iPhone 3GS Launch Day Details and AT&T Pricing

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/06/08/iphone-3gs-launch-day-details-and-atandt-pricing/)

AT&T has posted a walkthrough video explaining how to order the new iPhone 3GS and what pricing you can expect. Unlike the iPhone 3G launch, Apple and AT&T are allowing pre-orders on the iPhone 3G S which means you can order today (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTE2OTU) to get your handset by June 19th.

Video: link (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/06/08/iphone-3gs-launch-day-details-and-atandt-pricing/)

The iPhone 3GS will be available for $199/16GB and $299/32GB for "new and qualifying" customers. The existing 8GB and 16GB 3G models can also be purchased for $99 or $149 (while supplies last).

On launch day (June 19th), two lines will form at 7 a.m. local time at the AT&T retail stores. Customers who had pre-ordered will be able to pick up their iPhone 3GSs at that time, while customers who wish to purchase that day will have to wait until the store opens at normal business hours.

Article Link: iPhone 3GS Launch Day Details and AT&T Pricing (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/06/08/iphone-3gs-launch-day-details-and-atandt-pricing/)

[MrM]

What do you bet they run out of iPhones to sell to the public by then?

[themoonisdown09]

It sucks that they won't let you pre order if you're wanting to get two iPhones on a family plan. I was all ready to pre order last night and set up my AT&T account (I'll be a new customer).

I guess I'll just have to wait until launch day.

Edit: Wait, I just checked on AT&T's website again and it says "limit one per household when ordering online." Maybe if I go into the AT&T store and pre order, I can get two iPhones. I must call now and find out!

Edit 2: I just called my local AT&T store and they said there is a limit of one iPhone per household when pre ordering. It doesn't matter if you walk into a store, order it over the phone, or order it online, the limit of one still applies. I guess I'll be one of the unlucky people without a pre order.

[dwd3885]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

[Bubbasteve]

Why is he tilting his head so much?

[Le Big Mac]

Is there a delivery option? Because standing in line is very 1980s. Or Soviet Union.

[macintosh.apple]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

because you signed a two year contract

[tfulmino]

No reason to upgrade to the new hardware - unless of course you are running on first gen. ATT flat out sucks in my area and I am patiently waiting for Verizon to get the phone.

[themoonisdown09]

Why is he tilting his head so much?

I think the teleprompter is crooked.

[longofest]

Why is he tilting his head so much?

had a bad night's sleep and has a crick in his neck? I noticed the same thing. It's a bit annoying.

[Mars478]

They are keeping the 16GB temporarily hahah
Duuuude that guy is CREEPY!!!

[xfiftyfour]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.
Yep, mine says I have to wait until Jan. 2010 to get the discounted prices. Makes sense since they subsidized the 3G's price, but still bummer. :(

[Nicky G]

Can someone explain how a SIM card swap should work, if the 1st gen iPhone I gave my brother is eligible for upgraded pricing, but my own 3G is not until December?

My brother got a totally new SIM card to use with his iPhone, when I upgraded to the 3G and I gave him my old phone. He did NOT use my original SIM card.

I have a 3G, with a new SIM card of course.

If I order a 3GS from Apple, and use my brother's phone line as the reference, so it shows me the cheaper upgrade being available, and I receive it in the mail -- what do I do? Is it somehow locked to his phone number? I am imagining it will have its own, new SIM card, like the 3G did?

I am ready to order a 3GS and give my 3G to my brother, but I want to make sure I can use the 3GS with my phone number, if I order it using his phone number to get upgrade pricing.

Thanks!

[Sky Blue]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

Because you signed a contract.

[gt1948]

Placed my order this morning. Nice service at the store. Of course they unaware of the pre order info.....corporate screw up.

Well it's been nice having the first gen iphone for two years, great phone…now relegated to an ipod for music

$299 plus tax:apple::apple :D:D:D

[dwd3885]

because you signed a two year contract

Then why do some people get eligibility in July, when they signed the very same two-year contract I did. This is the question no one seems to be able to answer.

[cred0021]

Why is he tilting his head so much?

I think he is actually dead (broken neck) and the devil (AT&T) is behind him making his lips move like a ventriloquist. Just a guess. :)

[jtimbre]

Is there a delivery option? Because standing in line is very 1980s. Or Soviet Union.

Don't you get the iPhone shipped to your house if you order it online with att.com/wireless? I was under the impression that was shipped right to your door. I could be wrong; go figure if they make you drive to the store at 7am...

JT

[themoonisdown09]

Don't you get the iPhone shipped to your house if you order it online with att.com/wireless


I think that it only gets shipped to you if you pre order from Apple's website.

[chrmjenkins]

Then why do some people get eligibility in July, when they signed the very same two-year contract I did. This is the question no one seems to be able to answer.

It depends how much you spend per month and whether or not you're late on bills.

[bbeers]

Yep, mine says I have to wait until Jan. 2010 to get the discounted prices. Makes sense since they subsidized the 3G's price, but still bummer. :(

I have you one better even. I added my wife to my family plan and got here a 3G and now ATT is saying we both have to wait until Jan 2010 to upgrade. The real kicker is I have a 4GB 2G iPhone. Which they stopped sell as of September of 2007. Why do I have to wait. I haven bought a subsidized phone in like 4 years, but I am not eligible until Jan 2010.

[dead76]

No matter what line you will be in, bend over and make sure you are well lubricated.
:rolleyes:

[airlights]

I wish I could afford this on launch day, but I figured it's for the best. Getting a new iPhone will most likely be less stressful around my birthday, July 21st.

[BornAgainMac]

Why is he tilting his head so much?

That is what AT&T employees do. They just don't understand that people want MMS and tethering so they tilt their heads. Sort of like when dogs do when you make a puzzling sound.

[NightStorm]

Am I the only one having trouble finding a link to preorder the iPhone 3GS on the att.com/wireless page? There is a "Add a Line" button by the 3GS image, but nothing else. I have a 1G iPhone that is up for renewal, so I know I'm eligible for the upgrade.

Would be a lot easier to pick it up at 7AM since the store is only a few miles from my work...

[bbeers]

It depends how much you spend per month and whether or not you're late on bills.

Then why have I been a customer with ATT now for 4 years, while always having one of the most expensive plans and not missed a single payment and yet I am still not eligible until Jan 2010?

[danielchow]

Then why do some people get eligibility in July, when they signed the very same two-year contract I did. This is the question no one seems to be able to answer.

then there may have been a mistake. if you still have your receipt and the contract papers, or whatever you have to show the actual date of your contract, have it ready when you go in to either Apple Store or ATT. Or, contact ATT customer service.

i'm doubtful if you'll find your answer here.

by the way, the ATT rep in the video freaks me out too.

[dwd3885]

It depends how much you spend per month and whether or not you're late on bills.

Never been late on any bills. Spend $150/month and have been with ATT since 2003

[timmodugdale]

AT&T should be welcoming current users to buy a new iPhone, regardless of when they purchased their last one. All it does is binds them to another two year contract. They are not losing any money by forcing me to renew for another two years. They are actually ensuring that I will remain an AT&T customer longer -- something they should WANT to do.

Of course, if Apple does not renew THEIR contract with AT&T, maybe I'll be happy I waited to buy a new iPhone. AT&T has done nothing but screw iPhone users with unnecessary costs. I'm sorry, but it does not cost $10 MORE a month to provide me 3G connectivity. And it CERTAINLY does not cost $40 a month more to allow to to tether my iPhone to my laptop. AT&T can drop dead.

[Feng Shui]

The AT&T representative creeps me out. Looks like a zombie with his head tilter that much.

[joel90069]

Why go to an ATT store when you can pick it up at an Apple store. You know the organization and customer service is going to be infinitely better. The online Apple store will also ship it to you for free.

[arainert]

It depends how much you spend per month and whether or not you're late on bills.

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

[mobi]

Last summer's ATT ordering process was a catastrophe!

[purd002]

Why go to an ATT store when you can pick it up at an Apple store. You know the organization and customer service is going to be infinitely better. The online Apple store will also ship it to you for free.

Because I have a two line account and the online apple store isn't smart enough to handle multi-line accounts. I'm holding off right now because it appears att's site only has the black models.

[DipDog3]

Tried to preorder but it wouldn't let me!

[NightStorm]

AT&T should be welcoming current users to buy a new iPhone, regardless of when they purchased their last one. All it does is binds them to another two year contract. They are not losing any money by forcing me to renew for another two years. They are actually ensuring that I will remain an AT&T customer longer -- something they should WANT to do.

Of course, if Apple does not renew THEIR contract with AT&T, maybe I'll be happy I waited to buy a new iPhone. AT&T has done nothing but screw iPhone users with unnecessary costs. I'm sorry, but it does not cost $10 MORE a month to provide me 3G connectivity. And it CERTAINLY does not cost $40 a month more to allow to to tether my iPhone to my laptop. AT&T can drop dead.

What do you expect the other carriers to do?

Really its not that hard of a concept... you bought a subsidized phone and agreed to keep it for 2 years. The same thing happened to me when I bought the Verizon Razr way back in the day, and they released a new one a year later. I didn't bitch and moan because I knew what I agreed to. You can't have both the benefit of an unsubsidized phone and the cost savings of a subsidized one at the same time.

[imwoblin]

Wait in line at 7am at an AT&T store to pick up 3GS??? BWAHAHAHA!
I've learned my lesson after the first two releases......

[Schizoid]

All you AT&T customers, look at where your cash is going...
it's furnishing that tilty-necked man's nice showroom... mmm

If they screw you out of another few bucks, maybe he can fit another plasma in the corner...

in a phone shop..... weird.... but nice of you to finance that

[jandep]

Anyone know the process for upgrading from an original iPhone to the 3GS via Apple's online site preorder?

Will I just drop in the old SIM card when it arrives on the 19th? Or does it come with a new one? Will I be able to activate through iTunes or do I go to the ATT store also?

I've been out of the game since I skipped the 3G generation, but I know that at some point they were allowing people to activate 3Gs (little "s" - plural, I can see this becoming a problem) at home.

[chrmjenkins]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

It won't be simply owned, it will be continuously operated with. Those of us who sold their original iphones before th 3G came out know that it invalidated our upgrade eligibility (I had to sell mine owing to the fact that I needed money to move :( )

[Matt23]

AT&T should be welcoming current users to buy a new iPhone, regardless of when they purchased their last one. All it does is binds them to another two year contract. They are not losing any money by forcing me to renew for another two years. They are actually ensuring that I will remain an AT&T customer longer -- something they should WANT to do.

Of course, if Apple does not renew THEIR contract with AT&T, maybe I'll be happy I waited to buy a new iPhone. AT&T has done nothing but screw iPhone users with unnecessary costs. I'm sorry, but it does not cost $10 MORE a month to provide me 3G connectivity. And it CERTAINLY does not cost $40 a month more to allow to to tether my iPhone to my laptop. AT&T can drop dead.

Because when they subsidize your phone by $200, they expect to have you as customer for two years in return, it's quid pro quo. This is the same with any cell phone that you get subsidized from a carrier. They wouldn't extend this discount to you otherwise.

[NightStorm]

Wait in line at 7am at an AT&T store to pick up 3GS??? BWAHAHAHA!
I've learned my lesson after the first two releases......

If I understood the video correctly, the preorder phones are available starting at 7am. Anyone else would need to wait until the store opens.

[jsinger986]

When I check my elegability I'm told:
"You can take advantage of our no commitment pricing. Additional discounts may be available on 07/12/2009"

What does *MAY BE AVAILABLE* mean?

[KindredMAC]

Congratulations AT&T!!!! This could very well be the LAST iPhone launch you ever see due to your idiotic ways of doing business.

Apple is seeing time and time again that letting the 3rd parties, for example Motorola and AT&T, have too much say just ruins everything that makes Apple so easy to use.

The initial Gen 1 iPhone launch was handled so much better than the 3G launch last year. It was proven that AT&T is not needed for activation yet they tried to impose that fiasco of an activation process on 3G launch day.

When I bought my wife's refurbed 3G in February all I had to do was call to activate it and plug it into iTunes. No need to go to a brick and mortar store and deal with a moron AT&T CSR.

The fact that AT&T was not on the list for worldwide cell providers in having MMS and Tethering available next week is just plain stupidity.

I had MMS and Tethering on my Sony Ericsson w810i 3 years ago on AT&T/Cingular!

Yet AT&T has to "turn on" these services for iPhones? iPhone is your bread and butter AT&T!!! You wouldn't have these new customers without it! Do you honestly think that people are on your network because of you?!?!?!?!? Take a step out of your ivory towers and take a nice deep breath of realism and realize that if you don't get your ***** together all of us are going to jump to either Verizon or T-Mobile when Apple is tired of your moronic ways.

[UniPro]

I'm still confused by this whole damn thing. My dad and I ordered our 3g's at the exact same time last year yet he's eligible for upgrade at the end of July while I'm not eligible till next march. WTF ATT!

