Related
The first thing I noticed when I received my Fire TV was that it was auto linked to my amazon account that I purchased the unit with. Is this done with the RFID chip that was in the ifixit tear down pictures? I am trying to remember if I had to re-authenticate at any point or if purchases could be made immediately. I wouldn't want to have the device lost in transit if someone can make purchases from the get-go.
meber said:
The first thing I noticed when I received my Fire TV was that it was auto linked to my amazon account that I purchased the unit with. Is this done with the RFID chip that was in the ifixit tear down pictures? I am trying to remember if I had to re-authenticate at any point or if purchases could be made immediately. I wouldn't want to have the device lost in transit if someone can make purchases from the get-go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the RFID chip is not even connected to anything.
I doubt they do anything to do the device, they probably just have some sort of serial no->user binding they use for the linking process when your box connects to the service.
FISKER_Q said:
No, the RFID chip is not even connected to anything.
I doubt they do anything to do the device, they probably just have some sort of serial no->user binding they use for the linking process when your box connects to the service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking they scanned the RFID chip before shipping which contains the device serial number which then auto links it to your account.
But like I said if they come pre-connected.. if someone else took it would they be able to make unauthorized purchases.
I know for a fact how they do it. When the device is scanned for your order the devices s/n is recorded. Then when the device hits the internet Amazon sees the s/n and it automatically authenticates itself to your account.
kbowman said:
I know for a fact how they do it. When the device is scanned for your order the devices s/n is recorded. Then when the device hits the internet Amazon sees the s/n and it automatically authenticates itself to your account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't this dangerous to send a pre-authenticated device shipped? Thanks for the confirmation though.
kbowman said:
I know for a fact how they do it. When the device is scanned for your order the devices s/n is recorded. Then when the device hits the internet Amazon sees the s/n and it automatically authenticates itself to your account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how would this work when you resell device.
if they're tying the user to the device using the s/n, doesn't really matter if it's a bar code, qr code, rfid, etc... functionally all equivalent.
the rfid makes sense in that bar code labels wear off, rfid is easier to read for inventory, processing, shipping, returns/repairs etc. - you don't have to physically locate an optical code to scan it. it's probably a lot more prevalent than we think - you already see rfid-type stickers on the inside of packaging (in the past mostly for loss prevention?) - why not just put it inside the item itself.
but...
seems like amazon could have planned that a little better - yeah, anyone could take it and have access to your account.
also the fact that when I ordered, I was not given any option if the device was not meant for myself, no option for either a blank one or specify the recipient.
if I selected "as gift" at checkout, would it still put my account on it and then either I have to fix it or the gift recipient simply has to deal with it?
if I bought it for someone through their wishlist - same questions.
I think I read that you can change the amazon account on it. which is only common sense. so at least you can remove your account and give it to a friend or family, or sell it.
also have to wonder how they manage the association on their end - what if I do change the account on the device, then do whatever factory reset / total clean wipe? when it initializes again, which account will come up?
YoColdRain said:
how would this work when you resell device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not tried this, but my guess is you log on to Amazon and click on devices and deregister your device. Then do a factory reset on the Fire TV.
tarvoke said:
if they're tying the user to the device using the s/n, doesn't really matter if it's a bar code, qr code, rfid, etc... functionally all equivalent.
the rfid makes sense in that bar code labels wear off, rfid is easier to read for inventory, processing, shipping, returns/repairs etc. - you don't have to physically locate an optical code to scan it. it's probably a lot more prevalent than we think - you already see rfid-type stickers on the inside of packaging (in the past mostly for loss prevention?) - why not just put it inside the item itself.
but...
seems like amazon could have planned that a little better - yeah, anyone could take it and have access to your account.
also the fact that when I ordered, I was not given any option if the device was not meant for myself, no option for either a blank one or specify the recipient.
if I selected "as gift" at checkout, would it still put my account on it and then either I have to fix it or the gift recipient simply has to deal with it?
if I bought it for someone through their wishlist - same questions.
