Contract and Subsidy Issues for iPhone Users Looking to Upgrade to iPhone 3G S

[michelle21]

Don't worry about apple's margins. They will do just fine without the loud 3G whiners.

Actually I think you're wrong. And I suspect they will miss their target, not by much maybe, but with the company being scrutinized because of Steve Job's absence. May not be such a good quarter. You're counting on there being a lot of first time iphone buyers and I'm not so sure that is the case.

I guess we will see.

And I too am tired of this thread, It seems pointless. And I think most people who really seriously ARE going to upgrade have worked through there strategy already.

Mine for instance is to add an additional line and give the other phone to another family member. She will use it for college. done deal.

199.00 plus whatever fees to swtich and for monthly service. Already confirmed it and have a phone on reserve.

 

[fastbite]

This mess is why I wish AT&T/Apple had given the option to buy the phone outright last year. Like they did with the first iPhone. Now the iPhone is in the same boat as any other cell phone.

here! Here! Totally right!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

You don't NEED the newest iPhone model either. I have a three year old iBook which is GREAT. NO, it's NOT the new one but don't be so friggen greedy and wastefull. My first gen iPhone kicks ass over my wifes 3G battery wise. I think it's actually better than hers. When it dies, I'll get a new one but I don't NEED it now.

If you are going to go down the NEED route, you don't really NEED a smart phone. It makes your life easier, more convenience, but it's hardly a necessity. Think of all the extra resources that go into making and powering a smartphone vs. a $10 basic cellphone. So don't lecture on NEEDS based on your own especially when you hardly seem to have forsaken material desires yourself. Thanks.

As for being wasteful I assume the poster is not going to throw his old phone in the garbage. Most likely he'd sell it or give it to a friend/family member. Of course at some point everything ends up in the dump or recycler.

 

[mvpkent]

You are 1 year into a 2 year contract. It is due to this that you don't qualify for a full subsidy. We are left to assume you are being asked to pay $200 over sticker (so to speak) because you do qualify for a partial subsidy. Things get a little hazy as some people are claiming they are being asked to pay higher than $399. I assume those people are less than 1 year into their 2 year, so they qualify for no subsidy whatsoever. Lots of assuming going on though.

Ok, I get what the confusion is now. Well then let me atleast confirm that if you owned the original iPhone and paid full price, then upgraded to 3G on launch day 1 yr ago, you are most definately eligible for the partial subsidy pricing of $399 and $499.

 

[jmorrison0722]

About the bitching

If we want to petition someone, petition ATT to create a 1 year contract/subsidy agreement option for iPhone, since it's upgraded yearly.

 

[NAG]

I honestly don't care if I can get a 3G at launch or not. I just want to know why there is such a huge and arbitrary range of dates for when people who bought a 3G at launch can upgrade. July to March is almost 1 full year difference and so far no explanation has held true in every or even most instances. It just seems completely random.

Hopefully AT&T will issue a statement explaining exactly what is going on so this confusion will end.

 

[jmorrison0722]

Ok, I get what the confusion is now. Well then let me atleast confirm that if you owned the original iPhone and paid full price, then upgraded to 3G on launch day 1 yr ago, you are most definately eligible for the partial subsidy pricing of $399 and $499.

I believe that is correct. Those who are less than 12 months in, I'm assuming, will be asked to pay more or wait until the 1 year mark.

 

[IMaMACnow]

12 month contract for Family Plans

Three of us are in a family plan at AT&T.. all of us have iPhones.

The "main" number qualifies for a subsidized iPhone on July 12th, 12 months after we bought our three iPhone 3G.

The other two lines qualify for 12/12 subsidized iPhone plans.

Anyone else here this? This is what i was quoted when calling AT&T.

>>> Now I see 3 big days for iPhone purchases... 6/19 for the newbies
7/12 for Family Plan account holders
12/12 for the rest of us.

Happy Shopping!

