AT&T Internal Apple iPhone document leaked. Prepaid iPhones, unboxing, credit checks, and more!
For anyone that thought we’d actually stop running iPhone coverage, you’re crazy! Now, on to the good stuff. Thanks to an exclusively obtained leaked document, we’re prepared to take you on a journey to iLand. Wondering how the lines will be handled for the Apple iPhone launch tomorrow? What accessories will we be able to buy? Perhaps the most important information is how these usually unorganized, release-date-slippin’, and sometimes downright obnoxious AT&T employees will handle all of this in a four hour time frame. Well here we go! When you arrive at your local iSpot, you will be formally organized by a member of AT&T management. Once you pass the first obstacle and actually get to the cash drawer, the sales rep will then attempt to perform a credit check on you before they sell you the phone and send you packin’. Want to know about the accessories, deposit, prepaid options and more? Check ‘em out after the jump!
According to the document, all AT&T reps have to at least offer to do a credit check to try and get you pre-approved for service, before they sell you the device. This is actually a kind-hearted gesture to make sure that when you get home to try and activate your iPhone, you won’t have to pony up $250 as a security deposit. And it helps AT&T track the devices to receive sales compensation. Sneaky sneaky! The problem is you can’t make that security deposit through iTunes, so you’ll have to come back to the store to give them that $250. Worse is the 10% restocking fee if the box is opened and you decide you don’t want it. If you do a credit check to get pre-approved and pass, or fail and give AT&T the security deposit, you will receive a authorization code you can enter into iTunes to speed up the activation process. AT&T employees are not allowed to so much as stare at that shiny seal on your iPhone box — you don’t have to worry about some freak unboxing your baby! In fact, they literally put the iPhone into an Apple bag (classy right?), scan it, seal the Apple bag with the phone inside, and then give it to you.
Assuming you actually make it into the store, be prepared to get offered every iPhone accessory in stock. But what accessories will be available? We gotcha’ covered. Apple’s Bluetooth headset will be in stock tomorrow (14 day return policy as opposed to the normal 30 days for accessories) as well as extra docks, travel chargers, headphones, USB cables, and a host of 3rd party solutions which you can find below in the document. So let’s say you make it home, unbox your brand new iPhone, but wait…it’s defective and DOA. Oh no! You cannot bring defective iPhones back to the AT&T store. You will have to send it to Apple directly. Regular returns can be returned to the point of purchase.
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What happens if your credit isn’t up to snuff? Well, after and only after you fail the iTunes credit check (or the one in the store for that matter), an option will show up on screen to activate the iPhone as a Go Phone. Huh, Go Phone? Prepaid? You’re damn right, we called it! No contract required whatsoever. Mind you this is not a PAYG deal, rather it’s the Go Phone Pick Your Plan option. But still, you don’t have a contract! The last thing we’ll touch on, is the fact AT&T stores will start selling $25 and $50 iTunes gift cards. Ain’t that genius! We got a lot more info out of this 60-some page document below for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy everyone!
UPDATE: The entire 65-page Apple iPhone Launch Guide is now posted below!
Apple/AT&T iPhone Participant Training Guide Key Points [PDF link]
Apple/AT&T iPhone Participant Training Guide Full 65-page docment [PDF link]
Thanks for your swift reply. I understand that whether a user gets a paid plan or a pre-paid plan, activation will go through iTunes. What I meant was the story that had been floating around stating that unless a user signed a two-year contract for a paid plan they would be unable to access the iPod features in the phone: listening to music, viewing photos and watching videos/movies. With people inevitably failing the credit check and having no choice, but to go with the pre-paid plan, does this now block those users from being able to access those portions of the iPhone?
No, I think the iTunes activation process unlocks all iPhone features, so whether you are using a post-paid plan or the pre-paid plan, as long as you activate thru iTunes the phone is fully usable.