I think I read that you can change the amazon account on it. which is only common sense. so at least you can remove your account and give it to a friend or family, or sell it.
also have to wonder how they manage the association on their end - what if I do change the account on the device, then do whatever factory reset / total clean wipe? when it initializes again, which account will come up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I hope this gets more attention.
YoColdRain said:
how would this work when you resell device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go to settings there an option to de-authorize the FireTV, after you select this it will then prompt you to login to a Amazon account of your choosing.
hm, yep, I went to "Your Devices" in my amazon account, and there's the firetv, registered at the date&time that I ordered it.
they haven't even shipped it yet lol, but they already registered it for me! is this how amazon does kindles too?
are people too incredibly lazy for the extra step of entering ID and password? (amazon wants to be super friendly like apple where "things just work right away" and screw that security nonsense?)
poking around my amazon account, I have the option to delete the device - hm I guess that *might* be one way to secure the firetv before you receive it, or if you're giving as a gift.
I think I'll delete it, before I boot it the first time, just to see - it shouldn't hurt anything... probably.
- expected case: makes me enter a new id/pass.
- worst case: limbo state where I can't enter id/pass.
- scary case: starts up normally with my ID anyway and re-adds the device in my account.
It could also be from IP address association.
tarvoke said:
are people too incredibly lazy for the extra step of entering ID and password? (amazon wants to be super friendly like apple where "things just work right away" and screw that security nonsense?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
User experience sells, the less work a user has to do to access content the better.
As for all the security complaints I dont see the issue. People are looking way to much into this. Worst case your firetv goes to the wrong house and someone starts buying movies with it. Then you get on the phone/computer and deactivate the device and then contact amazon and get refunded, they probably have some of the best customer service anywhere. I ordered a gpu from the amazon warehouse and all I got was an empty box(you could tell something was amiss by the shipping weight), called them and got refunded the $500 something I paid in a matter of 2 minutes. Also its not like they are going to have access to buy a 80" 4K tv from your firetv, worst they could do is a couple seasons of shows. Also if you don't notice that your device isn't delivered after its marked as delivered, well then you probably have worse things going on.
meber said:
The first thing I noticed when I received my Fire TV was that it was auto linked to my amazon account that I purchased the unit with. Is this done with the RFID chip that was in the ifixit tear down pictures? I am trying to remember if I had to re-authenticate at any point or if purchases could be made immediately. I wouldn't want to have the device lost in transit if someone can make purchases from the get-go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am 80% sure that I never had to type in any passwords before making a purchase and I bought Plex and Sev pretty much right after it updated.
so, before booting for the first time, I did this:
- delete device from my amazon account
- delete all autoloaded-because-of-firetv apps from my amazon account
the behavior on first boot was:
- dl latest software
- reboot
- install latest software
- reboot
- continue install latest software
- check for updates
- ask me to register with email/pass
- stupid tutorial video
I tried hitting Esc, which did quit the video - for some reason dropped me back to the Wifi setup screen. got past that and then the tutorial video started again, from the very beginning.
other notes:
all of those autoloaded apps are on the device anyway, and there is no way to delete them (yet)
and they all reappeared in my app list in my amazon account webpage.
When I got mine and first plugged it in, it prompted me for my Amazon username and password. I believe it also prompted me to enable parental controls, either that or I went into setting immediately and turned that on. That allowed me to protect purchases with a PIN.
In Germany Amazon will pre-register Kindles.
If u want to avoid registering it to your account u can mark it as a gift i think
I remembered purchasing a Fire HDX for a friend using my account and it came preregistered for me. All I have to do is de-authorize and reset it.
I have already set up a pin for one-click. I'm don't know if this is a default option now but Amazon should make it more secure.
tarvoke said:
hm, yep, I went to "Your Devices" in my amazon account, and there's the firetv, registered at the date&time that I ordered it.
they haven't even shipped it yet lol, but they already registered it for me! is this how amazon does kindles too?
are people too incredibly lazy for the extra step of entering ID and password? (amazon wants to be super friendly like apple where "things just work right away" and screw that security nonsense?)
poking around my amazon account, I have the option to delete the device - hm I guess that *might* be one way to secure the firetv before you receive it, or if you're giving as a gift.
I think I'll delete it, before I boot it the first time, just to see - it shouldn't hurt anything... probably.
