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Rumor: Best Buy and Radio Shack to sell iPhone 3G

arstechnica.com — According to an unconfirmed rumor, Apple may be expanding iPhone 3G distribution to Best Buy and Radio Shack locations in the US.

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sio2man 153 days ago, made popular 152 days ago

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95 Comments
Who Dugg It?

capdos, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2Maybe at $599 where you can ditch AT&T....($699 for 16GB)
MikeSetera, on 07/02/2008, -4/+52This $599 / $699 pricing without a plan is *****. Isn't cancellation $175? Wouldn't it be much cheaper to buy the iPhone for $199 and pay the $175 cancellation fee?
- blorc, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5Last I saw, and I could be wrong on this, AT&T was requiring the phone be returned to the store before they would cancel your plan. It might have been part of the rumor mill, though. Any confirmation on this?
- hotsoda, on 07/02/2008, -0/+11I'll leave out change and tax to keep things simple.
  
  $199 + $36 (activation fee) = $235 + $175 = $410
  
  So yes, you are correct. You would be saving $189.
  - cgruber, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6They will make you pay the unsubisdized fee from what I understand. I might be understanding wrong though.
    
    so $199 +36 (activation) + $175 (contract break ) + $400 (unsubizided amount) = 810
  - raynar, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1so what if they sell it? If you buy it without a contract, you have 30 days to activate it...
- juzcallmeg0d, on 07/02/2008, -2/+3it would be....if you didn't have to sign your receipt at the time of purchase saying that if you cancel your plan, you will return your phone.
  
  at least thats what you had to do as of last year, but i stopped selling cell phones almost a year ago, so things may have changed? but i doubt it. or else you could just buy the phone for $200, cancel, pay the fee...so a total of $375 and then sell the phone for $600.... not gonna happen
  - nicc, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4@juzcallmeg0d
    
    I didnt have to sign anything stating that if I cancelled my iPhone plan I had to return the phone.
    where the hell did you see this?
- jakatak, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1I spoke to AT&T last night. There is no need to sign up for 2 more years or be in need of an upgrade to get the $199 or $299 IPG3.
  
  She said all you have to do is buy the phone and sign up for AT&T service if you don't already have the service. if you have to service then nothing changes other than having to add the $30 data plan to it. That's it.
  
  Don't worry about the price. Worry about getting one.
  - phoomp, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1meh ... there was no trouble getting one in the US when they were released last year; I'll be surprised if there's any shortages this year.
  - clumsytime, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Sorry, you got bad info. You can look it up even on AT&T's site:
    
    http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/spe ...
    
    Click on "Current AT&T Customer" under "What will I Pay?"
    
    You DO have to be upgrade eligible if you're on AT&T. Otherwise you will pay $200 more.
- jjustin01, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1It's not like this hasn't been all over the feeds since yesterday. Pricing is set so that you can purchase the iPhone one of three ways.
  
  1) You are either eligible for an upgrade or are a new customer then you can get the discount $199/299 phone with a 2 year contract.
  
  2) You are not eligible for an upgrade but are willing to sign a 2 year contract to get the phone at $299/499
  
  3) Or, you do not sign a contract and you buy the phone outright for $599/699. Since there is no contract, there is no termination fee. What will be interesting to see is how Apple will brick the phone if you leave ATT service. Supposedly the phones are shipping in a bricked state and have service has to be established before you leave the ATT store.
  
  The price for the phone without contract is on par with what Nokia has been selling their N-series phones for a few years now. The difference is that you get way more out of the iPhone for the money.
- sweetlove911, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1If you cancel your contract you lose your number. I know this because I just had this conversation with an AT&T rep 2 hours ago regarding this very topic.
kuz2r, on 07/02/2008, -2/+10How can you make shopping experience more f-up: Apple Stores -> ATT-> BestBuy -> Radio Shack
- Daniel591992, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3Yeah, really. Can you even order it online? Don't you have to activate it in the store?
jluebbert, on 07/02/2008, -9/+4Because Best Buy isn't frustrating enough already, I can't imagine buying a computer from Best Buy, why would I go there to set up a new cell phone?
- ICasualty, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1Actually with alot of stores getting their new cell phone department its been alot better.
LeeSoong, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5That would be great,
as long as you can get the service and support from the Apple retail stores.