[ThunderSkunk]

I was pretty gung-ho about a new iPhone. ...but at this point, I doubt I'll ever sign another AT&T contract again.

I wonder how it felt, to hear the entire audience outright laughing at the mere mention (& absence of mention!) of your companys name during Apples huge keynote event.

AT&T is an embarrassment and a bad company.

[AboveTheChaos]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

I don't think this is correct. Me and my buddy both bough 1st Gen on day 1 and then got the 3G on day 1 and both of our accounts say we're not eligible until December.

[hr94131]

Is there a delivery option? Because standing in line is very 1980s. Or Soviet Union.

Preorder iPhone from Apple website, I did that yesterday and it was easy to do, they even provide free 5day shipping.

[bytethese]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

Regarding option 3 above, can you confirm this?

I checked my eligibility on Apple's website and it told me I was able to get a 3GS for $499 or that I qualify in Jan 2010. I owned 2 original iPhone's and 1 3G. I'd totally wait until July if option 3 was the case.

[phatcat]

I seriously doubt any crazy lines, and if there are, any the luster will subside by the following weekend. Plus I'd rather read about any new hardware problems on Apple's forum's than run out and buy it. I had a ton of bluetooth problems by switching to the 3G phone. There's lots of posts about it on Apple's forum.

[Dagless]

How come all these news posts aboutthe 3GS getting so many thumbs down? Whats up with it?

[dguisinger]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

Hmmm, if that is actually correct then the dec 09 date on mine is wrong because I owned both phones. Did you have to keep the original one active after upgrading?

[bidwalj]

Can someone explain how a SIM card swap should work, if the 1st gen iPhone I gave my brother is eligible for upgraded pricing, but my own 3G is not until December?

My brother got a totally new SIM card to use with his iPhone, when I upgraded to the 3G and I gave him my old phone. He did NOT use my original SIM card.

I have a 3G, with a new SIM card of course.

If I order a 3GS from Apple, and use my brother's phone line as the reference, so it shows me the cheaper upgrade being available, and I receive it in the mail -- what do I do? Is it somehow locked to his phone number? I am imagining it will have its own, new SIM card, like the 3G did?

I am ready to order a 3GS and give my 3G to my brother, but I want to make sure I can use the 3GS with my phone number, if I order it using his phone number to get upgrade pricing.

Thanks!


when you activate the line under his account, his old phone will stop working and his line will be tied to the sim in your phone. since the $30 data will already be added, all you have to do is use the pin device to pop out the sim on both phones. put your sim in the 3gs (the one from the old 3g) and put the sim in the 3gs into your old phone. the sim in the 1g iphone will not work anymore

[kavika411]

Apologies if this is a dumb question. I recently (two months ago) bought the 3G. If I am willing to pay "full price," I can buy a 3Gs, right? Thanks.

[kdawg7]

I'm curious to find out if ATT is going to try and charge additional for MMS once it's available as well as what their tethering cost is. Since these features won't be available at roll out (typical ATT) and if we potentially have to change our existing plans does that reset the two year commitment clock?

[Schizoid]

How come all these news posts aboutthe 3GS getting so many thumbs down? Whats up with it?

iPhone looks great, it's the carrier that looks in trouble!

[Freshmixture]

ATT flat out sucks in my area and I am patiently waiting for Verizon to get the phone.

AGREED!

[themoonisdown09]

If I understood the video correctly, the preorder phones are available starting at 7am. Anyone else would need to wait until the store opens.

That's correct. I just talked to a representative at my local AT&T store about a lot of different things and he did say that people who pre ordered may enter the store at 7am and people who haven't must wait until 9am (the normal opening time).

[Illusion986]

i know this video is probably official ATT video...........But it looks so fake, if i found it on youtube i would think that guys has too much time on his hands and needs to quit his stupid ****. Anyway have 3G Iphone and i dont think there is a need to upgrade for me yet so im waiting for 17th for 3.0

[DELLsFan]

That is what AT&T employees do. They just don't understand that people want MMS and tethering so they tilt their heads. Sort of like when dogs do when you make a puzzling sound.

LOL!

Interesting that Apple's commitment to an "affordable" iPhone (as it was put yesterday at the keynote) is more or less compromised by a: "while supplies last" caveat. What happens when the 8GB and 16GB 3G models are gone? Are they going to make the 3Gs' suddenly "affordable"?

No, I didn't think so, either. :apple:

[HailToTheVictor]

Then why have I been a customer with ATT now for 4 years, while always having one of the most expensive plans and not missed a single payment and yet I am still not eligible until Jan 2010?

It's the same reason why they did not charge me for my plan a few months ago, because AT&T doesn't know what the hell they are doing.

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

I am an owner of both, and I have a December 12th, 2009 date to upgrade. If I wait to that date and get a phone I will not be eligible to get a an iPhone when they are released next year. This is a bad cycle. Looks like I will be skipping this generation...

[arainert]

I don't think this is correct. Me and my buddy both bough 1st Gen on day 1 and then got the 3G on day 1 and both of our accounts say we're not eligible until December.

Hmm.. That's strange. Then there must be another variable at play here.

Any thoughts?

[forty31]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

ATT's website says I'm eligible on July 13th...I got a 3G on launch day, but never owned an original iPhone. It's almost worth waiting just so you don't have to deal with ATT!

[timmodugdale]

What do you expect the other carriers to do?

Really its not that hard of a concept... you bought a subsidized phone and agreed to keep it for 2 years. The same thing happened to me when I bought the Verizon Razr way back in the day, and they released a new one a year later. I didn't bitch and moan because I knew what I agreed to. You can't have both the benefit of an unsubsidized phone and the cost savings of a subsidized one at the same time.

The point of subsidized phones is not to lock you into a phone for 2 years. The point of subsidizing a phone is to make it more attractive for you to become a customer. They shouldn't care what phone you have, as long as they keep you as a customer. The money they lost in subsidizing a phone is insignificant compared to the money the get out of you each month.

I agree, however, that all cell companies do it, and it is stupid. That said, AT&T knows that everyone wants an iPhone and are switching to them to get it. I will acknowledge your point that they may choose to invest their subsidized resources getting new customers. But if that is the point of the subsidy, then it shouldn't be available to existing customers at all, because they have you hooked already. Rewarding you after two years with a new phone is fairly pointless if you wanted one 1 year ago. All it does is piss people off -- including you and me.

But I hear your point.

[hirshnoc]

Too difficult and too expensive to get a new iPhone. I'll stick with the 3G.

[marksman]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

Why so much negative to this story? Seems people are voting based on their own short-comings?

You have a contract with AT&T. With that, they subsidized your 3G phone to give you a cheaper price. In exchange for that, you agreed to a contract. As a part of that contract, depending on how much your monthly bill is you have to keep the subsidized phone for x amount of time before they will renew.

For you that number is longer than 12 months. Which is the same case for most people with 3G iphones.

[imwoblin]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a
Nope, I have been with AT&T since 1997, purchased both gen 1 & 3g iPhones on launch day, have never been late on my payments, and have dutifully paid these shmucks $83 every month. My upgrade date for being such a "valuable customer" is March 2010!
They can suck my cojones.

[marksman]

Then why do some people get eligibility in July, when they signed the very same two-year contract I did. This is the question no one seems to be able to answer.

Because they have a higher monthly bill than you. Thus AT&T makes more money off of them and can offer them a new subsidy sooner.

[w1n78]

iPhone looks great, it's the carrier that looks in trouble!

i agree. i was excited to get the iphone 3g last year not realizing how much i'm gonna be hating the service. the iphone series is a great device. unfortunately, it's mostly an ipod with some internet connection away from home/office and an overpriced monthly plan. i don't think i'm pulling the trigger that quick this time. i'll just dread the service for another year and see who will get the next iphone service contract - hopefully verizon

[timmodugdale]

ATT's website says I'm eligible on July 13th...I got a 3G on launch day, but never owned an original iPhone. It's almost worth waiting just so you don't have to deal with ATT!

I checked at it said I was eligible Dec 11. I did have an original iPhone and got the iPhone G3 opening day.

[badlydrawnboy]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

Just to clarify, this means if I own a 1st Gen I can qualify right away for the upgrade pricing, regardless of whether I'm still in my two-year contract or not?

[sam10685]

No matter what line you will be in, bend over and make sure you are well lubricated.
:rolleyes:

I just choked on my spit.:rolleyes:

[MrM]

How come all these news posts aboutthe 3GS getting so many thumbs down? Whats up with it?

It's not the iPhone that's getting the thumbs down, it's AT&T.

[born4sky]

I wonder if it will be delivered on June 19th, but anyway I am happy no crazy lines this year. :D

[ALongoria23]

Maybe I'm dumb, but I kind of understand what there getting at, so if you just try to go in at normal business hours and get a phone that's not pre ordered there is no guarantee you will get one?

My plan is to just do that, and if that fails then I'll order from apple. They make it sound that there only gonna do the pre-ordered iPhones, and not get any more inside the store.

[bbydon]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

Because it has to be a year and a half before they regain their subsidy from the iphone 3g you bought

Sorry everyone else answered 1st
apparently if you had 1st iphone then upgraded to 3g it will be 12months after you bought 3g

[GeekLawyer]

Just to clarify, this means if I own a 1st Gen I can qualify right away for the upgrade pricing, regardless of whether I'm still in my two-year contract or not?

Yes, you qualify for the subsidized (lowest) price.

[Impatient]

It sucks that they won't let you pre order if you're wanting to get two iPhones on a family plan. I was all ready to pre order last night and set up my AT&T account (I'll be a new customer).

I guess I'll just have to wait until launch day.

Edit: Wait, I just checked on AT&T's website again and it says "limit one per household when ordering online." Maybe if I go into the AT&T store and pre order, I can get two iPhones. I must call now and find out!

Edit 2: I just called my local AT&T store and they said there is a limit of one iPhone per household when pre ordering. It doesn't matter if you walk into a store, order it over the phone, or order it online, the limit of one still applies. I guess I'll be one of the unlucky people without a pre order.

I am in the same situation and I've spoken to an AT&T CSR about what to do. I pre-ordered 2 iphones online at apple.com, 1 in my name and 1 in my wife's, and they are being shipped to my house for a June 19th delivery date. When I get them I'm going to the At&t store and they can then merge the 2 accounts into 1 family plan. This way you get to have the iphone in hand on June 19th, no stressing about whether or not there will be 2 iphones in stock when you get to the store, and you get your family plan. When you pre-order you are not officially setting up an account but rather you are being "pre-authorized".

Give that a shot.

[tinotopia]

I'm seeing a lot of different dates for cheap upgrade eligibility, and conflicting reports of the state of family plans.

AT&T wants me to wait until 12 months from my 3G purchase to get the regular pricing, not 18 (3g purchased 1 Sep 08, cheap upgrade eligibility on 2 Sep 09). If I buy before then, they want $399/$499 (i.e. $200 more) for the 16/32 gb versions.

My wife's iPhone O.G., on the same family plan, is eligible for the normal price on launch day, as I'd expect. I'd be very interested to see what they're quoting for people who bought original iPhones in the summer of 2008.

It it interesting that they're getting around their own stated ETF terms by simply saying that the new phone itself is more expensive if you are still under contract.

AT&T's ETF is $175, decreasing by $5 each month of the contract; I'd have to pay them about $120 to just break my contract at this point and walk away. If I want to buy a new iPhone and remain their customer, though, it'll cost me $200.

[arainert]

Hmmm, if that is actually correct then the dec 09 date on mine is wrong because I owned both phones. Did you have to keep the original one active after upgrading?

I did not keep the first one active, though I didn't re-sell it either.

[4God]

AT&T =

174796

[themoonisdown09]

I am in the same situation and I've spoken to a AT&T CSR about what to do. I pre-ordered 2 iphones online at apple.com, 1 in my name and 1 in my wife's, and they are being shipped to my house for a June 19th delivery date. When I get them I'm going to the At&t store and they can then merge the 2 accounts into 1 family plan. When you pre-order you are not officially setting up an account but rather you are being "pre-authorized".

Give that a shot.

I wonder if you can call AT&T and have them merge it over the phone rather then go into one of the stores. If you can, I would definitely do that. If not, I would just rather go in the day after the launch and pick one up.

[jackbenimble4]

LOL!

Interesting that Apple's commitment to an "affordable" iPhone (as it was put yesterday at the keynote) is more or less compromised by a: "while supplies last" caveat. What happens when the 8GB and 16GB 3G models are gone? Are they going to make the 3Gs' suddenly "affordable"?

No, I didn't think so, either. :apple:

He said only the 16GB is affected by the condition "while supplies last." My understanding is that they will continue to produce 8GB iPhone 3G's.

[paulold]

Will the Apple Store be taking a similar approach? I have "reserved" an iPhone 3GS at my local Apple Store but their website has an asterisk saying that the iPhones will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Does anyone know if reserving the iPhone is going to help me get one on the 19th? I was kinda thinking that these pre-orders and reservations will help with that initial demand - that they we better distribute their inventory thanks to this delayed release, giving folks time to place their orders.

