Need a new iPhone

[mep916]

I want to get my wife [strike]another[/strike] new iPhone for Christmas. She doesn't qualify for the full subsidized price from AT&T. For $300, I can get an 8GB 3G (early upgrade from AT&T), but I have a few questions first.

1) Will AT&T activate a phone from, say, eBay or another unauthorized retailer/seller? Or perhaps a used phone?

2) If yes to question 1, does anyone know where/if I can find a 3GS for the same price, or perhaps a 3G for under $300? I've searched Craigslist locally and they all want too much. I'll take a look at eBay, but I was hoping maybe some of you could help me find something on the cheap. lol. I'd like it to be new, though I'll consider slightly used models as well.

3) If no to question 1, then my only option may be to get the phone from AT&T, as we'd like to keep both on the same account.

4) Are there any other options I'm missing? Basically, my wife lost her previous phone and would like a new one, but we can't get another fully subsidized phone until 2011.


TIA

 

[stewartlittle]

My brother just ordered a phone off the internet from a store that sells used cell phones.He does it that way because he don't want his number locked in a contract,plus he wanted to get one like the old one that he dropped in water and you can't get those new.

Main thing is get your carrier and put the SIM card in and voila.But then again you said she lost her phone.

Next go to a retailer,Wal Mart,Radio Shack and see if they can issue a new card with that number,might cost a few bucks,but they can do that or they should.
When they do it'll disable the other card so no can use it.

 

[mep916]

Right, she doesn't have her SIM card from the old iPhone. I'd like to activate it with AT&T, if possible, so that we have both our phones on the same account and she'll need the unlimited data plan. How would I do that through Wal mart or Radio Shack?