AT&T: Rebate or Upgrade for Recent iPhone 3GS Purchasers, 7 AM Launch Day Opening

[MacRumors]

ModMyi has a pair of reports today revealing some purported AT&T documents offering information on the carrier's plans with regard to iPhone 4 sales.

According to the first report, AT&T will be offering bill credit rebates for users who purchased an iPhone 3GS between May 7th and June 7th, with customers set to receive $50 (16 GB) or $100 (32 GB) if they file a request with the company. The offer is good for 30 days from the date of purchase, with those in the early portion of the purchase window (May 7th through May 14th) having until June 14th to file their requests.

Alternatively, AT&T will offer those iPhone 3GS customers who purchases handsets between May 7th and June 7th the option to upgrade to iPhone 4, only paying applicable price differences. Customers who purchased a "closeout" iPhone 3GS after June 7th are not eligible for these offers.

In its second report, ModMyi's tipster shares a flyer showing that AT&T is planning to open its retail stores at 7:00 AM on the launch day of June 24th. According to the flyer, new customers will only be permitted to activate one new line on iPhone 4, while existing customers will be limited to one iPhone 4 per active mobile number.

Article Link: AT&T: Rebate or Upgrade for Recent iPhone 3GS Purchasers, 7 AM Launch Day Opening

 

[BlondeBuddhist]

Hopefully Radio Shack follows suit! (with the launch time)

The rep told they opened at 6 for the Evo.

I am adding a line to get the I4. When I have them transfer my phone number from 3GS to the i4 will i be able to keep the unlimited data? Probably not eh?

 

[MyJelleo]

I purchased the iPhone 3GS the day it came out, so I still have to wait until Feb 2011 for the lowest price unless I want to pay an extra 200 on top of the subsidized price, $18 for the activation fee, and take on another 2 years on my current 1.6 year contract.

I'm still trying to decide if it is worth it or not.

Hell if I wait until Feb 2011 to upgrade, I might as well wait for the next generation iPhone that should be released in June 2011.

Decisions decisions.

I guess the iPhone 3GS with the iOS 4 will be fine for me. I can't really support the idea of paying so much and then getting locked down for almost 4 years with AT&T. What would my eligibility be for the next iPhone then with a 2.6 years contract existing when it is released?? SIGH~~~~

 

[charlituna]

I suspect that these deals will only be valid for those that bought their 3gs at an ATT store and buy their iphone4 at an ATT store.

NOT as something offered to those that buy at Apple Retail, Radio Shack, Best Buy etc.

 

[Mr. Chewbacca]

I purchased the iPhone 3GS the day it came out, so I still have to wait until Feb 2011 for the lowest price unless I want to pay an extra 200 on top of the subsidized price, $18 for the activation fee, and take on another 2 years on my current 1.6 year contract.

I'm still trying to decide if it is worth it or not.

Hell if I wait until Feb 2011 to upgrade, I might as well wait for the next generation iPhone that should be released in June 2011.

Decisions decisions.

I guess the iPhone 3GS with the iOS 4 will be fine for me. I can't really support the idea of paying so much and then getting locked down for almost 4 years with AT&T. What would my eligibility be for the next iPhone then with a 2.6 years contract existing when it is released?? SIGH~~~~

I are you sure about that?

Its my understanding that youre entering a new 2 year contract and not adding 2 years to your current contract. I think the max commitment you can have is 2 years

Thats why they use the term "topping off" your contract to 2 years.

 

[FFArchitect]

I'm pretty sure you could sell on the open market for more.

 

[rwilliams]

New customers are only allowed to activate one new line? What the hell?

 

[rlmccormick]

Contract extensions

Probably a stupid question but...

If you are an existing ATT iPhone customer and buy the iPhone at full price is there anything sneaky in there where ATT will extend your contract? I assume it does nothing to your contract if you pay full price and just transfer the SIM card over.

 

[leo8877]

New customers are only allowed to activate one new line? What the hell?

