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AT&T's iPhone FAQ and Policies
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It is not vauge. It says:
iPhone and associated wireless service are not eligible for corporate discounts.
I wonder if that applies to military discounts too? The system saw it as a business, so...
I'd also like to point out 2 things:
1. Say someone buys the iPhone, takes it home, and faisl the credit check. I worked for Cingular before and something like 10-20% of the people did not pass the credit check at our store. What happens to these people when they try to activate the phone? Unless they want to pay a deposit that can be $750, they have to return the phone. Too bad opened boxes have a 10% restocking fee! Cingular did not have a restocking fee at all when I worked for them, as long as everything was returned (box, manuals etc.). What a crappy policy to have.
2. I did not know this until I read the FAQ so I don't know if it is old news but it says that anyone, ANYONE, even if you just upgraded your phone a month ago, can upgrade to a iPhone. Only thing is that your contract starts over again when you buy the phone.
Please do tell us what you REALLY think of the RAZR!!
. Not a satisfied customer of the RAZR huh?.No insurance? What about accidental damage? I have never used my insurance before, but my significant other has, twice. Last I heard, dropping something has never been covered by warranty.
Buy and bail? Sure. Unlock? Probably. Get another SIM to work in a phone subject to ongoing software updates, even if through iTunes? You go first and let us know how it works out.
When the original razr came out (at $500.00 + ) at&t did not have insurance available for it either.
Poor choice for current AT&T customers?
One detail isn't yet clear from what I have seen published about the new AT&T plans.
I am an AT&T customer, but my last 2-year plan expired in February. I'm now going month-to-month on a $49/mo plan (no data) that ends up costing about $65/mo with the various other fees and taxes included. In theory, now that I'm month-to-month, I should be able to change my plan whenever I decide to do so.
However, from what I have seen published, it appears that AT&T customers' only iPhone option is to ADD A $20/mo DATA PLAN! In other words, instead of choosing the $59/mo plan (which would probably end up around $75 with the other taxes and fees), my only option appears to be to start paying $85/mo for my current plan plus $20.
The Apple activation video doesn't seem to indicate that any different option is available for people who are currently AT&T customers but want to switch to another plan.
If I "add a new line" to my plan, it looks like I can get the $59/mo plan for that line, then cancel my current line, but it doesn't look like I can transfer my current phone number to the new line. So in order to get the $59/mo plan I must give up my current phone number.
Am I missing something? Please correct me if I have misunderstood. Thanks!
One detail isn't yet clear from what I have seen published about the new AT&T plans.
I am an AT&T customer, but my last 2-year plan expired in February. I'm now going month-to-month on a $49/mo plan (no data) that ends up costing about $65/mo with the various other fees and taxes included. In theory, now that I'm month-to-month, I should be able to change my plan whenever I decide to do so.
However, from what I have seen published, it appears that AT&T customers' only iPhone option is to ADD A $20/mo DATA PLAN! In other words, instead of choosing the $59/mo plan (which would probably end up around $75 with the other taxes and fees), my only option appears to be to start paying $85/mo for my current plan plus $20.
The Apple activation video doesn't seem to indicate that any different option is available for people who are currently AT&T customers but want to switch to another plan.
If I "add a new line" to my plan, it looks like I can get the $59/mo plan for that line, then cancel my current line, but it doesn't look like I can transfer my current phone number to the new line. So in order to get the $59/mo plan I must give up my current phone number.
Am I missing something? Please correct me if I have misunderstood. Thanks!
Just my 2 cents worth... but isn't that the standard Apple return policy?
14 days and 10% restocking fee if opened... Not saying I like it but they are treating it like an Apple iPod more then a AT&T phone.
if current at&t customers can just renew for 2 years with a data plan, then couldn't someone join up with at&t (say, today), get a discounted/free phone, and then, on friday, get an iphone and extend their contract 2 days?
The reason they give big discounts on phones is because it locks you in to a 2 year plan, but if current customers can renew with no penalty then they aren't getting anything back for that phone discount.
The reason they give big discounts on phones is because it locks you in to a 2 year plan, but if current customers can renew with no penalty then they aren't getting anything back for that phone discount.