The more places selling Apple products, the better...
CanadaMan87, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6I wouldn't be surprised. Many third party retailers in Canada will be selling iPhone. I work at Future Shop, and it's been confirmed by one of my managers there that we'll be selling iPhone. But it won't be available at Future Shop until later in July.

Though the deal with Rogers/Fido in Canada may differ from the deal with AT&T in the US.
- Slovenian6474, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6Last I checked, Futureshop is owned by Best Buy
- LeCollectif, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1I hate to say it, but that's some big-time misinformation. No third party retailers have been announced, nor has any deal been cut behind the scenes with BBY/FS. Your managers are making stuff up.
  - xero9, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1This doesn't seem that unrealistic. Future Shop does have access to Fido and I assume other providers activation service, so they can easily pick a plan, activate phones, etc. There's no reason what so ever they couldn't sell them.
    
    I doubt you'll be able to go pick one off the shelf like you were buying a video game though.
  - Slovenian6474, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Considering you can buy a Mac at Best Buy and they carry AT&T....I wouldn't see why not.
  - LeCollectif, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1What I'm saying is that deals haven't been cut yet. In the future, maybe. But not now.
khuongsta, on 07/02/2008, -1/+38oh god, i can hear it now: "do you want the extended warranty"
- alep85, on 07/02/2008, -0/+6Sadly, these clowns trick people again and again to go for this sort of crap. If you're really hell bent on getting an extended warranty (which is usually unneeded and ends up becoming extra profit for the company/retailer), at least get on issued from the company directly (i.e. AppleCare). This gives you a much better customer service and repair quality experience.
  - yesimahuman, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1I love to hate on BB like the rest, but my gf and friend have found these "no questions asked" extended warranties a life saver.
- phoomp, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Ummm ... the last 2 major purchases I made at an Apple Store, the sales person asked me if I wanted extended warranty. When I worked at a store that sold Apple product, the Apple rep frequently coached us on how to sell Apple's extended warranty.
  
  The only difference between Apple's extended warranty and Best Buy's is that Apple's comes with an Apple logo on it, there-by making it a desirable product.
Dylson, on 07/02/2008, -2/+16BestBuy maybe. Radio Shack, hell no.
- spoogieking012, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3where i live anyway, radioshack is much better for things like cables and such. bestbuy just seems to consumery for me. and the sales associates truly have no idea what the ***** they're talking about
googooly, on 07/02/2008, -4/+3Iphone + 3 years force BB warranty
- alterImperson, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3When have you ever been forced to buy one of the BB warranties?
- karran, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3not very good at saying no?
DDMX, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1Wouldn't be surprised, since you can no longer purchase online.
monkeyrun, on 07/02/2008, -6/+3hmm.. ATT exclusive will expire one year from now.
- Gee1004, on 07/02/2008, -3/+44 years
diggduggDOOM, on 07/02/2008, -1/+44I'm amazed Radio Shack is still in business. Everything is overpriced and the staff is mostly clueless.
- Daniel591992, on 07/02/2008, -0/+9The only thing they're good for is batteries.
  - admdrew, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3The store or the clueless staff?
  - ohnoihavenoname, on 07/11/2008, -0/+0They're also the only place in my area to get resistors, capacitors, etc
- misxn, on 07/02/2008, -0/+5They're still living of Microsoft money too. They have a heavy investment in them from a few years back.
- CaptainValor, on 07/02/2008, -0/+3Actually we're on the upswing. The financial troubles of a few years back are behind us. I'll agree that many of our staff are clueless, but there are some really knowledgeable folks here too. It's a good, geeky job. :)
- kineticarl, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1not even the ceo knows how they stay in business...
  
  http://www.theonion.com/content/news/even_ceo_cant ...
superkendall, on 07/02/2008, -2/+5Best Buy makes sense, as they are starting to have Apple specific sections in stores.

