Even if I wanted an iPhone and could afford one, I couldn’t have one where I live.
In ND, most of Minn., no iPhone service
By Teri Finneman, The Forum
Published Thursday, June 28, 2007
FARGO — As consumers rush Friday to buy the latest cool gadget, North Dakotans and many Minnesotans will be left sitting on the bench.
The iPhone the much-hyped new product from Apple and AT&T will only be available with wireless service from AT&T.
And that leaves North Dakota and most of Minnesota out of the loop.
Not only does the region have limited AT&T service, but consumers won’t even catch a glimpse of the iPhone in stores.
“We’re not selling the iPhone in North Dakota,” said AT&T spokeswoman Natalie Bauer. “In Minnesota, we’re selling the iPhones in a variety of Twin Cities locations.”
The news doesn’t sit well with local Apple fans.
“There’s a lot of people up here who want it. We’re all bummed,” said Bill Scheffler, a Macintosh computer specialist at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
The iPhone combines three products: a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls and an Internet communications device with e-mail, Web browsing, searching and maps.
The user interface is based on a large multitouch display and new software that allows users to control iPhone with their fingers.
Anticipation for the handset has reached or arguably even surpassed levels usually reserved for new video game consoles.
Five people were in line Tuesday afternoon outside Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City, three of them since Monday.
The new technology has “some pretty innovative” features, Scheffler said. However, it may be “one of those things you want to wait until the next one anyway” when the kinks are worked out, he added.
“That said, I’d buy one in a heartbeat if I could,” Scheffler said.
The Computer Place in Fargo has received a few inquiries about the iPhone and had to turn them away, said senior Apple technician Erik Brakvatne.
He said he isn’t excited about the iPhone because it isn’t available here.
“I don’t really have an opinion at this time (about the product),” Brakvatne said. “I haven’t seen it myself. I think there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done.”
Two models of the phone are available: one with 4 gigabytes of storage for $499 and one with 8 gigabytes for $599. Three monthly plans with a minimum two-year service contract will be available, with prices ranging from $59.99 to $99.99.
Those who think they can get an iPhone and an AT&T wireless plan outside of the area and try to use it here should study the idea first, said North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark.
“I don’t know how long you’re going to be able to keep up a plan where you’re roaming almost 100 percent of the time. That may not be allowed by them. You need to check for sure,” he said.
Bauer of AT&T was unaware of any plans to extend the network into North Dakota.
Technology analyst Mike McGuire said Apple fans have elevated the status of the iPhone to “somewhere between electricity and sliced bread.”
“The blessing is you’ve created an amazing amount of demand. The curse is you have a very high level of expectations to meet,” said McGuire, a research vice president with Gartner Inc. “If there’s a misstep, there will be a lot of gloating people in the industry.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