[Impatient]

I wonder if you can call AT&T and have them merge it over the phone rather then go into one of the stores. If you can, I would definitely do that. If not, I would just rather go in the day after the launch and pick one up.

Seems like a lot of demand- I'd hate to walk in on day 2 and my local At&t store be out of stock. Besides- with the iphones in hand on June 19th I could always walk into the At&t store with them in hand just to have them merge the accounts and not have to worry about them having them in stock. It's win-win for me.

[JustinP81]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

I've owned BOTH the first gen iPhone (day one adapter) and the 3G iPhone (again, day one adapter), never have I been late on a payment, and I have an upgrade available in December 2009.

So I can safely say that option 3 is bogus information.

[themoonisdown09]

Seems like a lot of demand- I'd hate to walk in on day 2 and my local At&t store be out of stock. Besides- with the iphones in hand on June 19th I could always walk into the At&t store with them in hand just to have them merge the accounts and not have to worry about them having them in stock. It's win-win for me.

I guess you're right. Did you talk to someone from your local store or did you call the 800 number? I might do this.

[kugino]

How come all these news posts aboutthe 3GS getting so many thumbs down? Whats up with it?

people are upset about the prices being offered to most 3G owners. not to mention the lack of tethering and mms from at&t now. yes, it's not apple's fault and not really a fault of the 3GS, but go figure.

i think at&t could gain a lot of good will by offering the subsidized price to whomever wants to upgrade. sign them up for a new two-year contract and call it a day. but, at&t wants to be dumb about it. they and most cell phone companies, cable companies, etc. still have absolutely no clue about customer service. they think all the money is in the nickel and diming and forcing people into confusing contracts.

that's why any kind of exclusivity is dangerous. it just makes companies greedy, doesn't make them want to offer things like good service, and kills innovation. i'm a (mostly) happy 2G owner who just ordered the 3GS. i don't think at&t is any worse than other cell phone companies (they're all pretty bad), but it's like the unlikeable bully who's given the best toy in the world. they don't want to share, they only want to protect what they have, and they most certainly want to dictate how, when, where, and with whom you can play with.

[rubdom]

Why don't they prorate their fees. So the new phone would be cheaper the longer you are into your contract. It does not seem fair that the new model be the same for someone 1 1/2 years into their contract as someone 2 months into their contract. They have received WAY more $$ from a customer 1 1/2 years into their contract.

Just my 2 cents. I will NOT be purchasing the 3Gs.

[ShellyFM]

For many of us who got the 1st gen iPhone and then the 3G iPhone pretty much when they first came out, we do it partly because we're loyal to Apple, partly for the hype, etc.

So, my account says I "may be" eligible on 7/13/2009, which is 1 year from when I bought the 3G. Making us wait almost a whole month after the release of the 3GS is ridiculous. What does 1 month do for AT&T other than make a LOT of enemies out of us?!

Plus, don't get me started on the whole MMS & tethering issues!!!!!!

Anyone know of any petitions started or other ways to get AT&T's attention on this issue???

[kas23]

Then why do some people get eligibility in July, when they signed the very same two-year contract I did. This is the question no one seems to be able to answer.

It may be the price of your monthly bill. I think I read somewhere that if you pay greater than $100 per month, you are eligible to get a subs phones after 12 months. If not, you wait 18 months.

[Impatient]

I guess you're right. Did you talk to someone from your local store or did you call the 800 number? I might do this.

I called the local store yesterday and they were CLUELESS. I actually had to email the store the At&t press release explaining the pre-ordering to them from my personal email.

I called the 800 # before I ordered the 2nd iphone just to make sure I could merge the accounts with out an issue. They said it would no problem because you don't officially set up the account until you have the phone in hand.

Plus- the footnotes on both apple.com and att.com both say that even though you are pre-ordering a phone its on a "first come, first serve" basis....since I work on fridays and wont get to an ATT store or an Apple store until at least 5pm I'd rather not chance it and be stressed all day about stock levels. Knowing that my 2 iPhones will be waiting for me when I get home and that I can walk into an At&t store whenever I want is going to make the next week and a half a lot more relaxing.

[kas23]

Why don't they prorate their fees. So the new phone would be cheaper the longer you are into your contract...

The price, I believe, is actually prorated. Your ETF goes down by $5 per month. You can pay the ETF and you will be considered a "new" customer.

[themoonisdown09]

I called the local store yesterday and they were CLUELESS. I actually had to email the store the At&t press release explaining the pre-ordering to them from my personal email.

I called the 800 # before I ordered the 2nd iphone just to make sure I could merge the accounts with out an issue. They said it would no problem because you don't officially set up the account until you have the phone in hand.

Plus- the footnotes on both apple.com and att.com both say that even though you are pre-ordering a phone its on a "first come, first serve" basis....since I work on fridays and wont get to an ATT store or an Apple store until at least 5pm I'd rather not chance it and be stressed all day about stock levels. Knowing that my 2 iPhones will be waiting for me when I get home and that I can walk into an At&t store whenever I want is going to make the next week and a half a lot more relaxing.

Thanks for the information. I guess I'll pre order the iPhones then.

[xmax21]

AT&T have been holding Apple back from the beginning. It even came out today during the WWDC, everyone laughing everytime ATT was mention. All ATT wants is your money!!!!!!!!! Why do they only offer a 2-year contract and not 1-year?! They don't even care about their exiting customers. They know we are locked for two years so why give us a price break?!!?!? I'm tired of writing about this &$#$* company...... :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[e.m.]

So, my account says I "may be" eligible on 7/13/2009, which is 1 year from when I bought the 3G. Making us wait almost a whole month after the release of the 3GS is ridiculous. What does 1 month do for AT&T other than make a LOT of enemies out of us?!


I bought mine about a month after launch, but my status says that I "may" be eligible Jan 14 2010, which is roughly 17 months after my purchase date of the 3G.

[EagerDragon]

I am not in a rush to upgrade.

I want that camera for iChat and this model does not have it. While this new phone have some nice features, some will not be available for several months, so why rush to the store to get a phone whose features do not all work on day 1. Besides I badly want that front camera.

So I shall wait for the camera which means another year or so or at a minimum wait until all the 3GS features have been activated by AT&T, boy this reminds me of M$.
:eek:

[chicagdan]

Because you signed a contract.

Will you please shut up about the damn contracts, we know we signed contracts, AT&T regularly waives the terms of their contracts ... why are they NOW deciding to stick us to them?

[Skruggs]

I've owned BOTH the first gen iPhone (day one adapter) and the 3G iPhone (again, day one adapter), never have I been late on a payment, and I have an upgrade available in December 2009.

So I can safely say that option 3 is bogus information.


I think the misunderstood part of the post is that you qualify for earlier upgrading if you ADDED the 3G to your account and KEPT the 2G on the same account.

I waited a few weeks for the lines to die down and bought a 3G in August. I KEPT the 2G on the account and gave it to my daughter and ADDED her to my ATT account on that day (bringing her over from Sprint).

When I check on the ATT site, it says that I am eligible for the subsidized upgrade on 8/1/09 which is 12 months after I ADDED the 3G phone to my existing account.

I believe that if you REPLACED your 2G phone with a 3G last year, you have to wait 18 months for a new subsidy.

[gmanrique]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

It is simpler than you might think. Because you signed a contract for two years to subsidize the cost of the iPhone and now you want to break that contract.

[73CortinaV8]

I just went through the ordering process and the "estimated taxes" for the $299 phone are $66.41

That is over 20% !!


Is there an extra federal sales tax on cellphones?

WTF!

[e.m.]

I've owned BOTH the first gen iPhone (day one adapter) and the 3G iPhone (again, day one adapter), never have I been late on a payment, and I have an upgrade available in December 2009.

So I can safely say that option 3 is bogus information.

I've also owned both generations of the iPhone (both purchased about a month after launch), and I'm not eligible until Jan 2010.

[Kwill]

Why is he tilting his head so much?

Obviously to fit in the video frame. ;)

[dlcrow]

- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)

I got my 3G iPhone in July, but did not get a discount since I was not upgrade eligible at the time, so I paid the full price. I understand that I agreed to a two-year contract, but shouldn't I be upgrade eligible sooner than 18 months from last July since I didn't get a discount at that time?

[ghostface147]

I got the iPhone 3g on launch day (even was interviewed for the local Houston news, woot!) and am eligible on the same day, one year later. While intially peeved about the higher cost due to upgrade ineligibility, I feel that the new phone isn't enough for me to toss the 3g. I never use voice command (don't miss what you don't know), don't need a compass, and when I had my phone jailbroken (since restored to defaults), I never used cycorder. However I do need to replace my phone's back cover since it is heavily damaged from a fall on concrete. The back cover has seperated from the chrome bezel. It should be fun to replace.......:eek:

[kugino]

I got my 3G iPhone in July, but did not get a discount since I was not upgrade eligible at the time. I understand that I agreed to a two-year contract, but shouldn't I be upgrade eligible sooner than 18 months?

but you signed a contract for two years...if they wanted to be even more draconian about it, you wouldn't be eligible until two years.

[Impatient]

Every single site I go to has current iPhone customers complaining about the upgrade pricing! You guys are amazing. You signed a 2 yr contract. This isn't a new thing with cell phones, you sign a 2 yr and get the phone cheaper and are expected to stay in that 2 yr contract to allow for the company to make back what it discounted the phone for you. Just because you own an iPhone doesn't mean you are exempt!

I bought a macbook pro a year ago and a few months later Apple released the unibody Macbooks....did I call up Apple and demand a discounted price because they came out with a new model??

I leased a car in 2008 for 3 yrs...guess what? The same company had the audacity to make some changes in the 2009 model!! Did I call up the company and demand to get out of my lease and get a discount on the 2009 so I can replace my old and outdated 2008??

Stop complaining. Deal with your contract. Owning an iPhone does not entitle you to special treatment no one else gets.

[klittle32]

Anyone know if we will be able to purchase at Best Buy on launch day? I'd like to buy from them b/c I am a rewards zone member.

[rmb7984]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

This fits with my experience. I owned the original, and upgraded to the 3G on August 3. My upgrade date to the 3Gs is August 5. I was wondering why my upgrade date was only a year following my 3G purchase and many others were 18 months.

And by the way, I don't feel hosed at all. My previous experience with cell phone carriers is that they offer you NO discount and NO subsidy toward a new phone until you are no longer under contract. I agree that this sucks and I wish the system worked differently, but this is not the case. Quite frankly, I think ATT is within their rights to not offer an early upgrade at all (not that apple would allow this). I actually feel well supported that ATT would offer me a full subsidy price for a brand new phone only a year into my contract. Just my two cents.

And I'm not singling you out arainert - hope you don't think so. I'm just a bit frustrated with the negative sentiment surrounding the upgrade issue.

[akadmon]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:


- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)

a

Great. I bought my iP 3G in November, so come next year's WWDC I will be eligible to purchase the new iP 6G XXS at a subsidized price immedietely! :D

[Civic Minded]

I've owned BOTH the first gen iPhone (day one adapter) and the 3G iPhone (again, day one adapter), never have I been late on a payment, and I have an upgrade available in December 2009.

So I can safely say that option 3 is bogus information.

Not exactly bogus... I just think there's a lot of unwritten variables to what's going on.

I got a first gen phone on an AT&T refurb sale in late May 2008, then turned around and got the new 3G on it's launch day. My upgrade is available to me on July 12, 2009.

I passed the 2G phone down to my wife the day I got my 3G, and her line is ready to be upgraded immediately. 199/299 for the 3GS.

Now I've been paying upwards of 150 a month for the last year with the two phones, which may be playing into all this. I even called AT&T to confirm the info, and they told me that it was all correct. One line is ready now, the other will be ready in July.

[Deniolan]

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)


I don't think this is correct - here is my breakdown:


Purchased the original iPhone about a month after launch.
Purchased a White 16GB iPhone for the subsidized price on 7/27/07
White phone was stolen (OUCH), purchased a black 16GB for FULL price on 8/7/07


When I go to apple's page, the only prices I am quoted are $599 for the 16GB or $699 for the 32GB, and it says I am not eligible until 1/18/2010.

DUB TEEE EFF!!!! $700 for the new phone, really, apple? It seems as though even though I paid full price for the second 3G, they renewed the contract - maybe that's thrown a wrench in the upgrade process.

Deniolan.

[JustinP81]

This fits with my experience. I owned the original, and upgraded to the 3G on August 3. My upgrade date to the 3Gs is August 5. I was wondering why my upgrade date was only a year following my 3G purchase and many others were 18 months.


See, why is that? Why do you get to upgrade a year from your 3G, but I have to wait until 18 months since my 3G?

I just don't understand. It must be the "pay over 100 dollars a month" thing.