Radio Shack is a new one to me though, kind of weird but I guess there are still a lot around.
ajUCI, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Why does an "unconfirmed rumor" gain any traction at all?
- jakatak, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2because it's from a reputable news source.
- karran, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1because the very definition of a rumor is "unconfirmed"
Pledio, on 07/02/2008, -4/+1I thought market penetration was easier when you had an price point that didn't lock people out, rather than flooding the market with your product.

iPhone! Only 199!****

*On Approved Credit
**With 24 month contract, and $175 ETF
***For new subscribers, or for existing iPhone holders.
****Oh, so you have AT&T, but not an iPhone, but you want one? Still in contract? PAY US MORE MONEY!
- superkendall, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1Your complaints are pretty lame since they apply to any cell phone. If you have contract already, it's not like buying any other phone is magically going to get you out of it either.
  
  Market penetration is pretty easy when you have the same annoying terms for any cell phone, but you have a phone with excellent capabilities to make up for it.
  - pyrates, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1And that's the problem here. Cell phone prices continue to stay artificially high because the cell phone service providers continue to inflate them to get you to sign a 1/2/3 year contract. That needs to end. Then cell phone makers might make more money since people would be free to buy a cell phone whenever they wanted, not just when there contract ended.
scoottie, on 07/02/2008, -11/+32 stores i never shop at are going to sell a phone i will never buy? .... so?
- 1337chic, on 07/02/2008, -1/+3You opened this article because?
  - scoottie, on 07/02/2008, -2/+1so i could i reply to it
    
    but to lower myself to your mentality .... you replied to my comment because?
- xero9, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1And one more Digg user I'll never have to read a comment from
ThatDustyGuy, on 07/02/2008, -1/+8Maybe I can finally use all the Best Buy gift cards I get during my birthday and Christmas.

I can never justify using them to buy something there, because I always tell myself "nah I'll just buy it somewhere else for cheap and save the cards for later." Months pass and I still have them.
- growler1, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2Better check to make sure they don't expire...
- alterImperson, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1Sound reasoning. I work at best buy in the computers area and I wont buy any we sell. I'd rather build my own, but for games, movies, music, cameras, and tvs, no question I'd rather buy them in a store. Around here, that's best buy.
Wootstapler, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2It would be stupid for them not to sell iPhone at those locations. Like the article stated, they already carry so much Apple hardware and software, why not the iPhone.
AZRoboto, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4I can understand Best Buy, but Radio Shack?
- m8ymerc1, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Well, I can say this about Radio Shack. I never once had a bad CS issue, not once. Now, Best Buy on the otherhand expect to be screwed over somehow, someway!
xsecretfiles, on 07/02/2008, -6/+3I'm tired of rumors starting
I'm sick of being followed
I'm tired of people lying
Saying what they want about me
- wonkavsn, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2That was... beautiful, man.. :'(
defenswens26, on 07/02/2008, -3/+12I'm confused how Radio Shack is still in business. I can't name a single person that actually shops there.
- cortjezter, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1indeed. the only person i've ever known to shop there turned out to be someone i wish i'd never met.
- jakatak, on 07/02/2008, -0/+7If you can't figure out why Radio Shack is still in business, then ask:
  
  Kmart
  Sears
  Blockbuster
  
  don't ask:
  Bear Sterns
  CompUSA
  Tower Records
Gee1004, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4After July 11, Apple will probably sell the iPhone 3G on-line.
waydee, on 07/02/2008, -3/+3Buried as iphonespam.
ghostrc, on 07/02/2008, -2/+2Radio Shack is horrible-
They ask for your phone number
All their stuff are overpriced
A very small and crappy video game section, all they have is Madcatz stuff and overpriced cables
They sell those "digital picture frames" for $100+
- Bots, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2why do they ask for a phone number when you buy batteries?
  - slapout, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1They put you on their mailing list so they can sell you more stuff.
- CaptainValor, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Bots: We don't ask for your number on battery purchases. If someone did, they are not following procedure.
  