Yeah I don't get this, does this mean if I wanted to switch to ATT and activate a new family plan with 2 phones, I would not be able to?

 

[aliebel]

I purchased the iPhone 3GS the day it came out, so I still have to wait until Feb 2011 for the lowest price unless I want to pay an extra 200 on top of the subsidized price, $18 for the activation fee, and take on another 2 years on my current 1.6 year contract.

I'm still trying to decide if it is worth it or not.

Hell if I wait until Feb 2011 to upgrade, I might as well wait for the next generation iPhone that should be released in June 2011.

Decisions decisions.

I guess the iPhone 3GS with the iOS 4 will be fine for me. I can't really support the idea of paying so much and then getting locked down for almost 4 years with AT&T. What would my eligibility be for the next iPhone then with a 2.6 years contract existing when it is released?? SIGH~~~~

It does not add 2 years to whatever you have, it only extends your liability out to a full two years from the date of the new transaction. I don't think anyone would agree to adding two years to a contract they already had of 1.6 years. A 3.6 year contract makes no sense from an early upgrade. really.

 

[human5892]

According to the flyer, new customers will only be permitted to activate one new line on iPhone 4

So if you're a new customer, and you have two people in your family who would like the iPhone 4, you can't do that? Or is it one new line per person on the plan?

 

[Dainin]

I purchased the iPhone 3GS the day it came out, so I still have to wait until Feb 2011 for the lowest price unless I want to pay an extra 200 on top of the subsidized price, $18 for the activation fee, and take on another 2 years on my current 1.6 year contract.

I'm still trying to decide if it is worth it or not.

Hell if I wait until Feb 2011 to upgrade, I might as well wait for the next generation iPhone that should be released in June 2011.

Decisions decisions.

I guess the iPhone 3GS with the iOS 4 will be fine for me. I can't really support the idea of paying so much and then getting locked down for almost 4 years with AT&T. What would my eligibility be for the next iPhone then with a 2.6 years contract existing when it is released?? SIGH~~~~

I bought my 3GS on release day, and ATT shows me as available for upgrade.

When I bought my 3GS I had a 3G from opening date, however, I had to pay 499 for the phone.

Also, as others have said, the maximum contract length will be 2 years. When I bought my 3GS I just signed a new 2 year contract and the year I had remaining on my 3G disappeared.

 

[fribhey]

Yeah I don't get this, does this mean if I wanted to switch to ATT and activate a new family plan with 2 phones, I would not be able to?

it means they are trying to fulfill as many orders as possible until manufacturing meets up with the demand. if they let everyone just buy as many as they want on launch day then there wouldn't be enough to go around.

 

[leo8877]

it means they are trying to fulfill as many orders as possible until manufacturing meets up with the demand. if they let everyone just buy as many as they want on launch day then there wouldn't be enough to go around.

Understood, but if my wife and I went in separately and each ordered an iPhone we would be able to, but if we wanted to do a family plan with 2, we would not? Am I misunderstanding how the 'one line per new customer' actually works?

 

[rwilliams]

it means they are trying to fulfill as many orders as possible until manufacturing meets up with the demand. if they let everyone just buy as many as they want on launch day then there wouldn't be enough to go around.

I sure hope the Apple store and/or Best Buy doesn't have such a ridiculous restriction. If I pre-order two phones, then obviously, both of them need to be activated.

 

[d21mike]

Yeah I don't get this, does this mean if I wanted to switch to ATT and activate a new family plan with 2 phones, I would not be able to?

When the first iPhone came out they did the same thing. I switched from Verizon to AT&T for me and my wife. At first they said BOTH of us needed to come into the store (AT&T Store) to get two phones. My wife was working so I took my daughter. But when I got the there they said no problem. I think they do not want you to buy 10 and then resell them on ebay.

 

[Tyre]

I bought my 3GS on release day, and ATT shows me as available for upgrade.