[clarksonknight]

Looks like the attwireless site for preorders is clueless as well. I'm trying to add a line to my account from the att website, and when I get to the part where I log in, the iPhone 3GS option disappears and I'm stuck with choices from all the "current" phones. It could have something with having a FAN, because as soon as I log in from the "add a line" link by the 3GS ad, it directs me to the Premier Acct. Doubt this will be overcome by going to the att store by the sounds of it, either.

[rmb7984]

Every single site I go to has current iPhone customers complaining about the upgrade pricing! You guys are amazing. You signed a 2 yr contract. This isn't a new thing with cell phones, you sign a 2 yr and get the phone cheaper and are expected to stay in that 2 yr contract to allow for the company to make back what it discounted the phone for you. Just because you own an iPhone doesn't mean you are exempt!

I bought a macbook pro a year ago and a few months later Apple released the unibody Macbooks....did I call up Apple and demand a discounted price because they came out with a new model??

I leased a car in 2008 for 3 yrs...guess what? The same company had the audacity to make some changes in the 2009 model!! Did I call up the company and demand to get out of my lease and get a discount on the 2009 so I can replace my old and outdated 2008??

Stop complaining. Deal with your contract. Owning an iPhone does not entitle you to special treatment no one else gets.

Agreed

[afishertx]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

I had a 1st gen, got a 3g on day one, have a family plan w/ 4 iPhones ($400 / month) never been late, and I get March 2010???:confused:

[JustinP81]

See, why is that? Why do you get to upgrade a year from your 3G, but I have to wait until 18 months since my 3G?

I just don't understand. It must be the "pay over 100 dollars a month" thing.

I'm not worried though. I'm going to add a line, so I'll get the new 3GS, and pass the 3G down to my girlfriend, and then come this time next year, we'll be able to upgrade to the 4 gen iPhone with no problems.

[michelle21]

I'm not worried though. I'm going to add a line, so I'll get the new 3GS, and pass the 3G down to my girlfriend, and then come this time next year, we'll be able to upgrade to the 4 gen iPhone with no problems.

Someone said the difference in dates for elgibility july vs Dec. is if your monthly bill is over 100.00.

My monthly bill is 98.00, I feel cheated, 3 dollars make that difference.

Can someone from att comment on that.

0 late payments.

[imwoblin]

I had a 1st gen, got a 3g on day one, have a family plan w/ 4 iPhones ($400 / month) never been late, and I get March 2010???:confused:

This is the major complaint. ATT employees / defenders of the faith on this site notwithstanding, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for the upgrade path dates for existing iPhone customers. It seems ATT must have used a Ouija board to determine upgrade dates.

[themacintoshman]

I got the iPhone 3g on launch day (even was interviewed for the local Houston news, woot!) and am eligible on the same day, one year later. While intially peeved about the higher cost due to upgrade ineligibility, I feel that the new phone isn't enough for me to toss the 3g. I never use voice command (don't miss what you don't know), don't need a compass, and when I had my phone jailbroken (since restored to defaults), I never used cycorder. However I do need to replace my phone's back cover since it is heavily damaged from a fall on concrete. The back cover has seperated from the chrome bezel. It should be fun to replace.......:eek:

Well you're pretty lucky, as me and other people from what I have heard have to wait until March 2010 to upgrade for $200. If we want the 3GS before then, we have to pay $500/$600.

[whynot83706]

- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

Do you have more details on this one?

[jameskk]

yawn!

Is it just me?

I mean, I am not sure I would buy the 3Gs even if it was at $199.

[JustinP81]

Someone said the difference in dates for elgibility july vs Dec. is if your monthly bill is over 100.00.

My monthly bill is 98.00, I feel cheated, 3 dollars make that difference.

Can someone from att comment on that.

0 late payments.

I agree. 3 dollars and we wouldn't be having this conversation. It's just a very random, and unclear, way of doing things.

YOU! DECEMBER!

YOU! JULY!

YOU! MARCH!

[ghostface147]

Anyone know if we will be able to purchase at Best Buy on launch day? I'd like to buy from them b/c I am a rewards zone member.

Yes you should be able to purchase the phone at any iPhone retail location, including Best Buy. I don't see anywhere that says that the preordering will go to that chain, for it only seems that ATT and Apple stores will be working with that aspect. I don't know if Best Buy will be honoring reward zone members with any perks that it offers. The best bet is to ask Best Buy.

[diabolic]

Then why do some people get eligibility in July, when they signed the very same two-year contract I did. This is the question no one seems to be able to answer.

If your monthly bill is more than $99, then you are eligible after only 12 months.

[michelle21]

If your monthly bill is more than $99, then you are eligible after only 12 months.

Do I have a negotiating point with a 2 dollar difference. That sounds stupid.

I'll add more text messages.

[JustinP81]

If your monthly bill is more than $99, then you are eligible after only 12 months.

You know, if someone at the AT&T store told me that my monthly bill needed to be 100.01 each month to upgrade after 12 months, I would have gladly upgraded my text plan to meet that requirement.

However, since no one mentioned it to me, it just seems like I wasn't given a fair shake.

Which is what I think the majority of us feel.

[Shiner]

It may be the price of your monthly bill. I think I read somewhere that if you pay greater than $100 per month, you are eligible to get a subs phones after 12 months. If not, you wait 18 months.

Bingo!!! This is correct. If you spend, by yourself, more than $100 a month on your contract then you are eligible for upgrade after 12 months. If you spend less than that you are eligible after 18 months. Simple economics people. AT&T stated this a year ago and it still hold true. Call them and ask. You might say "heh I spend more than 100$ a month whats up?", well make sure you are not on a family plan or if you are it has to be the highest costing family plan. Additionally taxes do not count. The plan must be over $100.

[faisal]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

I want to know why I have to wait, when I never bought an iPhone of any sort and have been out of contract for 14 months.

[Shiner]

I agree. 3 dollars and we wouldn't be having this conversation. It's just a very random, and unclear, way of doing things.

YOU! DECEMBER!

YOU! JULY!

YOU! MARCH!

Doesn't work this way. The plan has to be over $100 bucks minus all the taxes. My monthly bill is $160 with family plan and I am nowhere close to qualifying for it.

[PharmD]

Is the 3Gs going to be available at Best Buy on June 19th as well?

[bennyek]

Is it just me or his his head permanently crooked?
I think his left ear is heavier than the right.

[dizilbdog]

I'm just wondering what if you got a refurbished iPhone I mean it's not technically new right? Also what makes to think the Apple stores won't sell these at 199 and 299 when so many people will be waiting online for one? Also will the Apple employees check every time your ATT account to see if they can sell you one at 199 or 299??

[Clix Pix]

I think it has to do with whether or not one kept the original first-gen iPhone active when buying the 3G.... Last year when I got the 3G I did not keep my older iPhone active (I now use it as backup and as an iPod Touch, since it still has all the other features except the phone functions.)

I stood in line on Launch Day 2007 to buy the first-gen iPhone. Last year I again stood in line on Launch Day 2008 for the 3G iPhone. This year I won't be standing in line to get the new 3GS.

This is what it says on my ATT iPhone account:

"iPhone Upgrade
As a valued AT&T customer, we can offer you a discounted iPhone upgrade at a higher price, along with a 2-year commitment and an $18 upgrade fee. Please proceed with the online upgrade process for pricing details. You may qualify for a full discount on a standard iPhone upgrade on 12/12/2009"

I didn't go through the process to see how much the discounted iPhone upgrade at a higher price is....I'm guessing it will still be a fairly high price. While the new features on the new phone are exciting, I can wait until December 12th, it's not that compelling....

[alm99]

I think that it only gets shipped to you if you pre order from Apple's website.

It's also shipped to you when you order from AT&Ts website. I did that this morning and it is being shipped to my home.

[meagain]

Anyone's head tilt to the right watching this guy?

Yes, as I understand it, those who pay a total of $99 or more PER LINE - are golden. "I", who was at $95 am not. Nor is my hubby's $9.99 + $30 for data is double screwed.

Now - Can we add more SMS onto our lines today to get to the $99 level and be good to go next Friday? Me thinks so! Taking suggestions for how to deal with an add on "family plan" line though. Damnit. Possible to separate them temporarily?

[ivladster]

Is there a delivery option? Because standing in line is very 1980s. Or Soviet Union.

I guess Wii is communist, so is Palm Pre and McDonalds and Starbucks. Well it now all makes sense.

[michelle21]

Is it just me or his his head permanently crooked?
I think his left ear is heavier than the right.

So I talked to apple and att and the best option for me is to ADD a line , which means I guess I have to go to a family talk plan.

The apple store says they can do that , I hope they are right.

That puts my plan over 100.00, so going forward that should put me on a 12 month upgrade right????

very confusing.

Do I have to go with a family talk plan to add just one additional phone.

[alhedges]

The money they lost in subsidizing a phone is insignificant compared to the money the get out of you each month.



The money's *not* insignificant, though.

When I bought my 3G, I paid $299 to Apple. ATT then paid an additional $400 to Apple, giving Apple a total of $700 for the phone.

ATT has two years to recoup its $400 subsidy to me from the fees I pay...in addition to covering its service costs and making a profit. If ATT let people buy a new fully subsidized 3G-S after having only been under contract 1 year, they would lose ~$200, as that's all that they would have gotten back from their $400 subsidy.

True, you have signed a new 2-year contract...but ATT needs the money from *those* two years to pay off the $400 subsidy they have paid Apple on your behalf for the 3G-S. So ATT will still have lost $200.

So it seems to me that ATT is being pretty reasonable in offering three options.

1. If ATT hasn't paid a subsidy for you (b/c you are a 1G or new customer), you only have to pay $200 or $300 for the new iPhone. ATT will pay Apple a $400 subsidy, and you will be under K to ATT for 2 years.

2. If ATT paid a subsidy for your 3G and only one year has passed, you pay $400 or $500 for the new phone, which is the $200/$300 subsidized cost, plus $200 to make up for the unpaid part of the $400 subsidy that ATT paid on your behalf and hasn't yet recouped because you've only paid on your K for one year. [Note - there seems to be some variation if you were on a more expensive plan, presumably because ATT was able to pay off the subsidy after one year]

3. You can also buy a non-subsidized no-K phone for the full price of $600/$700. This is similar to the prices Europeans pay for their no-K phones.

From this, it is easy to understand why Apple likes ATT - ATT is willing to pay them $400 per phone.

It also seems that ATT is being pretty reasonable about upgrades - when I was on Verizon I could get a subsidized phone after two years, but I never had the option of getting a partially-subsidized phone after one year. ATT is at least giving us credit for having paid down part of the subsidy, which, again, is more than I would have expected.

Having said that, I don't think I'll pay to upgrade early - the changes in the new phone are nice, but not killer...and getting OS 3.0 will be *almost* like getting a new phone anyway.

[Civic Minded]

I'm just wondering what if you got a refurbished iPhone I mean it's not technically new right?

See post #111

[afishertx]

Someone said the difference in dates for elgibility july vs Dec. is if your monthly bill is over 100.00.

My monthly bill is 98.00, I feel cheated, 3 dollars make that difference.

Can someone from att comment on that.

0 late payments.

But what bumps eligibility to March? I spend over $400 / month, never late, even have their U-Verse service as well. Can't AT&T show a little love?

[cs123456]

Looks like the attwireless site for preorders is clueless as well. I'm trying to add a line to my account from the att website, and when I get to the part where I log in, the iPhone 3GS option disappears and I'm stuck with choices from all the "current" phones. It could have something with having a FAN, because as soon as I log in from the "add a line" link by the 3GS ad, it directs me to the Premier Acct. Doubt this will be overcome by going to the att store by the sounds of it, either.

I have the same issue. AT&T site does not let me preorder the phone, but takes me back to the current models. Failed!

[teemast]

And not in a good way.

I bought two iphone 3Gs on launch day last July...one for my wife, one for me. She NEVER uses hers -- literally it is untouched except to do the updates -- as she has a work phone and uses that 100% of the time.

Restating the backstory: We have only owned 3G (since launch day last July) -- no iphones before that -- and were not ATT customers until that day.

I tried logging onto the ATT website where it says she is eligible for an upgrade in July 2009, BUT...I am not eligible for an upgrade until December 2009!!! We got our phones on the same day people! There is no difference in our accounts...it's the Family Plan.

So because the reasoning is not clear ANYwhere, I call ATT to ask what our upgrade status is.

There, the guy tells me that my wife is eligible in July 2009...but I am not eligible until MARCH 2010!!! I tell him what it said on the website. He tells me she can upgrade earlier than me because SHE is the primary account holder. He has no explanation as to why it says December 2009 on the website for me...but he is quoting me March 2010. His response: "Oh." (Maybe it was the guy in the ATT You Tube video???).

As for the business about who is the primary account holder...

WRONG.

It even says on the account page that I am the primary account holder. I remember it was a big hassle point when I bought the phones...because she wasn't present to sign the paperwork.

Then I pose this query to Mr. ATT...If I want to pay the higher price (like I ever would!) could I just go in and buy a 3GS on launch day?
Get this...NO! Ha!