Nice work getting that info…I’m impressed you’ve found it, and disappointed that one of our reps let it out! I just wanted to clear one thing up that was stated about the preapproval credit check code above in the BGR notes…the preapproval code does not connect the customer to the sales rep for compensation, it is pure convenience for the customer. Don’t you think that we’ll track or compensation on a more concrete factor than an optional in store credit check? We definitely will!
All this aside…both companies have everyone’s best interest in mind, this should be an awesome day for everyone ready to experience iPhone.
Well, you’re sort of right. That credit check as I understand will produce an activation code to enter on iTunes to help speed up the process. In addition, the iPhone IMEI, serial, or any other tracking information would be on the receipt printed out for the credit check. Thus giving AT&T employees another way to track the iPhones in case they are activated out of market…
Boy Genius,
I see what you are saying, but we will track purely by the IMEI, not activation/pre approval codes. As for activations out of market, we will run the credit check in the appropriate market (by ensuring that we ask appropriate questions to find out if they traveled from a different market to buy the phone.) Even if it is out of market, the automated system will catch up with the IMEI eventually, and post a compensation payment to the rep based on what plans/etc were activated/upgraded on the particular IMEI. YES…It’s easy money for the rep, but really has no bearing on the customer. The reps are as excited as the customers to be the carrier of such an awesome phone, those switching from other carriers should expect stellar customer service for their new accounts, and existing customers should too!
Gotcha’. But the receipt for the credit check does include the iPhone IMEI and/or serial #, no? Just remembered there was an iPhone Sales tracking system just for this purpose of recording the IMEI also. Thanks!
Yeah, it’s on the receipt…but that’s just paper, meaningless to us. Everything we need is already in OPUS or whatever system the particular market uses. So yes, I agree with you…it’s just much simpler than it’s being made out to be. As long as the phone is activated within 45 days (by ANYBODY, regardless of who bought it) we will know, and the rep who sold the phone will have it added to their “iTally” (p.s. I made that up, it’s not official
Even if the customer doesn’t use the code on the receipt, the IMEI will still be registered in iTunes. AND, if they did do a credit check in the store and then chose to not put in the code using iTUNES, it will ask for their SSN and run credit again…OUCH on the ‘ole credit score, two hits in a short span. Regardless, we will have the IMEI at the time of purchase, and as soon as it’s activated it will be linked to the appropriate person.
You obviously must have some person who can access AT&T internal sites to get these exclusives.
Anonymous At&t guy, I guess you are not really familiar with OPUS: “…but we will track purely by the IMEI, not activation/pre approval codes…” When you run a credit check, you are logged in with your CUID and when the cust. activates @ home using the “Pre-Approved Credit Check Number” it automatically uses your CUID. Yes you also have to reconcile to make sure you got credit, or you forgot the past/current commission problems. And if you chose not to use the pre-appr. code, your SSN will auto cross reference the prvious check & copy the credit score from that w/o an other credit check, that way “OUCH on the ‘ole credit score” will still only show one credit run as long as it is within 30 days.
“bye_bye_jack” I guess you are the CSR that is assigned to monitor this web/blog site. In case you do not remember/were not w. BellSouth/SBC/Cingular at the time, AT&T got it’s bad reputation based on poor network and cust. serv. problems, that’s why people ran from it to other carriers like Cingular when number portability came around, as well as that and the mis-management of AT&T Wirelees – the OLD one, caused it to get bought out by Cingular. And Ed Whitacre & SBC’s identity crisis brought us to the name at&t, which brings back bad memories to many. Should have kept BellSouth, Cingular or Ameritech instead, less “baggage”.
If I have a Treo 600 GSM with a cingular sim card, no longer under a contract, could I just buy the iPhone and plug in my sim card and have it work? I know I have to activate with iTunes, but after that couldn’t I just switch my card and keep my same plan?
