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d0csp33d Author

Level 1

66 points

No iPhone in Puerto Rico, US

Apparently, the iPhone can't be activated if the user lives in Puerto Rico (US). Area code 787 or 939.

Apple had a store in PR ~20 years ago. Right now there are no Apple stores here, although everyone else is here (CompUSA, Sony Store, Modernica ( http://modernicaonline.com/ ), Office Max, Radio Shack, ...).

iPhone not available in this stores, including corporate AT&T stores.

If someone from Puerto Rico is able to use or activate the iPhone let us know. Puerto Rico is included in AT&T's US coverage.

15" MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8), 2GB RAM

Posted on Jun 29, 2007 4:15 PM

104 replies

Jul 1, 2007 9:06 AM in response to Terrin

Terrin:

I believe Puerto Rico was Spain's "property" until 1898 when it became a US territory as a result of the Spanish-American War. It was never a British territory AFAIK. 🙂 Else I need to have a talk with all of my teachers in la escuela...

Cheers

Eriki007

Level 1

4 points

Jul 1, 2007 10:03 AM in response to d0csp33d

If Puerto Rico is part of the United States, we are American citizens. We go to the war to defend our democratic ideals and the USA style of life that I imagine Mr. Steve Jobs loves. We also have AT&T. Why then can we not buy an iphone? We have the same spending power as any person who lives in the United States, Why have we been relegated to third class citizens?

Dah•veed

Level 9

65,467 points

Jul 1, 2007 10:13 AM in response to Eriki007

From the posts that foreign nationals living in the US have posted, this iPhone does not yet have multi-language capabilities. I know that Apple has worked its backside off trying to perfect this product and get it out as promised, but there are obviously still many things to perfect, other languages being one.
I am sure that many folks from PR speak English, even if as a 2nd language, but I don't think the Spanish version is ready yet. I am sure Apple did not wish to insult the American people of Puerto Rico by only being able to sell them an English-only iPhone. Please be patient.

zerock

Level 1

89 points

Jul 1, 2007 12:02 PM in response to Dah•veed

all my apple products are set to english.. i really dont care about this, i just want the iPhone.

d0csp33d Author

Level 1

66 points

Jul 1, 2007 1:12 PM in response to zerock

David; the port ineligible your are talking about is if I am using other phone netowork such as Verizon. This is not the case. I am currently using AT&T/Cingular since 3 years now. AT&T is not selling the iphone in PR because they are still making the transition from Cingular-AT&T imo. Anyway there are 2 things; we are using AT&T/Cingular US network right now and thier customer service told me I was going to be able to use it here. So I am going for the test this Tuesday when my iPhone arrives.

Another thing, we mostly prefer english in this devices. All my current computers and PDA's are set in english.

Jul 1, 2007 2:10 PM in response to d0csp33d

Yeah, all my life I've bought products (whether apple, microsoft, etc etc) that are in english. I think 95% of the population does this and prefer english based products. Even the people who don't know english does this.

d0csp33d: PLEASE PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT US. As soon as you check it out, let us know. Have fun with it!! 🙂

d0csp33d Author

Level 1

66 points

Jul 1, 2007 2:33 PM in response to rafaisalive

I agree with you.
I will let you all know ASAP.

Just a confirmation; we are in AT&T's network. Go to https://www.wireless.att.com and enter our zip code (00926). Check plans with the 00926.

boricua3

Level 1

9 points

Jul 1, 2007 4:02 PM in response to d0csp33d

I live in Los Angeles california and had a 787 area code number. I bought the iPhone and tried to activate it but couldn't. I talk to several supervisors from ATT to solve the issue. The problem is that Puerto Rico is a different market and it doesn't belong to the US market. Apple initial released is for the US market and not for any other thus they don't allow the activation.

The only solution is for those that live in the states. First you have to ask to transfer your service to the state that you are living (no charge for this). They'll give you a new number and then you can activate the phone. This is what I had to do to activate and use the phone. Fact is with a 787 you will not be able to activate the phone. I spend over 12 hours on the phone with ATT to learn this.

I guess you'll be able to ask for a tranfer back to PR thus giving you a new 787 number.

d0csp33d Author

Level 1

66 points

Jul 1, 2007 4:16 PM in response to boricua3

This is a problem. AT&T customer service told me yesterday I was able to use the 787 for my iPhone. Only that I had to use a US address for activation purposes. If I can't use it I will have to wait until the 787 is supported; but I am not interested in a new number.

Why is that PR is a different market? We are in the same US coverage!!

Jul 1, 2007 4:20 PM in response to boricua3

That's great information. And this is what I imagined was going to happen.

I guess I'll have my phone transfered to the US tomorrow (and loose my cool phone number 😟 ).

Is the transfer instantaneous? Do you get a transfer of all your rollover minutes as well? I have like 4000 of those I don't wish to lose.

Jul 1, 2007 4:21 PM in response to d0csp33d

Well, when we call ATT support, its in spanish. It IS a different market, sadly.

d0csp33d Author

Level 1

66 points

Jul 1, 2007 4:25 PM in response to rafaisalive

Maybe it has to do with the network. My Treo stills has the Cingular ID and not the AT&T; although we can find San Juan in AT&T's network. I am already tired of this, everyone at AT&T says something different. If my iPhone is not activated I will keep it anyway until it can be activated in a near future. I will try switching SIM cards between the iPhone and my current Treo 750.

d0csp33d Author

Level 1

66 points

Jul 1, 2007 4:26 PM in response to d0csp33d

You can either speak english or spanish. Option 1 or 2 for languages.

d0csp33d Author

Level 1

66 points

Jul 1, 2007 4:56 PM in response to d0csp33d

Apparently, the iPhone can't be used in some US states.

Check it out:
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/iphone-frenzy-not-an-option-for-some/n2007 0629193909990004

Check out this too:

http://www.iphonematters.com/article/theiphone_is_one_right_puerto_ricans_do_nothave/

boricua3

Level 1

9 points

Jul 1, 2007 5:26 PM in response to d0csp33d

If you talk to any of the regular customer service personel they'll tell you that it should be supported since the network is the same... true... but the problem is not ATT and its network. The problem is Apple Inc and the way they divided the markets. For example Puerto Rico belong to the Latinamerican market probably because of the language and nothing to do with citizenship. Its just the way they divided.

So the problem is the activation (or unblocking) of the phone itself. When you buy the phone it comes blocked. The process starts by verifying your account and then they determine if your account can be use with the phone. Things they look for are like corporate discount on your account and where are you located (area code). Since the 787 is not part of the USA market to Apple then ATT is unable to validate your phone through your network because of the restriction for this "initial" release of the phone in the states. What I don't know for sure is how they activate the phone. I assume that if it is through iTunes then Apple controls it. If it where through the ATT network then maybe ATT can work around it. But one thing for sure is that in order to activate the phone it has to be connected to the computer until the process finishes. Based on this I believe the first case is the correct one.

This will be the same case if you live in Canada. They have the same network and same customer service but they belong to a different market thus even though ATT can change your plan to work with the phone they cannot activate the phone.

Also remember that for ATT area codes are transparent and they are not an issue. The same as chaging a phone.... you just swap sim cards. iPhone is an exception to the rule and I suspect Apple is the reason for us being unable to use it with a 787.

No iPhone in Puerto Rico, US