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Contract and Subsidy Issues for iPhone Users Looking to Upgrade to iPhone 3G S
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That says for NEW LINES only.
right. order one, open a new line (195ish for a 3GS 32GB), get it, cancel my service, pay 120ish ETF.
less than 499.
hell, it's not much more than 299.
I'd say to iPhone owners to patiently wait. There is a very definite chance that 's contract with AT&T ends next year (WSJ says and they reliable) and one can see can't stand AT&T. They will more than likely also offer a Verizon version. Other things they will offer:
-ARM Cortex A9 multi-core processor
-revamped UI
-3rd party multitasking
-API's for third party access to made apps such as Mail
-OLED screen & w/ it better battery life
-Open CL Power VR chip
-PA Semi and other recent hirings influence on chipset
I still doubt you'll see a front facing camera though it would probably be between that and the OLED screen. While the 3gs will more than likely be able to take advantage of the software, it will be meant more for the hardware of next year.
-ARM Cortex A9 multi-core processor
-revamped UI
-3rd party multitasking
-API's for third party access to made apps such as Mail
-OLED screen & w/ it better battery life
-Open CL Power VR chip
-PA Semi and other recent hirings influence on chipset
I still doubt you'll see a front facing camera though it would probably be between that and the OLED screen. While the 3gs will more than likely be able to take advantage of the software, it will be meant more for the hardware of next year.
Another near 30 page thread on the subsidy. Glad I'm a new AT&T customer
give it a year. Newness wears off when the next NEW iPhone comes out
Verizon handles upgrades the same way AT&T does, so how does that help anyone with this upgrade subsidy "issue"?
You lose your existing phone number that way, don't you?
If you have to wait until January anyway, then that actually is the perfect month since there might be something new at Macworld. Unless that doesn't exist any more.
I think that is wrong since I have the original too and I'm good to go for the cheaper subsidized price.
Verizon handles upgrades the same way AT&T does, so how does that help anyone with this upgrade subsidy "issue"?
Because I'd rather have a phone on a carrier with good coverage/network and next year's iPhone will be a far larger leap in technology than the 3g to 3gs. Chances are that apps like Slingbox will also not be crippled. As for subsidy you'll have to live with that unless you're willing to pay unsubsidized prices.
Wasn't there a law passed a few years ago that allowed you to take your phone number from one carrier to another? AT&T asked when I signed up if I wanted to use my old number.
Verizon handles upgrades the same way AT&T does, so how does that help anyone with this upgrade subsidy "issue"?
Any company in the world is going to tell you to take a running jump if you expect to be upgraded every time a new unit comes out. Imagine if every time Nokia released a new unit and everyone expected a subsidised upgrade....people would be going out of business left, right and centre!
1) I know it's different which is why I'm perfectly willing to pay £300 for it and renew my contract. (It's not entirely different h/w wise from the Palm Pre so I find it hard to believe it's costing O2 £700 to buy!!)
2) I'm still paying £35 a month going forward. Why should O2 get that money twice? it's not right. They're still getting my money for the service I'm using. I'm not having something twice from them - I'm only using one phone on one line in that 6 months and that "revenue they should reasonably expect" you talk of - They're still getting it and a whole lot more besides. There is no reason why they can't keep me as an iPhone customer for a long long time...
Why does everyone act like that this mythical 18 month telco contract is some holy article that is unchangeable? They used be 12 month contracts about 10 years ago but they changed to 18 months way back to start milking more out of people but it didn't matter on normal garbage 'talky' phones...well it does now...
3) If I renew in December I'm then 6 months late for this iPhone, and 6 months early for the 2010 one and the situation is just going to keep hitting everyone....
Seriously, think this over - it's a mess. Contract periods have to change to 12 months or the telco's have to contractually allow a non-penalty renewal at iPhone release time...
The length of a contract determines how much of a discount you get off of the initial price.
