How to Get an iPhone in Fargo, ND
The iPhone is arguably the hottest smartphone, if not the hottest mobile device, on the market today. With rumors of a new version coming out this summer and a beta of the upcoming iPhone 3.0 software already in developers’ hands, the iPhone mania is sure to remain at a fever pitch for some time.
However, what if you live in one of the large swathes of the U.S. that does not have AT&T GSM coverage? Or worse, you may think you have coverage, only to discover it is merely “partner” coverage. Welcome to Fargo, ND, and large parts of the midwest, including most of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and the list goes on. While you can make and receive calls with an iPhone in many parts of these states, you can’t actually buy one if you live in one of the partner regions.
Or can you? I live in the Fargo-Moorhead area and here is how I got my iPhone:
- Find someone with a Zip code nearby with full AT&T coverage. This could be a friend, family member, or random acquaintance you met on Facebook. In my case, my parents have a home in central Minnesota where coverage is available.
- Go to att.com to buy your iPhone. When asked to enter your Contact, Billing, and Shipping information, provide your real address.
- Here’s the critical part: Enter the other person’s borrowed address as your primary place of use.
Voilà! You should have your new iPhone in a few days. Is this address switching legitimate? Here is what AT&T’s Service Agreement has to say about it:
If your minutes of use (including unlimited services) on other carrier networks (“off-net usage”) during any two consecutive months exceed your off-net usage allowance, AT&T may, at its option, terminate your service, deny your continued use of other carriers’ coverage or change your plan to one imposing usage charges for off-net usage. Your off-net usage allowance is equal to the lesser of 750 minutes or 40% of the Anytime Minutes included with your plan.
As long as you keep your mobile usage to less than 750 minutes per month (or 40% of your minutes if you don’t choose the unlimited plan), you should have no trouble. There are some other downsides: you won’t be able to transfer your existing cell phone number, and your new number will likely be a long distance call from your normal address. However, for many like me, these are small prices to pay to own an iPhone in an under-served part of the country.
The message to AT&T: build more towers!
Comments
I got mine an entirely different way. As far as the cancellation goes from going over your minutes, forget about it. I’ve had mine for over 6 months, on the 450 min plan, using almost all of them every month, nothing.
If you don’t feel like waiting or dealing with ATT on the phone, drive to St. Cloud and just get one directly from the corporate stores. You don’t even have to give an address from a friend, just set it up just like you would if you were in town. No sweat!
Bill, I’m glad to hear that AT&T won’t cancel my account if I use too many minutes.
Someone here at Sundog also drove to the AT&T office in Bemidji, MN to buy his iPhone. I personally didn’t want to spend several hours in the car, so I was pleased to discover I could order online from the comfort of my desk and have it in my hands in two days (via free express shipping).
Either way, it’s sad that they make it such a hassle to get one. Thanks for the suggestion.
My question to both of you would be, how is your coverage? Is the iPhone your only cell phone. I have heard about some dead zones up in north Fargo. I am eagerly waiting to purchase my iPhone using a DL addess. Obviously you don’t get 3G coverage up here, but does visual voicemail still work?
Thanks.
I have only had my iPhone for a couple weeks, but the phone coverage has been just fine. I haven’t come across any dead spots so far (although I haven’t really been looking). All features seem to work well, including visual voicemail, web browsing, maps, etc.
However, using the Edge network for data services is not fun. It works, but it is glacially slow (think slow dial-up). While it’s acceptable for simple e-mail and calendar syncing over the air, it’s painful to use as a mobile web browser or to download songs or apps (unless you are incredibly patient). For any heavy-duty Internet usage, I wait until I can find a Wi-Fi hotspot.
I live up in North Fargo, and don’t have coverage issues unless I go into one of the bomb shelter buildings. There are a few spots in South Fargo I’ve found. Other than that, it is not bad. The pros of owning an iPhone far outweigh the coverage issues. Edge does suck up here. It is about twice as fast as dial up, but some days I wonder. Overall, totally worth it.
Hopefully we can get a larger contingent of AT&T users here and force them to put a tower in so we aren’t bouncing off partner towers.
Bill
Or even better, we could get iPhone on Verizon. Dare I say? I know the CDMA thing really kills the deal, but can’t blame me for wishing. Thanks for you input guys. Much appreciated. I am thinking of waiting until after Apple WWDC to purchase.
