It's not getting even close to enough bad press that they will lose out on $250 per handset for everyone that owns a 4S.
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ATT Moved up Iphone updates!
- Thread starter gta50419
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Is AT&T the only carrier not moving up dates? Is it confirmed they won't? I know in years past the dates weren't moved up until right before or right after the iPhone was announced. I just can't imagine they would forego some of those sales and refuse to move dates up like that after having done so for the past 5 years.
They've done this for sebpveral years now "for no reason," so I dont see why this is so far-fetched.
Question for you on your notice? When did you last buy and how many lines do you have and any other info would help?
Thanks, Jerry
AFAIK, AT&T moved up dates one time only and it was before the iPhone 4.
They did it because that was the year that they were losing their exclusivity contract and wanted to lock in customers before they had the option of going to Verizon.
And it wasn't right before or after the iPhone announcement -- it was announced months before.
Incorrect.
1. iPhone 3G (launched in July 2008). ATT let EVERYONE who owned an iPhone 2007 (yes those who even upgraded to another device). As long as iPhone was officially on your account. ATT's system let you have the iPhone 3G/2008 model at $199/299 price. I even upgraded to HTC (forgot name) subsidized price in May 2008 and ATT still gave me the $199/299 iPhone 3G price cause I had iPhone 2007 on my account.
2. iPhone 3GS (launch June 2009). Can't believe 3GS has been around that long. But ATT let users who were eligible in September 2009, August 2009, July 2009 "move up their full subsidy" upgrade to get the $199/299 pricing.
3. iPhone 4. Launch June 2010. ATT let users who users who were eligible from Dec 2010, Nov 2010, Octo 2010, Sept 2010, August 2010, July 2010 all move their full subsidy upgrade to get the $199/299 pricing. So a full 6 months in advance.
Remember ATT was not being "nice" for iPhone 4 launch to move user's full eligibility up a full 6 months. This was clearly a corporate strategy to "lock" customers in before Verizon iPhone 4 was officially announced in January 2011. Every Tom Dick and Harry who is techie knew ATT's strategy for allow 6 month early full subsidy upgrade.
Also users on primary lines $99 or more always got full subsidy upgrades ever 12 months from last upgrade (ATT quietly eliminated this "perk' in Spring of 2011)
So ATT does not allow full subsidy upgrade pricing until you have completed 18-21 month from your last upgrade. This is full subsidy upgrade and not the partial subsidy ($250 plus $199/299 pricing).
When does the partial upgrade come into effect? I upgraded October 2011 and ATT still hasn't allowed a partial. I'm guessing maybe around the 1 year mark?
You're eligible for the early iPhone upgrade like most people, meaning you have to pay $250 more. Not the same as getting the fully subsidized price.
Okay, in the context of the OP, they meant move up iPhone updates to qualify for the fully subsidized prices, which is what everyone wants to know. We've already disputed that, unless at&t does a last minute change to their policy in the future (unlikely).
I upgraded last year to a 4S after purchasing an iPhone 4 on launch day at the $299 price point for a 32GB. My monthly bill is over $100 a month. This will be the first year I cannot upgrade using the full upgrade price. This year I am having to wait 20 months to upgrade which is longer than I ever have before.
I'm in the same boat. I upgraded to a 32GB 4S last year on launch day. For what it's worth i just saw an article in USA Today about Apple buying 4S iphones back for up to $345. My 32GB, apple will pay $330 for. So by my math i'm guessing a new 32GB will still be $299 + the $250 early upgrade is $550 minus the $330 apple will give me for my 4S comes out to $220 + tax and the $36 upgrade fee. Not too shabby. I'm wasnt even considering selling my 4S but when they make it that easy....
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Yeah I upgraded to the 4S, but the reason I hide behind is I'm a developer. Last year I got to get it with the discount. Looks like this year... ...unsubsidized price! Oh well, at least it will be unlocked. Take that AT&T! Oh I guess I'll go get my 4S unlocked as well when the contract runs out.
Update!!
Just went by my local AT&T store and they have me down for early upgrade pricing 199 plus 250. But if I go online or check my phone is still says full retail pricing. I'm confused now!! Does this mean i have to order from the store? I normally order online from Apple.
Thanks, Jerry
Has it been close to 6 months since your last upgrade? Thats when you normally become eligible for the $250 early upgrade plus $199/299 plus $36 activation fee.
Honesty better off just paying full retail especially if you live in California since you end up paying sales taxes on full unsubsidized pricing regardless of what the subsidized price is.
Officially you are correct. In reality, you are incorrect. First, the decision to allow waiver of the $250 fee rests in Randall Stephenson's hands, possibly along with de la Vega. I have received this "discount" each year since the first eligibility for early came up--2008. Only about 15 percent of AT&T iPhone subscribers receive this "gift." The discount is computer generated based on certain criteria such as "amount of monthly bill", "late payments during the year", and most importantly, that the AT&T customer has made ANY changes to their account in the past year.
I talked with corporate oh Friday, and that decision has not been made or has not yet been announced. The amount has been as short as 1-2 days before the pre-order date of the iPhone 5 which is next week to as many as 3 months before as it was in 2008.
Next, this is an iPhone only deal and does not have anything to do with other branded phones.
As I stated earlier, it is not policy to do this, just an exception to the upgrade rule which is now 20 months into the contract that will allow a person to have the $250 fee waived.
Two things will happen in a positive light to let you know if this fee waiver will occur. One, MDN or other Apple-based news will state when they receive the discount. Once that is done, then keep your fingers crossed that the computer finds in your favor. CS agents at 611 CANNOT change for you. Only the CS department set up for this purpose of complaints and make a decision to do so or not. You call them, the complaint is passed on the the right department and you will receive a call-back from the representative. The phone number is (800) 403-3302. Then hit "0" and then # to get to the operator so he/she can direct you to the department handing your state.
As an aside, AT&T's computers misread my situation, so I called and once they got back to me, decided I was not at fault, the change to receiving the discount was changed within seconds after I ended the call.
What has really happened is that those of us lucky to receive this exception to the rule have received it so long that we expect it to happen every year. So, keep dialing *639# each day to see if you will receive the discount. If I don't get it this year, I will wait not only wait until May 2013 when the waiver will be granted, but then wait until the iPhone 6 comes out in October.
By the way, one person stated that he is a member of a corporate account and, therefore, not eligible. If your company provides with you with the phone and you are part of a master bill, then that is correct. If however, you receive a monthly discount but pay the total amount yourself, then this will have NO bearing on the waiver decision. If you missed one payment in the year, (which I did last year, by mistake) my 10+ years with AT&T/Cingular/AT&T, they agreed that the missed payment should have had to bearing on the waiver and the decision was switched. All the computer knew was that I missed a payment by 2 days.
Hope all this helps and good luck. I am waiting like the rest of you.