- expected case: makes me enter a new id/pass.
- worst case: limbo state where I can't enter id/pass.
- scary case: starts up normally with my ID anyway and re-adds the device in my account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another scary thing, is saving your WiFi passwords, that will link to your account.
The first thing I noticed when I received my Fire TV was that it was auto linked to my amazon account that I purchased the unit with. Is this done with the RFID chip that was in the ifixit tear down pictures? I am trying to remember if I had to re-authenticate at any point or if purchases could be made immediately. I wouldn't want to have the device lost in transit if someone can make purchases from the get-go.
meber said:
The first thing I noticed when I received my Fire TV was that it was auto linked to my amazon account that I purchased the unit with. Is this done with the RFID chip that was in the ifixit tear down pictures? I am trying to remember if I had to re-authenticate at any point or if purchases could be made immediately. I wouldn't want to have the device lost in transit if someone can make purchases from the get-go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the RFID chip is not even connected to anything.
I doubt they do anything to do the device, they probably just have some sort of serial no->user binding they use for the linking process when your box connects to the service.
FISKER_Q said:
No, the RFID chip is not even connected to anything.
I doubt they do anything to do the device, they probably just have some sort of serial no->user binding they use for the linking process when your box connects to the service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking they scanned the RFID chip before shipping which contains the device serial number which then auto links it to your account.
But like I said if they come pre-connected.. if someone else took it would they be able to make unauthorized purchases.
I know for a fact how they do it. When the device is scanned for your order the devices s/n is recorded. Then when the device hits the internet Amazon sees the s/n and it automatically authenticates itself to your account.
kbowman said:
I know for a fact how they do it. When the device is scanned for your order the devices s/n is recorded. Then when the device hits the internet Amazon sees the s/n and it automatically authenticates itself to your account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't this dangerous to send a pre-authenticated device shipped? Thanks for the confirmation though.
kbowman said:
I know for a fact how they do it. When the device is scanned for your order the devices s/n is recorded. Then when the device hits the internet Amazon sees the s/n and it automatically authenticates itself to your account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how would this work when you resell device.
if they're tying the user to the device using the s/n, doesn't really matter if it's a bar code, qr code, rfid, etc... functionally all equivalent.
the rfid makes sense in that bar code labels wear off, rfid is easier to read for inventory, processing, shipping, returns/repairs etc. - you don't have to physically locate an optical code to scan it. it's probably a lot more prevalent than we think - you already see rfid-type stickers on the inside of packaging (in the past mostly for loss prevention?) - why not just put it inside the item itself.
but...
seems like amazon could have planned that a little better - yeah, anyone could take it and have access to your account.
also the fact that when I ordered, I was not given any option if the device was not meant for myself, no option for either a blank one or specify the recipient.
if I selected "as gift" at checkout, would it still put my account on it and then either I have to fix it or the gift recipient simply has to deal with it?
if I bought it for someone through their wishlist - same questions.
I think I read that you can change the amazon account on it. which is only common sense. so at least you can remove your account and give it to a friend or family, or sell it.
also have to wonder how they manage the association on their end - what if I do change the account on the device, then do whatever factory reset / total clean wipe? when it initializes again, which account will come up?
YoColdRain said:
how would this work when you resell device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not tried this, but my guess is you log on to Amazon and click on devices and deregister your device. Then do a factory reset on the Fire TV.
tarvoke said:
if they're tying the user to the device using the s/n, doesn't really matter if it's a bar code, qr code, rfid, etc... functionally all equivalent.
the rfid makes sense in that bar code labels wear off, rfid is easier to read for inventory, processing, shipping, returns/repairs etc. - you don't have to physically locate an optical code to scan it. it's probably a lot more prevalent than we think - you already see rfid-type stickers on the inside of packaging (in the past mostly for loss prevention?) - why not just put it inside the item itself.
but...
seems like amazon could have planned that a little better - yeah, anyone could take it and have access to your account.
also the fact that when I ordered, I was not given any option if the device was not meant for myself, no option for either a blank one or specify the recipient.
if I selected "as gift" at checkout, would it still put my account on it and then either I have to fix it or the gift recipient simply has to deal with it?
if I bought it for someone through their wishlist - same questions.
