AT&T Block on Employee Vacations for June Hints at iPhone Launch

[Aquaduck04]

Guess I wont be waiting outside for this one, I cant buy it until July 14th.

I am in the same boat. Did anyone get the offer from AT&T about a month ago to upgrade to a new phone until 5/31 for the new contract price?

It was such a tease bc my iPhone screen is currently spiderwebbed and I'm trying to hold out until the new one comes out.

Hopefully, the AT&T people will reinstate that offer once the iPhone launches because I can't wait much longer.

 

[AidenShaw]

My question is "Will the iPhone be taxed on where it was purchased or where the service is located?"

Good question.

No, if you were to purchase the items in Portland, you would not be charged sales tax.

You would be violating California law if you did not report the purchase and pay the sales taxes to the state.

You're unlikely to be caught unless your state tax return is audited.

 

[rdlink]

My wife and I play iPhone hand-me-down every year. Of course I get the newest model and she gets the previous year's. BUT...(wink--hint) I do one thing. As my iPhone is at the end of it's 10th month, I go to the "genius" bar complaining that the screen locks up. They open a case number and tell me to go home and do a clean restore.

4 weeks later I go back and say "It still locks up sometimes. Usually while web surfing but sometime while sending texts. Just a couple of times a week". They whip out a replacement iPhone but I object. "I don't want a refurbished phone that was someone else's problem." Apple say's "We don't put our refurbished iPhones as warranty replacements. This one is new and unused but without the nice box and accessories."

I go home with a new iPhone with a fresh battery and no scratches. A month later when the new model arrives, I get it and hand down my "used" phone to my wife.

Does your mother know she raised a thief?

 

[xtwentyseven]

T-Mobile

I wish it would go to all three major carriers. I'm currently on a T-Mobile 1500 minute, unlimited messaging family plan for $79 and could add data for $20. I know it doesn't have the coverage AT&T or VZW have, but I don't care. I don't want to pay $200/month for my phone. If they would go to all three, everyone would have a choice, and if T-Mobile undercut everyone's prices, there might be a drop at the big two.

 

[twoodcc]

looking forward to the new iphone coming out. it better be good, cuz androids are catching up

 

[rdlink]

I wish it would go to all three major carriers. I'm currently on a T-Mobile 1500 minute, unlimited messaging family plan for $79 and could add data for $20. I know it doesn't have the coverage AT&T or VZW have, but I don't care. I don't want to pay $200/month for my phone. If they would go to all three, everyone would have a choice, and if T-Mobile undercut everyone's prices, there might be a drop at the big two.

I agree. Not to mention that T-Mobile beats the pants off the others when it comes to customer service.

 

[dreamerof]

My wife and I play iPhone hand-me-down every year. Of course I get the newest model and she gets the previous year's. BUT...(wink--hint) I do one thing. As my iPhone is at the end of it's 10th month, I go to the "genius" bar complaining that the screen locks up. They open a case number and tell me to go home and do a clean restore.

4 weeks later I go back and say "It still locks up sometimes. Usually while web surfing but sometime while sending texts. Just a couple of times a week". They whip out a replacement iPhone but I object. "I don't want a refurbished phone that was someone else's problem." Apple say's "We don't put our refurbished iPhones as warranty replacements. This one is new and unused but without the nice box and accessories."

I go home with a new iPhone with a fresh battery and no scratches. A month later when the new model arrives, I get it and hand down my "used" phone to my wife.

I will bet thieves and losers like you will be the first to complain that the iPhones cost too much.

 

[DakotaGuy]

I agree. Not to mention that T-Mobile beats the pants off the others when it comes to customer service.

I also agree and I have long wished that the phone was available on all 4 major carriers in the US, but I don't think it will happen anytime soon. Apple has stated over and over they are committed to AT&T and I don't see that changing unless Android starts to dominate in market share. If or when that happens Apple then might open up to more US carriers.

 

[Piggie]

looking forward to the new iphone coming out. it better be good, cuz androids are catching up

Errrr, I guess it depends how you define catching up.

If you mean, passed the iPhone and now a dot on the distant horizon!

I just hope the new iPhone catches up with the Android phones.

That Saumsung I posted about at the top of this page should be the thing Apple has to match, any less and it's out of date already.

I hope Apple lead the pack (or at least are level at the top) with the new model.

