actually you can check your warranty from here:

https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

Key in the set's serial number (found on the box). If not found then the set is new.

I still think is both activation.

activation is for apple to keep record of the phone warranty start.

carrier keep record by the date of purchase. what happen if customer lost their receipt then does that mean the set is out of warranty but customer still have the privilege card.

the product belongs to apple but warranty claim, you need to go back to carrier. carrier is like a collection point. once carrier collect all the faulty set, they send back to apple service centre (for iphone in MY need to send back to SG by carrier). apple verified those set from apple system and not carrier database.

This post has been edited by sett: Feb 18 2011, 11:37 AM

the card only state:
name, contact, model & imei but doesn't state date of purchase.