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Will The iPhone Be Locked To Expensive AT&T Contracts?

It looks like AT&T's and Apple's talking points for the iPhone are now up on the Web. The document reveals just who can buy the iPhone and what you have to do to get your hands on it. But it also raises lots of new questions.

The Boy Genius Report posted this PDF document which it claims is the talking points memo for the iPhone. The document seems to imply that Apple and AT&T will soon release more devices together than just the iPhone:

"AT&T and Apple have formed a multi-year exclusive partnership, leveraging the strengths of both companies, to create revolutionary new wireless products." Notice that they used products, referring to more than one. The document goes on to say that, "the first of these products is the iPhone, an innovative wireless phone combining the reliability of the AT&T network and the simplicity and functionality of an iPod." Another confirmation of more devices to come.

That's not all. It looks like Apple and AT&T are working to integrate their services to make the iPhone a seamless experience:

AT&T will also give you "access to MyAccount via the device and the iTunes site, allowing customers complete ability to manage their AT&T service". It looks like they are definitely trying to integrate everything as seemlessly as possible which in the end should make for a much more pleasurable experience for the consumer.

Does this mean that iTunes will be integrated with AT&T's mobile portal? Will AT&T customers also have access to iTunes and other Apple services? And just who will be able to buy the iPhone?

Who can purchase the iPhone? "New and existing customers can purchase iPhone in June 2007." But are there any restrictions on who can buy one? From what we can tell, you must have a "qualified service plan" to purchase one. Is this just an existing plan that you will need to have or will a brand new plan specifically for the iPhone be created?

So anyone looking to buy the iPhone -- either a new or existing customer -- will have to sign up for a new service plan. Exactly what do these new service plans look like? Will AT&T lock down iPhone subscribers to high-price contracts? What do you think?

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