Same here. I don't care what price I have to pay for the new one, I'll buy it.
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Are 3G users screwed come June by AT&T?
- Thread starter DigitalDorf
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Same here. I don't care what price I have to pay for the new one, I'll buy it.
The next gen iPhone is clearly going to be targeted at current iPhone (that means 3G) customers who want more. That's hint number one.
Number two is quite simple. It is always to AT&Ts advantage to allow you an early upgrade, subsidy or not, but the subsidy adds the incentive the consumer needs, only a year or less into their contract. By timing the option with the new hardware release they further guarantee an upgrade.
These upgrades are incredibly valuable as they begin a new two year contract. That is key. After a year of service, ATT is guaranteed only one more year from you the customer. By offering you a subsidized phone as an "early upgrade", they essentially guaranteeing 3 years of total service from you. If they get you upgrade again a year later, 4 total years, and so on....
AT&T makes all of its money off the contracts, and the longer one it exists, the more valuable it is. By heading off the contract expiry, and offering early upgrades, they extend a single customer for years. Its brilliant and $$$$$
Yes, 3G owners will recieve a subsidized early upgrade come iPhone V3.
Number two is quite simple. It is always to AT&Ts advantage to allow you an early upgrade, subsidy or not, but the subsidy adds the incentive the consumer needs, only a year or less into their contract. By timing the option with the new hardware release they further guarantee an upgrade.
These upgrades are incredibly valuable as they begin a new two year contract. That is key. After a year of service, ATT is guaranteed only one more year from you the customer. By offering you a subsidized phone as an "early upgrade", they essentially guaranteeing 3 years of total service from you. If they get you upgrade again a year later, 4 total years, and so on....
AT&T makes all of its money off the contracts, and the longer one it exists, the more valuable it is. By heading off the contract expiry, and offering early upgrades, they extend a single customer for years. Its brilliant and $$$$$
Yes, 3G owners will recieve a subsidized early upgrade come iPhone V3.
er no. Because those same upgraders would just cry the year after when yet another upgrade comes out, If they allowed this, AT&T would never ever be getting the full two years out of customers over which the phone's cost would be rolled into the contract, so in effect AT&T would be losing half the cost of the phone.
It's not going to happen.
I am astonished - just astonished - that there is any debate beyond this point. Let me make this is easy to understand as possible:
1) Log into Att.com/mywireless.
2) Find the "Device/Phone" section - it's the middle column on the first page.
3) Find the link "Check upgrade options"
4) If you are not currently eligible, it will tell you when you are.
Upgrade period for lines less than $99 per month is 18 months whereas upgrade period for lines more than $99 per month is 12 months. Anyone can check their upgrade eligibility just like SWC did at any time. End of debate. If it says you can upgrade in July, you can upgrade in July. If it says December, it's December. What is so hard to understand about this?
The next iPhone model is targeted at new customers to the iPhone, not the 1% of the cell phone market that already purchased the iPhone based on what it currently offers. No, 3G owners will not receive a subsidy for the next iPhone if it is released in July. I'm sure you were not aware, but when the 3G was released, current AT&T customers who were on a subsidized contract and were not eligible were not offered a subsidy on the iPhone 3G.
First of all on AT&T's website, looking at when you are eligible for an upgrade means NOTHING towards a yet, UNANNOUNCED, phone...such as a new iPhone 3G. It means you are eligible towards any other phone in their inventory.
And last year when V1 owners such as myself "upgraded" to the 3G, it was a subsidy. If we would have walked into AT&T with a V1 iPhone on 3G launch day, and asked for a new BlackBerry, they would have told us we aren't eligible as our 2 year iPhone contract hadn't ended yet.
I think one factor in being granted such great subsidy prices, was AT&T really trying to get people on the 3G network. From what I understand, it helps their WHOLE network out because 3G manages data much more efficiently. And with as much money they put into it, you gotta have people pay for it.
So this year what's going to happen? Nobody knows until it's announced.
And last year when V1 owners such as myself "upgraded" to the 3G, it was a subsidy. If we would have walked into AT&T with a V1 iPhone on 3G launch day, and asked for a new BlackBerry, they would have told us we aren't eligible as our 2 year iPhone contract hadn't ended yet.
I think one factor in being granted such great subsidy prices, was AT&T really trying to get people on the 3G network. From what I understand, it helps their WHOLE network out because 3G manages data much more efficiently. And with as much money they put into it, you gotta have people pay for it.
So this year what's going to happen? Nobody knows until it's announced.
It's so refreshing to see that I'm not the only one here who finds these threads and the 'I wanna break my contract without any penalty!' whining totally ridiculous.