According to him, you are locked in to YOUR iphone until your two years are up. Locked in. Apparently you can't buy groceries or go to the movies or keep your freedom as a US citizen either.

As they say on SNL...Really ATT? Really?

Seems like a classic not knowing ass from elbow, right hand not knowing what left hand is doing kind of scenario. Meanwhile, I can tell you what third finger right hand is doing. Mos def.

I would never DREAM of signing another two year contract with these jokers. I love Apple (most days), but I defected from Blackberry AND Verizon to get my/our iphone 3G phones, and except for the small part of the process known as ATT, I've been happy. I'm hoping by the time I'm "eligible" for renewal either Verizon is also carrying the phones or else that the 4GS will be forthcoming on Verizon.

All of this aside...doesn't ATT realize that our country's in a depression, recession, slowed economy? Don't they read the papers? Don't they check the NYT, Wall Street Journal, or CNN apps on their own phones? You'd think there'd be some creative incentive to keep customers happy, engaged, and enrolled? Why not just offer the subsidized prices to anyone willing to renew for two more years? Why not think outside the box and say, for example, renew your contract for three or four years and you, too, can get the subsidized pricing?

Seriously, get creative. Or at the very least, get a clue.

Really ATT? Really?

[Chopper]

I just went through the ordering process and the "estimated taxes" for the $299 phone are $66.41

That is over 20% !!


Is there an extra federal sales tax on cellphones?

WTF!

If you're using $299, I'm guessing that you're looking at a 32GB version. The full retail price of that would be $699.

So if you look at $699 as the price and $66.41 as the tax, that would give a tax rate of just around 9.5%.

Based on your location (California) and a quick check of Wikipedia, that seems possible. Is that actually your rate?

[macslayer118]

Here's what I'm upset about.

I bought 1st gen the day it came out. Paid $500 for the 4GB. Ok... Great... they lowered their price and I got $100 store credit from Apple.

Then that one broke in April of 2008, so I bought another one... This time I went with the 16GB... another $500.

Then they announced the 3G SHORTLY after that. I wasn't happy with the timing of everything, but I sucked it up. I wasn't planning on getting the 3G, but I broke down in September and bought it. 16GB for $300.

I cannot upgrade until February of 2010. So, when the NEXT phone comes out in 2010, I still would not be able to get it. I'm definately going to talk to someone about this, just to see what they say. I've ALREADY spent $1200 on iPhones since it came out. To be forced to wait, and skip the next gen phone is ridiculous! :mad::mad:

[edoates]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

Because you have to pay off the discounted price you got from ATT; you pay it off by the month via your cell service fees. It takes almost the entire length of the contract to get ATT back to even. So you can't get a new subsidized price until you've paid off the old one.

Some have said, well, I'm getting a new two year contract; no, you're getting a two year contract from the time you get your new phone, and the old contract you are getting out of early.

Extreme example: say the iPhone was one of ATT "free" phones with a two year contract. You wouldn't expect that they were really "free" to ATT: someone bought them. And you wouldn't expect to get a new one every other month just because a more cool "free" phone showed up.

Remember, you can always get the "no commitment" price which is full retail, then change phones (for full retail) whenever you want. If the new phone you want, say a Palm, is on another network, you can switch without penalty.

Me? I don't buy every new gimcrack that shows up just because it is new. I didn't enough advantage in the 3G over the original to upgrade immediately; so now I get the $299/32GB price ;-)

Eddie O

[184550]

Stop complaining. Deal with your contract. Owning an iPhone does not entitle you to special treatment no one else gets.

Thank you.

[unr1]

sorry if this was already asked...

are we allowed to resell our 3G if we upgrade to the new 3GS?

the 3GS costs 400 for the 16GB and I can get at least 200 for the 3G I have right now.

[MrMoore]

I originally went to Apple's website to order the iPhone 3GS and placed a reserve to pick up at an Apple Stores. I then saw the little blurb that pre-authorization does not guarantee an iPhone. First come first serve. :eek:

Since I figured that it would be crazy at the store, I went back and order the 32 GB Black online at the Apple Store. :D

Ten more days! (Hopefully) :cool:

[speedracer81]

I've also owned both generations of the iPhone (both purchased about a month after launch), and I'm not eligible until Jan 2010.

Same here and I am not eligible until 3/12/10...

[Shiner]

The iphone costs ~$700-800.

You pay $199 when you start a 2 year contract. The $500-600 difference is absorbed by AT&T at the start of the contract.

If AT&T makes a $100 a month from you then it is paid back that difference in 12 months.

If AT&T makes less than $100 from you a month it is paid back the difference in 18 months.

Someone said they are paying $400 a month by themselves (first off WOW) they should be eligible in 12 months.

Some one stated they pay $98 plus their husband is added for another $35. Nope does meet the requirement. If the person was by themselves at $100 minus the taxes then you meet the payoff for AT&T.

Where do people think the $500-600 iphone goes after you buy it? Someone has to pay for it.

[edoates]

AT&T should be welcoming current users to buy a new iPhone, regardless of when they purchased their last one. All it does is binds them to another two year contract. They are not losing any money by forcing me to renew for another two years. They are actually ensuring that I will remain an AT&T customer longer -- something they should WANT to do.

Of course, if Apple does not renew THEIR contract with AT&T, maybe I'll be happy I waited to buy a new iPhone. AT&T has done nothing but screw iPhone users with unnecessary costs. I'm sorry, but it does not cost $10 MORE a month to provide me 3G connectivity. And it CERTAINLY does not cost $40 a month more to allow to to tether my iPhone to my laptop. AT&T can drop dead.

Yes they are "losing money." You are not being bound to another 2 year contract; you are terminating your current two year contract early, and getting a "new" two year contract. So instead of 4 years, they are only getting two years plus whatever you've already used on your existing plan.

[erzeszut]

Here's what I'm upset about.

I bought 1st gen the day it came out. Paid $500 for the 4GB. Ok... Great... they lowered their price and I got $100 store credit from Apple.

Then that one broke in April of 2008, so I bought another one... This time I went with the 16GB... another $500.

So you bought the first one in June 2007 -- and it "broke" in April 2008. Do you mean that you broke it? Because if it just "broke," it was only 10 months into a 12-month warranty and Apple would have replaced it for free.

Then they announced the 3G SHORTLY after that. I wasn't happy with the timing of everything, but I sucked it up. I wasn't planning on getting the 3G, but I broke down in September and bought it. 16GB for $300.

I cannot upgrade until February of 2010. So, when the NEXT phone comes out in 2010, I still would not be able to get it. I'm definately going to talk to someone about this, just to see what they say. I've ALREADY spent $1200 on iPhones since it came out. To be forced to wait, and skip the next gen phone is ridiculous! :mad::mad:

By April of last year, there were already rumors flying about (on this site and others) that Apple would announce a new iPhone in the summer of 2008. Sorry if you didn't see those rumors, but how is that Apple or AT&T's fault?

You broke your first phone, you replaced your second phone after only 5 months of use, and that's why you're mad at Apple and AT&T??

People on this thread are whining more than my 3-year-old.

I'm paying $500 for my new 32GB 3GS. This represents a $100 discount, even though I'm not eligible for an upgrade until January 2010. That's more than I expected from AT&T, quite frankly. I would have expected to pay full price.

The contracts are for 2 years, people. That's what made the 3G so affordable last year. If you don't like the terms, don't buy one!!

[press045]

As an AT&T customer who purchased both the first generation and 3G iPhone, I can understand the frustration of current customers who cannot immediately upgrade at the subsidized price. However, be objective for a second and think about this.

1) You signed a two year contract with AT&T. The contract doesn't say, "this is for two years unless a new iPhone comes out." You're bound to that contract.

2) AT&T subsidized the cost of your iPhone 3G. This means that it costs them money to sell you an iPhone 3g. They lock you in for two years to recoup that money that they LOST by selling you an iPhone. If they subsidized another expensive phone before the two years is up, they would lose money yet again AND if they had you sign another two year deal from right now, they would lose out on one year of monthly service charges.

I understand the frustration with AT&T but stop acting like they are screwing people over.

[erzeszut]

sorry if this was already asked...

are we allowed to resell our 3G if we upgrade to the new 3GS?

the 3GS costs 400 for the 16GB and I can get at least 200 for the 3G I have right now.

Of course. Once you get your new 3GS, the line (and the obligations of your contract with AT&T) will transfer to the new phone.

You can then do whatever you want with the 3G.

[doubleatheman]

Yay my preorder is in process...

why is their two things listed...

[Shiner]

So I talked to apple and att and the best option for me is to ADD a line , which means I guess I have to go to a family talk plan.

The apple store says they can do that , I hope they are right.

That puts my plan over 100.00, so going forward that should put me on a 12 month upgrade right????

very confusing.

Do I have to go with a family talk plan to add just one additional phone.

No this does not make you eligible whatsoever!! Your personal plan must be over $100. Family plans do not count.

[caligurl]

I just went through the ordering process and the "estimated taxes" for the $299 phone are $66.41

That is over 20% !!


Is there an extra federal sales tax on cellphones?

WTF!


same here... and i asked last night.... and no... it' ALL ABOUT CALIFORNIA! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: they are charging us tax on the so-called "full" price of the phone and not the sale price we are paying (like we do with EVERY other thing we buy... cars..... computers..... groceries... if they are on sale... we still pay tax on what is rung up... NOT the MSRP....

i'm really ticked about it!

[Jamie 360]

It's not the iPhone that's getting the thumbs down, it's AT&T.

I'm new here (posting anyway) and surprised I haven't seen much complaining about the data plan price. I've had the 2g for since the first weekend it was released and have had the $20 data plan which includes 200 text messages. It is now $30, and in order to not get charged per text message, you have to pay an additional $4.99 :confused: I've been on the pre-order site twice and back out when I think of paying that per month. :(

[kas23]

Do I have a negotiating point with a 2 dollar difference. That sounds stupid.

I'll add more text messages.

That is exactly what you have to do. Add some sort of $5 per month service and you can always cancel it after a month.

[fithian]

I have a 2G and a 3G. The Apple Store Online found me eligible to upgrade the 2G to a 3GS at the $299 price (32gb). Ordered and will arrive on 6/19. So, I suppose that this does confirm the 3rd point, nor unconfirm it. The Apple Store did note that my data plan would go from $20 to $30.

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

[kevdo]

Overall, I do think people are complaining unreasonably about the "early upgrade" pricing. As noted throughout - what part of two years did you not understand?

That said, I do understand the frustration people are having with AT&T and their lack of transparency about pricing for those who aren't new customers (and otherwise "qualifying"). In this respect, Apple shoulders a bit of the blame too.

I don't think it is unreasonable for customers to want to have it spelled out in plain English what the phone costs, when it costs more, and why.

[caligurl]

You know, if someone at the AT&T store told me that my monthly bill needed to be 100.01 each month to upgrade after 12 months, I would have gladly upgraded my text plan to meet that requirement.

However, since no one mentioned it to me, it just seems like I wasn't given a fair shake.

Which is what I think the majority of us feel.


hmmmmm... so does that mean... since my bill will now be going up to over $100 (family plan), since i'm adding internet and text to it... that next year i will be eligible after 12 months vs the 18? or is it strictly based on the voice plan?

[exodar]

I am SO confused by all of this pricing and while I don't like the idea of the increased pricing for existing 3G owners, I do understand it. However, I still haven't found someone with my situation after reading through several message boards. I will probably just go to the AT&T store near my house to find out the deal, but perhaps one of you has a similar situation and can weigh in.

My wife and I both bought 2G iPhones when they first came out and have them both under the FamilyTalk iPhone plan. I upgraded mine last year when the 3G became available and my wife has kept (and is still using) her 2G iPhone. My wife doesn't care about the 3GS, but would like to have my 3G if I upgrade hers and keep it for my own. This is what I had planned to do. However, when I punch her phone number into store.apple.com, she shows the exact same pro-rated 3GS upgrade price that I get when entering my phone number:

$699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

What gives?!?! She has a silver-backed 2G iPhone and has had one since the first week the first iPhone came out! I am hoping this is a mistake, but knowing AT&T, I am worried that it has something to do with the fact that these are both on the same FamilyTalk iPhone plan and I am getting screwed on both because I upgraded one of those phone numbers to a 3G last year. UGH!!! Why can't this ever be simple?

Anyone else have this situation?
exodar

[Shiner]

That is exactly what you have to do. Add some sort of $5 per month service and you can always cancel it after a month.

Do not follow this persons advice. The contract must be for over $100 for at LEAST 12 months! So if you start now you will be eligible in June of next year. Believe me, I followed people's idiotic advice on this forum before.

