So I have had an iPhone 3GS for about 7 months and it has been with AT&T's GoPhone service. I am wondering if I could walk into an AT&T store and have them switch me over to the iPhone plan without a contract since I already own the phone (there would be nothing to subsidize). What is the chance of them doing this for me?
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iPhone w/o AT&T contract
- Thread starter varlos101
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You can buy them without a contract in the U.S. from both AT&T and Apple.
You can only buy them contract free from a retail store though, not online. All online purchases require you to sign up for a contract.
They will still be locked to AT&T though.
You have no clue. You can buy iPhone 4 without signing a contract as long as you're on ATT.
Maybe I'm confused. The OP doesn't want to buy a phone - he indicates he already has one. They just want to go on to the iPhone plan through AT&T.
To answer your question, I have transfered to and from the iPhone plan without renewing my contract. But I already had one in force. I don't think the plan is available on a pay as you go basis, so you would probably have to sign a contract to get on the plan itself. But AT&T can answer that best for you.
To answer your question, I have transfered to and from the iPhone plan without renewing my contract. But I already had one in force. I don't think the plan is available on a pay as you go basis, so you would probably have to sign a contract to get on the plan itself. But AT&T can answer that best for you.
Correct. They will not sell you one unless you already have an AT&T account to use the phone on. If the account is not an iPhone account, it will be changed to one. Since the OP owns the phone he can just get on a no contract plan.
You don't have to be on AT&T to buy one from the Apple store.
Let's see some proof of that...
I tried the same thing awhile back with my 3G and the rep at the AT&T retail store swore to me it wasn't possible to sign me up without a contract. He said my only option was to buy a crappy flip phone for free and sign a contract. Needless to say, I went to T-Mobile. YMMV
I work at an AT&T store. It is possible to sign up for service without a contract but it's something sales reps don't get paid commission on and rarely do because of that fact. You have to go to an AT&T COR store NOT an authorized retailer. You will still have to have a credit check run on you, and judging by the results you might pull a security deposit between $150-$750 that you would have to pay right then in store to start service (it gets returned in 12 months as long as you pay your bill on time), you might also be charged for the sim card which is $24.99 but they may wave that fee if you bitch enough about it. Tell them you know its possible if they say it isn't, and if they keep saying it isn't ask to speak to a manager because they will most likely do it then! good luck!
Thanks for all of the replies, but I think I might just get an iPhone 4 with a contract and sell my 3GS on eBay for like $400.
Looks like Apple just changed their policy.
Up until 2 weeks ago you could walk into any Apple store and buy one without getting AT&T service.
Looks like this is a very recent policy change on Apple's web site.
AT&T's site still says you can buy them without a contract.
http://www.wireless.att.com/answer-...ncharset=UTF-8&solutionId=KB111009&isSrch=Yes