If you already have an iPhone 3g, upgrading to the 3gs is $599/16gb and $699/32gb

[JonboyDC]

Mine shows December online, or 18 months after I bought the 3G.

I believe that when AT&T calculates upgrade eligibility, they do take into consideration how long you've been a customer. I think that for those of us who switched to AT&T in order to buy the first iPhone in 2007 and then bought a 3g in June 2008, that 2-year history with the company is what is causing them to make us upgrade-eligible 18 months into our current contract. Some people with a 3G are posting that they are upgrade eligible in July -- I would guess that those people have a longer history with AT&T.

It's generally cheaper to keep a current customer than to sign up a new one, so the mobile companies generally do reward long-term customers with treatment that is designed to cause them to stick around.

 

[Rat-Boy]

I just sent a email to Apple about AT&T's upgrade policy. They are punishing the loyal customers who would buy iPhone every year. Maybe if enough people complain, they will change it.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

They can't change it.

AT&T is giving you the phone cheaper because of the 2 year contract.

If you keep upgrading early, AT&T loses money.

So there is not a thing Apple can do about it.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

I think if you've had your 3G replaced, it screws you out of getting the 199/299 upgrade price.

 

[metanoia]

Great point, I believe I had my iPhone 3G replaced in March because of a defect. I'm checking my Bro's who also has got a 3G on launch day and hasn't had it replaced to see what his upgrade says.

I think that's it..

This is what my Bro's says for upgrade:
As a valued AT&T customer, you may be eligible for an upgrade on this line, with reduced equipment pricing when signing a 2-year contract. Click ‘Upgrade Today’ to view your upgrade options.

Here we go, I'll be making a rage-inducing phone call to the idiots at at&t... I'll report back on results later.

 

[AustinSTI]

32gb 3GS - $299
First Months Bill - $69
Early Contract Term Fee- $175

$543 contract free

And you'll have to wait 6 months before you ATT will allow you to have another account with them should you break the contract.

 

[Rat-Boy]

I believe that when AT&T calculates upgrade eligibility, they do take into consideration how long you've been a customer. I think that for those of us who switched to AT&T in order to buy the first iPhone in 2007 and then bought a 3g in June 2008, that 2-year history with the company is what is causing them to make us upgrade-eligible 18 months into our current contract. Some people with a 3G are posting that they are upgrade eligible in July -- I would guess that those people have a longer history with AT&T.

It's generally cheaper to keep a current customer than to sign up a new one, so the mobile companies generally do reward long-term customers with treatment that is designed to cause them to stick around.

Yet, me, who has been an AT&T customer since I bought my StarTAC gosh knows how many years ago, has a bill over 240 a month, can not get anything but the $599 and $699 prices???

What a crock!!

 

[AustinSTI]

I believe that when AT&T calculates upgrade eligibility, they do take into consideration how long you've been a customer. I think that for those of us who switched to AT&T in order to buy the first iPhone in 2007 and then bought a 3g in June 2008, that 2-year history with the company is what is causing them to make us upgrade-eligible 18 months into our current contract. Some people with a 3G are posting that they are upgrade eligible in July -- I would guess that those people have a longer history with AT&T.

It's generally cheaper to keep a current customer than to sign up a new one, so the mobile companies generally do reward long-term customers with treatment that is designed to cause them to stick around.

Thats not true I bought the first gen phone and the 3g and I'm not eligible till April next year. Not like I care but I don't think logevity has anything to do with it.

 

[nikhsub1]

I think if you've had your 3G replaced, it screws you out of getting the 199/299 upgrade price.

Wrong. I've had mine replaced at least 7 times.

 

[blackberrylover]

And you'll have to wait 6 months before you ATT will allow you to have another account with them should you break the contract.

Already have a line on a family plan so I'll be good to go after I unlock it.

 

[alphatectz]

dies, I'm so f***in glad I isn't sell my 3g yet......

 

[Rat-Boy]

I think if you've had your 3G replaced, it screws you out of getting the 199/299 upgrade price.

I bought this iPhone 3G on launch day, 4th in line and 4th to get one at the store I was at.

Never been replaced.

It keeps quoting me the very high prices. ($599 and $699.)

Something else is going on.

