Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I contacted AT&T about this very same thing and I was told that you can shop in a retail AT&T store and give the FAN # when activating your new contract, or to just call AT&T and have the FAN # applied to your account. The discount does not apply to the hardware itself, but rather the monthly plan. So you should be fine to go to AT&T or Apple... just call AT&T afterwards.

I have a similar discount due to my employer, so to avoid confusion I'm heading to an AT&T store for launch. They seem to be better equipped for corporate discounts, as they had the list of companies right there behind the counter when I went in for my advance credit check. What the register jockey didn't know, the store manager spouted what to do down to the keystrokes like it was an old hat. I don't think the manager at an Apple store will be that knowledgeable, regardless of how well trained the other employees are, so that's why I'm hitting up the AT&T store instead.
 
So I called my local ATT and they explained that I had to have 1 person with me to purchase 2 phones. Is it the same rule with the Apple stores? 1 per person?
 
"FamilyTalk plan buyers must purchase at least 2 iPhones, or have an existing iPhone to be used in the plan."

This line alarmed me, as well, so I called ATT customer care and inquired about it. I do not currently have any iPhone and will be replacing my Cingular 8525 with an iPhone 3G. What the business customer care representative explained to me is that when I purchase the new phone, it will inherit the voice plan from my 8525 and the data plan will be switched to the iPhone 3G plan (which will actually save me $4/month before the service discount!!) She said that there is no requirement that I purchase more than 1 iPhone to simply activate and use it on my existing FamilyTalk plan.

thank you, I was just about to call them because I am in exactly same situation. Cant wait till this Friday I'll try to pick up one after 11:00.
 
Used iphone 3G will be valuable!

I dont' see what the big excitement is all about. The new 3G isn't all that better besides faster internet and GPS. I'm sticking with my version1 iPhone for another 2 months than will buy a lightly used 3G for $99 on ebay or something.

Are you crazy? Try purchasing a beat up 1 year old iphone v1, it'll cost you no less than $375 on ebay. I suspect once they figure out how to unlock the 3G iphone it will go for +$500 easily for the 8gb, +$650 for the 16gb. You are comparing to the subsidized price, which is the wrong way to value a phone. Add to the fact that fewer iphone3Gs will be sold on ebay because of forced activation/subscription to service, the prices may even be higher...
 
1 eligible and 1 not eligible

Originally Posted by pcturnedmac
I'm hearing more rumors about a 32 gig iPhone, possibly in the next 6 months. Anyone else know about this? I was set on getting an iPhone this Friday, but when I heard this, my heart sank as I felt like I was falling to another ploy to Steve.

My phone is upgrade eligible and my wifes is not (Mar 09). Thus, based on all the family plan talk threads in this forum, I will upgrade mine now and then if the 32GB comes out later then I can upgrade hers next year. She doesn't need all the memory so I hope I can just switch numbers on the phones later if the new one has 32GB. Or wait for the 3rd generation iPhone when I'll be able to use it as a hoverboard and ride it to work.
 
So just to be sure...I receive a service discount on my wireless plan each month on my individual account (personally paid, not company). I am a current iPhone user and I am eligible to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G. Will I also be able to go to the Apple Store to purchase since I have a service discount in place? I would go to an AT&T store, but I have an Apple Gift card I was planning on using.

I contacted AT&T about this very same thing and I was told that you can shop in a retail AT&T store and give the FAN # when activating your new contract, or to just call AT&T and have the FAN # applied to your account. The discount does not apply to the hardware itself, but rather the monthly plan. So you should be fine to go to AT&T or Apple... just call AT&T afterwards.
 
Yes, my understanding is that the discount is tied to your account, not what phone you own or even what plan you're on. If you already receive the discount, go to either store and upgrade to the new phone and maybe double check with AT&T either through first bill, or by calling that the discount is still there.

So just to be sure...I receive a service discount on my wireless plan each month on my individual account (personally paid, not company). I am a current iPhone user and I am eligible to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G. Will I also be able to go to the Apple Store to purchase since I have a service discount in place? I would go to an AT&T store, but I have an Apple Gift card I was planning on using.
 
