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AT&T Rep: All 3G iPhone Purchases are $199/$299 [Updated: Wrong?]

I understand, but wouldn't the scenario I presented negate all of this confusion?

1) Buy cheapo AT&T phone at full price with a contract mid/end June (decline promotional price for handset)
2) Buy iPhone 3G at subsidized price mid/end July (while also agreeing to extend your contract two years)

Wouldn't that hypothetically work? Isn't the issue at the center of all this the fact that people (who are not "upgrade eligible" and do not have an iPhone currently or an active iPhone plan) have already used their 1 subsidized/promotional price per 2 year period and this is not flexible whatsoever?

In other words...what if you simply sign up with AT&T but hold off on using the promotional/subsidized price until you get the iPhone 3G? Or even get some cheapo phone that'll work with AT&T off eBay, but then just go activate it with AT&T (some weeks before purchasing the iPhone 3G)?
 
saDeRmac said:
It's not in the initial paperwork whether or not you will have to... I mean there hasn't been a situation like this ever so it's unprecedented.
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true....which is why my feeling leans toward corporate greed or at least...preventing other people from exploiting the corporate policies.

I think in the end it'll all depend on what each individual sales person believes is true...so some people will get away without presenting a phone...some will not.

oh and the OP's original point is certainly in line with what Jobs said in the announcement...about all 3G's being at those prices he announced. Making it one price regardless of your current contract situation would certainly get more people to buy the new phone and sign up for the new more expensive dataplans. It could in the end negate the money lost on people getting the subsidized price even though they don't quality for it.
 
thor79 said:
true....which is why my feeling leans toward corporate greed or at least...preventing other people from exploiting the corporate policies.

I think in the end it'll all depend on what each individual sales person believes is true...so some people will get away without presenting a phone...some will not.
Click to expand...

Well the sales person knows from looking at the account whether there was an iPhone on the account or not ever. They can look at the notes, see if the plan is an iPhone plan, and/or research the purchases made on that account. I dunno if that is true in an store but it is in an at&t store. I highly doubt that you will need the phone present with you to purchase the iPhone 3G just b/c you don't need your previous phone to upgrade to any other phone.
 
thor79 said:
oh and the OP's original point is certainly in line with what Jobs said in the announcement...about all 3G's being at those prices he announced. Making it one price regardless of your current contract situation would certainly get more people to buy the new phone and sign up for the new more expensive dataplans. It could in the end negate the money lost on people getting the subsidized price even though they don't quality for it.
Click to expand...

Well said... I'm not trying to say that I agree with at&t's policies or pricing agreements, I just don't want people to be surprised so I'm telling you the facts I know.
 
MBHockey said:
I understand, but wouldn't the scenario I presented negate all of this confusion?

1) Buy cheapo AT&T phone at full price with a contract mid/end June (decline promotional price for handset)
2) Buy iPhone 3G at subsidized price mid/end July (while also agreeing to extend your contract two years)

Wouldn't that hypothetically work? Isn't the issue at the center of all this the fact that people (who are not "upgrade eligible" and do not have an iPhone currently or an active iPhone plan) have already used their 1 subsidized/promotional price per 2 year period and this is not flexible whatsoever?

In other words...what if you simply sign up with AT&T but hold off on using the promotional/subsidized price until you get the iPhone 3G? Or even get some cheapo phone that'll work with AT&T off eBay, but then just go activate it with AT&T (some weeks before purchasing the iPhone 3G)?
Click to expand...

do you realise that a cheap phone at full price from att could cost almost the same as the iphone. Buy a phone from ebay.
 
Doesn't look good for us non-upgrade eligible people. The price of the iPhone on AT&T's iPhone website has an asterik that reads as follows:

*Qualified customers only. 2 year contract required. Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds vary by site conditions. Based on iPhone 3G (8GB) and first-generation iPhone (8GB) purchases. Requires new 2-year AT&T rate plan, sold separately.

I guess that's where non-upgrade eligible people count as unqualified.

Related question:

I'm on a family plan and although I'm not upgrade eligible, my father is. I was thinking about using his upgrade to purchase a new iphone, but then activate it with my phone number. Do you guys think this would work with the new in-store activation policy? Does the number that upgrades have to be the one that activates?
 
PhillyPhan said:
Doesn't look good for us non-upgrade eligible people. The price of the iPhone on AT&T's iPhone website has an asterik that reads as follows:

*Qualified customers only. 2 year contract required. Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds vary by site conditions. Based on iPhone 3G (8GB) and first-generation iPhone (8GB) purchases. Requires new 2-year AT&T rate plan, sold separately.

I guess that's where non-upgrade eligible people count as unqualified.

Related question:

I'm on a family plan and although I'm not upgrade eligible, my father is. I was thinking about using his upgrade to purchase a new iphone, but then activate it with my phone number. Do you guys think this would work with the new in-store activation policy? Does the number that upgrades have to be the one that activates?
Click to expand...
The number that upgrades has to be the one that activates. Activation for the iPhone. is not like it used to be done. In store has to be activated no matter what.
 
saDeRmac said:
The number that upgrades has to be the one that activates. Activation for the iPhone. is not like it used to be done. In store has to be activated no matter what.
Click to expand...

Okay, what if I instead upgrade and activate with my father's phone number, but swap in my SIM card and add the data plan to my phone line and cancel his data plan? Would this get around that?
 
PhillyPhan said:
Okay, what if I instead upgrade and activate with my father's phone number, but swap in my SIM card and add the data plan to my phone line and cancel his? Would this get around that?
Click to expand...