Agreed, I had a sony ericsson wireless phone, the screen goes white on me. THe buttons still work, and I can still dial numbers, but the screen is always and utterly white. I call sony for a replacement, and they say, "You must have done something to it." They would not ofer me a replacement even though their product was clearly defective. Cingular ended up giving me another phone from another manufacturer, a Motorola which I dearly loved because the battery life was amazing and it was very durable with a positively amazing alarm feature. On a side note, I'm not really sure why AT&T is making people sign two year contracts, which ends up making them look like dill-holes. I mean, if you're buying an iPhone, you plan on staying with AT&T for a while as they're the sole carrier for quite some time. I likely won't have to sign up for a two year agreement, I've gotten free phones without having to in the past, I can be very persuasive, a la, "What part of customer since 1993 don't you understand? Perhaps you'd like me to take my business and the 20G's I've dropped on your phone service elsewhere." "I apologize Mr. Garland, what kind of phone would you like?"
GA = fairly easy to get a concealed carry permit. Glock .45 = no muggings directed my way. (3 failed attempts. 2 Carjackings and a guy trying to rob me at the mailbox. :-D)
Hey, just because a device can be used to lead us further down the path to a future that closely resembles the movie Idiocracy, doesn't mean that it has to. I plan on getting an iPhone in order to keep closer tabs on my work and my stocks in addition to replacing my long in the tooth motorola phone. I use my iPod almost exculsively when running, and I find that my Mac can't unleash creativity that isn't there to begin with, but I can throw down if I've got a guy from marketing telling me what to do with it.
It seems that way to me as well. I have not talked with AT&T to confirm it yet though... I'd really like to convert to a family plan with 2 lines for me and my wife. $80 for 700 minutes and two lines sounds excellent to me!
I think it's at least likely (greater than 50% prob) that you could cancel the data later on and just keep the voice).
Your comment makes no sense to me. If you're already on month to month, what's to stop you from signing a new contract with AT&T??? You could likely even get your # transferred to the new account. (if not, go sign up with t-mobile first, then transfer it back over and cancel the t-mobile for free).
It seems that way to me as well. I have not talked with AT&T to confirm it yet though... I'd really like to convert to a family plan with 2 lines for me and my wife. $80 for 700 minutes and two lines sounds excellent to me!
That's actually $80 for 1 line. If you get a second iPhone line, it's $29.99 more, or $9.99 for another phone. I know, it's kind of crazy that they quote the prices for a Family Plan with only 1 line.
But iPods and iPhones sell. That's all that matters.
And I, too, am getting tired of all the people whining about SIM cards (and the iPhone in general). Look, they have an exclusive contract, you're not going to be able to use it with another network. End of story. Even if it's hacked, you still won't get all the features, so I don't understand what the big deal is. I'm sure Apple thought of this, who knows what they built into it to prevent things like that?
Yes, it might suck for some people who have bad AT&T coverage, but it is what it is. Why can't people just be happy for what it is, instead of complaining about everything it's not?
Better to wait...
Ok, so the iPhone is the biggest hype right now. I've read that critics are saying although its an expensive phone they're sure that Apple will bring the price down after all the hype. Apple's main objective is to get more people to switch over to their world of Apple products. As for the phone subscriptions through ATT, I think that may change over time for the better. My concern are the other carriers like Verizon and Sprint/Nextell. I wonder how much they'll be making with people who will want to break contract and pay their huge fees to get out of contract? And will they survive in the cellphone market now that they may lose customers. And I think this iPhone should have some incentives that would bring the price down for new subscribers like their other phones. All this hype is temporary and once its all over, you'll see price drop and updated versions of the iPhone.
Don't get me wrong, I like the iPhone. I think its an incredible product BUT there are concerns regarding battery life and other features that I would like to see in the phone. I have Sprint and although their coverage is quite good, their customer service is rated the worst in the cellular industry. With this new iPhone, I hope ATT will do the following for their network:
1- more bandwidth
2- better coverage throughout the west coast
3- incentives for new customers
It'll be interesting to see what happens to that industry. They'll be very competitve with each other regarding plans. I just hope the iPhone will live up to its name and that it becomes very successful- just like the iPod.
Ok, so the iPhone is the biggest hype right now. I've read that critics are saying although its an expensive phone they're sure that Apple will bring the price down after all the hype. Apple's main objective is to get more people to switch over to their world of Apple products. As for the phone subscriptions through ATT, I think that may change over time for the better. My concern are the other carriers like Verizon and Sprint/Nextell. I wonder how much they'll be making with people who will want to break contract and pay their huge fees to get out of contract? And will they survive in the cellphone market now that they may lose customers. And I think this iPhone should have some incentives that would bring the price down for new subscribers like their other phones. All this hype is temporary and once its all over, you'll see price drop and updated versions of the iPhone.