[jojohnst]

It is NOT a question of entitlement. For ATT, the relative cost of subsidizing an upgrade is marginal. They could subsidize upgrades w/ contracts for huge profit + develop loyalty. instead, they want to bleed out 6+ months more of $ and then assume everyone will resign anyway. i understand this is SOP, and they're in their rights to do it, BUT its dumb! And it's dumbness is esp evident in this case. iphone users are a dream customer base for any wireless company (disposable income, high satisfaction rates and reliable revenue for premium services).
The SOLUTION: If ATT wants to make a marginal call so should we. Make your cell bill your last priority, the last mo bill you pay. Companies spend many millions to encourage you pay them first so, on average, their revenue collects a bit of interest before due. If we all agree not to do this (just pay at the last moment) we won't get in trouble (no late fees) and ATT will lose that little extra they expect from their "best" costumers. If everyone turns up the temp just a small degree, the whole cost-benefit of their policy is put into question. If on average they get payments on the 2nd or 3rd, but now its the 4th or 5th, that means a loss of millions every mo for them. We can do this without breaking our contract but simply by paying Your Cell Bill Last!

[kevdo]

Exodar,
The swap you want to do will be fine. Have your original iPhone upgraded and then swap the SIM cards. The AT&T people can do this for you (and should do so without issue). You defintely should be paying $699.


Also... gotta pile on. That head-tilt by the AT&T guy is just plain creepy.

[rteichman]

If your monthly bill is more than $99, then you are eligible after only 12 months.

Not true. My bill is over $175 a month and I am not eligible till Jan 2010

[exodar]

Exodar,
The swap you want to do will be fine. Have your original iPhone upgraded and then swap the SIM cards. The AT&T people can do this for you (and should do so without issue). You defintely should be paying $699.


Also... gotta pile on. That head-tilt by the AT&T guy is just plain creepy.

I should be paying $699?!? Or did you mean to say shouldn't? God I hope I don't get screwed.

[Shiner]

I am SO confused by all of this pricing and while I don't like the idea of the increased pricing for existing 3G owners, I do understand it. However, I still haven't found someone with my situation after reading through several message boards. I will probably just go to the AT&T store near my house to find out the deal, but perhaps one of you has a similar situation and can weigh in.

My wife and I both bought 2G iPhones when they first came out and have them both under the FamilyTalk iPhone plan. I upgraded mine last year when the 3G became available and my wife has kept (and is still using) her 2G iPhone. My wife doesn't care about the 3GS, but would like to have my 3G if I upgrade hers and keep it for my own. This is what I had planned to do. However, when I punch her phone number into store.apple.com, she shows the exact same pro-rated 3GS upgrade price that I get when entering my phone number:

$699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

What gives?!?! She has a silver-backed 2G iPhone and has had one since the first week the first iPhone came out! I am hoping this is a mistake, but knowing AT&T, I am worried that it has something to do with the fact that these are both on the same FamilyTalk iPhone plan and I am getting screwed on both because I upgraded one of those phone numbers to a 3G last year. UGH!!! Why can't this ever be simple?

Anyone else have this situation?
exodar

I did have this problem and you are screwed. Here is the issue with family plans. When anyone upgrades the plan for a new two year contract then the entire plan is upgraded. WHENEVER you upgrade a family plan you must make sure to upgrade everyone. Think of a family plan as really one main phone with a few added phones to your plan. Do not think of it as many separate plans. You upgraded the phone to the 3G and now you have a new contract they do not care about the the other family plan members.

[twoodcc]

well then. i might just pre-order

[exodar]

I did have this problem and you are screwed. Here is the issue with family plans. When anyone upgrades the plan for a new two year contract then the entire plan is upgraded. WHENEVER you upgrade a family plan you must make sure to upgrade everyone. Think of a family plan as really one main phone with a few added phones to your plan. Do not think of it as many separate plans. You upgraded the phone to the 3G and now you have a new contract they do not care about the the other family plan members.

If that is the case I am going to be COMPLETELY pissed! The subsidizing I get, but this would be complete ******** since I have been paying that same dual-phone plan price to them for WELL over 2 years now and never upgraded that 2G iPhone. Damn greedy pigs.

[coolpal]

Yay my preorder is in process...

why is their two things listed...

If I remember correctly, when I bought the original iPhone (refurb for that matter), I too saw two items in the order.
One was the phone itself, and the other was the special iPhone only att plastic bag... they literally had to ship that bag along with the iPhone (in a generic att box) in the shipment... no the iPhone box was not placed in the plastic bag ;)

pal :)

[Shiner]

Not true. My bill is over $175 a month and I am not eligible till Jan 2010

So by yourself your bill is over $175!! Wow what do you have on that plan?

[rchalico]

Why is he tilting his head so much?

I couldn't even listen to what he was saying, it was too distracting.

[scootaru]

Would any of you agree to a 2-year contract extension on day 1, but extended from the day you are eligible? So if you aren't eligible until 03/10, you would get the phone now and extend your contract to 03/12.

I would probably do this if it was available. I'm not so sure if I'll be upgrading in March, though, because I will probably wait the few months for the new iPhone.

AT&T should be thinking about keeping existing customers seeing as their exclusivity may be up in a year.

[kas23]

No this does not make you eligible whatsoever!! Your personal plan must be over $100. Family plans do not count.

Not entirely true. Someone in the family plan has to be paying more than $100 for their plan - look at the bill. It will tell you what each person pays. For example, my wife and I have a family plan for $129.99 + another $30 for one data plan + 200 text messages each (=$169.99). So, the break down is this; I pay $9.99 for the line + $30 data plan + $5 SMS (=$44.99). She pays $89.99 for line + $30 data plan + $5 SMS (=$124.99). So, she is eligible for 12 month upgrade, I am not.

[80s Fan]

Why is he tilting his head so much?

I wanted to say that earlier when I first saw it too. Does anyone thing that this video is ripe for parody, to be played by Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen? :D Not trying to be mean as this video is very informative, it's just this is all I could think as I was watching it. And it stinks that those of use who bought the first iPhone and the 3G can not get this one without shelling out $400 :mad:

[aeaglex07]

That is what AT&T employees do. They just don't understand that people want MMS and tethering so they tilt their heads. Sort of like when dogs do when you make a puzzling sound.
LOL LOL

[bts169]

I'm really confused.. I never owned the original iPhone and I bought the 3G a few days after release, and my bill is under $100. The Apple Store website says I'm eligible for the $199/$299 pricing immediately. Not complaining, but I wonder why this is the case.

[coolpal]

If that is the case I am going to be COMPLETELY pissed! The subsidizing I get, but this would be complete ******** since I have been paying that same dual-phone plan price to them for WELL over 2 years now and never upgraded that 2G iPhone. Damn greedy pigs.

I don't think your other line will have a two year commitment from the day you upgrade your phone.... it's just the plan maybe... but the other line itself will be upgrade eligible and will be out of contract once it passes the original 24 months.
But if you want to cancel the other line after it is out of contract, You can no longer have the family plan (assuming you only had 2 lines in the FT plan), and changing your plan to an individual plan would proably reset your contract on your line the day you convert your plan.

pal :)

[rteichman]

As an AT&T customer who purchased both the first generation and 3G iPhone, I can understand the frustration of current customers who cannot immediately upgrade at the subsidized price. However, be objective for a second and think about this.

1) You signed a two year contract with AT&T. The contract doesn't say, "this is for two years unless a new iPhone comes out." You're bound to that contract.

2) AT&T subsidized the cost of your iPhone 3G. This means that it costs them money to sell you an iPhone 3g. They lock you in for two years to recoup that money that they LOST by selling you an iPhone. If they subsidized another expensive phone before the two years is up, they would lose money yet again AND if they had you sign another two year deal from right now, they would lose out on one year of monthly service charges.

I understand the frustration with AT&T but stop acting like they are screwing people over.

Point of fact, you are eligible for ANY OTHER phone at a subsidized fee, just not the iPhone. THAT is what is wrong. For example, I could screw AT&T (and yes myself) by getting a subsidized phone to replace my 3G. Now that would be a good one. AT&T pays me to lower my bill by $30 per month (dropping the AT&T data plan).

[teemast]

Our family plan with unlimited texting is well over $200 per month and we still have differing upgrade eligibility according to ATT...my wife in July, me in December...even though we both got our 3G phones on launch day July '08...and even though I am the primary account holder.

If you're looking for reasoning and common sense, check the dictionary.

[exodar]

I'm really confused.. I never owned the original iPhone and I bought the 3G a few days after release, and my bill is under $100. The Apple Store website says I'm eligible for the $199/$299 pricing immediately. Not complaining, but I wonder why this is the case.

ARE YOU SERIOUS! What the hell is going on with this pricing! They need to figure this **** out.

[diabolic]

Not true. My bill is over $175 a month and I am not eligible till Jan 2010

Do you have a family plan? I don't think it applies to family plans.

From AT&T:

Certain AT&T customers may be eligible for a cell phone upgrade even if they have been in their current plan for less than two years (24 months), if they commit to a new 2-year contract and meet these eligibility requirements:

* Customer has had a standard calling plan plus data services costing at least $68.99 a month but no more than $98.99 a month, and who has been in contract (and not had a phone upgrade) for 21 months or more,
or
* Customer has had a standard calling plan plus data services costing $99 a month or more, and who has been in contract (and not upgraded) in the last 12 months.

[caligurl]

something they could do: offer 2 price points... the cheapest for a 2 year contract and a bit more for a 1 year....

when we upgraded 2 years ago (not an iphone) they offered this and we foolishly chose the 2 year option, cheapest price for the phone we got... we could have paid more for the phone and only gotten a year contract (and it was still waaaay below non upgrade elible pricing!)

they could do that ESPECIALLY with the iphone... that way people could chose cheapest or cheaper and still get their new iphone every year!

[caligurl]

Anyone know if we will be able to purchase at Best Buy on launch day? I'd like to buy from them b/c I am a rewards zone member.

i was wondering this too.... (ended up preordering on apple but if i find out 100% that best buy will have them.... i may cancel my preorder so that i can get RZ points!)

[uaecasher]

hey guys, in the video it says there is a non-contract pricing but I can't find it, anyone know here can i per-order non-contact?

thanks

[coolpal]

I'm really confused.. I never owned the original iPhone and I bought the 3G a few days after release, and my bill is under $100. The Apple Store website says I'm eligible for the $199/$299 pricing immediately. Not complaining, but I wonder why this is the case.

Are you part of your company's FAN (Foundation Acct)? If so, then att probably had a special deal with your company and you never have a commitment maybe?

pal :)

[teemast]

in the uncensored version of this tape the guy gets carted off by security guards at the end...

my guess is he's not an ATT employee at all

why post on you tube and not on your own site?

[avediswolf]

AGREED!

If Verizon were to get the iPhone, they would cripple half the features in it, and put on their ugly Verizon GUI.

[Shiner]

Our family plan with unlimited texting is well over $200 per month and we still have differing upgrade eligibility according to ATT...my wife in July, me in December...even though we both got our 3G phones on launch day July '08...and even though I am the primary account holder.

If you're looking for reasoning and common sense, check the dictionary.

Well calm down but maybe you need to check the earlier posts and read a little better.

The personal plan must be over $100 dollars. Whomever is primary on your plan will be eligible after 12 months. Family plans are not many individual plans they are tied to one phone that is the primary.

[archer75]

Nope, I have been with AT&T since 1997, purchased both gen 1 & 3g iPhones on launch day, have never been late on my payments, and have dutifully paid these shmucks $83 every month. My upgrade date for being such a "valuable customer" is March 2010!
They can suck my cojones.

Standard upgrade policies. This applies to ANY carrier. You sign contracts with all of them if you want a subsidized phone. And you wait whatever the designated period is(usually end of contract, but not always) before you can get another discounted phone.

This is nothing new. It's always been that way no matter who you go with.

[coolpal]

hey guys, in the video it says there is a non-contract pricing but I can't find it, anyone know here can i per-order non-contact?

thanks

I don't think they let your pre-order without commitment... but guys calm down.. it's not like they are going to run out of stock or anything. But if it is absolutely necessary that your have it on the first day and the first thing in the morning on 19th... just ignore my post ;)

pal :)

[abgould]

Do you think Apple and/or AT&T might change the pricing so current 3G owners might be able to upgrade now with the subsidzed pricing due to bad PR?

[teemast]

Well calm down but maybe you need to check the earlier posts and read a little better.

The personal plan must be over $100 dollars. Whoever is primary on your plan will be eligible after 12 months. Family plans are not many individual plans they are tied to one phone that is the primary.

I am primary on our family plan...and yet...my upgrade date -- according to ATT website -- is December, my wife's is July. Unless you ask the ATT CSR guy...who says my upgrade date is March 2010 even though the ATT website says December. ATT CSR also says my wife is primary account holder even though ATT website clearly says that I am. Go figure.

[ipoddin]

After a brief chat with AT&T, it seems as though they're doing the following:

- if you owned a 1st Gen and are upgrading to a 3Gs you qualify immediately
- if you owned a 3G and are upgrading to a 3Gs you will qualify 18 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of January 2010 dates)
- if you owned a 1st Gen AND a 3G, you will qualify 12 months after your 3G purchase (hence a lot of July ~13 dates)

This is very poorly communicated but looks to be the situation, which is a tiny bit better than I thought it was last night as they're not totally hosing their most loyal customers.