Thanks!
there are plans for perpaid just not listed all standard pyp and added data as well just wait
never at&t have an exclusive contract with apple
Hey, I am living in the US but am from England and thus do not have an american SSN. I have an American Bank Account and and AT&T pay as you go phone. Will it be possible for me to get an iphone and activate it onto a pay as you go plan?
Hi RogerX, did you hate AT&T or Cingular, there is a difference from before the buyout. AT&T Wireless corporate culture allowed to put down the competition, like in the market where I am at. Then when they were bougth out by Cingular, we got stuck with their managers, who allowed that to go on for years. Cingular lost a lot of good & dedicatad people just before SBC/at&t got a hold of BellSouth. There are still some very good, actually awsome people that are left behind, but they got a steep uphill battle. Unfortunatly they are not going to win. In case you were a “blue” customer, I can understand your frustration, but now, with the network integrated you should have better luck. It is all in the SIM, get a 3G phone w. 3G SIM, life is good. As for the iPhone, I’m not sure who the phone platform is (HTC?), but it seems O.K. the rest is a video iPod on some steroids, with lot less memory. Good stuff dough.
Nevermind–I was just over at a Cingular Store and got the scoop
Thanks!
I already own an iphone and dont have a SSN I live in australia and have a US bank account and also Gophone in the usa. I spoke to an apple Iphone rep and you can activate the phone on someones ATNT account then pay the early termination fee to activate the Ipod features but the rest is rendered useless including WIFI access. Or soemhow get around the credit check and get the pick your plan. I am yet to try this think it will work only of you already have the itunes account in the USA. ANyone else here correct me if i am wrong.
I bought a first iphone went through the activation and had it locked up and ended up having to swap it out for a new one. When i bought the first one i already have an existing family plan and i did not need to input a code. Now for this 2nd phone it gives me three options prepaid, start over, or go to an att store for billing options?!. Threes also a link on the bottom saying click here if you have a credit code. But when i click that it just takes me back to the begining screen where it says ecisting customer or new customer. I really dont know why its asking me for a credit check when the first one did not need one. And i bought this at an apple store and they did no sort of credit check wahtsoever. I am adding this iphone to an existing family plan.
Well, being that AT&T has the lowest customer satisfaction and coverage ratings of all the carriers in the US I would think that the constant bashing is well deserved and earned.
Sorry for double posting. Instead of doing add a line, i went to the Cingular store and had them add a 4th line for me. Then i went on the itunes and did switch phone numbers and that worked alot smoother. Also keep in mind, the att rep told me that they just recieved information that to switch phone numbers on a family plan the number you are switchiung with has to be the main number. IF you do it without it being the main number it will say processing it will take additional time. So make sure the number you are switching with is your main number. If you already went through the activation process and the phone number wasnt the main you will have to get a new sim card which was what i had to do. But after that the att rep stood by me on the phone and guided me trhough and after that it went fine. It got activated in 3 minutes.
On Jun 28, 2007 @ 11:51 am, Kevin L Said:
If you cannot pass a credit check @ at&t you don’t need to be getting an iPhone. But if you still really want one you could try using your baby’s momma’s SSN I guess.
BULL!!! I have bad credit because of ONE BILL my parents didn’t pay in my name when I was 17 (which shouldn’t be on there anyway! Yes I am disputing). The point being, bad credit isn’t a reason for not getting an iPhone, you can be filthy rich and have bad credit if you screwed up one bill early…..
Charmig. You got the answer? What is it??????
well, you should have put in a bogus ssn like 999-99-9999..the credit check would have for sure failed and then you would have been offered the prepaid plan
WTF! im tryin to activate mah iphone through itunes but i cant! and yeah im only 17 yrs old and att dont let me get a pla cuz im under age! thats why im thnking of getting the go phone but its not showing in the itunes wer i activated mah iphone! is this true that gophone wiLL activate an iphone??
Hey, Im also 17, and yes it is possible to activate iphone with gophone, just fail credit check (use all 9’s).