iTunes account required for iPhone setup

The highly anticipated Apple iPhone hits stores on June 29th, and many rumors as well as debates have come with its hype.

The latest specification that has come to light is the fact that you will be required to have an iTunes Store account if you ever plan on setting up and configuring your new phone.

Apple is well known for confining their users to its many different services, and this is no different. The account will be a seperate account from the one you can sign up with AT&T, the phone's exclusive distributer, and this move would force non-regular Apple customers to have to subscribe to the store thus expanding the store's market.

Source:
Dailytech

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jun 2007 10:23

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28 comments

tucker001

Okay I don't have a problem with it

15.6.2007 10:26 #1

pstamer

Always gotta be some damn catch. It would probably be more marketable as a universal mp3 player; not just itunes. Then again I don't know that much about apple. This is the first apple product I've considered buying. We'll see.

15.6.2007 10:46 #2

BcMester

I have a problem with everything that ties me to things I don't like, and takes away my freedom. :/ I've never used iTunes and I'm not planning to ever use it either. If the same policy goes for Europe (and why wouldn't) I sure as hell won't get this phone.

15.6.2007 10:47 #3

scott2k7

woweeeeeee who cares

15.6.2007 10:54 #4

SProdigy

Big deal, iTunes and membership to the store is free. If you need it to setup a few features, no big deal. You're pretty much tied into certain networks, software, etc. through your carrier or the manufacturer anyways.

15.6.2007 11:32 #5

Deadrum33

I use Motorola phone tools (software to setup features) for my Razr, so I dont see the difference in using Itunes (software to setup features) for an IPhone. That being said, the reason I've bought Creative Zen and Vision products and not Ipod products is to not tie all my media to Itunes. Am I a hypocrite or just weird...

15.6.2007 11:46 #6

Cinnjerm

Originally posted by scott2k7:woweeeeeee who carescosign, like i said in another thread, noone is going to pay 600 dollars for a phone. You see how many people who are reluctant to drop that much on a ps3. I'm sure those same people are going to turn around and say hey, I need to pay 400 dollars more for a phone so i can listen to music and surf the web, two resoures which are more than adequately satisfied by a standalone mp3 player(which undoubtedly holds more info) and a laptop, blackberry, pda/phone, or any of a number of mobile devices. Bottomline, nice try apple, but i think you wasted your time.

15.6.2007 13:48 #7

scott2k7

thats cheap over in uk dude so u americans cant really moan can ya....

15.6.2007 13:49 #8

jetyi83

Quote:Originally posted by scott2k7:woweeeeeee who carescosign, like i said in another thread, noone is going to pay 600 dollars for a phone. You see how many people who are reluctant to drop that much on a ps3. I'm sure those same people are going to turn around and say hey, I need to pay 400 dollars more for a phone so i can listen to music and surf the web, two resoures which are more than adequately satisfied by a standalone mp3 player(which undoubtedly holds more info) and a laptop, blackberry, pda/phone, or any of a number of mobile devices. Bottomline, nice try apple, but i think you wasted your time.interesting, but i bet it does well.. its a cool phone with an innovative interface. since there's nothing out there to rival it, the iphone will most likely sell quite a few. the release has a ton of hype behind it, and apple is usually good at selling in big numbers.

i wouldnt mind if it flopped, but i think it will be good for napster if it does well.

15.6.2007 14:38 #9

flyingv

This is good for the people on the go who have to have instant access, but for the everyday Joe, this is a bit pricey. Go buy a laptop! They make a wireless laptop for 3rd world nations for 1/3 less than that price.

15.6.2007 16:27 #10

DVDBack23

Originally posted by scott2k7:thats cheap over in uk dude so u americans cant really moan can ya....Um...yeah we can, its still alot of money...if you have nothing to say about the article or topic at hand, please refrain from posting, please.

15.6.2007 16:32 #11

WierdName

Quote:Originally posted by scott2k7:thats cheap over in uk dude so u americans cant really moan can ya....Um...yeah we can, its still alot of money...if you have nothing to say about the article or topic at hand, please refrain from posting, please.Although I dont agree at all with his comment, it was about the topic at hand because it was in response to the other guy that was talking about how it costs a lot (with which I agree.)

15.6.2007 18:38 #12

Iguana775

wouldnt bother me. But I cant get a iPhone since I'm with US Cellular and they wont be getting one this decade.

15.6.2007 18:47 #13

Jasper44

15.6.2007 20:23 #14

ripxrush

they are going to want u to only use itunes to get music!

15.6.2007 21:10 #15

scott2k7

oh yeah and if they do guess wot there sales will be a bag of sh!t

16.6.2007 00:26 #16

aabbccdd

i will NEVER buy music from ITunes for my IPod.

18.6.2007 00:41 #17

IcyCool

Originally posted by ripxrush:they are going to want u to only use itunes to get music!Just like the iPod? Learn what you're talking about before you post please.

