YOU are 100% correct and that is how it works.
If a 2-iphone family on family plan... 1 has $99+ attached to their line, they are golden. The 2nd line person is screwed.
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iPhone 3GS Launch Day Details and AT&T Pricing
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YOU are 100% correct and that is how it works.
If a 2-iphone family on family plan... 1 has $99+ attached to their line, they are golden. The 2nd line person is screwed.
Well, no, it's because it was a subsidized purchase. ATT paid $500 for the phone, and part of his monthly payment is essentially paying them back for the phone. He can buy one, at up to $200 more.
I paid $599 for my iphone on June 29, 2007. I could have upgraded to the 3G a year ago with no penalty because my phone was not subsidized. In fact, on June 19th I'll still be under my 2 year contract, but I can buy the new phone for the $199 16 gig price.
Pays to be an early adopter sometimes.
Before yesterday I could go into an Apple or ATT store and purchase a replacement 3g 16gb iPhone for $299. Today, I am told that if I want a replacement phone it will cost $299 for a 8gb. I understand that there is a contract, but this did not happen the first time around, and there are no set policies explaining the upgrade abilities. At least they did not release any killer features in the new version that I 'have' to have. Nonetheless, I will miss waiting in line this year. $300 for a new MBP saved I guess.
Nope, not true. My phone is part of a family account that has an iphone individual plan that isn't able to be upgraded until 20 months after the purchase date (I can upgrade in March) and a family plan with dumb phones that isn't able to upgrade until 22 months (and the family plan costs more than the iPhone plan).
The is no logic to their formula. It seems like there are some factors that can push it in one direction or another but the overriding factor is a random number generator.
AT&T felt as thought they hadn't pissed off current iPhone owners enough by not being ready for MMS and by not having some outrageously priced tethering plan put together yet. What better way to get to us 3G owners than not allow us to get the new phone? In reality all of these issues combined have made me think about leaving AT&T at the end of my contract, regardless of what happens with this iPhone or the next... If I stay with them til the end of my contract.
LOL, I totally agree. AT&T needs to stop treating their iPhone customers like second-class citizens. We're the only reason they didn't have a totally crappy year during this recession.
Maybe I don't get it, but why is everyone complaining about the subsidy pricing when they are paying so much for the monthly costs? Certainly, if you can afford to pay the extra fees for the data and voice, you can afford the iPhone. For me, that is the deal breaker. I'd pay $500 for in iPhone if I could get a reasonable monthly service charge. I really don't see a need to pay over $50 a month for cell phone service so that keeps me from ever owning an iPhone. I pay for internet service at home and it's hard to justify paying for it on the road too. Some of you are paying over $100 per month for your iPhone service. If you add in mms and tethering later, you could be paying $200 or more for your monthly service! 
I never thought about leaving ATT ever, until yesterday and today. I understand we signed a contract, yet, my friend signed the same contract and the same time, pays the same monthly, has been with ATT less time than I, and he is eligible in July for a new phone and me in March?
I am going to possibly terminate my contract for the $105 fee, sell the iPhone for $500 on ebay and go with someone else.
no, it's not 1.5 years. Why do some people get upgrade eligibility in July then, when they bought the 3G in July? There is no logic to the dates and anyone who tries to say there is logic is wrong
Why so many negatives? This is a much better system than previous years where you couldn't pre-order and there was no guarantee after standing in line for hours.
Now you can preorder it from Apple and have it shipped, or preorder it from AT&T and pick it up. Nice.
Now you can preorder it from Apple and have it shipped, or preorder it from AT&T and pick it up. Nice.
It's not one per household, it's one per person. I pre-ordered two phones last night, both my wife and I had to be present. She wasn't, so I asked a lady in the store to be the warm body they needed present to place two pre-orders.
Well if they are not on a family plan then all I can say is to call AT&T and demand the proper time for your contract. If these people truly have the same exact contract down to the penny and bought at the exact same time then that is all that is left to do. I usually find that people say exact same contract but this is not true.