I read elsewhere (the Skype thread?) that younger people tend to forget the massive investments made by the carriers on infrastructure and I totally agree. But it's more than that - it seems these people can't even remember that less than a year ago they got a $300+ discount on a brand new iPhone in exchange for agreeing to two years of service! I mean, is it really that difficult to wrap one's head around the concept of subsidy=contract=commitment? I mean, wow. Just wow. And here I thought that you had to be at least 13 years old to register on the forums!
I read elsewhere (the Skype thread?) that younger people tend to forget the massive investments made by the carriers on infrastructure and I totally agree. But it's more than that - it seems these people can't even remember that less than a year ago they got a $300+ discount on a brand new iPhone in exchange for agreeing to two years of service! I mean, is it really that difficult to wrap one's head around the concept of subsidy=contract=commitment? I mean, wow. Just wow. And here I thought that you had to be at least 13 years old to register on the forums!
well....they really should let 3g users upgrade but like renew the contract for a $50-$100 option. cause many many many people will be super peeved when a new iphone comes out i don't think apple wants to piss off more than a million people or whatever is the amount of people with a 3g
The contract is with AT&T, not Apple. How could someone be angry at Apple for having signed a contract with AT&T?
Seriously, think about what you're saying.
If AT&T let iPhone users upgrade with a subsidy every time a new model came out, they would have to start letting everyone do it whenever a new model came out.
You are absolutely WRONG! Your statement leads me to believe you did not have a 1st Gen iPhone. The 1st Gen iPhone was bought at FULL price, that's the only reason people were allowed to upgrade at the discounted price on the 3G.
I could at anytime go in and get a new subsidized phone; my upgrade eligibility did not change when I bought an iPhone. Yes you sign a contract, though it's different from your upgrade eligibility. If you weren't upgrade eligible when you have a 1st gen iPhone, that means you already had a subsidized phone prior to purchasing the 1st gen. AT&T made it policy that anyone with a 1st Gen would be able to upgrade, as long as you bought the iPhone prior to a certain date.
The ONLY reason they went that route was to reduce the confusion on the CSRs and to make the customer's happy as it would have been a huge pain to go through and determine everyone's upgrade status and eligibility. Also too many people would have thought they could upgrade and get turned away.
Will AT&T allow an early upgrade pricing, I think so; will it be the same price as the new and upgrade eligible customers - NOT A CHANCE!
so what happens when the 2010 iphone comes out? Another early upgrade? Why would someone be pissed off because he cant get an early upgrade? He has not completed his contract yet has he. If that person was so concerned about upgrading to the next iphone, he should have bought the previous one at full price. You signed a 2 yr contract and if you wish to change your phone before then you are free to do so at whatever price its being sold for without subsidy.
+1 at last some comments that make sense and not a 4yr old throwing a tantrum.
I think AT&T will likely offer an upgrade path, they're have been rumors of a trade in program(although it sounded less then a great deal, it would be a way to open up iPhone 3G -> iPhone 3.0 hardware..plus we'd need to hear the actually details first)
I checked my eligibilty date and it said I am eligible to upgrade to a new iPhone at a reduced rate, but I am not eligible to upgrade at a discounted rate until 04/01/2010.
8GB is $399 w/ 2 year contract
16GB is $499 w/ 2 year contract
8GB is $399 w/ 2 year contract
16GB is $499 w/ 2 year contract
The new iPhone will be offered to everyone at subsidized prices on condition that the original iPhone owners sign a 2-year contract, whereas the iPhone 3G owners sign a 3-year contract. Fair enough!
How would this be remotely attractive to AT&T? Think about what you're saying.
Someone just bought an 3G iPhone last year, they haven't even had the patience to let 18 months ride out on a 2-year contract over which the price of the subsidy is basically amortized. You think AT&T wants to offer these people a 3-year contract where the subsidy will be amortized over an even longer period of time so that when these same people come in next year for the next iPhone they'll have recovered even less money on that subsidy compounded by the one that customer never finished paying back originally?
All I have to say is I don't know what they did in the past and I'm not for sure what they will do this summer... but what bothers me so much is the culture we live in America. It's the GIMME now attitude. I'm still with my iPhone 1st Gen. Why? Because I didn't have to pay extra on ending my contract, the phone (again), and doing a new contract that would end up costing me another $300. So in that mind set, I saved around $800 by sticking with the lower end speeds of the internet. I didn't bother it and I practically used my phone every day at work for listening to music and browsing the web.
Now I understand some people want the speeds or don't have the time to sit around and wait on it but that's completely up to you.
Should they give you a new free upgrade? Um, no. Will they? Highly unlikely. I mean when new Blackberry's come out they don't help you out any. I know the iPhone has 2% of the mobile market but think about it. RAZR didn't give out free upgrades. I mean just think about it. Personally people, the new phone is gonna be spiffy. Of course I'm gonna get it when my contract expires. But your phone now, it's spiffy. But if you think about the $800 more I gotta pay to upgrade each year, why do it? I see the new iPhone costing more in contracts around $2,200 in the 2 years. That's about a $250 increase from the 3G. But they get you on ending your contract early, (let's say $100) and buying the phone (even subsidized) $200. So that's $550. If they get that extra cash each year, they are gonna be making bank on you.
