File this under 'R' for rumor, but AppleInsider says it has received reports from Apple store employees that 3G iPhone buyers will soon be able to purchase their phones in-store and then activate them at home.
That would be a return to the sales model used for the original iPhone, which was undoubtedly more convenient.
Presumably, you will still have to sign up for a contract at the cash register at the AT&T or Apple store, though, even if you then take the phone home and activate it via iTunes.
Because the only way AT&T can afford to subsidize the 3G iPhone (unlike the original iPhone) is by ensuring that 3G iPhone buyers sign up for a two-year contract before they leave the store.
So, even if true, this rumor probably isn't as big a deal as it sounds.
I wonder, though, if AT&T is getting ready to sell unsubsidized 3G iPhones on a month-to-month contract. That option was promised way back before the 3G iPhone was released, but hasn't been mentioned since.
AppleInsider doesn't say anything about that. It's just my personal speculation.
AppleInsider does wonder, though, if 32-gig 3G iPhones are imminent, as it has noticed a relative shortage of the 8-gig models.
So the 8-gig model would be phased out, the 16-gig would become the entry-level model, and the 32-gig the high-end model.
Seems like if Apple was going to do that, it would have made the announcement at the Let's Rock event a few weeks ago, but maybe they just weren't ready, and that's why the event ended up being somewhat lackluster.
Anyway, there's your bushel of Apple rumors for the week.
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