You rock.....that is excatly what I wanted to hear. I would prefer to buy from the Apple Store. If the discount was going to prevent me from going to the Apple Store, I was going to have it removed before Friday, go to Apple buy the iPhone and have it added back. ;)

Yes, my understanding is that the discount is tied to your account, not what phone you own or even what plan you're on. If you already receive the discount, go to either store and upgrade to the new phone and maybe double check with AT&T either through first bill, or by calling that the discount is still there.
 
I am thinking about unlocking my phone and putting it up for sale on eBay. Am I going to need the phone on Friday with me in the store in order to prove that I own one? Or are they going to be able to tell from my account that I have one?
 
Error in summary

Your summary has an error. The original article says the AT&T store CANNOT help business customers. You said business customers MUST go to an AT&T store.
 
I've talked to 2 people through AT&T business support and both have confirmed that I will NOT be receiving my business discount on this iphone. I did not receive the discount on the previous iphone, but I figured since these plans are similar to the blackberry plans that I can get discounts on that I would receive my 20% off.

For those talking about getting discounts, are you just assuming or have you talked to anyone to confirm you will be getting these discounts?
 
Title is incorrect???

I just spoke with the Apple store at MacArthur Mall in Norfolk Virginia and she said they did not know what time they would be opening on Friday...she said I should call back later to confirm a time. With the launch like 3 days away it seems so STUPID to not have a store opening time nailed down yet!!!:confused:
 
I just called one of my local stores -- Tysons -- and they confirmed that yes, they will be opening at 8:00 AM because the new iPhones will be going on sale. I would expect that ALL the Apple retail stores will be doing the same, especially as Apple has announced this.
 
"FamilyTalk plan buyers must purchase at least 2 iPhones, or have an existing iPhone to be used in the plan."

anyone know if Apple Stores will impose the same 1 phone per person rule as ATT stores? I would be a new ATT customer and want 2 iPhones on a family plan, but won't have the second person with me.
 
Uhhh... you do know Apple used the exact same screen on the 3G as the original, right?

I might buy a used 1G iPhone anyways, though; save a bunch on the plan over 2 yrs. - a friend might sell me his for like $125!

Oh get the first-gen EDGE iPhone! My wife and I have a 4GB and an 8GB, respectively. Firmware 2.0 for the old iPhone will have the scientific calculator if you really need it on your mobile device. I couldn't care less about 3G since it all pales in comparison to the inbuilt Wi-Fi; EDGE or 3G is just a convenience in a pinch (for me). The materials, especially the aluminum back, are SO much nicer; I think you'll prefer the "flat" iPhone to the "bowed" 3G iPhone. No GPS, but tower triangulation works just great for me, even a hundred miles out in the sticks. It's not backwater-road-intersection-accurate, but it definitely shows you where you are on the Google Maps application. (Example: If I use at home from my sofa, it throws a target circle around the half of a block on which, with my house dead center in the target circle.) Caveat: Location tagging of photos from the inbuilt camera, I don't know this will work with triangulation; this feature may require a 3G iPhone w/ inbuilt GPS.

And, of course, all the first- and third-party apps on the new App Store, saving ones that require GPS and won't use triangulation, will work just fine, just as nice, just as fast, on a first-gen EDGE iPhone. I'd pay $125, take the $75 saved on the iPhone, plus all the money saved on the 2 years of service, and use that to buy App Store items you want or need.
 
By the way, this is something you all may not know. Under the
law only banks and the goverment are entitled to your social
security number. If ATT asks for this number you are not required
to give it to them. Just something to think about...

ThePDAJunkie
 
I probably should clarify my previous comments. I have one other line on my account that is not an iPhone and that line receives the service discount. I just looked at my last bill and my iPhone does not receive the discount, but again the other line does. I thought this would change with the new iPhone....guess not.

I've talked to 2 people through AT&T business support and both have confirmed that I will NOT be receiving my business discount on this iphone. I did not receive the discount on the previous iphone, but I figured since these plans are similar to the blackberry plans that I can get discounts on that I would receive my 20% off.

