If most of the people here (including myself) worked a bit harder this past week or two rather than venting about prices, we could have made the extra cash to buy the friggen thing at any price. 
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AT&T Extends iPhone 3G S Upgrade Pricing to Many Customers
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it's 89.99 before taxes and discounts. After discounts and taxes it's 85-87 bucks.
Now it's a handful huh. And I won't assert my claims, post #341.
Here is what I was told yesterday:
Asked the rep how much it would cost me to upgrade given the new requirements (as of yesterday I was December eligible and spend 90 per month on my bill) final answer is I am eligible as of tomorrow to get the new iphone for the 199/299 price tag. I took the rep's name down and what city he works in in case at&t gives me trouble tomorrow. I am slightly excited but will be pumped if this is true and I can buy one tomorrow!
I am on the phone now to verify that what they told me is true, here is what they told me:
-Mr Sanchez (no I am not making that up) in El Paso told me I was eligible yesterday
-She said it's not eligible
-She said I don't fit the profile
-She stated the new requirements are for people that bought the iphone 3G in the last 90 days
-I said no, it's not, it states that it's for people who purchased the iphone 3G in Jul-Sep of last year. I also pointed out the fact that I paid full price for the iphone 3G last year and stated I wasn't trying to bilk AT&T out of 2 subsidies.
-She put me on hold and came back and said I am eligible for the 199/299 price in a very cheerful voice I might add.
-She stated to go into the physical AT&T store to purchase because Apple has reserved the right to say no, you are not eligible.
I hope this helps some people, once again here is my background
-Bought Iphone 3G on July 11th, 2008 at full price ($499)
-My monthly bills are 89.99 before tax, after discount and taxes it is around $85.
If you have 1 iPhone on your AT&T account that is under contract, you're paying $30 data and $20 if you have unlimited text = $50. If you add another line to take advantage of the cheapest iPhone price, you'll be signing a 2 year iPhone contract. In doing that, you'll tack on $9.99 to your account bill each month for the new line PLUS you'll have to tack on a 2nd data and text plan weather you're using the iPhone on that number or not... so until you cancel that new line, you have to pay for 2 data/text plans because your account will have 2 iPhone contracts on it.
I'm not eligible for the upgrade from 3G to 3G
Adding new line and then cancelling to get the 3G
Upgrading early from existing 3G to 3G
SO... PUT YOUR PRIDE ASIDE FOR A MINUTE AND UPGRADE YOUR CURRENT 3G WITH THE EXTRA $200 COST.
In the end, I am sure you are right. I suspect people are dealing with AT&T reps who just don't know what the actual deal is....but at the moment there seems to be quite a few being told otherwise
There is no reason to get mad or angry at them
I myself was told on the phone that I 100% was eligible for the upgrade price of $299 even though my bill per month is $80.
So, I can personally attest to being told that.
Now, I understand that it isn't set in stone but I therefore believe people when they say the same thing
i saw that. my concern is that either 1) the note on your account is meaningless unless the actual myWireless/*NEW# date is changed or 2) it's only because of full price... although i thought i remembered full price being 599/699..
If you bought your 3G unsubsidized then the new upgrade option doesn't apply in your case because you would have been eligible to upgrade anyway.
And for everyone else saying you've been told that you are eligible for the upgrade even though you don't meet the requirements spelled out in the AT&T press release, I wouldn't count your chickens just yet. Being told you are eligible and actually being eligible are two different things. It sounds like most of the AT&T phone ops don't really know what the hell is going on, and in many cases are misinformed about the details of the offer.
Nope not true, my upgrade date was December 2009. Even though I bought it unsubsidized (I had to pay full because I bought a subsidized blackberry in September 2007) AT&T stated it's Apple's policy that a new 2 year contract begin with the purchase of an iphone. I have no confidence in what AT&T has told me, I am simply relaying the information I have been given during my phone calls. You can call me a liar all you want if it makes you feel better but it doesn't change what AT&T has told me.
I am reading.
http://www.att.com/Common/merger/files/pdf/iPhone/Pricing_Upgrading_FAQs.pdf
It pretty clearly states that you have to spend $99+ with them to be eligible.
Understand but: I Don'T have a 3G. I Have one original and one Nokia
Line one (my line): Original iPhone - I get my new one Friday Paid 199.
Line two: (sons line): Now has a 4 month old Nokia and is NOW eligibile for 399. price or we can wait until April for the 199 price.
ATT clerk suggested I might add a third line and get iPhone for 199. (new 2 year contract).
Line three: (new phone number) iPhone #2 for 199. with two year contract.