Personally, I really don't mind. Sure, iTunes can be annoying at times, but I don't use any other programs for my iPod (aside from ephPod to rip songs), so I'm good. I plan on using this with my Macbook Pro so I can have iCal syncing with it and stuff. It's just going to be a little annoying when I want new music since I use my PC for my iPod. Whatever, I'll deal.

18.6.2007 04:49 #18

nitrous3

no big deal really cause most people have an account already. Anyways I will be purchasing an iPhone as well. Do you have to get a data plan to get te iPhone or can you just get the AT&T plan

19.6.2007 11:18 #19

IcyCool

Originally posted by nitrous3:no big deal really cause most people have an account already. Anyways I will be purchasing an iPhone as well. Do you have to get a data plan to get te iPhone or can you just get the AT&T planI would highly suggest getting the Unlimited Data plan added on to your minutes because the data transfers that are going to happen when using Maps and Safari and Mail are going to be absolutely insane. It's 39.99 for the unlimited data. The lowest minutes plan Cingular/AT&T offers is 39.99/mo. This includes 450 minutes, 5000 night & weekend minutes, unlimited mobile to mobile, and rollover. The next step up is 59.99/mo. This includes 900 minutes, unlimited night & weekend, and unlimited mobile to mobile, as well as rollover.

However, one bad thing about Cingular/AT&T is that neither of these plans include texts. Unlimited text messages are 15.99/mo. There are smaller plans, but if you have a phone like this, texting instead of AIM is going to be a big one.

19.6.2007 11:39 #20

nitrous3

I would like to get a family plan with a total of 2 phones(iPhone & Blackberry Pearl for mom). I know the basic family plan is $60. I don't really need the internet service for the iPhone because i will be using Wi-Fi. So i dont have to get the data plan right?
BTW - Is there a data plan for basic usage for like $10?

20.6.2007 06:13 #21

IcyCool

Originally posted by nitrous3:I would like to get a family plan with a total of 2 phones(iPhone & Blackberry Pearl for mom). I know the basic family plan is $60. I don't really need the internet service for the iPhone because i will be using Wi-Fi. So i dont have to get the data plan right?
BTW - Is there a data plan for basic usage for like $10?There is one data package for $9.99/mo, called the MEdia Basic Bundle. This includes 400 texts and 1MB of data transfer. However, that isn't shared like the family minutes, that's for each phone. AT&T is a very good company, but they can sometimes be costly. That's the only benefit with T-Mobile's Sidekick plan. It's an extra $39.99/mo for unlimited internet, AIM, texts, email, everything data. However, they have very bad service, at least in NY.

20.6.2007 07:03 #22

nitrous3

so with the MEdia Basic Bundle I can go on the internet and use maps??

20.6.2007 07:12 #23

IcyCool

Originally posted by nitrous3:so with the MEdia Basic Bundle I can go on the internet and use maps??You most certainly can, but after about a couple of times of checking your mail and getting directions, prepare for a huge phone bill. I have a Motorola L7 w/ iTunes now, and my bill is usually about $140 per month because of the amount of times I simply check my GMail and get some movie times. Trust me, getting the Unlimited Data plan is your safest bet.

20.6.2007 07:23 #24

nitrous3

It would be too expensive for me, and the iPhone is already expensive, so i couldnt dish an extra $40 a month. Approximately how many times or minutes can you use the internet with the basic data plan, because i wouldn't really use it a lot, probably 5 minutes a day, or 3 times. Most likely I will just get the minutes family plan for $60 and use my house Wi-Fi or other free hotspots.

20.6.2007 10:18 #25

borhan9

I dont have a problem with this if i dont have to pay for creating the account. Also i would prefer this to be charged on my phone bill if i ever use it. I would not use this anyway.

21.6.2007 15:43 #26

74peter

Wouldn't mind getting this but we'll see how much it is here in Portugal with Vodafone (very likely this will be the first carrier in Portugal to get this). I love the interface and as long as it allows customization and installation of 3rd party software. This will sell alot. I would much rather pay 600 for this than pay 600 for some stupid video game console that does just that...video games....

23.6.2007 11:35 #27

GhostsKSG

Quote:Originally posted by scott2k7: woweeeeeee who carescosign, like i said in another thread, noone is going to pay 600 dollars for a phone. You see how many people who are reluctant to drop that much on a ps3. I'm sure those same people are going to turn around and say hey, I need to pay 400 dollars more for a phone so i can listen to music and surf the web, two resoures which are more than adequately satisfied by a standalone mp3 player(which undoubtedly holds more info) and a laptop, blackberry, pda/phone, or any of a number of mobile devices. Bottomline, nice try apple, but i think you wasted your time.
Boy were you wrong

5.6.2009 13:33 #28

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