I think I read that you can change the amazon account on it. which is only common sense. so at least you can remove your account and give it to a friend or family, or sell it.
also have to wonder how they manage the association on their end - what if I do change the account on the device, then do whatever factory reset / total clean wipe? when it initializes again, which account will come up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I hope this gets more attention.
YoColdRain said:
how would this work when you resell device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go to settings there an option to de-authorize the FireTV, after you select this it will then prompt you to login to a Amazon account of your choosing.
hm, yep, I went to "Your Devices" in my amazon account, and there's the firetv, registered at the date&time that I ordered it.
they haven't even shipped it yet lol, but they already registered it for me! is this how amazon does kindles too?
are people too incredibly lazy for the extra step of entering ID and password? (amazon wants to be super friendly like apple where "things just work right away" and screw that security nonsense?)
poking around my amazon account, I have the option to delete the device - hm I guess that *might* be one way to secure the firetv before you receive it, or if you're giving as a gift.
I think I'll delete it, before I boot it the first time, just to see - it shouldn't hurt anything... probably.
- expected case: makes me enter a new id/pass.
- worst case: limbo state where I can't enter id/pass.
- scary case: starts up normally with my ID anyway and re-adds the device in my account.
It could also be from IP address association.
tarvoke said:
are people too incredibly lazy for the extra step of entering ID and password? (amazon wants to be super friendly like apple where "things just work right away" and screw that security nonsense?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
User experience sells, the less work a user has to do to access content the better.
As for all the security complaints I dont see the issue. People are looking way to much into this. Worst case your firetv goes to the wrong house and someone starts buying movies with it. Then you get on the phone/computer and deactivate the device and then contact amazon and get refunded, they probably have some of the best customer service anywhere. I ordered a gpu from the amazon warehouse and all I got was an empty box(you could tell something was amiss by the shipping weight), called them and got refunded the $500 something I paid in a matter of 2 minutes. Also its not like they are going to have access to buy a 80" 4K tv from your firetv, worst they could do is a couple seasons of shows. Also if you don't notice that your device isn't delivered after its marked as delivered, well then you probably have worse things going on.
meber said:
The first thing I noticed when I received my Fire TV was that it was auto linked to my amazon account that I purchased the unit with. Is this done with the RFID chip that was in the ifixit tear down pictures? I am trying to remember if I had to re-authenticate at any point or if purchases could be made immediately. I wouldn't want to have the device lost in transit if someone can make purchases from the get-go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am 80% sure that I never had to type in any passwords before making a purchase and I bought Plex and Sev pretty much right after it updated.
so, before booting for the first time, I did this:
- delete device from my amazon account
- delete all autoloaded-because-of-firetv apps from my amazon account
the behavior on first boot was:
- dl latest software
- reboot
- install latest software
- reboot
- continue install latest software
- check for updates
- ask me to register with email/pass
- stupid tutorial video
I tried hitting Esc, which did quit the video - for some reason dropped me back to the Wifi setup screen. got past that and then the tutorial video started again, from the very beginning.
other notes:
all of those autoloaded apps are on the device anyway, and there is no way to delete them (yet)
and they all reappeared in my app list in my amazon account webpage.
When I got mine and first plugged it in, it prompted me for my Amazon username and password. I believe it also prompted me to enable parental controls, either that or I went into setting immediately and turned that on. That allowed me to protect purchases with a PIN.
In Germany Amazon will pre-register Kindles.
If u want to avoid registering it to your account u can mark it as a gift i think
I remembered purchasing a Fire HDX for a friend using my account and it came preregistered for me. All I have to do is de-authorize and reset it.
I have already set up a pin for one-click. I'm don't know if this is a default option now but Amazon should make it more secure.
