Apple has streamlined its iPhone SE purchase process, introducing a new purchasing method for buyers of the new handsets that allows them to buy T-Mobile and AT&T devices without inputting their current carrier information.
As reported by Bloomberg, customers traditionally have been required to provide their wireless phone number and social security number when buying an iPhone. The process allows the carrier to do a credit check and approve the transaction to ensure the person receiving the device will pay their cellular phone bill. However, that adds time to the process and could be a barrier to closing the sale.
With the release of the iPhone SE, AT&T and T-Mobile customers will not be required to provide their carrier information when checking out, and can instead connect when turning on their iPhone SE for the first time. They will not need to select a network plan at the time of purchase.
Apple told employees that the new feature is called “on-device authentication.” If a user preorders an iPhone SE from Apple’s website, they already won’t be prompted to insert their carrier data if they have AT&T or T-Mobile. Users won’t have to pick a network plan at purchase. The new process will begin in stores on March 29.
As of right now, on-device authentication is limited to AT&T and T-Mobile customers who purchase an iPhone SE, but Apple is planning to expand it to Verizon in the future.
