For a moment, two iPhone prototypes were for sale on eBay. There was also a supporting YouTube Video, although before you try to find them; they have both been pulled.
Both the auction and YouTube video of the working prototype have been pulled at Apple’s request. For eBay, the seller told iLounge that “as many people predicted would happen, Apple has contacted eBay to close the listing.” YouTube states that “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Apple, Inc.” Neither of the iPhones had the word “iPhone” written on them. From what was available through photos, each unit was manufactured in China in late 2006. (The iPhone was not officially announced until January 2007.) The working unit runs iPhone OS 03.06.01_G while the launch version which ran version 03.11.02_G.
This seems all too similar to former Apple employee, Mike Evangelist for listing a pre-release first-generation iPod on eBay. This one pulled at the beginning of this year. The iPod was fully functional, the pre-production unit can be synced with the current version of iTunes, but required a special utility for restoring the software. The hardware changes made before the official release preclude this unit from being updated/restored using the standard mechanism. I thought these toys went into Museums? And thinking of eBay, I need a new coffee table, thanks for the reminder iLounge!