  Slapout: When we do take customer data (such as for returns) they can opt out of the mailing list easily.
Duositex, on 07/02/2008, -0/+4Rumor: Submitter is a nitwit.
perlabsrat, on 07/02/2008, -1/+4
Radio Shack - You've Got Questions. We've Got Questions.

http://www.thepeoplescube.com/images/captions/Male ...
Qtip42, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Hopefully at some point non-existing AT&T customers will be able to pick up an iPhone without any obligations/contracts/*****. They gray market is the only reason this phone is popular. Nobody gives a ***** for AT&T.
StevesJobs, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1Can they please sell data plans too?

If you can't tell, I'm Canadian.
- phoomp, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1They just sell you a Rogers/Fido plan. The only difference from going into a Rogers store is you wouldn't have to worry about the sleezy sales man.
uselessexpert, on 07/02/2008, -4/+4All this ***** iPhone news *****... BIG ***** DEAL!
Let it be people, at the end of the day is just another cell phone, and in another month, we'll all forget about it.

Go ahead and dig me down....
- jakatak, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1in another month we will have IP4G.
- digiguy, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2Why do people constantly comment on news that they are not interested in? I just don't get it
xutopia, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1I don't get how this makes sense. If Apple wanted to sell the phone without ATT in the middle wouldn't they just sell it from their web site?

Perhaps AT&T just has a partnership to sell the iPhones in their stores for them, with a huge contract.
alperea, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2I'm still not buying it xD
Rustymetal, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1I hate these ***** nazi tactics. ATT ONLY or you can't leave the store with the phone. If you cancel your contract u have to give the phone back? like *****, this is the worst business practices I seen in years.

900mhz open network where are you?
alexkball, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1This would only be newsworthy if they tacked a "cheaper" on the end of the headline. Otherwise it makes no differences where I buy (or in this case, don't buy) one.
teethandeyes, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1That's good for Radio Shack. The only reason I have had to step foot into a Radio Shack for the past 15 years has been for adapters or fuses.
trollick, on 07/02/2008, -1/+1So?
slyzxx, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1will wait for ebay to sell it at $1000.
- Quicksilver4648, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1Some idiot will buy it.
piemcgee, on 07/02/2008, -0/+0Yay for the tilt :)!
CaptainValor, on 07/02/2008, -1/+5Okay, I work for RadioShack and I can confirm that we have heard NOTHING to this effect within the company. If we were going to be selling the iPhone 3G, we would already be getting training or have heard some more excitement in the voices of our higher-ups.

It's not going to happen. Sorry everyone.

PS: No, we're not dying. And we're way more than adapters and fuses. We sell diodes too! ;)
- Trifold, on 07/02/2008, -0/+2...I do like diodes.
brandon81211, on 07/02/2008, -1/+2People still go to Radio Shack?
merrickx, on 07/02/2008, -0/+1My friend works at best buy and he said that he read a memo earlier than was released and it said they were going to sell 3Gs at their stores. :]
digggonebad, on 07/03/2008, -0/+0Can anyone tell me why the iphone cost more than a laptop? eepc for $299 vs Iphone 16gb for $699 Are Iphone users simply pc illiterate?
crazzy88ss, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2As a radioshack employee, I would be completely SHOCKED if this happened. We are JUST NOW getting Blackberry Pearls in stock. RS is always way behind in getting the latest phones...
noupsell, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1RS sells pure profit 2 and 3 year wireless 'Replacement and Repair plans' that cover things like battery replacement, power surges, not 'extended warranties' and they are not the same thing as insurance, you need to get insurance from your carrier. I doubt they get the iphone and even if they do it will be sold in high volume district stores only.
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Rumor: Best Buy and Radio Shack to sell iPhone 3G

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