Don't get me wrong, I like the iPhone. I think its an incredible product BUT there are concerns regarding battery life and other features that I would like to see in the phone. I have Sprint and although their coverage is quite good, their customer service is rated the worst in the cellular industry. With this new iPhone, I hope ATT will do the following for their network:
1- more bandwidth
2- better coverage throughout the west coast
3- incentives for new customers
It'll be interesting to see what happens to that industry. They'll be very competitve with each other regarding plans. I just hope the iPhone will live up to its name and that it becomes very successful- just like the iPod.
Your comment makes no sense to me
What's to stop me, you ask? The iTunes activation system, apparently. If you have watched Apple's video, you have seen that there's no provision made for an existing customer to switch to a new plan; all an existing AT&T customer can choose to do is to add $20 to his data plan (which also starts a new 2-year contract, so no more plan switching after that for a while!).
No, this doesn't make sense. But it's what Apple is giving us in the video illustrating the new activation procedure. If you have information to the contrary (and not just "that doesn't make sense" -- as the apparent senselessness is the very point of my puzzlement), please share what you know. Thanks!
What's to stop me, you ask? The iTunes activation system, apparently. If you have watched Apple's video, you have seen that there's no provision made for an existing customer to switch to a new plan; all an existing AT&T customer can choose to do is to add $20 to his data plan (which also starts a new 2-year contract, so no more plan switching after that for a while!).
No, this doesn't make sense. But it's what Apple is giving us in the video illustrating the new activation procedure. If you have information to the contrary (and not just "that doesn't make sense" -- as the apparent senselessness is the very point of my puzzlement), please share what you know. Thanks!
The first part, yes, and I would gues it would probably still work as an iPod (though I'm surprised it won't out of the box honestly, so who knows? It would seem pretty lame to not be able to use this after your contract expires for iPod and over WiFi, so I'm thinking one time activation is all that is required).
The second part, very difficult. You've got to figure out some way to unlock the phone or it will just stubbornly refuse to do anything when you turn it on (with another SIM installed). For most phones, which are designed so they can be unlocked, this involves obtaining an unlock code (sometimes easier than others). For the iPhone, because it is designed to be AT&T exclusive for 5 years, there's a good chance that there will simply be no way to unlock.
Why would you have to sign up as an existing customer??? As I explained in my post, just sign up as a new customer, or cancel your previous service first if necessary. I don't think AT&T would mind at all if you want to sign up for 7 separate iPhone contracts as long as you pay the bill.
I'm over 65, have arthritis, cataracts, poor hearing, and a failing memory. I live on a fixed income, eat saltines with peanut butter, have trouble getting up and down the stairs to my room in the basement of my dope-fiend son's ramshackle home, and sometimes poop my pants.
Yet, I still lust for the iPhone, this marvelous futuristic device that promises to make my life complete. Since it was first announced in January, I've been saving for it, filching money from the collection plate at church, stealing from under the nose of my son's alcoholic Goth girlfriend, selling my Class 2 narcotic painkilling medicine to college kids at the coffee bar ---I have no shame when it comes to raising the money to buy an iPhone.
I dream of owning it, of holding its sleekness in my curled and wrinkled hand, of --at last!-- being part of the great milieu of forward-thinking, hip urbanites plugged into the great wide world of data. I fantasize nubile young girls flocking to my side in admiration, chests heaving and eyes glistening as they stroke the marvelous life-giving gizmo gripped so lovingly by my gnarled and shaking fingers.
Bet you do, too, eh?
COMING SOON: iTherapy, a fee-based service from Apple designed to help those unable to purchase the iPhone. Details to follow.
Yet, I still lust for the iPhone, this marvelous futuristic device that promises to make my life complete. Since it was first announced in January, I've been saving for it, filching money from the collection plate at church, stealing from under the nose of my son's alcoholic Goth girlfriend, selling my Class 2 narcotic painkilling medicine to college kids at the coffee bar ---I have no shame when it comes to raising the money to buy an iPhone.
I dream of owning it, of holding its sleekness in my curled and wrinkled hand, of --at last!-- being part of the great milieu of forward-thinking, hip urbanites plugged into the great wide world of data. I fantasize nubile young girls flocking to my side in admiration, chests heaving and eyes glistening as they stroke the marvelous life-giving gizmo gripped so lovingly by my gnarled and shaking fingers.
Bet you do, too, eh?
COMING SOON: iTherapy, a fee-based service from Apple designed to help those unable to purchase the iPhone. Details to follow.