 

[cvaldes]

I would love to see the iPhone come to T-Mobile. I get zero reception with AT&T at my place so I refuse to get an iPhone (or any other AT&T phone for that matter). Right now, I'm rocking the iPod touch + T-Mobile dumbphone combo.

The hell if I ever buy a brain-damaged CDMA-based smartphone. No thanks.

 

[nikhsub1]

Apple should abandon AT&T and only offer the new iPhone with a different carrier.

That is about as likely to happen as Apple abandoning OS X and deciding to put Windows on all their devices.

...because I have seen EV-DO phones choose data over voice at times... so then, when your iPhone is polling the server for e-mail, your calls could go straight to voice mail instead. Push notifications are data too. Enjoy missing that outbid notice from the Ebay app because grandma decided to call you at that moment.

No simultaneous voice and data is a deal breaker for me. This is why Verizon has NEVER been an option. I manage large computer networks and from my phone I can term in while on voice as well. This isn't a luxury for me it is a necessity. Why do Verizon folks get their panties in a bunch when you mention this to them?

You would be violating California law if you did not report the purchase and pay the sales taxes to the state.

You're unlikely to be caught unless your state tax return is audited.

How so? Even if the return was audited it could be claimed the phone was a gift...

On a side note, if Verizon does get the iphone I wouldn't think it would be a simultaneous launch with the new iphone in June anyway... I would think that would be it's own event.

 

[skwirl341]

I get ok reception in my home city, but I was on vacation (within the US) last week and my biggest source of stress was how horrible AT&T was. One bar and Edge for a huge chunk of the southeast US. I could barely browse the internet at all, calls kept getting dropped. We had to stop at Starbucks a few times to get wifi to do things.

Even around here, there is no reception in random places. At work there is no reception. Even outside on the top floor of the parking garage, with no obstructions, 10 miles from downtown Boston, I have no reception. Most of the places you would take weekend trips to - northern NH, Maine, etc - no reception.

I have been miserable about AT&T since I switched from Verizon just for the iPhone. I can't wait until the day the phone is available on Verizon, I will be gone from AT&T so fast, I will probably pay an early cancellation fee and get a brand new phone just to escape. Even the most rabid Apple fanboys I know around here admit they will go to Verizon as soon as they can.

Looking forward to the day. To this day I have never used data features while talking on the phone.

 

[stuffradio]

I will either upgrade this year, or next year. I would only upgrade this year if I can renew my 3 year contract because I have 1 year left on my contract. Either way, when I upgrade my phone it will be amazing because I skipped a generation of a phone.

I might need to get some sort of case for my new one, like that protective screen thing because my 3G has a few scratches in the screen, the back is in pretty good shape though.

 

[alhedges]

You're unlikely to be caught unless your state tax return is audited.

You won't be caught then, either - even the most thorough audit won't require you to produce receipts for all of the personal property you happen to own.

Of course, if you tried to deduct the out-of-state purchase as a business expense on your state tax form, you might be out of luck.

 

[RalfTheDog]

OFF Topic, but . . .

I am in need of a new Mac Book Pro in addition to a new iPhone. I was going to wait until the educational discounts which begin in June and the new iPhone comes out.

I live in the over-taxed California. I have a free ticket to fly to Portland, OR where there is no sales tax. I plan on buying the three items (iPhone + MBP + Edu Bonus) spending over $3,000.

My question is "Will the iPhone be taxed on where it was purchased or where the service is located?"

Does California have an extradition treaty with the United States? Just stay East of the boarder and you should be safe.

 

[RalfTheDog]

I get ok reception in my home city, but I was on vacation (within the US) last week and my biggest source of stress was how horrible AT&T was. One bar and Edge for a huge chunk of the southeast US. I could barely browse the internet at all, calls kept getting dropped. We had to stop at Starbucks a few times to get wifi to do things.

Even around here, there is no reception in random places. At work there is no reception. Even outside on the top floor of the parking garage, with no obstructions, 10 miles from downtown Boston, I have no reception. Most of the places you would take weekend trips to - northern NH, Maine, etc - no reception.

I have been miserable about AT&T since I switched from Verizon just for the iPhone. I can't wait until the day the phone is available on Verizon, I will be gone from AT&T so fast, I will probably pay an early cancellation fee and get a brand new phone just to escape. Even the most rabid Apple fanboys I know around here admit they will go to Verizon as soon as they can.

