Are iPhones eligible for the National Account Discount from AT&T?

[uricmu]

When my wife bought her 1G iPhone on the first day, AT&T insisted (and we had a long fight with them) that she will lose her 20% national account discount. Indeed, her service was not discounted.

I'm hearing now here that people have been able to keep their national account discount with an iPhone plan. Is that true? When did the policy change? How do you achieve that?

 

[aristobrat]

The policy changed with the iPhone 3G.

The original iPhone came with a $20 special data+text plan (unlimited data + 200 text messages). Unlimited data + 200 texts cost $35 for every other AT&T smartphone.

So essentially, AT&T was giving every original iPhone owner a 42% discount on that special data+text plan, so they didn't allow further discounts (FAN, etc).

The iPhone 3G (and 3GS) use regular data plans ($30 + the price of whatever text plan you want, as the data plan no longer includes free texts). You can use FAN discounts on iPhone 3G (and 3GS) plans.

 

[abijnk]

aristobrat's description is accurate. So if you are wanting the discount on a 3G or 3GS you can get it, but not the original iPhone.

 

[TomGolden]

I have many co-workers who got the 1st iPhone, as well as the 3G last year, and our employer has a FAN with AT&T. Everyone of my co-workers has not had any problem with keeping their FAN discount with either prior iPhone. However, they all told me to NOT get the Corporate data plan with an iPhone, but rather to just get the "normal person" plan.

I pre-ordered my 3G S through AT&T (never had any iPhone before now) and I am still waiting on it to arrive, but my AT&T account clearly lists I still have my FAN discount so far....

 

[uricmu]

I went online and saw that if I upgrade my current plan (old AT&T pre-cingular) to an iPhone I will get the discount on my service.

If I get the phone via the AT&T website, do I have to enter the fan number when I activate? Or will AT&T just figure it out later?

I was thinking of using an Apple credit that I have (50$) to buy the phone, but I am worried that getting the discount would then be trickier since my understanding is that you have to activate at the store.

 

[aristobrat]

Everyone of my co-workers has not had any problem with keeping their FAN discount with either prior iPhone.

You could def. keep your FAN on your account with the first generation iPhone ... the FAN would discount your voice plan, just not the data plan.

I was thinking of using an Apple credit that I have (50$) to buy the phone, but I am worried that getting the discount would then be trickier since my understanding is that you have to activate at the store.

It'd just be a extra stop for you. Buy the iPhone at the Apple Store (using the discount), and then swing by an AT&T store to have them apply the FAN.