Possible but I think that bricked the 2G iPhone. I'm not entirely sure and I can't really say since it is against the ToS.
 
saDeRmac said:
Possible but I think that bricked the 2G iPhone. I'm not entirely sure and I can't really say since it is against the ToS.
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The policy of using another upgrade on a family line is absolutely acceptable and has never ever been frowned upon by management at any level. Why should the iPhone be any different? If they are going to follow traditional upgrade policies than the ability to use another family members upgrade should also be allowed.
 
Maybe I missed something, but hasn't the policy been with the 1st-gen iPhone to scrap your current contract with no ETF and start you on a new 2-year contract? Why would it be any different now? :confused:
 
jediistar said:
The policy of using another upgrade on a family line is absolutely acceptable and has never ever been frowned upon by management at any level. Why should the iPhone be any different? If they are going to follow traditional upgrade policies than the ability to use another family members upgrade should also be allowed.
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I don't care about it being frowned upon, b/c frankly I'm not sure if that will brick the phone. All I can tell you is we cannot swap it in-store.

zephead said:
Maybe I missed something, but hasn't the policy been with the 1st-gen iPhone to scrap your current contract with no ETF and start you on a new 2-year contract? Why would it be any different now? :confused:
Click to expand...
B/c it is now subsidized and at&t has more control over how it can charge for the phone.
 
eplchamps0304 said:
do you realise that a cheap phone at full price from att could cost almost the same as the iphone. Buy a phone from ebay.
Click to expand...

Yeah...that was in my post :) (the ebay thing not the cheap phone at full price from AT&T -- thanks for that info)

So that would work? Just buying an AT&T phone off ebay, activate it with AT&T, use it for a few weeks, then buy the iPhone 3G @ $199?
 
So when do you think this will all be "official"?

I can't imagine it being July 11th and having to explain this ever changing unofficial policy to everyone as they buy (or don't buy) the new iPhone. A week before?
 
Yes, usually you have to QUALIFY for a subsidy.

But, then what Steve said, "MAXIMUM $199" no longer applies.

They may make an exception as long as you buy the iPhone...

I assume that AT&T will have to make up its mind by the end of June.

Someone has a "system" where you buy an old iPhone, activate that, now you are an "iPhone Customer" and can get the new one fully subsidized, and sell the old one off.

The only thing is that I think many of the old iPhones are going to be scooped up by us T-Mobile customers... :eek: :D
 
Gizmodo is now reporting what the Rep told me which is opposite of what saDeRmac has been reporting:

http://gizmodo.com/5016398/the-iphone-3g-faq said:
What's the price for the iPhone for existing AT&T customers who may or may not be eligible for an upgrade? The same as any other customer, which is $199 for the 8GB and $299 for the 16GB. It won't follow the standard upgrade cycle that AT&T has for other phones. Thanks Abigail.
Click to expand...

The plot thickens :rolleyes:
 
I checked my AT&T account and was surprised to see that I was upgrade eligible. I got the phone at the end of December and it was a new AT&T contract for me.

BP
 
saDeRmac said:
Well the sales person knows from looking at the account whether there was an iPhone on the account or not ever. They can look at the notes, see if the plan is an iPhone plan, and/or research the purchases made on that account. I dunno if that is true in an store but it is in an at&t store. I highly doubt that you will need the phone present with you to purchase the iPhone 3G just b/c you don't need your previous phone to upgrade to any other phone.
Click to expand...

you say, att rep. so how will apple confirm me for the discount if I go to an apple store on the 11th? (my only proof of ever having an iphone is on my att account)---im still on the iphone plan
 
gkarris said:
Yes, usually you have to QUALIFY for a subsidy.

But, then what Steve said, "MAXIMUM $199" no longer applies.

They may make an exception as long as you buy the iPhone...

I assume that AT&T will have to make up its mind by the end of June.

Someone has a "system" where you buy an old iPhone, activate that, now you are an "iPhone Customer" and can get the new one fully subsidized, and sell the old one off.

The only thing is that I think many of the old iPhones are going to be scooped up by us T-Mobile customers... :eek: :D
Click to expand...
:rolleyes:

Again, if AT&T is going to let everybody buy a cut-rate 3G regardless of upgrade status, then we should all go to our AT&T store, buy a subsidized Tilt / Blackjack / whatever, flip that phone on eBay for a $200 profit, then buy the 3G in July. I just don't think AT&T is going to allow that.

If I am already under a recent contract with AT&T, they have no incentive to sell me a cut-rate 3G iPhone. 2G users get a break only because they paid full price for their 3G.
 
MBHockey said:
How were you "upgrade eligible" with AT&T if you were previously on Verizon before you got your iPhone?
Click to expand...
If you have not purchased a subsidized phone from AT&T in the 20 months or so, you are "upgrade eligible." (The 2G was not subsidized by AT&T.)
 
jrbdmb said:
If you have not purchased a subsidized phone from AT&T in the 20 months or so, you are "upgrade eligible." (The 2G was not subsidized by AT&T.)
Click to expand...

What if you supply your own phone to AT&T? Say you have an old AT&T phone just lying around (or got one off of Craigslist/eBay) and start a new contract with AT&T. How long into that contract would you be considered "upgrade eligible" since you haven't used any special/subsidized pricing? Right away? Or would you still have to wait 20 months?

I ask because I'm trying to find out the answer to this: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/5596648/
 
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