When I bought my 3GS I had a 3G from opening date, however, I had to pay 499 for the phone.

Also, as others have said, the maximum contract length will be 2 years. When I bought my 3GS I just signed a new 2 year contract and the year I had remaining on my 3G disappeared.

Here is a good article as to why this happens.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/06/07/how_to_tell_if_youre_eligible_for_atts_iphone_4_upgrade_pricing.html

I bought the 3GS in July and my early upgrade is 12 months later because of my plan. It has to do with the fact that ATT subsidizes your shiny new device, so if you pay them back quicker to make up for that initial lose than you may start the process all over again.

Upgrading from a 3GS to a 4 begins a new 2 year contract, voiding the previous one.

 

[tlevier]

My Story

So, I bought 3gS on launch day, June 19, 2009. I was on a business account before, so I signed up as a new customer. My average bill has been $97.11 or there abouts and I've always paid my bill each month as soon as I get notified.

My upgrade eligibility date had been February 19, 2011 until a few weeks ago, when I got bumped up to November 19, 2010 (supposedly because of $100 avg bill?). Then at WWDC, Steve said that AT&T will make any 2010 eligible upgrade immediately eligible. I looked again and now I'm fully eligible for a full discount with an $18 fee.

 

[ValSalva]

I'm amazed AT&T is offering this kind of deal. I know someone who does not follow tech and bought an iPhone a couple of weeks ago. Now this person can upgrade to iPhone 4 at minimal or no cost.

 

[MyJelleo]

I bought my 3GS on release day, and ATT shows me as available for upgrade.

When I bought my 3GS I had a 3G from opening date, however, I had to pay 499 for the phone.

Also, as others have said, the maximum contract length will be 2 years. When I bought my 3GS I just signed a new 2 year contract and the year I had remaining on my 3G disappeared.

WoW, I swear there was one iPhone that I purchased that tacked on another 2 years onto my contract...Maybe it was a bad dream. Well thanks for the clarification all. I'm still trying to decide whether paying 499 for the 32 gig is worth it.

I checked my eligibility, and it says that I am only eligible for a small discount and not the low low price.

 

[Cougarcat]

What are lines at AT&T stores generally like? If I get there at 6 am would I be out by 8? Normally I wouldn't care, but I'm leaving early in the morning on a trip. Debating whether to do this or just have the phone shipped to my hotel.

 

[Carlos E]

I have a feeling this deal is to cover AT&T's butt. The iPhone 4 has a new antenna system. Could bumping up upgrade eligibility dates and offering this deal have anything to do with reducing the number of 3GS phones and dropped calls on their network?

AT&T has never been known for being generous.

 

[kas23]

I'm amazed AT&T is offering this kind of deal. I know someone who does not follow tech and bought an iPhone a couple of weeks ago. Now this person can upgrade to iPhone 4 at minimal or no cost.

Man, it seems like AT&T is pulling out all the stops in order to keep their ball and chain on people. It's almost like their afraid about what the masses are going to do once they lose exclusivity.

 

[DanielSw]

What are lines at AT&T stores generally like? If I get there at 6 am would I be out by 8? Normally I wouldn't care, but I'm leaving early in the morning on a trip. Debating whether to do this or just have the phone shipped to my hotel.

Your question is unanswerable as each store is obviously different. Get in line and wait as long as you can. Leave if you have to.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

What are lines at AT&T stores generally like? If I get there at 6 am would I be out by 8? Normally I wouldn't care, but I'm leaving early in the morning on a trip. Debating whether to do this or just have the phone shipped to my hotel.

I bought my 3GS from the ATT store on release day last year. It was funny because the Apple store on the second floor was packed with a line around the corner but there was only one person ahead of me at the ATT store. Anyway, I was out of there in maybe 20 minutes, and I was buying 2 phones.

It was painless, and the delay in switchover of my wife's number gave me enough time to call her on her old phone to let her know her new one was on the way. She was the envy of her coworkers that day.