Ask HN: What is the real reason for activating an iPhone?

Was the original motivation to force a software update? To check for phones that were reported stolen? To collect information about the users?

Two explanations that I think are unlikely:

First, I don’t think it has anything to do with software piracy since iOS or iPhone OS have always been included for free with the phone. So this is not the same situation as Windows Activation where Microsoft is trying to make sure you paid for the software.

Second, I don’t think it’s related to the carrier or cellular provider because you can (at least currently) activate an iPhone without any carrier or even a SIM card so long as you have an Internet connection (through wifi or USB). Besides, if this were about registering a carrier, the iPhone should connect to the carrier’s servers rather than to Apple’s.