 

[KidFresh]

(Caveat: Apple/AT&T noob)

What's my best course of action to get 3GS ???

I bought a ($99) 8GB 3G on June 11th; signed my first ever AT&T contract. I have 2 days left in my 30-day return policy.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

Here we go, I'll be making a rage-inducing phone call to the idiots at at&t... I'll report back on results later.

Please let me know how it goes, because I had my 3G replaced in March because of a defect, and my upgrade status says, I qualify at a discounted higher rate and I can qualify for standard pricing in March of '10.. which is a year after I got the replacement unit.

 

[BOSS10L]

"iPhone 3g users stiffed" = iPhone 3g users held to contract they signed when given a $500 phone for an up front cost of $200.

Yeah, but who can blame 'em? We live in a society where athletes hold out 2 seasons into a 5 season contract because they don't feel they're getting paid what they're worth. Not saying I agree with it, just pointing it out.

FWIW, I personally don't think the new 3GS is worth the upgrade over my current 16GB 3G. The good news is that my wife can now upgrade her first gen iPhone to a 3G for $99. Maybe next year if Apple really steps up I'll consider a new phone, but for now, with the 3G and 3.0 OS, I'm more than content to spend my money on more important things.

 

[ks-man]

It may be correct regarding the replacement. I got my 16GB 3G on launch day and then got a replacement about two weeks later. This is what the Apple site says for my info:

Review iPhone pricing.

We can offer you an iPhone at the full retail price. On 01/08/2010, you may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.

* $499.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
* $599.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
* $699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

I have a 450 min plan with 200 text messages if it could be related to that. Apparently if your iPhone had problems and needed to be replaced you aren't such a "valued" customer to AT&T. Oh well, I still wouldn't upgrade for $500. I would for the standard upgrade price.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

I bought this iPhone 3G on launch day, 4th in line and 4th to get one at the store I was at.

Never been replaced.

It keeps quoting me the very high prices. ($599 and $699.)

Something else is going on.

It sounds like they just took darts and threw them at an upgrade list.

 

[AustinSTI]

(Caveat: Apple/AT&T noob)

What's my best course of action to get 3GS ???

I bought a ($99) 8GB 3G on June 11th; signed my first ever AT&T contract. I have 2 days left in my 30-day return policy.

Return it...Now; today ASAP and then wait and get the 3gs in 2 weeks.

 

[numediaman]

The reality is that AT&T, like all the US carriers, make you sign a two year contract. Their assumption has been for ages that a person would have their phone for two years before getting a new one.

The iPhone changes a lot. Apple, and other phone makers, are upgrading their phones far more regularly -- it is a more competitive business because of the iPhone.

As a result, if you bought a phone with the past year you are probably screwed. AT&T probably could not imagine you'd want to upgrade again so quickly. They are, to say the least, Neanderthals. (And business people to say the least.)

I still have a first gen iPhone and will obviously qualify. But I would be shocked if AT&T doesn't create a promotion to lure 3G iPhone users to upgrade. Let's face it: business sucks, they will have to do something to spur sales.

As for the 3GS, I will upgrade some day. I am only disappointed that the new model is still going to feel cheaper than my first gen iPhone. It was a big mistake replace the metal back with plastic. My first gen iPhone still feels like a superior product. The 3G and now the 3GS will feel cheap in comparison.

 

[jatt559]

What I don't understand is that friend of mine and I bought 3G on the same day. Back in August 08 he was qualified and I wasn't for 3G. I just checked Apple's website and he's already qualified as of today and I'm not till 7/23/09



As a valued AT&T customer, AT&T can offer you an early iPhone upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee. You may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade on 07/23/2009.

* $299.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
* $399.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
* $499.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

 

[FSUSem1noles]

It may be correct regarding the replacement. I got my 16GB 3G on launch day and then got a replacement about two weeks later. This is what the Apple site says for my info:

Review iPhone pricing.

We can offer you an iPhone at the full retail price. On 01/08/2010, you may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.

* $499.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
* $599.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
* $699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

I have a 450 min plan with 200 text messages if it could be related to that. Apparently if your iPhone had problems and needed to be replaced you aren't such a "valued" customer to AT&T. Oh well, I still wouldn't upgrade for $500. I would for the standard upgrade price.

