at&t

As you know, the Macalope's not galloping out this morning to get an iPhone 3G. Particularly since he feels like he just got a new iPhone yesterday with the 2.0 software update.

And it seems that might not be a bad idea all around. Taking a look on the Twitter, MacUser's Dan Pourhadi says AT&T's in-store activation system isn't working and they're telling people to activate at home (that won't get you a phone you can unlock, though, unless you want to pay $600 for it -- failure to activate).

Meanwhile, … Read more

So the iPhone 3G is coming out tomorrow. Are you ready? OK, that's more of a rhetorical question that those who've been lining up in front of Apple and AT&T stores in NYC and San Francisco would call me crazy just for asking. (Though, in fact, it's they who are crazy). The real question is if AT&T is ready. And it looks like it is.

It's only fitting that AT&T announced today that it offers the nation's fastest 3G network, by a significant margin. The claim was made based … Read more

Amid all the iPhone 3G and App Store talk today, another rising star in the smartphone world got its FCC wings today. Yes, the much-anticipated RIM BlackBerry Bold received FCC approval, bringing it one step closer to a real-world debut. We already know that the Bold is headed for AT&T, but the exact availability date has been in question. Some sources, such as the Boy Genius Report, say it will be released some time in mid-August.

Many are already calling the BlackBerry Bold an iPhone competitor, which frankly bugs me. While I certainly understand the inclination to do … Read more

If you're planning on waiting in line for an iPhone, be sure to do your homework and bring all the necessary items with you. Or, watch Wednesday's edition of the Daily Debrief where I talk to CNET News' Tom Krazit about the lines and the purchase process. Apple has finally disclosed that stores will start selling the phones at 8 a.m. The company has also said it will let customers into the stores in groups of 30. This part of the system sounds similar to last year, but this year's big unknown is what the activation … Read more

Though there's no shortage of places to buy an unlocked iPhone, I haven't seen many wireless stores that specialize in selling them. But last weekend, I came across a store in San Francisco's Civic Center (corner of Larkin and Golden Gate) that does just that. Not only will the store sell you an unlocked iPhone with the activation of a new T-Mobile account--all for just $299--but also it will unlock your current AT&T iPhone for you. Since it was Saturday and the day after Independence Day the store was closed, so I didn't get … Read more

Apple has revealed how it plans to handle the iPhone 3G crowd on Friday at its retail stores: about 30 iPhone buyers at a time.

In an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday, Ron Johnson, Apple's retail chief, explained the company plans to admit iPhone customers into its retail stores starting at 8:00 a.m. local time on Friday. There will be an orange-shirted "concierge" at each store, according to Apple, who will herd iPhone 3G buyers approximately 30 at a time to the "iPhone bay" for processing.

Apple did something similar last year, when … Read more

Perhaps wanting to steal a little thunder from the iPhone 3G (uhh, good luck with that), today Palm announced a new electric blue version of the Palm Centro for AT&T, with nationwide availability starting Friday. So there's a new color; big whoop, right? Well now, wait a minute. Touting it as an lower-cost alternative to the iPhone and as part of a back to school promotional package, the Centro will be sold at a lower price point than its current $99 (with a two-year contract) from July 11 to September 20. Just how much less? We have … Read more

You've got to wonder whether Apple and AT&T are excited or worried about a repeat of last year's iPhone mania.

Even though a few people have already started lining up outside Apple's Fifth Avenue store in New York, the buzz surrounding Friday's launch of the iPhone 3G has been far less prevalent on our shores this year than last year, when I thought I was going to lose my mind writing about Apple's first mobile phone.

That makes some sense, since, in many ways, the iPhone is old news. But a new activation … Read more

Strangely, I found myself with 30 minutes of free time yesterday. And, instead of doing something productive, I found myself drawn to watch the latest 30-minute iPhone 3G video from Apple.

Sure, it's that same creepy guy from last year, and this time, he looks even more CGI-generated than last. I think he gained some weight too. But, the new features made up for the the excessive use of "most advanced," "incredible" and other doped-up adjectives. Those are 30 minutes down the tubes watching this man, but, the 3G iPhone does look pretty enticing. … Read more