I really don't mean to pick on you here but, unfortunately, you're a prime example of why people complaining are getting very little sympathy.
When you bought the phone you got exactly what you paid for. The 3.0 release delivers additional functionality you did not have originaly, for free, but you decide to whine about not having, what, voice control? That's about the only thing that doesn't need a hardware upgrade that's in 3.0 for the 3G S but not the 3G isn't it? You say it's SHOULD have had it in the first place but, and here's the really important bit:
YOU BOUGHT IT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT DIDN'T BLOODY WELL HAVE IT!
You were happy THEN to pay money for it, don't complain now after you've had a year's use out of a phone and are suffering shiny thing envy.
Same thing with the extra line - it's your responsibility to find out what adding another line does to your plan and the termination date. If you're not happy with that arrangement and your provider won't alter the deal you need to decide if the downsides are worth it. You obviously decided it did, you knew at the time what it would do to your upgrade possibilities, don't whine about it now.
I don't mind being picked on, it gives me the opporunity to clarify my position.
As I stated before, I understand what a contract is and for the most part, it's terms. I understand that I am not entited to the same deal as a new customer because I got my phone at a reduced price. To offer me the same deal would not be fair to that new customer - I would be getting two phones where they would only be getting one.
But in the same vein, it's not fair to me that just because I added a line and started a new contract that they use that date as when I'm eligilbe to upgrade. Two lines, two phones - should be treated independently when it comes to upgrades. Verizon does it that way, why not ATT? I can accept my part of the blame for not reading the fine print, but I also blame ATT for not making this clear at the time, especially when we discussed the pros and cons of having a family plan vs. two separate accounts.
And I also have a beef with Apple. In part, it's the same beef that goes for the entire technology industry. We pay for products or software only to find out that a new version is being released within months, offering features that were deliberately held from the previous release. It wouldn't be so bad if they let a little more time pass, then we would at least feel we got our money's worth - instead we feel cheated.
Apple is known as a industry leader in innovation, and its customers want the latest. That's who we are. But they've crossed the line and are now taking advantage of this. Remember the first big price drop following the release of the first iPhone? There was a lot of bitching then, and Apple offered a meager resolution. $100 gift card - big deal.
I also blame Apple for going exclusive with ATT. Because of the lack of competition, ATT is free to do whatever they want, and they have. All they really need to do, as far as I'm concerned at least, is to offer something to show they want to help current customers get into the new phone. Maybe defer the cost for 12 months, maybe offer an extended contract. Something. But the only solution is, but it at full retail price. What good is the phone without the service? You can't get an iPhone plan without a contract anyways, no prepaid. No voice only, etc etc.
I'm done now, go ahead an pick on me some more!
