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Can you buy iPhone in a store without a contract?

Can you walk into an Apple store and buy an iPhone 3G w/o contract?

  • I've been getting different answers from different people(mainly online, not with an Apple guy). Some say, there is no way at this time (of the iphone launch) to walk out with an iphone at the $199/$299 price without a contract with AT&T, some say you can, but it can't be activated. So, naturally, I'm really confused on WHAT exactly you can do. and I live in west Los Angeles, it would be helpful to know about the apple stores' policies here. also, i know of ziphone and its unlock software, does it do the same for the new 3G iphones as it does for the 1st gen. iphone? THANKS A LOT!!!

  • Answer:

    yes you can get one without the contract but it will not be available until later this year to earlier of next year. the 8GB will be 599 and the 16GB will be 699...ouch i know they are high price but at least you wont have to pay for the 2-yr contract

jk at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Without a contract, it will cost more, just like they are saying. They are probably advertising the low costs only with a contract. That's how most of these places do business...you start a contract, they give you a lower price. So you can pay full price for a phone without contract or a discount price with the contract. Those are your choices.

hammer

AT&T will not sale you an iPhone w/o a contract at the moment. The $199/$299 is a subsidized price which means to make back the lost money by not charging you the full price, they require a contract. However, in the future they will at $599 for 8GB and $699 for 16GB.

plbogen

If you buy the $199 one, you have to take the contract obligately there, if not, you can't take the phone. If you want an unlocked one, you'll have to pay $599.

Axel C

Well, I'm pretty sure you COULD, but it would cost a lot MORE.

♥ Jenna ♥

When you purchase the 3G iPhone, you HAVE to sign a 2 year contract and have the phone activated before you can leave the store with it. Apple does not want this phone to be unlocked and jailbroken so they are taking steps to ensure it can not be. Later this year, you will be able to purchase the iPhone without a contract for $499 for the 8GB version and $599 for the 16, but you will still have to activate it in the store. Ziphone will not work with the 3G iPhone.

clintmax2006

The $199/$299 price is a discount that you are given specifically because you are signing up to a contract. You most definitely will not be able to have one for that price if you don't sign up to an AT&T contract. There is some talk about offering you the phone, without contract, for $500-$600. But there is no way that you'll get the $200 price without also signing up for a contract. Of course, you COULD sign up for the contract and then pay AT&T's ETF. Might be cheaper than buying the phone outright.

Jay

You have to get a plan, so I suggest a prepaid credit card with your name on it to get the phone out of the store, and then do what you will with it......att will cancel the contract once the card is depleated and you have cancelled it. Since its prepaid, they really have no way (they need a SS#) to send you to collections so they are SOL....

shdwsclan

no only the phone stores

Roxasclone

no i dont think so

sexy.mexy.

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