 

[jmorrison0722]

I imagine

I imagine there is a chart somewhere that looks something like this:

1-11 months = zero subsidy allowed
12-17 months = partial subsidy allowed
18 + = full subsidy allowed

 

[btcutter]

Simple solution to all this complaining

Apple will just sell unsubsidized iPhones on GSM networks for $599 and $699. You just take it to AT&T or whatever your local wireless company and sign up for month to month data/voice/messaging service. Better yet, make it available for Verizon and Sprint as well.

Will paying $599/$699 full price make YOU happy????

You can own the latest iPhone every year if you want.

PROBLEM SOLVED!

 

[michelle21]

If you are going to go down the NEED route, you don't really NEED a smart phone. It makes your life easier, more convenience, but it's hardly a necessity. Think of all the extra resources that go into making and powering a smartphone vs. a $10 basic cellphone. So don't lecture on NEEDS based on your own especially when you hardly seem to have forsaken material desires yourself. Thanks.

As for being wasteful I assume the poster is not going to throw his old phone in the garbage. Most likely he'd sell it or give it to a friend/family member. Of course at some point everything ends up in the dump or recycler.

Yes I do, I'm a registered Iphone developer. As are a lot of other posters in this forum. I've weighted the situation and my conclusion is we can get in a mess if something passes the appstore inquisition but doesn't work on new hardware.

I spent 12 hours starting 9:00 pm friday trying to work out how to update all users on the subscribed site with new images uploaded from the iphone.

Especially for media intensive apps, they have to be tested on the new hardware.

Just wanted to let you know that the line, "the upgrade is not a necessity" is not true for everyone.

Everyone who wants one has to justify it to needs and budget.

 

[Peace]

Wait till the people buy the new 3GS and don't see MMS or tethering plans.

I'd bet a lot that's when we hear those people griping about ATT.

 

[surferfromuk]

You lost me. Have you owned the iphone for two years (the $2500 part)?

Yes, but two iphones...

For the record I'm not angry or petulantly stamping my feet -I'm not twelve years old here - but the system has lapsed into a state of conflict and anyone who can't see that a product 'of desire' on a 12 month renewal cycle that is bound to an 18th month replacement contract isn't going to disgruntle customers is missing the reason that Apple is such a powerful draw...

 

[NAG]

Three of us are in a family plan at AT&T.. all of us have iPhones.

The "main" number qualifies for a subsidized iPhone on July 12th, 12 months after we bought our three iPhone 3G.

The other two lines qualify for 12/12 subsidized iPhone plans.

Anyone else here this? This is what i was quoted when calling AT&T.

>>> Now I see 3 big days for iPhone purchases... 6/19 for the newbies
7/12 for Family Plan account holders
12/12 for the rest of us.

Happy Shopping!

Nope, I'm 3/10 and I bought on launch day.

It isn't 18 months like you're all quoting. The range is larger.

 

[jmorrison0722]

Apple will just sell unsubsidized iPhones on GSM networks for $599 and $699. You just take it to AT&T or whatever your local wireless company and sign up for month to month data/voice/messaging service. Better yet, make it available for Verizon and Sprint as well.

Will paying $599/$699 full price make YOU happy????

You can own the latest iPhone every year if you want.

PROBLEM SOLVED!

Or how about this:

1 year plan = $399 / $499 after subsidy
2 year plan = $199 / $299 after subsidy
No commitment = $599 / $699

Oh wait, that's what we have now.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Actually I think you're wrong. And I suspect they will miss their target, not by much maybe, but with the company being scrutinized because of Steve Job's absence. May not be such a good quarter. You're counting on there being a lot of first time iphone buyers and I'm not so sure that is the case.

I guess we will see.

It's been a long time since Apple has missed it's numbers since they are always given on the low end. And as for Steve Job's absence last quarter was gangbusters and even when other CE companies were lagging.

I think the 3GS will do at least as well as the 3G. 1st all the 2Gers like me who didn't buy the 3G but are now ready for some newness, then all the people in Europe who haven't or couldn't get an 3G last year b/c they were still on contract, and finally, if China gets the iPhone as rumored, well look out.

