Apple Store US against REST OF WORLD....

[reeko]

ok, the apple store is up worldwide now.

i have noticed a little something,

the us store, 3g iphone, bottom right states:

Requirements
Mac PC
USB 2.0 port
Mac OS X
v10.4.10 or later
iTunes 7.7
or later
Internet connection
(broadband recommended; fees may apply)
AT&T service
(minimum two-year agreement)
Free iTunes Store account
(valid credit card required)

UK states:

Requirements
Mac PC
USB 2.0 port
Mac OS X
v10.4.10 or later
iTunes 7.7
or later
Internet connection
(broadband recommended; fees may apply)
Wireless service
Free iTunes Store account
(valid credit card required)

Sweden:

Systemkrav
Mac PC
USB 2.0-port
Mac OS X
10.4.10 eller senare
iTunes 7.7
eller senare
Internetanslutning
(bredband rekommenderas, avgifter kan tillkomma)
Trålös tjänst
Kostnadsfritt iTunes Store-konto
(giltigt kreditkort krävs)


Germany:

Systemvoraussetzungen
Mac PC
USB 2.0-Anschluss
Mac OS X
10.4.10 (oder neuer)
iTunes 7.7
(oder neuer)
Internetzugang
(Breitbandverbindung empfohlen, hierfür können Gebühren anfallen)
Mobilfunkvertrag
Kostenloser Account im iTunes Store
(gültige Kreditkarte erforderlich

is it not odd that the US specifically states that the iPhone requires an AT&T contract, whilst the rest of the world requires merely a wireless service?

Maybe the americans will be unlucky enough to be forced to activate in store, perhaps AT&T have paid apple extra for this.....

Looks like it has deliberately been worded like this on the apple store websites....

[Safari]

Well Steve didnt state that the 3g iphone would be availible for any network in the US did he??

[reeko]

EDIT:

clicked "where to buy" on apple store UK and get options of O2 shops and carphone warehouse.

Looks like its going to be contract in store

Well Steve didnt state that the 3g iphone would be availible for any network in the US did he??

he also didnt state that the iPhone would be available in store and activated at home on your pc, a feature which was tried and clearly failed.

He also didnt state that the sky is blue and that ice melts, but there we go

EDIT:

just rung the apple helpline, Mandy couldnt give me a correct answer as the iPhone 3g has just been announced.

fingers crossed though..

[ChriB]

This page seems to be very confusing but in germany you will have to use tmobile.

[schweitzer]

AT&T will try their best to setup crazy AT&T-like agreements with exclusive carriers in each country as they did with the 1st gen (obviously). More than likely they just haven't finalized who/how they'll be partnering up globally just yet. Remember that big stink that some countries had with those exclusivity agreements where they forced apple to offer unlocked prices? Who knows what they'll do, but you can be sure Apple will find a way to compensate--other countries will be NO better off than we are.

[Chase817]

what??? I don't get it

[screamforme02]

ur gonna have to sign up in store or you cant get one i believe

[Chase817]

ur gonna have to sign up in store or you cant get one i believe

yep. i went on the apple website and there's no BUY ONLINE button but a FIND A STORE NEAR YOU button

[reeko]

the iPhone is available for free on contract in the UK

and there is a PAY AS YOU GO OPTION!

I guess the rest of europe will follow suit and the americans left out in the cold with their 2 year contracts, or i can ship one to you for an excessive price..... lol

[jimbeam4581]

If this is all true and I really wouldn't put it past them. I'm just going to get someone with an AT&T contract to buy it for me If gets unlocked or I might just wait till the end of the year when androids released and stomps the US phone market back into a consumer friendly market.