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Before you activate your iPhone, read this!

Posted July 06, 2007 8:14 AM

From CNET News.com:

I was casually cruising the news sites yesterday when I came across a story about porting "ineligible" numbers to AT&T and iPhone. I clicked on the story because I know some of the people who lobbied for and won the rights to treat phone numbers more like personal property you own than corporate property you rent. I was right with the author until he said (without comment or outrage): "On that screen, enter your name, Social Security number, and your current billing information and home telephone." Say WHAT!? Apple and AT&T are demanding customers reveal SSNs to activate their iPhones. That should be the lead of every technology and business article written this week. If you don't believe me, read on.

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Kaplin
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 575
Good Answers: 16
#1

Re: Before you activate your iPhone, read this!

07/06/2007 11:23 AM

I haven't tried this but I've read if you put 999-99-9999 in as your SSN, it will fail the credit check and then ask you if you want to sign up for a prepaid plan instead.

So for those who are concerned about giving out their social security number, it looks like they can get a prepaid plan instead.

I personally am waiting for the next generation of regular iPods with a widescreen/touchscreen and 100GB+ of storage.

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/01/prepaid-iphone-in-a-nutshell/

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Rick@cae
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 435
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Before you activate your iPhone, read this!

07/11/2007 9:34 AM

"So for those who are concerned about giving out their social security number, it looks like they can get a prepaid plan instead."

Absolutely EVERYBODY should be concerned about giving out their social security number. People are way too casual about giving out personal info. And yes, if I was to get an iphone and all the techno crap that comes with it, I'd go for the prepaid plan. For now, a regular "old fashioned" cell phone with no gadgets does me just fine (I held out as long as I could without one but gave in last year - but it IS on a prepaid plan)

just my views....

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