A tale of a second hand iPhone

With all this talk of developing iphone applications and the location aware device stuff that the iPhone can theoretically do, I have to admit that I am somewhat interested in picking up one of these pieces of hardware.  I did some study on the SDK and it's power, which is mighty, and decided hell... it is a goodness to have one laying around.  If for no other reason, but to be able to have it around for testing applications.

I put my feelers out and got a bite.  Someone with an 8gb gen1 iPhone agreed to trade their unit for a 2ghz ibm t30 laptop.  For actual cash value, this trade seems good for me.. even calculating the probable drop that will be seen in gen1 phones in about a month.  The t30 can be had for 150 on ebay, the iphone for around 330.  Before finalizing the phone trade though, I decided to check around online for information about moving over my service to use the phone myself.  I carry the oldest crappiest nokia phone ever, though it's rugged as holy hell, and wouldn't mind something with wifi or something.

AT&T or Apple?  Who's the dick here?

I found something concerning about the iPhone activation though.  This clued me in to a problem:

Q. I'm an existing customer. Can I swap out my current SIM card and start right away?
A. No. iPhone must be activated before it can be used. iPhone includes a pre-installed SIM card for your convenience.

from:http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/iphone-faqs.jsp#activate

The phone has to be activated before it can be used.  If I get a second hand iphone I have to take it to an AT&T shop and have them not only change my sim card but also requires that I sign a 2 year service contract!  Now this may not seem like a big deal to most people, but to me a 2 year service contract is something I've been avoiding for YEARS.  I am currently on a friend of mine's family plan and he CERTAINLY is not interested in signing a 2 year data access contract just so I can use this fancy ass piece of plastic.

I assumed that the unit was already fine, since it was already bought and activated by the current owner.  Apparently the only way to get around it, and even this is up in the air without more research, is to unlock the phone itself.  Does this get around the need to activate though?  I have no idea!

I think the whole business reeks.  Sure the 3g phones are subsidized by the telecoms so they demand your 2 year contract, but this phone was purchased at the greater old price and I feel should be acceptable to purchase second hand.  If I want to add data service to a phone I don't need a 2 year contract, it's only for the iPhone.  

Assholes.  and from wikipedia....

The iPhone normally prevents access to its media player and web features unless it has also been activated as a phone with an authorized carrier.

Cunts and Assholes.