For those talking about getting discounts, are you just assuming or have you talked to anyone to confirm you will be getting these discounts?
 
I just called AT&T and they indicated that you will be able to apply a corporate discount. However, you'll need to go to an AT&T store to get your phone if you currently have a FAN number associated with your account. I was getting a discount with my RAZR, and when I upgraded to an iPhone, I lost the discount, but I still had the FAN number on my account, so I am considered a "business customer" (which means I wouldn't be able to get my phone at an Apple store).

My advice - if you're deadset on getting your phone at an Apple store, make sure you don't have a FAN number associated with your account. You can do so by logging into your AT&T account. The FAN number would be at the top right of the main page. If you see one, you can call AT&T and ask them to remove it. I'm going to go to a corporate AT&T store AFTER I get the new phone and then re-apply the discount.
 
I'm not sure why no one seems to understand the Family Talk issue.

Here's how it works, You can open a FamilyTalk plan with one iPhone 3g, and as many other phones as you'd like, but in the event that you want to sign up for an iPhone specific FamilyTalk Plan, you must purchase 2 iPhones at time of activation, otherwise it would just be a regular FamilyTalk plan. I'm assuming that this will be the case for Apple Stores as they will ONLY have the iPhone 3G to supply new Multi-iPhone FamilyTalk customers with, as you cannot activate a line w/o a phone attached to it.
 
Well we are receiving conflicting info....what a surprise huh? I just called and asked the same and I was told I COULD purchase from an Apple Store.

The rep said that I was not considered a business customer since I personally pay for my two lines of service. To be considered a business customer for one you would need to be part of a billing account number (BAN) that is tied to a Businesses Federal Tax ID. She stated that my BAN was listed as a personal account and tied to my SSN and that it did not matter that I had a FAN attached. I am going to take my chances and go the Apple Store since I have a gift card to pay for the iPhone.


I just called AT&T and they indicated that you will be able to apply a corporate discount. However, you'll need to go to an AT&T store to get your phone if you currently have a FAN number associated with your account. I was getting a discount with my RAZR, and when I upgraded to an iPhone, I lost the discount, but I still had the FAN number on my account, so I am considered a "business customer" (which means I wouldn't be able to get my phone at an Apple store).

My advice - if you're deadset on getting your phone at an Apple store, make sure you don't have a FAN number associated with your account. You can do so by logging into your AT&T account. The FAN number would be at the top right of the main page. If you see one, you can call AT&T and ask them to remove it. I'm going to go to a corporate AT&T store AFTER I get the new phone and then re-apply the discount.
 
"FamilyTalk plan buyers must purchase at least 2 iPhones, or have an existing iPhone to be used in the plan."

FYI... I called my local Apple store and they said that they currently limiting iPhones to 5 per customer. For those like myself who would be new customers starting a family plan, it looks like Apple will make it more convenient than AT&T who is limiting to 1 per customer on Friday.
 
"FamilyTalk plan buyers must purchase at least 2 iPhones, or have an existing iPhone to be used in the plan."

FYI... I called my local Apple store and they said that they currently limiting iPhones to 5 per customer. For those like myself who would be new customers starting a family plan, it looks like Apple will make it more convenient than AT&T who is limiting to 1 per customer on Friday.

Well I'm personally glad that AT&T is doing this, it makes it more fair for everyone who is out there standing in line on launch day. If you really need a phone for your family members on day 1, get them out there in line like I'm doing. Otherwise wait a few weeks and I'm sure by then you can go get as many as you need.
 
By the way, this is something you all may not know. Under the
law only banks and the goverment are entitled to your social
security number. If ATT asks for this number you are not required
to give it to them. Just something to think about...

ThePDAJunkie

Yes, they'll just charge you a deposit of about $500 which you'll get back in a year. Apparently the Apple retail stores are not set up to skip the credit check and go straight to the deposit, but AT&T retail stores are (be ready to ask to talk to a manager if the clerk doesn't think that this is possible).
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.