Apple Thoughts: Did Stringent Requirements cut into iPhone Holiday Sales?

"As she ticked off her holiday-shopping list, public-relations executive Rebecca Sullivan prepared to buy her husband an iPhone. But like many other potential gift-givers, she was thwarted in trying to put the hottest handset around under the Christmas tree."

When I bought my first iPhone, it was a lot easier since I could take it home and activate it right from my computer. For some consumers wanting the element of surprise, the current requirement to activate in-store may have put a damper on it, and I suppose could have actually affected sales. One alternative that is offered is a gift card from Apple, but that certainly doesn't have the same effect as being able to watch someone open up a package and see the iPhone box. For me, though, I just worked around it. I was told by AT&T when I purchased my wife's iPhone 3G, that her current iPhone would be in service for about 3 hours and then would no longer be active, which gave me a small window, but a window nonetheless. And for my daughter's iPhone, we surprised her with a visit to the Apple Store, which is a treat in and of itself when you live where we live. If you want the iPhone bad enough I don't think this roadblock will stop you.