As nice as a VZW based iPhone would be, it just wouldn’t work. They had their chance originally, but they missed the boat. They like having their hand in the app store cookie jar, not the other way around.
Anyone looking to buy an iPhone now, I would say wait. The rumor mill is buzzing like a summer picnic with new phone rumors. If you can hold out til WWDC, I would say do it. I’m guessing it will be worth the wait. I am going to be in the same boat, a year away from renewal. I will have to force my wife into an iPhone to get my hands on a new one. Wish me luck!
There are other options to make an iPod touch into as close to an iphone has you wish. I have a Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone and WMWifiRouter which will turn the Wi-Fi on your phone into a router sending a signal out. I will simply turn the option on and use the iPod touch for everything. With Skype (VoIP) and a rumor of Bluetooth being present in the 2G touch, it’s sufficient for me in Bismarck, ND. As far as browsing speeds, sounds that the Alltel network coupled with the WiFi beats the EDGE network hands down. I downloaded the SlingPlayer mobile this morning and am able to stream video, audio, and use an additional computer all from my WM phone. Not a knock on the post, just an alternative for those who may be interested. I still want an iPhone like everyone else.
I have to agree with Bill B. that we won’t see an iPhone on Verizon (or any CDMA provider) any time soon, but not because Apple isn’t willing to negotiate with them. Apple has made it clear they only want to make devices that work globally. Since the rest of the world is on GSM, Apple will only make GSM phones.
The only alternative I see would be a new iPhone with both GSM and CDMA support, but that seems unlikely.
Jason,
I have been contemplating the same measures you took to get an iphone. How did you get around having a ND billing address? AT&T’s site won’t even give me “North Dakota” as an option in the pulldown. My parents also live in central MN, but I don’t want the bill to go to them too! Thanks.
Beck,
After the announcement made earlier this week, you won’t have a problem getting one. It will just take a while before ND is listed as an option. If you can’t wait, like myself and many, many others, you will have to take a little road trip. Calling AT&T directly is the equivalent of putting your head on a table, and hammering nails into it! No joke. If you stop at a corporate store (closest is St. Cloud), they will gladly hook you up, ND address and all! I’ve referred 4 people now to one place, and not one issue. I’ve had mine for 6 months, no chance they will cancel contracts now. AT&T was announced as the winner in the VZW/Alltel merger. They will be purchasing all of the Alltel customers and equipment in this region. They also announced they will be sinking some money into upgrading equipment, so good news for iPhone users. Now we just have to wait.
Good luck in your iPhone adventures.
Bill
Beck, are you sure you’re looking at the right place on AT&T’s site? Go to wireless.att.com, click “Shop,” add an iPhone to your cart, and check out. On the first checkout page where you enter your billing, shipping, and contact address, the state menu shows all 50 states, including North Dakota.
I know it says ND in the state list, but when you try to complete or finalize the order, it will bomb out and say the zip code isn’t within their coverage area. At least the last time I checked, they hadn’t updated ND in the coverage map. Let me know if you can online, I would be interested to know. I know you can buy directly from Apple now as well. Not sure if they will ship to you, as that was the main problem I ran into. Once you get it, you are home free. Its just trying to get them to mail you one, and the customer service folks are tough nuts to crack. Good luck!
Bill
As I wrote in my post, on att.com you can enter a Fargo address (or any address at all) as your contact, shipping, and billing address. The trick is then to click the link at the bottom of the form to enter a different address as your “primary place of usage.” That address needs to be in AT&T’s coverage area. Sorry if this wasn’t clear.
The “primary place of usage” link isn’t obvious on the page, but it’s there. I just tested it again to confirm—no problem using a Fargo address for billing and shipping.
The Web site does work… Amazing.
Could I get the iPhone at the authorized retailer in Fergus Falls instead of the corporate store in St. Cloud?
I tried ordering online and it seems as if they have blocked it now :(.. I tried using my debit card and it said i have too low of a credit score :(. I am wondering if ill have to drive all the way to st. cloud to try this. Hopefully i wont get denied by it.
Sorry I’ve been absent on this thread as of late. The email notifications went to the CableOne spam filter. Thanks CableOne!
Just a quick update, I got my hands on the new 3GS. Had it delivered on the first day of sale. Although you had to already be an AT&T customer to get this to work for you.