I bought a computer knowing full well it was going to be not the best thing in 2 weeks because that's how fast technology is going. Your wallets won't be able to keep up. My MacBook will last me a 4 years. I think that is money well spent for $1,300. My phone is about $1,750 for 2 years. I think that is money well spent. It has allowed me to see access into markets that have not been seen before and is beginning to prepare me for my job. A worthy investment I think. People some upgrades are gonna be huge but if you just wait an extra year you'll get an even bigger improvement. But if I wait another year, I'll get an even bigger improvement. So use your device until it can't keep up to where the market is at, then I'd consider about spending the dough.
Yes, you are screwed.
Now I understand some people want the speeds or don't have the time to sit around and wait on it but that's completely up to you.
Should they give you a new free upgrade? Um, no. Will they? Highly unlikely. I mean when new Blackberry's come out they don't help you out any. I know the iPhone has 2% of the mobile market but think about it. RAZR didn't give out free upgrades. I mean just think about it. Personally people, the new phone is gonna be spiffy. Of course I'm gonna get it when my contract expires. But your phone now, it's spiffy. But if you think about the $800 more I gotta pay to upgrade each year, why do it? I see the new iPhone costing more in contracts around $2,200 in the 2 years. That's about a $250 increase from the 3G. But they get you on ending your contract early, (let's say $100) and buying the phone (even subsidized) $200. So that's $550. If they get that extra cash each year, they are gonna be making bank on you.
I bought a computer knowing full well it was going to be not the best thing in 2 weeks because that's how fast technology is going. Your wallets won't be able to keep up. My MacBook will last me a 4 years. I think that is money well spent for $1,300. My phone is about $1,750 for 2 years. I think that is money well spent. It has allowed me to see access into markets that have not been seen before and is beginning to prepare me for my job. A worthy investment I think. People some upgrades are gonna be huge but if you just wait an extra year you'll get an even bigger improvement. But if I wait another year, I'll get an even bigger improvement. So use your device until it can't keep up to where the market is at, then I'd consider about spending the dough.
Yes, you are screwed.
I should also mention I have the 3G. Here's what it says when I click upgrade...
"You are not eligible to upgrade at a discounted price due to your length of service. However, you may still purchase a phone/device at the full price. Our records indicate that you will be eligible for an upgrade at a discounted price on 04/01/2010"
right below that though...
"You are eligible for an early upgrade to an iPhone at a reduced discount. Our records indicate that you will be eligible for an upgrade to an iPhone at a discounted price on 04/01/2010"
"You are not eligible to upgrade at a discounted price due to your length of service. However, you may still purchase a phone/device at the full price. Our records indicate that you will be eligible for an upgrade at a discounted price on 04/01/2010"
right below that though...
"You are eligible for an early upgrade to an iPhone at a reduced discount. Our records indicate that you will be eligible for an upgrade to an iPhone at a discounted price on 04/01/2010"
Phones are not 'subsidised', you are paying for them each month. Get a new iPhone 3.5g for $399 (the early upgrade price) and sell your old one for $200 on craigslist.
How are you getting screwed out of anything? If anything you will be able to get more then $200 for your old one, especially if you kept the old baseband and can unlock it.
How are you getting screwed out of anything? If anything you will be able to get more then $200 for your old one, especially if you kept the old baseband and can unlock it.
AT&T has been working on a business plan to get as many people on 3G and sell as many iPhones as possible. Has nothing to do with making people happy. They prove that time and time again with CS issues.
AT&T realizes they don't have much more time left as the exclusive carrier of the iPhone and have started selling non-contracted iPhones.
They have also started allowing early upgrades recently for the 3G, considering you are around 14 months into a 2 year contract and are overall a valued customer. Both choices are obviously to clear stock and make money on what's in inventory.
As far as having difficulty finding out what customers were eligible for the V1 to V2 special upgrade price? LOL. Waiting in line on 3G launch day, the store manager came out and brought a BlackBerry with him. He then asked everyone what their telephone number was, input it to the BB, then told you if you were eligible or not. Everyone there that had an iPhone, of course, was. But there were people that didn't have the iPhone under contract and were told they were going to have to pay full price for the 3G as their current contracts didn't allow AT&T to discount the 3G for them. So ya. I'll repeat my statement.
"And last year when V1 owners such as myself "upgraded" to the 3G, it was a subsidy. If we would have walked into AT&T with a V1 iPhone on 3G launch day, and asked for a new BlackBerry, they would have told us we aren't eligible as our 2 year iPhone contract hadn't ended yet."