Yeah, it's really looking like if you had your 3G replaced for whatever reason, it tacks on a year from when you got the replacement thus making you ineligible for the standard pricing.

I just had another friend check who DIDN'T/HASN'T had his iPhone replaced and his says' As a valued AT&T customer, you may be eligible for an upgrade on this line, with reduced equipment pricing when signing a 2-year contract. Click ‘Upgrade Today’ to view your upgrade options.

 

[Rat-Boy]

It may be correct regarding the replacement. I got my 16GB 3G on launch day and then got a replacement about two weeks later. This is what the Apple site says for my info:

Review iPhone pricing.

We can offer you an iPhone at the full retail price. On 01/08/2010, you may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.

* $499.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
* $599.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
* $699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

I have a 450 min plan with 200 text messages if it could be related to that. Apparently if your iPhone had problems and needed to be replaced you aren't such a "valued" customer to AT&T. Oh well, I still wouldn't upgrade for $500. I would for the standard upgrade price.

I am getting the same thing and I got my on launch and it has never been replaced.

 

[ks-man]

It may be correct regarding the replacement. I got my 16GB 3G on launch day and then got a replacement about two weeks later. This is what the Apple site says for my info:

Review iPhone pricing.

We can offer you an iPhone at the full retail price. On 01/08/2010, you may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.

* $499.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
* $599.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
* $699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

I have a 450 min plan with 200 text messages if it could be related to that. Apparently if your iPhone had problems and needed to be replaced you aren't such a "valued" customer to AT&T. Oh well, I still wouldn't upgrade for $500. I would for the standard upgrade price.

I actually like how they say I "may" qualify for a standard upgrade in January. It is like a cliffhanger to keep me on the edge of my seat for the next 7 months.....ok, not really.

 

[Revelation78]

Thats not true I bought the first gen phone and the 3g and I'm not eligible till April next year. Not like I care but I don't think logevity has anything to do with it.

Wrong, you signed a two year contract, one year later does not mean you can upgrade. There are exceptions to that rule:

Some business accounts
Monthly total in excess of $140 per month, multi-line account in good standing and have been a valued customer for more than two years.

I bought this iPhone 3G on launch day, 4th in line and 4th to get one at the store I was at.

Never been replaced.

It keeps quoting me the very high prices. ($599 and $699.)

Something else is going on.

No, you just are not eligible, period! We've been telling you people this for the last 5 months and you wouldn't believe us. Now you still don't want to believe us even though the "writing is on the wall."

It may be correct regarding the replacement. I got my 16GB 3G on launch day and then got a replacement about two weeks later. This is what the Apple site says for my info:

Review iPhone pricing.

We can offer you an iPhone at the full retail price. On 01/08/2010, you may qualify for a standard iPhone upgrade.

* $499.00* — 8GB iPhone 3G (black)
* $599.00* — 16GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)
* $699.00* — 32GB iPhone 3G S (black or white)

I have a 450 min plan with 200 text messages if it could be related to that. Apparently if your iPhone had problems and needed to be replaced you aren't such a "valued" customer to AT&T. Oh well, I still wouldn't upgrade for $500. I would for the standard upgrade price.

Having your iPhone replaced has nothing to do with it.

 

[Diode]

Yeah, it's really looking like if you had your 3G replaced for whatever reason, it tacks on a year from when you got the replacement thus making you ineligible for the standard pricing.

I just had another friend check who DIDN'T/HASN'T had his iPhone replaced and his says' As a valued AT&T customer, you may be eligible for an upgrade on this line, with reduced equipment pricing when signing a 2-year contract. Click ‘Upgrade Today’ to view your upgrade options.

I've had mine replaced under warranty several times and get the "reduced" prices of 399/499

The "reduced" pricing is a combination of how long you've been an AT&T customer, when you last upgrade was, what plan you have, how many features you, if you've ever made a late paymet have etc etc

Even a AT&T rep can't tell you how they calculate the date.

 

[Abyssgh0st]

How are you guys getting to the upgrade screen where you're seeing the screen (as current 3G owners) where it is showing $399- 16GB and $499 32GB?

I can't find it via logging into my AT&T account.