I want to sell my FTV. If I deactivate it on Amazon.com will it still work for the new buyer. If I have loaded xbmc on it, will that continue to work?
hey guys, bought firetv a while ago in usa, worked perfectly, was a prime member so it came all setup for me. moved to canada, screen popped up:enter your existing PIN set for amazon instant video. i try what i think it is, like 00000 or 12345, doesn't work AND the error is A connection to the internet could not be established. Please try again later. got a new modem/router when i got internet here in canada, then switched to my original router from usa, still has the same problem.
i mostly use it as a media streamer using plex, i don't expect to get amazon instant video, but i can't even get past this screen.
thanks a ton!!
Did you try contacting Amazon support? They're usually very responsive.
Also, look up a way to remove the FireTV from your account so it can be reinitialized. It's probably confused because of the country change. You should find this from your Amazon account on the web.
Couldn't find the number!
Newcron said:
Did you try contacting Amazon support? They're usually very responsive.
Also, look up a way to remove the FireTV from your account so it can be reinitialized. It's probably confused because of the country change. You should find this from your Amazon account on the web.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BradFazner said:
Couldn't find the number!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the Amazon homepage, all the way down to the right there's a link for 'Help'. Click on that and just follow the instruction. There's a bunch of options and one of the options is 'Call Us'. The last time I had to contact Amazon support I didn't find a phone number either, but after following the instruction I had the option for them calling me. They called me within 2 minutes!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/settings?ie=UTF8&ref_=aiv_rdr_pin
aka
http://amazon.com/pin
AHA! figured it out. plugged in ethernet cable, so internet works without having to log into my wifi, then code works one time out of a bunch of tries, then it still wants me to put in that code again for some reason at random times, so i factory reset it, and unplugged the internet, started and it prompted me to join a wifi connection. now it works great, but i took off the parental controls so it wouldn't ask me for my pin (i had fyi changed my pin to 00000 but it only worked every once in a while). thanks for the help guys
Hey guys... So I got a amazon fire stick cheap from someone... And it worked fine... But all a sudden it seems to have reset, and is now not logging into any of my amazon accounts. Keeps saying cannot verify.
Is there some kind of security feature where a fire stick can be deactivated from amazon or something.. ?
Any advice how to get around this...? It asks to connect to WiFi which it does fine... Then add amazon account... Which then it keeps failing to verify.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Are you blocking any domains in your router? If so you may have issue connecting to Amazon.
Just got today same issue
Any resolutions on this issue....?
{ParanoiA} said:
Are you blocking any domains in your router? If so you may have issue connecting to Amazon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I'm not blocking anything... I had just side loaded xmbx and some other apps earlier... It was working fine then... All a sudden it just stopped.
Does amazon block devices in any scenario?
Sent from my Nexus 5
Try logging into you Amazon account and see what devices you have registered on there. If the stick Is still registered then try un-registering it. Then try sign in again on stick
I have an Amazon Fire stick it was working fine . Then all of a sudden when trying to go back in it asks me if I have an account or need to create one. As we bought it for $80 and had kodi we don't have an account and don't want to register because we never had to before. Please help
Jjhollins said:
I have an Amazon Fire stick it was working fine . Then all of a sudden when trying to go back in it asks me if I have an account or need to create one. As we bought it for $80 and had kodi we don't have an account and don't want to register because we never had to before. Please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who ever sold it to you probably had it logged in under their account. Either they removed that device from their account, or it was pushed out by them registering new devices. An amazon account is required.
my firestick was working fine. now is asking me to sign in or create account. how can i get it bak to normal??
savila106 said:
my firestick was working fine. now is asking me to sign in or create account. how can i get it bak to normal??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read post #7 of this thread...
bought my fire stick from bestbuy and it wont let me register keeps saying enter whats in the challenge????
savila106 said:
my firestick was working fine. now is asking me to sign in or create account. how can i get it bak to normal??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever get your Amazon Fire Stick to work? I've had my firestick for quite awhile now and all of a sudden it stopped working. It doesn't seem to recognize my Amazon ID or password. Is there a way to get past that and maybe just reset the setting and start all fresh? Anyone have any suggestions on how to get it to work again? Thanks...
Go to Amazon.com and check if your device is still registered if so delete it and th
2rozzi said:
Did you ever get your Amazon Fire Stick to work? I've had my firestick for quite awhile now and all of a sudden it stopped working. It doesn't seem to recognize my Amazon ID or password. Is there a way to get past that and maybe just reset the setting and start all fresh? Anyone have any suggestions on how to get it to work again? Thanks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to Amazon.com and check if your device is still registered. if so delete it and try to login.
