For many Apple fans, access to a local Apple store means near instant access to help with stuff like activating an iPhone. But taking it a step further through the inclusion of an “activation center” located right there in the Apple store, is likely something dreams are made of with regard to convenience.
On the flip side of this, I think the article above is also reflective of just how dependent Apple is on the iPhone and iPod products these days. While there is still a nice sized, growing market for the Mac, at the end of the day the clear winner is the iPhone.
Where I do run into issues with regard to things being cost effective enough, is the idea that in these iPhone activation zones within the Apple stores, people will basically be dedicated to those tasks specifically. Seems rather wasteful when they could also be performing other tasks as well?