The beauty of the 3GS is that it offers more functionality, not just faster speed. I think that is what is going to lure people in, especially the video.

 

[jdechko]

I just came here to say "this."

The only issues I have with AT&T are MMS and Tethering. I'm trying to figure out why it's so hard to enable this for iPhone 3G users.

I can only conjure up images of Brian Regan doing this bit. Enojy.

We also had to get the phone turned on. It's different then I thought, I didn't know how it works so I asked him (as Brian) "how does that work? Do we have to wait in our home for a few days for the phone people to come out?" (As phone company) "No we do it differently now. We can just flip the switch from right here." (As Brian).... pause... "Oh, great.... can you go ahead and flip it?" (As phone company) "We're gonna flip it next Thursday." (As Brian) "Can you flip it right now?" (As phone company) "We're gonna flip it Thursday, late, or Friday, or sometime in November."

 

[gazchops]

?!?!?

Is it me or are Yanks not used to the real world? IF YOU TAKE A CONTRACT OUT FOR A PHONE, THEN THAT PHONE IS LIKELY TO BE SUBSIDISED BY THAT CARRIER (simply they have paid for your phone so you will sign up to a contract), THEY HAVE TO RECOVER THAT COST (it is a business..... surprise!) at the end of your contract you can get a NEW contract THEN MOAN SOME MORE (after getting your phone cheap in the first place?!?!). XX

 

[AlwaysHopeful]

This is what's actually happening.......

Think about it guys...

Big Phil delivers a dull keynote - great products but no real p'zazz.

People then look at the small print and start complaining.

A week or so later - the boy Jobs will ride in to the scene on a white charger, after knocking his "historic" (1929 !?!) house down, to save the day......

Subsidies for all - Apple has billions so everyone is happy to see him 100% well again and forgives him the wrecking ball!

Mark my words!!!!!

 

[rbucci]

If we want to petition someone, petition ATT to create a 1 year contract/subsidy agreement option for iPhone, since it's upgraded yearly.

GREAT IDEA!!!!

 

[slippery-pete]

I imagine there is a chart somewhere that looks something like this:

1-11 months = zero subsidy allowed
12-17 months = partial subsidy allowed
18 + = full subsidy allowed

Not accurate. Some(like myself) who bought 3G on launch day last year are eligible for a full subsidy on 7/12/09....

 

[btcutter]

Actually I think you're wrong. And I suspect they will miss their target, not by much maybe, but with the company being scrutinized because of Steve Job's absence. May not be such a good quarter. You're counting on there being a lot of first time iphone buyers and I'm not so sure that is the case.

I guess we will see.

And I too am tired of this thread, It seems pointless. And I think most people who really seriously ARE going to upgrade have worked through there strategy already.

Mine for instance is to add an additional line and give the other phone to another family member. She will use it for college. done deal.

199.00 plus whatever fees to swtich and for monthly service. Already confirmed it and have a phone on reserve.

I think Apple will be fine because of the new line of MacBook Pro and aggressive pricing during new school yr. They will sell their laptops like hotcakes.

 

[NAG]

Not accurate. Some(like myself) who bought 3G on launch day last year are eligible for a full subsidy on 7/12/09....

And some like myself aren't eligible until March. People keep coming in here and calling everyone whiners not realizing that there are obvious discrepancies with what is actually going on here. Clarification, not name calling would be nice.

 

[jmorrison0722]

Not accurate. Some(like myself) who bought 3G on launch day last year are eligible for a full subsidy on 7/12/09....

Interesting. Did you own the original iPhone or did you walk in and buy the 3G as your first iPhone? (Not that it should matter) Also, not calling you a liar or anything but have double checked this? I asked because I've heard others saying they were told this (via the website) only to have it change the next time they checked.

 

[slippery-pete]

And some like myself aren't eligible until March. People keep coming in here and calling everyone whiners not realizing that there are obvious discrepancies with what is actually going on here. Clarification, not name calling would be nice.

I agree, AT&T can't even answer the random nature of the upgrades