If it still doesn't work contact official amazon support for help, they are very helpful
.
Having the same problem with them asking me to register an account i don't mind but why in the blue hell do they wan my credit card number that was where i stopped and said no !
I had the same issue when I called and they said that was the Fire Sticks I had were reported lost or stolen and has been blacklisted. Their tech support team was able to unblacklist them and I had to do a factory reset.
My firestick is not allowing me register it keep going back asking for email address and password. I am allowed to go My Amazon website with the email and password but not on the firestick. What am I doing wrong?
Help please
tmmcbots said:
I had the same issue when I called and they said that was the Fire Sticks I had were reported lost or stolen and has been blacklisted. Their tech support team was able to unblacklist them and I had to do a factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey similar issue .... I bought from OLX ( second hand) same issue this device was registered under lost and stolen. Can you please help how to proceed. The call center guys said it can't be unbacklist. Any leads who can assist here please.:crying:
I l
I was hoping to just use this as a mini-kindle for the next month, is there away to register to an Amazon account without a SIM card? It's throwing a server error when I attempt it.
I did tests with the UK and GER release of FireOS 4.6.1, both times I was able to login with my Amazon account and use their services.
I have a netlocked device, never inserted a sim card, flight mode on / off doesn't matter.
I set mine up as well, w/o a sim.
Bingo Bronson said:
I did tests with the UK and GER release of FireOS 4.6.1, both times I was able to login with my Amazon account and use their services.
I have a netlocked device, never inserted a sim card, flight mode on / off doesn't matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, I haven't been able to sign in to the amazon account. The browser works but I can't use any of the services.
What's the exact error / message you get when the login fails?
Version of FireOS installed? (hopefully 4.6.1)
Have you made significant changes on the device, that may interfere with account settings?
Did you buy from Amazon directly, if so, try contacting them as well.
As you can see from the responses, it usually isn't a problem to login with an existing account.
If anything else fails to resolve the problem: re-install FireOS, but we can talk about that later...
I have in the US.
My first fire phone came already registered. Well, that one broke, and I got a replacement, but Amazon apparently failed to register the phone to me before they shipped, and I was not able to register, whatever I tried.
If you have to go through the registration process yourself, I suspect that Amazon doesn't have that phone's id or whatever on their server. Talk to the customer's service.
ygaryo said:
If you have to go through the registration process yourself, I suspect that Amazon doesn't have that phone's id or whatever on their server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt that.
Every Amazon device comes preconfigured, if you buy it directly from them, that's standard procedure (if they don't miss one ^^).
(It's true that Amazon saves the device info on the account, when you log in, but you can delete them as you like, no questions asked.)
I had multiple devices from other people and used them with different accounts (during customization & testing).
Kindle HDX / FireTV / Fire Phone / FireTV Stick: reset / restore the device, re-install OS, it doesn't matter:
If the OS is working correctly, you can log in with any Amazon account.
you should be able to, when I first got the device It was not set up or attached to my account(since I did not order it myself), and I was able to use it without a sim. I also did a factory reset recently and it didn't pick up my service but I still got in the phone(had to do setup all over again).
Bingo Bronson said:
I doubt that.
Every Amazon device comes preconfigured, if you buy it directly from them, that's standard procedure (if they don't miss one ^^).
(It's true that Amazon saves the device info on the account, when you log in, but you can delete them as you like, no questions asked.)
I had multiple devices from other people and used them with different accounts (during customization & testing).
Kindle HDX / FireTV / Fire Phone / FireTV Stick: reset / restore the device, re-install OS, it doesn't matter:
If the OS is working correctly, you can log in with any Amazon account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, I don't know exactly what they are, but there are several things that Amazon has to put on their server, and in the case of my replacement phone, they obviously forgot about them when they shipped. I was not able to log onto their services until they fixed the problem. And even after that there still were a few things missing from their server, and I had to call them again and again to have the problems fixed.