Can anyone else confirm?

a

I owned a 1st Gen, upgraded to 3G on launch and still says I don't qualify until December 09.

[aneftp]

Do not follow this persons advice. The contract must be for over $100 for at LEAST 12 months! So if you start now you will be eligible in June of next year. Believe me, I followed people's idiotic advice on this forum before.

Sorta correct.

ATT allows people whose (PRIMARY line is over $99) to upgrade every 12 months in a 24 month contract.

The other lines that are attached to the primary line (lines 2-5) maybe be eligible for 18-21 months.

It also depends on the length of time you have been with ATT/Cingular. You do not necessarily have to have $99 and higher primary line cost for 12 months. I got the 12 month upgrade even though I was averaging $99 for only the last 3 months.

[TheOrioles33]

I just pre-ordered off AT&T's site this morning. Ordered 2 - 32GB's to replace my 2 current iPhones. $499 each.

Not sure what the 1 per household is all about or the deal with picking it up. They let me order 2 and its next day shipping right to my house. At least thats what it is at this moment. It could change! :)

[mattster16]

AHHH so I was playing around on Apple's site and went through the pre-order process. I never did get to the last step of it though because I just wanted to look at what options it gave for plans, etc. All of a sudden I get an email thanking me for starting my iPhone purchase online and to come to the store to finish and it is listing the plan options I 'chose' on the bottom.

Do I have to somehow cancel this? Is this just a formality or am I somehow legally bound to buy the phone now? I never actually confirmed anything..

I mean I actually am going to buy one, but I don't know whether I want the 16 or 32 and I don't remember which one I selected while playing with their preorder tool.

[Shiner]

I am primary on our family plan...and yet...my upgrade date is December, my wife's is July. Go figure.

Same thing happened to me. Even online it had me listed as primary. When I called to ask who was primary they had my wife's phone number not mine. Even though the entire family plan is in my name. They picked her number as primary and there is no way to retro actively change this.

[JBaker122586]

I don't think this is correct. Me and my buddy both bough 1st Gen on day 1 and then got the 3G on day 1 and both of our accounts say we're not eligible until December.

It's not correct.

I bought the original iPhone about a week after release, a 3G on launch day, and I'm not eligible until next March. I've had ATT/Cingular for about 10 years.

[thevofl]

Nope, I have been with AT&T since 1997, purchased both gen 1 & 3g iPhones on launch day, have never been late on my payments, and have dutifully paid these shmucks $83 every month. My upgrade date for being such a "valuable customer" is March 2010!
They can suck my cojones.

Imwoblin,

You have my story. I too have been with AT&T Wireless since 1997. I bought gen 1 on launch day and 3g on launch weekend, and I am being told March 2010.

I called AT&T to find out, and I was told 18 month wait, but told them that March is 20 months after purchase. I was then told that 18 months was in error, that it is 20 months.

If I have to wait until March, I will wait for the iPhone 3G-SD (Super Duper iPhone). WWDC is only 364 days away. So Apple and AT&T will have lost a sale. I will be out of contract, and available to go elsewhere.

So to sum up: been with AT&T for 12 years, purchased both iphones opening weekends, gladly sign a new 2-year contract, but now being forced to wait for a new iPhone until a few months before my contract is up. If I have to wait 8 months for an upgrade, I will wait the additional few months so that I can be free of AT&T.

[thethirdshoe]

I want to know why I have to wait until March, 2010 to upgrade my iPhone 3G, when I bought it last July on launch day, just like everyone else.

You buy a car with a 5 year note, and after 2 years you want to get a new car.
Ya think you don't have to pay on the first car anymore? BD

[mpeterson78]

If I preorder the iphone now and put in my information from my existing carrier (verizon) is it going to cancel my verizon service right away and leave me phone-less until next friday? or does the switch over not happen until I receive the phone and activate it over itunes?

[Prenvo]

http://content.screencast.com/users/Calamitie/folders/Jing/media/5af9b5e4-6f86-412d-92df-2d2a89d22c78/00000195.png

[iCHIO]

I just went through the ordering process and the "estimated taxes" for the $299 phone are $66.41

That is over 20% !!


Is there an extra federal sales tax on cellphones?

WTF!

Something is wrong there. My taxes for $299 32GB was around $25 or so.

[iCHIO]

http://content.screencast.com/users/Calamitie/folders/Jing/media/5af9b5e4-6f86-412d-92df-2d2a89d22c78/00000195.png

hahaha I can't stop lol....

[dwl017]

Standard upgrade policies. This applies to ANY carrier. You sign contracts with all of them if you want a subsidized phone. And you wait whatever the designated period is(usually end of contract, but not always) before you can get another discounted phone.

This is nothing new. It's always been that way no matter who you go with.

Wow! :eek: $83 per month for a cell phone! yes I love the iPhone and I agree that is probably one of the worlds greatest little inventions to ever come along but there will never be one in my hand at $83 per month.

Where do you people get the money to pay these companies almost $100 per month for a gadget? I have worked hard all my life day in and day out but just can’t find the justification or the disposable income to throw this kind of money at a cell phone.

Enjoy :)

[TheCheapGeek]

I am in the same boat, bought the 3g on launch day. I am available for an upgrade in December. I am simply selling my phone so provide myself with my own subsidy. The 3g is worth at least 200 dollars, which gives you the same price 399-200=199. I don't know why people are freaking out about the lack of the ability to upgrade. Its a subsidized phone, and that the deal when you want a new phone before your contract is up.

[coleridge78]

same here... and i asked last night.... and no... it' ALL ABOUT CALIFORNIA! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: they are charging us tax on the so-called "full" price of the phone and not the sale price we are paying (like we do with EVERY other thing we buy... cars..... computers..... groceries... if they are on sale... we still pay tax on what is rung up... NOT the MSRP....

i'm really ticked about it!

This isn't the difference between "MSRP" and a sale price or anything else of the sort.

Apple is selling the phone at full price. ATT is volunteering to pay 2/3 of it for you (in return for a contract), but they're leaving you to pay the full sales tax bill.

I'm not a tax lawyer, so this part is conjecture--but I suspect this only applies in California because Apple is a CA company. *IF* it really does only apply in CA.

[Shiner]

Imwoblin,

You have my story. I too have been with AT&T Wireless since 1997. I bought gen 1 on launch day and 3g on launch weekend, and I am being told March 2010.

I called AT&T to find out, and I was told 18 month wait, but told them that March is 20 months after purchase. I was then told that 18 months was in error, that it is 20 months.

If I have to wait until March, I will wait for the iPhone 3G-SD (Super Duper iPhone). WWDC is only 364 days away. So Apple and AT&T will have lost a sale. I will be out of contract, and available to go elsewhere.

So to sum up: been with AT&T for 12 years, purchased both iphones opening weekends, gladly sign a new 2-year contract, but now being forced to wait for a new iPhone until a few months before my contract is up. If I have to wait 8 months for an upgrade, I will wait the additional few months so that I can be free of AT&T.

Well I hate to defend AT&T, but you paid full price for the 1st generation iphone thus you did not have to pay anything else for the 3G at the subsidized price. You have a 24 month contract that you signed. You now want the new phone without paying for it. So why are you mad at AT&T?

[msw123307]

It's not correct.

I bought the original iPhone about a week after release, a 3G on launch day, and I'm not eligible until next March. I've had ATT/Cingular for about 10 years.

I can echo this as well. I've had both phones on release date and am not eligible until March 2010. If I can't upgrade within the first month for $299, I won't do it. Without that price, it just isn't upgrade-worthy for me. We all know there will be a 4G next year - and if you wait until December/March/whatever, there definitely won't be a discounted price when it comes out.

And please, spare me the lectures on "you signed a contract, etc etc." I'm just stating my experience.

For those that really want the phone: the same questions arose last year with the 3G. Give ATT a week to get their stuff together...I think some things will be ironed out closer to time. ATT never has their stuff together right after the announcements.

Of course, wether they ever have their stuff together in general is a good question too..

[ilp]

The video is hilariously bad.

Crazy head tilt. It's like, what was he thinking? "OK, if I tilt my head some more, it'll sound like I'm more down to earth to the common customer man"

[rteichman]

You buy a car with a 5 year note, and after 2 years you want to get a new car.
Ya think you don't have to pay on the first car anymore? BD
Nope you trade it in on the new one :D

[TheOrioles33]

Is there a thread anywhere that have people actually talking about the new iPhone and its new features instead of complaining about the price?

[NAG]

Wow! :eek: $83 per month for a cell phone! yes I love the iPhone and I agree that is probably one of the worlds greatest little inventions to ever come along but there will never be one in my hand at $83 per month.

Where do you people get the money to pay these companies almost $100 per month for a gadget? I have worked hard all my life day in and day out but just can’t find the justification or the disposable income to throw this kind of money at a cell phone.

Enjoy :)
I don't have a land line/long distance. If you remove some of the old time expenses from your monthly bills you can easily make up the difference.

[SkydiveGuy]

I have been an AT&T customer since they were Cellular One in the Boston Area (then they went to Cingular and now AT&T).

I waited out my entire existing 2 year contract until November of 2008 so I could get my iPhone 3G 16GB...

Now I can not upgrade until 3/2010????

I understand the whole "2 year" contract subsidy but if you are going to release a new device every year, I should be able to upgrade every year to the new device without penalty, as long as I sign a new contact.

This is not a way to retain customers in a very bad economic recession IMHO.

In order for my to be able to upgrade to the latest hardware, I need to either wait almost a year, or dish out an additional $100 (on top of $299 I am ready to spend on top of the $299 I spent 7 months ago!!!).

If they are worried about me taking my 7 month old device and handing it off to someone else and getting the new one cheaply, lock the existing phone down so I can not reactivate it until my contract is up (so I cant give it to my brother to use).

Considering there is no real reason to upgrade (video, a compass and a slightly better battery life which I can care less about ) other than getting a 32GB size (my old iPod was 20GB of music, which forces me to remove a LOT of my library on my 16GB iPhone3G)... this will just make me wait until June 2010 until they release the next version.

[timmodugdale]

The money's *not* insignificant, though.

When I bought my 3G, I paid $299 to Apple. ATT then paid an additional $400 to Apple, giving Apple a total of $700 for the phone.

True, you have signed a new 2-year contract...but ATT needs the money from *those* two years to pay off the $400 subsidy they have paid Apple on your behalf for the 3G-S. So ATT will still have lost $200.


On this point, I agree, mostly. There is a return on investment issue that is fair to point out. That said, the posts today show that AT&T has its own formula to determine when you have paid your dues to them. When some people are able to refresh in 12 months, some in 16 months and some in 17 or 18 months, it does seem somewhat arbitrary.

What I think the overall all problem is that Apple clearly has a 12 month refresh schedule. AT&T should either get in line with that (as to not piss off their customers) or they should offer one year contracts with a smaller subsidy. Many people bought the original iPhone without a subsidy. I would be willing to pay more and have a smaller subsidy in order to get a phone when I want it. Maybe others would not.

[erzeszut]

Wow! :eek: $83 per month for a cell phone! yes I love the iPhone and I agree that is probably one of the worlds greatest little inventions to ever come along but there will never be one in my hand at $83 per month.

Where do you people get the money to pay these companies almost $100 per month for a gadget? I have worked hard all my life day in and day out but just can’t find the justification or the disposable income to throw this kind of money at a cell phone.

Enjoy :)

To each their own. Everyone spends money on the things they consider valuable.

I pay approximately 4-5x more on my car each month than I do on my iPhone, once you consider car payment, gas, and insurance. Yet I use my iPhone MUCH MUCH MUCH more than I use my car on a daily basis.

So the return on investment for me, on the iPhone, is a good one. If your lifestyle/bank account suggests that it wouldn't be for you, don't buy one.

[rteichman]

I am in the same boat, bought the 3g on launch day. I am available for an upgrade in December. I am simply selling my phone so provide myself with my own subsidy. The 3g is worth at least 200 dollars, which gives you the same price 399-200=199. I don't know why people are freaking out about the lack of the ability to upgrade. Its a subsidized phone, and that the deal when you want a new phone before your contract is up.

Actually its something ATT/Apple should offer. Trade-in your 3G for a 3GS. Its a win-win situation. ATT gets more subscribers by being able to offer more $99/$149 phones. Less phones end up in land fills. Apple can show how "green" they are.

[dwl017]

I don't have a land line/long distance. If you remove some of the old time expenses from your monthly bills you can easily make up the difference.

Good point I do have a few friends that use their cell phones as their primary phone so I can see it in those cases.

[press045]

Is there a thread anywhere that have people actually talking about the new iPhone and its new features instead of complaining about the price?

I agree. I love the new phone and can't wait to use one. I'm eligible for the upgrade on July 28 and will definitely be getting the 32 GB.