Anyone honestly interested in getting an iPhone before AT&T assumes all of the Alltel contracts in the area will need to take a road trip. I know you can dupe the system to a point, hell, you can even call AT&T and give them a phony place of use address, but you will still have problems. I did the same thing, and they tried mailing my SIM card to the phony address. It was Radio Shack in Fergus Falls by the way. Their system will not permit them to mail or ship anything to an address outside their service area. Right now, Fargo is not in the service area for AT&T. You can read about my horrendous experience trying this same feat on my blog.
If you are honestly interested, call my guy in St. Cloud. He will waive the activation fee and get you a decent discount on accessories when you stop in. I have sent 6 people to him already. His name is Adam Dubbin and works in the Waite Park corporate store.
If you have any further questions how to get the phone, or AT&T in general, just shoot me an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Good luck everyone!
Bill
Howdy gang! I haven’t responded to this quite length thread in a little while, but I felt it necessary to update all of you.
I couple of weeks ago, I received my text/email from AT&T about “Excessive Domestic Off-Network Usage”. In lay-mans terms, I’ve been a naughty boy. This is the threat of using AT&T in an area they don’t support. I am costing them more money than usual for all of my data roaming. Looks like the minutes are trivial.
I would have to say, I don’t have wi-fi at my office, so I am on the Edge network a majority of the time. I use around 200-400Mb per month on average. Tiny by most standards. Take a look at an international roaming package. They want almost $100 for 250Mb. Now think of that amount times by 10 months. Expensive for them to say the least.
One of my other referrals got the same text/email from AT&T almost a month before I did, and he has been with them about 2 months less than I have. And he professes to use the data much less than I.
There you have it kids. You have been warned. I know there are a lot of iPhone users in Fargo. I will try to keep you posted if I do get my contract terminated. I know they will be here eventually, my hope is that I can make it that long.
Bill
This is really wonderful information! I have been wanting an iphone since the day they came out, but living in Fargo.. well you all know! Does anyone know when Alltell would have the iphones or the service in the area? I also was considering getting the phone in my hometown of Buffalo, MN and using my parents address. Not sure what to do just yet! But I am glad to see there are iphone users in the area!!
I moved to ND from NYC—i had my IPhone in NYC and of course took it with me to Fargo- NO SERVICE—it just doesn’t work here in Fargo—i got AT&T to Cancel my phone service without paying the cancellation fee since they AGREE it isn’t in their service area.. I wouldn’t be jumping on the wagon just yet to get an IPhone and think/hope it will work out here in Mid-west—it is a very expensive gamble..
I’ve appreciated stumbling onto this blog. Any new information about iPhones in Fargo? I’ve had a Blackberry Storm for about six months, and can’t believe how clumsy, slow, and awkward it is.
Best,
John
We need Iphones in fargo!
lol i was just about to ask you “how’s that iphone thing going for you?” but it looks like Denis has answered it for me. i am on a GSM carrier right now, looking like I might have to return to fargo, so not sure what i should do. looks like i might have to give up having a decent phone while i’m living in garfo.
I bought a I-phone based on the comments from this Blog and for the most part works and even better when traveling, I just saw AT&T just joined the FM Chamber so this could be a sign they are coming?
Funny how this blog post is usually one of the top links when it comes to googling AT&T Fargo ND or iPhone Fargo.
I thought I would put a small update out there for anyone still following this thread or stumbles upon it again like I did.
My little birdies tell me that all the Alltel locations in town are supposed to be converting over to AT&T signage in March sometime. As of right now, there are still no native AT&T towers in Fargo. The good news is, they have added native towers in Bismarck, Dickinson, and Minot. Fargo and Grand Forks are still excluded. No 3G in those other cities. I’m optimistic that they will finally get towers in Fargo. There is 3G just on the other side of Fergus Falls, so it wouldn’t take much to connect the interstate from Fargo to Minneapolis in 3G.
I still get my notification from AT&T every month about my “excessive data usage”. That was the warning you would get and they would cancel your contract. Well, I’m on about month 12 of the same message, and still nothing more than a text and an email reminding me to stop using so much data while roaming. Which incidentally is only around 100-200MB per month.
If anyone hears anything else to contradict my rumors, please fill me in. Still got my fingers crossed that Fargo will get some good native coverage here soon.