The issue of pricing -- and freedom of speechThis morning I posted a couple of questions in the Apple forum dedicated to iPhones. Within the hour, my post was deleted.
Sample questions:
"What is likely to happen if Apple does not extend AT&T's exclusivity rights into 2011?
"Would a second carrier be allowed to offer better service at a lower price?
"Would a second carrier be allowed to offer a more flexible upgrade policy... since it is pretty clear the iPhone will be modified on an annual basis?"
I was astonished that such questions would be viewed by someone on the Apple Discussion staff as offensive.
I did, however, receive an email from Apple stating:
"Thank you for your interest in Apple products. The Host Team members, like you, are excited to see what kinds of products Apple will release in the future; however speculation or rumors are not allowed under our terms of use (http://discussions.apple.com/help.jspa). Your recent post, titled "What if..... peering into the future?" was speculative in nature and Apple therefore has removed it from Apple Discussions."
My deleted Apple post also asked a question that asked for an insightful reply, not mere speculation.
"While it seems clear that Apple is committed to go on producing the 8G 3G model for sale at $99 -- is there any indication that the 16G model will continue to be produced?
"Or will the higher end be replaced by 3G S models?"
"If the latter, what happens in the near future when a 3G iPhone is lost, stolen or broken?
"Is one likely to be offered a 3G S as a replacement... and if so, at what probable cost?"
Are such questions deemed to be unacceptable here in the MacRumors Forum as well?
I would like there to be someplace where people may ask civil questions about the Apple/AT&T relationship without being censored and silenced. (as well as questions concerning carriers in other countries.)
In my view, speaking as someone who has been buying Apple products regularly for 20 years, there is a deep divide between Apple's philosophy and the business practices of some cell phone carriers. A product such as the iPhone (which apparently will be improved annually) needs a reasonable plan for upgrading. In Canada, we are locked into three-year contracts and not allowed to buy an iPhone from any source other than the carrier (FIDO or Rogers, twin companies.)
If one cannot, however, even talk about such issues in iPhone forums, then it makes the customer's situation even worse, for no solution will be found until problems are honestly faced.
If enough people did this AT&T and Apple would make changes.
If they can magically put a FireWire port in the 13" MacBook Pro then there can certainly be changes made to mobile carrier policies.
s.
Reasons have been stated many times in the earlier posts. Please read them before posting.
Cry Babies
Stop crying,,,,you signed a 2 year contract and agreed to a monthly price in order to receive a subsidized price for a very expensive cell phone. If you knew that you wanted to buy a new iPhone every year, do not sign a 2 year contract and pay list price for the iPhone.
Stop crying,,,,you signed a 2 year contract and agreed to a monthly price in order to receive a subsidized price for a very expensive cell phone. If you knew that you wanted to buy a new iPhone every year, do not sign a 2 year contract and pay list price for the iPhone.
Perhaps if you read our posts you would understand. You know, reading = comprehension usually. If you did read you'd understand that we're upset that the upgrade timing is capricious. There are many examples of how completely random it all is.
You guys complaining that they can't upgrade this time around are going to be SOOO happy you don't lock in to another 2 years, because Apple will most assuredly release their next iPhone iteration when they leave AT&T exclusivity.
You'll have tons of choices next year, while those of us getting the 3GS will be complaining.
Just hang out another year. I have an original iPhone and waited an extra year. It's not that big a deal.
You'll have tons of choices next year, while those of us getting the 3GS will be complaining.
Just hang out another year. I have an original iPhone and waited an extra year. It's not that big a deal.
I have done this three times, with three different people and frankly, I'm tired of it. There is no logic to the eligibility dates. That's the problem everyone is having here.
It's shame because I really like my iPhone (obviously, or else it wouldn't be a big deal) but I am not going to be renewing my ATT contract and will possibly terminate it early, sell the iPhone, and be up $400
How in the world did you get from AT&T prices to the macbook 13" firewire port? Wow just wow. What in the hell do they have in common?