[NAG]

Well I hate to defend AT&T, but you paid full price for the 1st generation iphone thus you did not have to pay anything else for the 3G at the subsidized price. You have a 24 month contract that you signed. You now want the new phone without paying for it. So why are you mad at AT&T?

I am personally only mad at AT&T because the upgrade timing is so completely variable. It ranges from launch to March. I'm on a single plan without text messaging but my family (yes my family bundles our phones together because it is cheaper) has 6 phones total with AT&T. So because my phone isn't in the family plan because it was easier to just stick me on an iPhone plan I don't get to upgrade until March (and I'm not upgrading that close to the next iPhone announcement which leaves me out of contract and able to switch carriers if the next iPhone is on another carrier for one reason or another...probably won't happen until at least 2011 though).

It is so depersonalized that it isn't really funny. I mean, I'm not surprised since this is the company that won't have MMS at launch because they have to manually unblock each iPhone account (not that I care for MMS).

[Shiner]

On this point, I agree, mostly. There is a return on investment issue that is fair to point out. That said, the posts today show that AT&T has its own formula to determine when you have paid your dues to them. When some people are able to refresh in 12 months, some in 16 months and some in 17 or 18 months, it does seem somewhat arbitrary.

What I think the overall all problem is that Apple clearly has a 12 month refresh schedule. AT&T should either get in line with that (as to not piss off their customers) or they should offer one year contracts with a smaller subsidy. Many people bought the original iPhone without a subsidy. I would be willing to pay more and have a smaller subsidy in order to get a phone when I want it. Maybe others would not.

I do not agree with the logic of the first post. They essentially want something for nothing. However, I believe that AT&T should offer a year plan for upgrade. The only problem is most people in this forum would go off the deep end when the price came out.

THE PHONE COSTS $699!!!!

Either pay it up front or it gets subsidized. Geez what is so hard about this.

[caligurl]

AHHH so I was playing around on Apple's site and went through the pre-order process. I never did get to the last step of it though because I just wanted to look at what options it gave for plans, etc. All of a sudden I get an email thanking me for starting my iPhone purchase online and to come to the store to finish and it is listing the plan options I 'chose' on the bottom.

Do I have to somehow cancel this? Is this just a formality or am I somehow legally bound to buy the phone now? I never actually confirmed anything..

I mean I actually am going to buy one, but I don't know whether I want the 16 or 32 and I don't remember which one I selected while playing with their preorder tool.


i got a couple of those yesterday when i was doing the same thing... playing around looking at pricing, etc....

"funny" thing is... when i finally did order.... didn't get an email confirmation for either phone!?!

[dwl017]

To each their own. Everyone spends money on the things they consider valuable.

I pay approximately 4-5x more on my car each month than I do on my iPhone, once you consider car payment, gas, and insurance. Yet I use my iPhone MUCH MUCH MUCH more than I use my car on a daily basis.

So the return on investment for me, on the iPhone, is a good one. If your lifestyle/bank account suggests that it wouldn't be for you, don't buy one.

Please go back and read my post where I said "I love the iPhone" my post was not meant to spark any negative remarks. AT&T being the only carrier just makes me think they have bit of a monoploy on pricing.

[archer75]

Wow! :eek: $83 per month for a cell phone! yes I love the iPhone and I agree that is probably one of the worlds greatest little inventions to ever come along but there will never be one in my hand at $83 per month.

Where do you people get the money to pay these companies almost $100 per month for a gadget? I have worked hard all my life day in and day out but just can’t find the justification or the disposable income to throw this kind of money at a cell phone.

Enjoy :)

I don't have an iphone. Can't justify the monthly price. We use VOIP at home for our landline for $15/month. Let's us use standard phones in all our wall jacks.
Our cell phones are on pre pay as we just don't use them that much. If i'm out and need to ask the wife if she needs something from the store. Stuff like that. We don't tend to "chit chat" on the phone.
And the cell reception at our house is horrible. Any carrier. We are in almost a little bowl in this neighborhood so it affects that. But even so I couldn't justify $130/month to have phones we'd rarely use as phones.

I do wish the touch had all the features of the iphone 3GS, minus the phone, i'd buy one in a heartbeat. That I could use.

[Shiner]

Good point I do have a few friends that use their cell phones as their primary phone so I can see it in those cases.

Do not know one of my friends that has a single landline in their house or apartment. My one friend had to place it back in for his alarm and that is it.

I hate when people give financial advice when their own decisions are outdated. Landlines are not needed in a majority of homes and are way overpriced.

[caligurl]

This isn't the difference between "MSRP" and a sale price or anything else of the sort.

Apple is selling the phone at full price. ATT is volunteering to pay 2/3 of it for you (in return for a contract), but they're leaving you to pay the full sales tax bill.

I'm not a tax lawyer, so this part is conjecture--but I suspect this only applies in California because Apple is a CA company. *IF* it really does only apply in CA.


has nothing to do with apple.... i actually remember b!tching about the same thing years ago when i got my very first phone.... it's just another BS way california gets us.... however.... i do recall only paying the tax on the actual price i paid for my phone two years ago! :rolleyes: but i bought it at the walmart cell center.... so maybe they were set up differently?

[RyanR.]

I have a question. I checked my upgrade availability through Apple.com. They said I could get iPhone 3Gs in December 09.

Now, will I have to sign another 2 year contract?
AT&T is not great in my area but then again no one is, but no 3G at all.

Also Tom Tom app will it work while in an area without service? :confused:

I know its been said, but boooo AT&T no tethering no MMS.

[erzeszut]

Please go back and read my post where I said "I love the iPhone" my post was not meant to spark any negative remarks. AT&T being the only carrier just makes me think they have bit of a monoploy on pricing.

Monthly pricing on other smartphones -- the Pre, the Blackberry Storm and Pearl, etc. -- is in the same ballpark, both on AT&T and other carriers.

The purchase price is higher for the iPhone, for sure. But monthly costs are not out of line compared to other similar (but I would say inferior) devices.

[Shiner]

Monthly pricing on other smartphones -- the Pre, the Blackberry Storm and Pearl, etc. -- is in the same ballpark, both on AT&T and other carriers.

The purchase price is higher for the iPhone, for sure. But monthly costs are not out of line compared to other similar (but I would say inferior) devices.

Nice post!

[NAG]

Either pay it up front or it gets subsidized. Geez what is so hard about this.

This is a strawman. Most of us are not complaining about the fact that it is subsidized. We're complaining that their formula deciding who gets to upgrade and who doesn't is completely borked. Some people have two iphones, bought at the same time, on the same plan, yet one can upgrade at launch and the other has to wait until December.

There is no logic to the upgrade timing. It is AT&T relying on a broken algorithm.

[vm8a72]

I don't have an iphone. Can't justify the monthly price. We use VOIP at home for our landline for $15/month. Let's us use standard phones in all our wall jacks.
Our cell phones are on pre pay as we just don't use them that much. If i'm out and need to ask the wife if she needs something from the store. Stuff like that. We don't tend to "chit chat" on the phone.
And the cell reception at our house is horrible. Any carrier. We are in almost a little bowl in this neighborhood so it affects that. But even so I couldn't justify $130/month to have phones we'd rarely use as phones.

I do wish the touch had all the features of the iphone 3GS, minus the phone, i'd buy one in a heartbeat. That I could use.
Then why are you here?

[zim]

This thread compiled fast so forgive me if this was stated.

On launch day ATT should consider 3 lines....
One for customers who had pre-ordered
Another for customers who wish to purchase that day
And a final for those that have completed either of the first two lines and can't activate their accounts.

[archer75]

Then why are you here?

Because I like to keep up on the news.

[SandynJosh]

Hmm.. That's strange. Then there must be another variable at play here.

Any thoughts?

It all depends on which direction the AT&T representative's head is tilted when you talk to them. If a "right-leaner" says 'no', seek out a "left-leaner" and ask the same question.

[ThunderSkunk]

The problem is, AT&T requires a 2 year contract on a phone, and Apple releases a new iPhone every year.

A few things about this:

- The 3GS is nearly the same phone as the 3G, but a relatively minor performance boost. If you got a 3G & don't upgrade til the next model, you'll have gotten two years of pretty much the same service. You're not going to be missing out on much.

- If AT&T didn't suck so much, you'd have an account, not your phone. And then your 2 year contract would cover two years with any phone, and no BS. ...and then you'd be paying the $700 cost up front, like all us 2G owners did.

[caligurl]

i'm beginning to wonder if i just oughta cancel my preorder and go with the cheaper "old" 3G version..... that way if they do come out with a brand spankin' super cool new version this year... i can better justify getting it (if i buy the 3GS, no way will i pay to get a new one next year!?

i mean i can live without video... i can continue to carry my camera around with me for that! i want the iphone mainly for the online and apps!

[aristobrat]

Something is wrong there. My taxes for $299 32GB was around $25 or so.
Some states require that sales tax on cell phones be computed off of the actual price of the phone ($599/$699 or whatever it is) instead of the subsidized price of the phone ($199/$299).

[kevdo]

I should be paying $699?!? Or did you mean to say shouldn't? God I hope I don't get screwed.

My bad. Shouldn't have to pay $699.

[epsteind]

Since everyone is sharing their stories of ATT traumas i thought i would too. I'm a ATT "premier" customer. Last July I bought an iphone 3g for 499. I called this year and was informed that I was not eligible for an early upgrade price of 399/499 until Dec 2010. I was told i could buy an iphone at full price (599/699), but that I would have to sign a new two year contract if I did that. This seems entirely unfair... I can't wait for some other carrier to get the iphone, so that ATT will have to be competitive!

[NAG]

i'm beginning to wonder if i just oughta cancel my preorder and go with the cheaper "old" 3G version..... that way if they do come out with a brand spankin' super cool new version this year... i can better justify getting it (if i buy the 3GS, no way will i pay to get a new one next year!?

i mean i can live without video... i can continue to carry my camera around with me for that! i want the iphone mainly for the online and apps!

If you buy the $99 iPhone model you're still on a 2 year contract. If you have a 3G already just stick with that and wait for the next model.

And just a note, the faster network speed that the iPhone 3G[s] can reach won't even be out with AT&T until the end of the year at best. So there really isn't any point upgrading this time around if you have a 3G.

[dwd3885]

Because it has to be a year and a half before they regain their subsidy from the iphone 3g you bought

Sorry everyone else answered 1st
apparently if you had 1st iphone then upgraded to 3g it will be 12months after you bought 3g

I had the original iPhone too. It makes no sense to me.

[thevofl]

Well I hate to defend AT&T, but you paid full price for the 1st generation iphone thus you did not have to pay anything else for the 3G at the subsidized price. You have a 24 month contract that you signed. You now want the new phone without paying for it. So why are you mad at AT&T?

Easily answer. INCONSISTENCY!!!!!! If AT&T gave the rules out with FULL TRANSPARENCY and then stuck to them, I wouldn't have an issue (I would grumble, but say it is what it is.) They did that last year when the 3G came out.

I am given a March 2010 date. I am a high paying customer; I have been with AT&T for 12 years; I am even a former employee who left on good standing. Why is it that a friend of mine has a 7/09 date?

If I am given 3/10 date, theoretically EVERYONE should have a 3/10 date. When I questioned the inconsistency, I am told that I signed a two year contract. When I said that friends who own 3G phones are getting 7/09 dates, I was told that was when their two years were up.

I said that was impossible, but I got the employee to ignorantly state that my friend probably got the 3G phone in the fall of 07.

This thread is riddled with examples of inconsistency.

AT&T should specifically state SOMETHING when it comes to the assigning of these dates.

When I used to work for AT&T, and they would announce something absurd without giving a transparent explanation, I used to tell my boss that it went against logic. Her response was "Don't you DARE bring logic into this building."

[dwd3885]

It may be the price of your monthly bill. I think I read somewhere that if you pay greater than $100 per month, you are eligible to get a subs phones after 12 months. If not, you wait 18 months.

again, I pay $150/month, had the original iPhone, bought the 3G in July last year, yet I'm screwed and don't become eligible for a new iphone until march?

[archer75]

Since everyone is sharing their stories of ATT traumas i thought i would too. I'm a ATT "premier" customer. Last July I bought an iphone 3g for 499. I called this year and was informed that I was not eligible for an early upgrade price of 399/499 until Dec 2010. I was told i could buy an iphone at full price (599/699), but that I would have to sign a new two year contract if I did that. This seems entirely unfair... I can't wait for some other carrier to get the iphone, so that ATT will have to be competitive!

That's standard. Same across all carriers. If you want a new phone before your contract is up you always pay full price.

[skinnylegs]

That is what AT&T employees do. They just don't understand that people want MMS and tethering so they tilt their heads. Sort of like when dogs do when you make a puzzling sound.Probably one of the funniest comments I've *ever* read here. :D

[dwd3885]

If your monthly bill is more than $99, then you are eligible after only 12 months.

my monthly bill is $129+ taxes