Bill
I hope you’re right Bill B. About Fargo’s Alltel getting taken over by AT&T. I’ve been craving an iPhone for a long time. It’s on my wish list of things I’m saving up for so hopefully by the time I get the money saved up and get down to that item on my list AT&T will be here. One can only hope.
BTW: This was a very helpful post and I found it by googling “iphone in fargo, nd”
Any more news about alltell going to AT&T?
Just got my iphone today in Fergus Falls and curious as to where we are at with this.
I find it ironic that AT&T is one of the biggest buildings downtown here and we can’t even get decent wireless service through them.
Still no updates on AT&T in Fargo. I’m curious that you can actually buy an iPhone in Fergus Falls. Do they have an AT&T shop there that isn’t Radio Shack? When I originally got mine, the Radio Shack wasn’t set up to carry iPhone or help me out, so I had to go to St. Cloud. I’m sure you can get one in Alexandria now and not have so far to drive.
No good news in Fargo I’m afraid. No new tower changes. No native coverage. The only thing I’m looking forward to is the new iPhone 4 in June. I’m still hoping that they announce an iPhone for VZW, but I think that is just wishful thinking.
Bill
My fiance picked up my phone in Fergus-there is an AT&T store there now. The representative told him that AT&T will be buying the ALLTEL locations from Verizon and that should be completed by the end of the year giving AT&T full coverage of this area.
No iphone for Verizon. My fiance works closely with execs at Verizon, and there is just too much involved to make this work out, no matter how bad verizon wants it.
If anyone is still following this thread at all, I have an update for you all. This update happens to coincide with the iPhone 4.0 announcement, due in 30 minutes.
If you are still interested in getting an iPhone here in Fargo and are willing to work just a little, it can be done. T-Mobile now has native coverage here in Fargo. Service extends from Fargo to Grand Forks. Nothing West of here. T-Mobile coverage looks good going East into Minnesota. Check it out for complete coverage map details.
I have a friend that has an iPhone on T-Mobile right now, and has been for a while. You would need to buy an iPhone. It would also need to be unlocked prior to buying, or the phone can’t be upgraded to any software versions higher than 3.1.2. Current version is 3.1.3. You can download the jailbreak/unlock program and you are set. Contact T-Mobile to get a SIM card and away you go. Their monthly rate plans are much cheaper than AT&T, so if you want to save money, that is the way to go.
I would probably have tried this if I wasn’t already under contract with AT&T and on the verge of upgrading to the new iPhone 4 once it is announced.
That is all I have for now. Hope this comes in handy for some of you looking to get an iPhone and are still holding out for Verizon as a carrier. A month to month plan would do nicely while you wait things out. Good luck!
Bill
meh, the droid incredible with it’s 1GHz processor pretty much makes the iphone a lot less tasty.
good to hear that tmobile has put some equipment into the fargo-moorhead area though.
Really getting curious when AT&T will break into the Fargo market…
I’ve begun noticing postings from Career Builder and Yahoo Jobs for - AT&T Full-Time Retail Sales positions in Fargo…
I’ve also noticed that the Wal-Mart on 13th Ave in Fargo has retrofitted it’s cellular sales area and now has an empty spot with AT&T signage saying coming soon…how soon?
I can’t help but think this will be into the pipeline w/n the next month or two…anyone else have any detalis?
Someone referenced this post to answer question "If i connect my iphone to my parents home wifi, can they see what i have been looking up?"...
Bil doesn’t know what he is talking about (never has)! Just kidding. i live down in the cities and I just recently switched back to AT&T from Verizon now that Fargo has towers from AT&T after the Alltel merger. AT&T down here in the Twin cities didn’t give me any info when a store would hit Fargo though. But they told me as of today the towers were supposed to be switched over.
I have an iPhone set up on AT&T and last week we briefly had a 3G signal here. It is down now, but it was operational and FAST.
I also see that AT&T is hiring in the area through online classifieds. The Alltel store on 13th has AT&T signage ready to be unveiled. It should only be a matter of a week or two at this point, is my guess.
I can confirm that I am now seeing 3G coverage from AT&T consistently in my Moorhead neighborhood. I’m sure full coverage in Fargo is just a few weeks away. Of course, now that you can buy a Verizon iPhone that already works everywhere in the F-M area right now, it seems like too little too late for AT&T.
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