Sketchy-Looking iPhone 3GS Prototype on eBay
11:10 pm, July 2nd, 2009, Leander Kahney
Up for sale is on eBay is a sketchy-looking, non-functioning white iPhone described as a prototype demo unit of the brand new GS model.
The auction has attracted two bids and is currently running at $305, even though the iPhone doesn’t work.
The seller says there’s a problem with restoring the software: “This device is not eligible for the requested build,” iTunes says when he tries to restore it.
The seller, vofffka, of Ocean City, New Jersey, says an Apple genius at his local retail store verified the iPhone as an Apple product, but can’t service it, “because it’s never been sold.”
WTF that means, who knows?
The seller has a very high rating. He is currently selling several unlocked iPhones.
Where did he get this prototype? Get this. In the QA section, a potential buyer asks the same question, and gets this reply:
“Hi! It is currently NOT WORKING, I got it on ebay a month ago and the guy I got it from told me he found it in the airport. Thanks!”
Yeah, that makes me feel real keen to bid on this item.
Here’s a link to the auction: White 16GB APPLE IPHONE 3G S PROTOTYPE UNIT!
More pictures after the jump.
Posted by Leander Kahney in Hardware, News, Web, iPhone, iPhone 3G S | Comment on this article
[...] http://cultofmac.com/sketchy-looking-iphone-3gs-prototype-on-ebay/12548 [...]
OnlyAppleStories.com (applestories) 's status on Friday, 03-Jul-09 06:15:12 UTC - Identi.ca, on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I think it’s a 3G… The Model No says A1241. I have a GS with model No A1303. Also “iPhone 16GB” and the trademark symbols don’t have the shiny tint like the Apple logo.
Kristof B, on July 3rd, 2009 at 5:44 am
[...] Out TBC | £TBC | eBay (Via Cult Of Mac) [...]
Apple left iPhone 3GS prototype in an airport? | All Info Blog, on July 3rd, 2009 at 5:55 am
It is a 3G… the words iPhone and the other print would be chrome if it was a 3GS. And since when did prototypes have serial numbers? and the employees at my store don’t open the iPhones in store, they are usually swapped with a refurbished model…
Kyle Van Kooten, on July 3rd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Did anyone else notice the screen protector on the iPhone? I think that number was etched into the screen protector.
Justin R, on July 3rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
well I just went to the serial number look up site that I use all the time and is completely accurate and it says the following…
Serial number: 8884409K3NQ (cleaned up from ‘8884409k3nq’)
Name: Apple iPhone 3GS
Model: iPhone 3GS
Family name: A1303
Colour: Please tell us what colour this iPhone is.
Capacity: 16GB
Memory – number of slots: Please tell us how many memory (RAM) slots this machine has.
Factory: 88 (Shenzhen, China)
URL: Technical specifications by apple-history.com code_to_number: 09K – 4H5440GDRJ7
Model introduced: 2009
Production year: 2008
Production week: 44 (November)
Production number: 325 (within this week)
notice the production year and week….this phone was made last November
very interesting…this is prob right on the money…I think it is a prototype that has had it’s serial number blocked from itunes…prob cuz of the loss or stolen nature of the phone…bet this guy is going to get a mint for it
scott, on July 3rd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
@scott. Very interesting. What’s the URL for the serial number lookup site?
Leander Kahney, on July 3rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
[...] Cult Of Mac ha riportato un’inserzione su eBay tramite la quale viene messo in vendita un prototipo dell’iPhone 3GS. [...]
Un altro prototipo di iPhone 3G (s?) disponibile su eBay | iPhone 3GS - iSpazio - Il Blog sull'Apple iPhone più letto in Italia: iPhone EDGE, iPod Touch, iPhone 3G S, iPhone 3G new, on July 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Here is the link to get the S/N details.
http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html
Dave
Dave, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:48 am
shutdown internet+ clutch shift or option + click restore+chose ipsw=restore=>working iphone
фôуч, on July 9th, 2009 at 12:59 pm