*ok so you see I have a total of only TWO iPhones. Are you with me?
TURN OFF the Nokia (line 2) Delete any extra monthly options or charges and all I have to pay per month is 9.95 for this line until April when I can cancel it without any termination fee.
But back to my original question: Anyone know if I have to activate the new phone on new line 3 or can I activate it with the exiting telephone # (line 2)
In total only two iPhone plans and agreements for two years will be paid and one third "dead: line in my name for 8 or 9 months at a rate of 9.95 per month.
Pwned, I have heard what you have heard
But what the others are saying is in fact true about the $99 so I wouldn't take anything with 100% certainty
I have a sneaking suspicion that the reps we spoke to just didn't know
Does this change only apply to iPhone 3G customers who spend $99 or more per month?
"In most cases, yes. iPhone customers who spend more than $99 a month per line with us generally are eligible for an upgrade between 12 and 18 months. In general, the more a customer spends with us, the less time they have to wait to get another new device."
It says "generally." Since when does that mean you MUST spend more than $99?
Oh I totally agree, that's why I said in my first post about being eligible that I am slightly excited. I have zero faith in what AT&T has told me but have relayed the information regardless. I do like all the insults I am getting though
the way it was explained to me at AT&T it sounded like the employees were told it's a bright-line rule.
i'm not giving up yet, but it seems dismal.
one thing that's certain is that this whole process is haphazard and flawed.
I was about to update my last post to ask a question on a post you made on how you bought an unsubsidized 3G phone. You mean you bought the 3G at full price? I just woke and having the first sip of coffee, so bear with me.
I'd expect nothing less from AT&T
My whole purpose of relaying the info I was getting is so people do not give up hope. If you do get through to someone who says you are eligible, tell them to note their account, get their name, employee number, and city they work out of so you have so ammo if the AT&T store gives you any trouble.
For people who bought the iPhone 3G the day it came out and see a March 12, 2010 eligibility date:
I called AT&T and they said since it is on a Family Plan only the primary account shows eligibility for the new price, but any number on the account can use the account's eligibility to get the new phone at $199/$299. Unfortunately, this has to be done at an AT&T store.
An alternative is to buy the iPhone 3G S at the Apple Store for the primary account and then switch the numbers by calling AT&T.
I called AT&T and they said since it is on a Family Plan only the primary account shows eligibility for the new price, but any number on the account can use the account's eligibility to get the new phone at $199/$299. Unfortunately, this has to be done at an AT&T store.
An alternative is to buy the iPhone 3G S at the Apple Store for the primary account and then switch the numbers by calling AT&T.
I'd expect nothing less from AT&T
i do plan on it, but the store said that managers are free to ignore notes, especially if they are in contrast with official policy, so i have little hope overall.
I ordered my 32gb iphone 3Gs (white) via the premiere site on the 15th for 499.
I heard about this new update yesterday and today called the premiere customer support and asked her about this new plan and asked her to check if I was eligible for the lower priced upgrade. She initially told me it was only for people who bought their iphone 3G in the last couple months but after a few minutes on hold she figured out what I was talking about.
She then put me on hold for 10 or so more minutes and came back and told me I was eligible for the 299 price on the phone and would note this in my account info and pass me on to the sales reps. (My bill is generally 80 a month, I purchased my phone on launch day and I also purchased the previous iphone on launch day).
After 20 more minutes of being on hold waiting for a premiere sales rep, I went through the same talk with her and she told me she needed to escalate this for the 200 dollar credit to be issued. After 10 or so more minutes on hold she informed me that the order had been updated and i'd be getting a credit in no more than 2 weeks.
Besides all the holding it was one of my better customer service experiences.
I heard about this new update yesterday and today called the premiere customer support and asked her about this new plan and asked her to check if I was eligible for the lower priced upgrade. She initially told me it was only for people who bought their iphone 3G in the last couple months but after a few minutes on hold she figured out what I was talking about.
She then put me on hold for 10 or so more minutes and came back and told me I was eligible for the 299 price on the phone and would note this in my account info and pass me on to the sales reps. (My bill is generally 80 a month, I purchased my phone on launch day and I also purchased the previous iphone on launch day).
After 20 more minutes of being on hold waiting for a premiere sales rep, I went through the same talk with her and she told me she needed to escalate this for the 200 dollar credit to be issued. After 10 or so more minutes on hold she informed me that the order had been updated and i'd be getting a credit in no more than 2 weeks.
Besides all the holding it was one of my better customer service experiences.
Question for all, do you think when the new iphone is released next year the same thing will happen or will people be SOL when they try to get it at the subsidized price.