I have no problems with your suggestion about 12-month contracts, ... just don't expect to buy an iPhone on a 12-month contract for the same price as they offer for a 24-month contract.
Oh, I thought this thread about was about contract/subsidy issues. Sorry, I took your post out of context.
That user was saying he could add a new line of service to his AT&T account (and get a new iPhone 3GS cheap), and then cancel his old line of service (and pay the pro-rated ETF). When he cancels his old line of service, his old phone number that he's been using for the last 12+ months goes away.
That says for NEW LINES only.
New lines as in new to AT&T. You can port from another carrier with the same phone number. Countless people have been successful in getting the cash back confirmation since yesterday. Supposedly some have been successful with purchasing an upgrade and getting a confirmation but I'm not too sure they know what they are saying. It specifically says that upgrades are not eligible.
I for one will not be paying 274£ for what I can mostly get for free on a 3G once iPhone OS3 is out next week.
The 3GS has no revolutionary new features that warrant such a price. The voice control thing is so gimmicky!
I'll be waiting till next year for iPhone 4G that's for sure.
The 3GS has no revolutionary new features that warrant such a price. The voice control thing is so gimmicky!
I'll be waiting till next year for iPhone 4G that's for sure.
Ok i understand o2 not giving up on contracts as we did agree a length of service but y cant i buy one of the new 3gs from apple direct??? and continue my contract term with the new device?? £538 quid for the 32gig pay as you go seems a bit much for the phone alone..... the 16 gig 3g is only £391
All my results are based on the wireless plan alone, not considering any other stuff you may have with at&t. I would assume they don't count the other stuff towards your wireless upgrade date, but I could be wrong.
Apple sold the original iPhone direct, and people freaked out over the price (because it wasn't subsidized by the carriers).
Since then, you can only buy an iPhone through the carriers. I mean, you can still pick one up at an Apple store, but they are only selling them on behalf of the carrier(s) they work with in your country, so the carrier(s) prices still apply when you buy from Apple.
Im in America in September could i no get a cheeper pay as you go there and pop my sim card in that when i get hame???
its £274 for the phone plus 18 month contract at £35 a month americas is $299 which is between £150-200 quid in the exchange rate. well conned didnt mind b4 but its a bit rich now lol
AT&T doesn't "officially" sell the iPhone for "pay as you go" (or "prepaid", as it's called here in the US). You can buy the iPhone for full-price ($599/$699) and put in an AT&T "prepaid" SIM, from what I've read. But again, that's unofficial. If you walk into an AT&T or Apple store asking that, they wouldn't tell you that.
If you buy an iPhone in the US, it's locked to AT&T, so you couldn't take it back and pop your SIM in, unless you unlock it first.
If you buy an iPhone in the US, it's locked to AT&T, so you couldn't take it back and pop your SIM in, unless you unlock it first.
Verizon handles upgrades the same way AT&T does, so how does that help anyone with this upgrade subsidy "issue"?
Because Verizon at least has the ability to offer all services. Not AT&T who only basically gives us voice, limited 3g data (terrible network), and visual voicemail.
Offer all services? What specifically are you talking about? Sorry your AT&T 3G coverage sucks out there. AT&Ts added 25 new towers around where I live so far this year, with even more planned. Their coverage is pretty close to Verizon here.
LOL, keep dreaming. Everyone always says the next iPhone will be the big leap. So far all iterative. Haven't you noticed the pattern of massive disappointment every time Apple announces a new product? Rarely do they overachieve, and I don't see them starting in 2010. So far there still isn't any credible iPhone competition yet.str1f3 said:
Aside from the possibility of a little competition for the iPhone users, who cares? The only company worse than AT&T is Verizon. I'm very, very happy to be away from them.
The only cell phone company I'd rather be with is Consumer Cellular. They resell AT&T minutes but without all the contract ********. Unfortunately they do not support data and told me they had no short-term plans to change that. Otherwise I'd switch my iPhone over to them when the AT&T contract expires and keep it until it croaks.