Purported First-Generation iPhone Prototype Sold on eBay for $1,499
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Posted December 30, 2013 at 5:42pm by iClarified
A rare, first-generation iPhone (often called the iPhone 2G) engineering prototype has been sold on eBay for $1,499. The devices looks to be in great condition with no scratching. On the back, you can see various signal strength measurements of Bluetooth, WiFi and GSM etched.
Here it goes! My wife says I have too much stuff, so I have to reduce my collection.
I am selling a very rare original iPhone engineering prototype. These were used to test the iPhone's various features. To do so, a special test software was installed, which is still running on the device perfectly.
This is device is especially rare, as it shows the initial iOS version installed and the signal strength values etched on the back. This was done by Apple internally and is guaranteed genuine.
I am collecting Apple products for ages and I know of only 5 such devices in existence, I saw another one a few weeks back on eBay, but the auction was stopped ( possibly by Apple ).
Although there is no way to confirm its authenticity, the phone does run a special internal OS that Apple uses to conduct tests on the device. We have seen that OS on similar prototypes in the past but eBay is usually quick to remove these prototype listings. This time, it appears the winner, a reddit user was able to quickly snag the item through the buy-it-now before eBay removed the item.
Apple is getting sloppy.
I'm surprised they didn't demand the return of the phone since Apple would never transfer ownership of a prototype device to anyone.