I can live without my iPod and without mobile web, but my phone is the lifeline of my business. I suppose I need to carry a Nokia or Motorola for when I really need to make a call. iTunes seems to have been down or my iPhone is finished. I never hacked or unlocked the iPhone and I always make my donations by purchasing music from the iTunes store.

But while Steve Jobs got his applause I missed numerous important business and personal phone calls. Apple, please be sure your updates are correct before you mess with my livelyhood and increase the available bandwith on iTunes. You guys killed me today!!

Be sure to wait before you update to 1.1.3, either until an announcement is made or iTunes is brought back online.

***AT&T*** FORUM POST .... WILL I GET A RESPONSE??

I am not being obnoxious, but the abuse that AT&T has put me through over the last 9 days is an absolute nightmare.

I have a prepay GoPhone iPhone, which has been prepaid for unlimited text and edge internet through the 28th of January. Due to a national software issue

affecting PrePay iPhone customers, I have been forced to call "Customer Care" 3 times a day to have my balance replenished. The reps are nice and apologetic, but 3 times a day for 9, going on 10 days??

I refuse to scream and yell, so I can not get a supervisor on the phone. I'm so at a loss, that I am writing a note to a message board that will go unread.

I would love AT&T to try and explain why I should switch my home phone, internet, and cable TV to their service.

How can I justify even keeping this "once fun" iPhone?

Am I being "forced" to sign a contract with this prepay service disaster? This is without a doubt the absolute worst experience (as a customer) in my 36 year existence.

How can I possibly ever recommend AT&T service to anyone?

Does anyone have any suggestions? What is AT&T gonna do for me??

I'm so at a loss.

My complete saga is at http://www.BoycottChapter27.org, an unrelated blog, but the biggest audience I can present to.

I'm sure this web address will be deleted, along with this message, but atleast I got to vent, rather than throwing my iPhone out the window.

*****************1/22/2008 STILL NOT FIXED*********************

Has anyone every tried to get someone on the phone with AT&T that actually gives a crap about their customers?? I can't wait till the next time an AT&T rep. calls my home about switching from Comcast to AT&T phone, cable, internet. Kinda feel bad for that telemarketer, it's hard enough to sell stuff over the phone, but add a customer experience like I have had with my PrePay GoPhone iPhone....ouch

This as most of you may know is day 9, I am calling AT&T 3 times a day to get credit back on my iPhone 1.1.3. I am still being charged for SMS texting and Edge internet, although I prepaid for an month of unlimited text and internet service. I have no recourse, I will not yell and scream at the "customer care" reps. So rather than be rewarded for being understanding I am punished, until I offend, they will not put me through to a supervisor. They continue to tell me that 50% of the iPhones customers issues have been corrected (stuck on 50% for4 days now).

Does anyone have a phone number for some type of executive customer service or an email address for the President of GoPhone. It has been impossible to locate anything but a snail mail address for the CEO. Which I suppose is my next waste of time effort.

The other amazing thing is how quite this has been kept, not even the Apple Rumor sites have mentioned this customer service nightmare, which doesn't shine so well for their beloved Apple.

SOMEONE AT AT&T HELP ME!!!!!!!!

*******UPDATE!!! IT GETS WORSE !!!!!!!!! 1/20/08**********

I thought the incredibly abusive saga of the 1.1.3 iPhone brick saga was just about over. I didn't post any updates and really believed the line of crap that AT&T fed me. But alas, its not only still an issue, but it gets worse. AT&T does not offer customer service (customer care) on Sundays, so now with the problem of being charged per text and for every second I access the intenet or my email still not fixed, no one is available to credit back my prepaid iPhone gophone account. So at this point, if I leave a wifi network or receive (or Send) a text my iphone 1.1.3 will be turned off. They ONLY thing I can do if I want basic cell phone service is to deposit MORE money to my iPhone GoPhone account.

This is without a question the absolute worst customer service I have ever experienced. It is now 6 days and I still have no solution, other than giving AT&T more of my money. Is this part of AT&T and Apple attempting to force me in to a two year contract that I prefer not to sign. What excuse can there possibly be for not adding ample credit to my account to carry me through the weekend if they knew no one would be available to help me on Sunday.

Although the iPhone is a cool toy, this is an absolute nightmare. Apple and AT&T are going to lose my business, where is the deity, STEVE JOBS to the rescue?? Where's the "award winning" customer service of Apple and AT&T.

Yes, I am just one little guy, writing on one basically unseen blog, but this is the only recourse I have as I continue to get screwed by two corporate giants. Apple you can take your iPhone 1.1.3 and shove it straight up your deal with AT&T.

Please read the previous posts, before the bashing, This has been a truly unbelievable lack of customer service experience.

The 31 Reasons for Failure

A very specific list of the reasons why people "FAIL"