Looking forward to the day. To this day I have never used data features while talking on the phone.

Where I live, I get far better reception on ATT than I do with Verizon or Sprint. Post upgrade, I have only dropped two calls total. I am on the phone all the time. I get about twice the download speed on ATT than I do with Verizon. I recently dumped my Sprint data card for a Mifi that runs on the ATT network. It is great. It is fast. I have never lost signal with it.

 

[Kiwi Jones]

My wife and I play iPhone hand-me-down every year. Of course I get the newest model and she gets the previous year's. BUT...(wink--hint) I do one thing. As my iPhone is at the end of it's 10th month, I go to the "genius" bar complaining that the screen locks up. They open a case number and tell me to go home and do a clean restore.

4 weeks later I go back and say "It still locks up sometimes. Usually while web surfing but sometime while sending texts. Just a couple of times a week". They whip out a replacement iPhone but I object. "I don't want a refurbished phone that was someone else's problem." Apple say's "We don't put our refurbished iPhones as warranty replacements. This one is new and unused but without the nice box and accessories."

I go home with a new iPhone with a fresh battery and no scratches. A month later when the new model arrives, I get it and hand down my "used" phone to my wife.

I work retail and people like you make me f***** sick. Just so you know your not fooling them... they just have a policy they have to follow. As soon as you leave every worker complains about the stupid dick taking advantage of Apples amazing customer service. Your a joke.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Of course, if you tried to deduct the out-of-state purchase as a business expense on your state tax form, you might be out of luck.

Haha... ohhh man. I did that. After I filed I realized one of the computers and a CNC machine I claimed as home business expenses were purchased out of state, hence no tax was paid... craaaap.

 

[Alchematron]

Hopefully the 2010 version will be more impressive than the 3G->3GS changes. Apple/AT&T needs to come up with something to talk me into upgrading my soon to be 2 y/o, out of contract iPhone 3G! A compass won't do it!

Ouchy

 

[Alchematron]

My wife and I play iPhone hand-me-down every year. Of course I get the newest model and she gets the previous year's. BUT...(wink--hint) I do one thing. As my iPhone is at the end of it's 10th month, I go to the "genius" bar complaining that the screen locks up. They open a case number and tell me to go home and do a clean restore.

4 weeks later I go back and say "It still locks up sometimes. Usually while web surfing but sometime while sending texts. Just a couple of times a week". They whip out a replacement iPhone but I object. "I don't want a refurbished phone that was someone else's problem." Apple say's "We don't put our refurbished iPhones as warranty replacements. This one is new and unused but without the nice box and accessories."

I go home with a new iPhone with a fresh battery and no scratches. A month later when the new model arrives, I get it and hand down my "used" phone to my wife.

WTF???

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

WTF???

Don't be surprised. Some people have no ethics or class.

 

[AidenShaw]

I'm not at all shocked to hear that some people do this, but I am a bit surprised that they apparently feel no shame over it.

...and they don't realize how easy it is to do a web search for "Tampa Tom" and find his business homepage.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Does anybody know the gap between the previous iphone launch dates in the US and the UK/European launch dates? Or have they been simultaneous? (this I doubt...)

Original iPhone,

US June 9, 2007
Other countries November 2007

iPhone 3G
Worldwide
July 11 2008

iPhone 3GS
US, Canada & EU
June 19 2009

 

[Captain Planet]

My wife and I play iPhone hand-me-down every year. Of course I get the newest model and she gets the previous year's. BUT...(wink--hint) I do one thing. As my iPhone is at the end of it's 10th month, I go to the "genius" bar complaining that the screen locks up. They open a case number and tell me to go home and do a clean restore.

4 weeks later I go back and say "It still locks up sometimes. Usually while web surfing but sometime while sending texts. Just a couple of times a week". They whip out a replacement iPhone but I object. "I don't want a refurbished phone that was someone else's problem." Apple say's "We don't put our refurbished iPhones as warranty replacements. This one is new and unused but without the nice box and accessories."

I go home with a new iPhone with a fresh battery and no scratches. A month later when the new model arrives, I get it and hand down my "used" phone to my wife.

What a douche...

 

[Avicenna]

I just hope it launches same day in Canada.....I'm gona get it the first day!!