iPhone 2.0 won’t require a second computer
When you consider that the App Store will let users download applications directly to their iPhones, and that rumored negotiations may soon allow users to download songs over the cellular network directly to their iPhones, a pattern emerges: iPhone 2.0 won’t need a second computer. Sure, if you have a computer it makes things even better, but you don’t need one.
But how will Apple handle activation?
In yesterday’s post reviewing the announced carriers and wondering whether Apple will need to open 26 more international iTunes Stores to support the new countries, reader Randolph Kirkpatrick commented that, technically, an iTunes Store isn’t required and added that all you really need is an Apple ID and the iTunes software. This sparked the thought: is it technically possible to activate iPhone 2.0 from the iPhone itself? Maybe not over the cellular network, but if you’re within range of a free and open wireless network, why not? After all, being able to activate from the iPhone itself would increase the available market to include people who don’t own a computer at all.
So let’s review the activation steps for iPhone 1.0 to see how suitable they’d be for activating directly on the iPhone. There are bound to be changes for 2.0, but the existing activation steps probably provide a reliable guide to the essentials:
1. Welcome to Your New iPhoneTurning on the iPhone might default to displaying this first step. Simple enough. There are no controls here except the three buttons at the bottom: FAQ, Cancel, and Continue. Tapping FAQ could try to load a webpage from the available wireless network, or load a webpage from the iPhone’s disk if the network failed. The language would be configured for the default language of the country in which the iPhone is sold. |
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2. Are You a New or Existing Wireless Customer?This would probably be split into two separate steps: first, indicate whether you’re a new or existing customer; second, indicate whether you’d like to activate this iPhone alone, or multiple iPhones on a joint plan. |
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3. Transfer Your Mobile NumberThis step is the first that would require you to use the iPhone’s keyboard. It only affects customers wanting to transfer an existing mobile number, but that’s still probably a large percentage of users. Navigating five separate text entry fields while using the iPhone keyboard seems like a lot to demand of new users, so perhaps this would also be split into separate steps. Perhaps a keyboard tutorial might be made available as well. Requiring new users to use the keyboard from the start is a significant change, though. |
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4. Select Your Monthly PlanEasy. |
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5. iTunes Account (Apple ID)More keyboard required, but only for existing Apple customers, many of whom would already have or have tried the iPhone. |
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6. Billing InformationEasily the toughest step. 15 separate input controls to manage, 13 of them text entry fields. This information is required for everyone, too. Still, the convenience of not requiring a separate computer might be motivation enough for many users to master this step. |
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7. Accept iPhone Terms and ConditionsEasy. |
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8. Review Your InformationEasy. |
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9. Completing ActivationEasy. iPhone 1.0 continues on to syncing on your desktop computer. iPhone 2.0 could begin syncing wireless over the network. |
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Apple’s ambitions for iPhone 2.0 are clearly big. It will be interesting to see how they change activation for iPhone 2.0.
Possible, but you’ve probably left out a WiFi-network setup step that would be needed if you’re on a WEP or WPA network. Check out the Apple TV activation process.
You’re right, Michael. That’s why I mentioned that the wireless network would need be free and open, meaning no passwords of any kind.
Some address information in step 6 might be filled using the built-in GPS!