Appletell

It’s not in-home activation, but it’s as close as you’re likely to get for the foreseeable future. Apple has updated their website to include an option to make it easier than ever to buy an iPhone 3G.

The process begins online at the new page and ends at an Apple Store. It’s a four step process.

1. Enter your billing information.
2. Review eligibility and pricing.
3. Select your AT&T rate plan.*

The fourth step isn’t numbered as such, but you’ll have to pick an Apple Retail Store and a time to finalize your purchase.

Like I said, this isn’t in-home activation. It’s actually the opposite.  But anything that can speed along the process is good news to me. Now you won’t have to wait for your information to be processed in the store since you can do all of that ahead of time.

Product [iPhone]

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• What is going to happen at Macworld 2009?

Shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) fell for the third day in a row today, which may possibly reflect shareholder concerns about the shift in its iPhone strategy, although some analysts continue to think that the company will thrive.

Behind the excitement of Steve Jobs’ announcement on Monday of the new iPhones 3G was news that Apple would increase the percentage of recurring monthly service revenue it got from wireless carrier AT&T Inc.‘s iPhone users. Due to this, Apple is expected to see an earnings dip of about 3 cents a share this year, according to some estimates. Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst said, “There was a piece of negative news out of this—that they had to subsidize for growth. You could take a bearish look at that. They had to subsidize in order to keep growing it.“

Instead of AT&T paying Apple a portion of service fees each month as it did with the last iPhone, they will now shoulder part of the price of Apple’s latest iPhone model to the tune of $200 to $500 per phone, according to estimates. Ernst still said that he anticipated Apple would have to make such a shift to continue iPhone growth, and he remains positive about long term outlook, echoing sentiment from several other analysts. “My view is that that is the way the cell phone industry works—it’s not their fault,“ Ernst added.

Apple shares were down $3.13 (or 1.8 percent) to $170.13 in early afternoon trading on Friday on Nasdaq, after hitting a daily low of $165.31 in early trading. The stock is down nearly 9 percent since the close of trade on Monday.

Via [Palluxo!]

• Apple releases list of most downloaded iPhone games of 2008
• What is going to happen at Macworld 2009?
• Apple: Wait, no, stop, you don’t need Antivirus software

In light of a recently revealed 2006 Apple Patent Application, there is new hope for us who want a iPhone- but have a certain lack of nearby ATT coverage in their area.  Apple’s application shows technology that would not only allow the user to register with many of the big cellular companies, but it would also permit users to register with multiple carriers, for better coverage all around the world.  This feature would probably use some sort of Mobile Virtual Network Operator Server (MVNO).  Users would then be able to choose networks like they choose WiFi Hotspots.  Although it is unlikely that many users would actually do this, there is some speculation that certain providers would allow a non-registered user to talk, charging them on a by-the-minute basis. 

Not having open-source iPhones is up there with some of the biggest mistakes Apple has made in the last few years, in terms of profit maximization.  The iPhone is still one of the most sought-after items in the technology industry, and the lack of an open-source system is what could drive me away from an iPhone towards some other smartphone.  Should Apple add an open source feature to the iPhone (Maybe in the much anticipated 3G iPhone? Maybe? Lets hope), it would open them up to a huge amount of new customers that would really etch Apple’s name in the books as having the best smartphone.

Let us know what you think, drop a comment below with your thoughts on the subject.

• Verizon adds cool features to FiOS TV
• Apple releases list of most downloaded iPhone games of 2008
• What is going to happen at Macworld 2009?

In an update recently posted on the Apple website, a new calling plan offering an unlimited option for the iPhone has been listed. In a mix between the recent rash of unlimited calling plans the iPhone plans seem to offer a strange mix.

The “New” plan will set you back $119.99 a month and includes unlimited voice calling. The plan also comes with the standard unlimited data/web, visual voicemail, nights and weekends, rollover and mobile to mobile minutes.

Sadly, and the part I find strange is that even with the unlimited web and data included they are still limiting you to the standard 200 SMS messages a month. Come on AT&T, lets get smart and increase those to unlimited as well.

Read [Apple]

• What is going to happen at Macworld 2009?
• Apple releases the top 10 applications downloaded at the iTunes Store for 2008
• Apple releases list of most downloaded iPhone games of 2008

It seems that in addition to making a lot of early adopters angry the price cut for the iPhone has also has a positive effect on sales driving them up by 200%. Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster is estimating that the iPhone was selling about 9,000 units per day before September 5th and since the price cut they have been selling about 27,000 units per day. He estimates that by the end of this quarter Apple will have sold a total 1.28 million iPhones.

Munster also says that this “clearly represents an initial surge that is not sustainable” and will level off at around 50% increase. These numbers have not been verified by Apple. Maybe we can get that desired 16GB (or larger) iPhone and see yet another surge in sales.

Read [Gizmodo]

• Apple releases list of most downloaded iPhone games of 2008
• What is going to happen at Macworld 2009?
• Apple: Wait, no, stop, you don’t need Antivirus software

Apple has announced that they have sold 1 million iPhones in just 74 days. This will mark the completion for one of their two public goals dealing with the iPhone, Apple had wanted to sell 1 million before the end of September 2007, and also sell 10 million iPhones in 2008. Apple managed to beat the first by 21 days, lets see just how quickly they will be able to hit the 10 million mark in 2008.

“One million iPhones in 74 days-it took almost two years to achieve this milestone with iPod,“ said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “We can’t wait to get this revolutionary product into the hands of even more customers this holiday season.“

With the holiday season quickly approaching and the sudden and dramatic price drop for the iPhone, it would be safe to think that sales will be steady and high through the end of 2007, lets see just how well it will do once the holiday rush settles down.

Read [MacDailyNews]

• What is going to happen at Macworld 2009?
• Apple releases list of most downloaded iPhone games of 2008
• Apple: Wait, no, stop, you don’t need Antivirus software

The team over at iPhoneSimFree have added an updated FAQ to their website with some very important questions being answered. The most important being that they plan to release the unlocking software within the next 48-72 hours. In order to use the unlock software you will need to activate and “jailbreak” your iPhone.

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UniquePhones have given us a new update that includes a some video “proof” of their unlocking the iPhone. I wish it provided a little more information, but sadly the video is out of focus and appears to have been shot with just one person.

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A new blog has just launched on Blogger offering a $100,000 cash payment to make the iPhone unlocking software publicly available for free.

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As we have seen over the past few days a lot of new information and options for unlocking the iPhone are starting to surface and now that the unlocked iPhone is here it seems AT&T is looking to put a quick end to the party. It took what seems like way to long (although I am sure it was very hard work) to get an announcement about someone unlocking the iPhone and UniquePhones had been set to publicly release the software that would enable everyone to have an unlocked iPhone, however a 3 AM call from AT&T’s legal team have made them put an indefinite hold on that release. The team from UniquePhones have yet to make any proof of the unlock public and have decided to get some legal advise on whether it will be wise to release this software.

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