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okay so i got this in a text msg As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee. does that mean i am fine to go and get the new phone at the cheapest pricing? and they cant change that on me can they?
 
I preordered my 3GS on whatever the first day was to pre-order last year. My contract was said to be up for a full upgrade in 2/2011 however when I checked yesterday it said I was NOW currently eligible.

Same here, except mine is still 2/20/11...if true, you are litterally the first person on here to have a previous upgrade date in 2011 that has been bumped up. According to the press release this would make no sence.
 
Same here, except mine is still 2/20/11...if true, you are litterally the first person on here to have a previous upgrade date in 2011 that has been bumped up. According to the press release this would make no sence.
When I call the ATT Rep last week the guy told me March 2011 I will be eligible but I can do the early upgrade and pay the $399/$499 and when I called yesterday after the Apple keynote the lady told me i was fully eligible for $199/$299 price for the new iPhone 4 "She said what did you want to upgrade it to I told her the new iPhone 4 and she said we been getting a lot of calls asking if they are eligible and she said I can get at $199/$299 price"

When I check online for eligibility last week it said I wasn't eligible. When I check yesterday it said I was by the way I'm on premier account.

Now I'm kinda worried what to believe lol I might call them friday and see what the deal is. Oh i can't even use the *639# either :(
 
When I call the ATT Rep last week the guy told me March 2011 I will be eligible but I can do the early upgrade and pay the $399/$499 and when I called yesterday after the Apple keynote the lady told me i was fully eligible for $199/$299 price for the new iPhone 4 "She said what did you want to upgrade it to I told her the new iPhone 4 and she said we been getting a lot of calls asking if they are eligible and she said I can get at $199/$299 price"

When I check online for eligibility last week it said I wasn't eligible. When I check yesterday it said I was by the way I'm on premier account.

Now I'm kinda worried what to believe lol I might call them friday and see what the deal is. Oh i can't even use the *639# either :(

premier account??
 
"As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee"

Is this the FULL discount? My contract isn't up until 4/2011, but I have a single line with unlimited voice and obviously the $30 data plan.
 
OP Don't feel bad. My friend and i got the 3GS on the same day when it launched. Were both on the same rate plan and he is elgible for a early upgrade and i'm not.

I didn't think i was going to be elgible anyway because i've only had my phone for a year or whenever it came out. It's just annoying how he can get it and i can't. :D
 
"As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee"

Is this the FULL discount? My contract isn't up until 4/2011, but I have a single line with unlimited voice and obviously the $30 data plan.

Spoke with customer service, and according to them, if you do get this specific message, you are eligible for the $199/$299 pricing. Kind of shocking considering I am nearly a year away from termination. But I do spend all in all $140 for one line with them. One factor I forgot about...I think I did pay full price for the 3Gs but can't remember.
 
I preordered my 3GS on whatever the first day was to pre-order last year. My contract was said to be up for a full upgrade in 2/2011 however when I checked yesterday it said I was NOW currently eligible.

Hey man, what voice plan are you on? I also got the 3GS on launch, but my eligibility is still on 2/2010 like a lot of other people.
 
We need to sticky ATT upgrade paths; too many people complaining they aren't eligible for upgrades and need to be educated on ATT's policy.

First of all, it's not your TOTAL bill that counts to ATT (so many people have family lines...that's why people complain their bills are over $200 but their lines don't qualify).

It's YOUR PRIMARY line that gets you the early 12 month upgrades if you spend more than $100 on voice/data (they exclude text). The secondary lines won't be eligible for upgrades until around month 18, or 21 depending on how much revenue the secondary lines generate (most people have to wait till Feb 2011, assuming they purchased the 3GS in June 2009. I believe you have to spend more than $60 each on your secondary lines if you want it eligible for an upgrade every 18 months. But most people are $10 for extra line plus $30 for data=$40= waiting till Feb 2011 for upgrade.

If you are a single plan only and meet certain plan requirement, ATT is doing you a big favor by moving up your upgrades by up to 6 months earlier.

Here are some examples:

Family Plan 89.99 ($80 for first line plus 9.99 for second line) Plus $30 data for each line
Line 1. Purchased iPhone 3GS June 2009=eligible for full subsidy upgrade June 2010
Line 2. Purchased iPhone 3GS June 2009=not eligible for full subsidy upgrade until Feb 2011
Line 3. Purchased iPhone 3GS June 2009=not eligible for full subsidy upgrade until Feb 2011

Single line plan (59.99) plan plus $30 data= Purchased iPhone 3GS in June 2009. Normally you would be eligible for full upgrade in Dec 2010 (18 months) but ATT has been kind to let you upgrade 6 months early so now you are fully eligible.

Single line Plan 39.99 plus $30 for data. Purchased iPhone 3GS in June 2009. You won't be eligible until Feb 2011

Single Line Plan 39.99 plus $30 data. Purchased iPhone 3G in April 2009. Normally they won't be eligible for full subidy upgrade till Dec 2010 but ATT is being kind and moving your full subsidy upgrade to NOW for the new iPhone 4.

So those who are within that 6 months of becoming eligible (eligibility up till Dec 2010) are getting benefits of ATT's early full subsidy they made just for the iPhone.

I hope this helps people figure out why they aren't eligible.


This is really good info and I think it should be some sort of temporary sticky. I think this info is correct and it makes sense... the only thing that bothers me is that I've heard of conflicting reports. For example, people who have the same rate plan and got the same phone at the same time, but one is eligible and the other is not.
 
okay so i got this in a text msg As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee. does that mean i am fine to go and get the new phone at the cheapest pricing? and they cant change that on me can they?

Yes (it's AT&T, they can change anything they want at any time)

"As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee"

Is this the FULL discount? My contract isn't up until 4/2011, but I have a single line with unlimited voice and obviously the $30 data plan.

Yes
 
We need to sticky ATT upgrade paths; too many people complaining they aren't eligible for upgrades and need to be educated on ATT's policy.

First of all, it's not your TOTAL bill that counts to ATT (so many people have family lines...that's why people complain their bills are over $200 but their lines don't qualify).

It's YOUR PRIMARY line that gets you the early 12 month upgrades if you spend more than $100 on voice/data (they exclude text). The secondary lines won't be eligible for upgrades until around month 18, or 21 depending on how much revenue the secondary lines generate (most people have to wait till Feb 2011, assuming they purchased the 3GS in June 2009. I believe you have to spend more than $60 each on your secondary lines if you want it eligible for an upgrade every 18 months. But most people are $10 for extra line plus $30 for data=$40= waiting till Feb 2011 for upgrade.

If you are a single plan only and meet certain plan requirement, ATT is doing you a big favor by moving up your upgrades by up to 6 months earlier.

Here are some examples:

Family Plan 89.99 ($80 for first line plus 9.99 for second line) Plus $30 data for each line
Line 1. Purchased iPhone 3GS June 2009=eligible for full subsidy upgrade June 2010
Line 2. Purchased iPhone 3GS June 2009=not eligible for full subsidy upgrade until Feb 2011
Line 3. Purchased iPhone 3GS June 2009=not eligible for full subsidy upgrade until Feb 2011

Single line plan (59.99) plan plus $30 data= Purchased iPhone 3GS in June 2009. Normally you would be eligible for full upgrade in Dec 2010 (18 months) but ATT has been kind to let you upgrade 6 months early so now you are fully eligible.

Single line Plan 39.99 plus $30 for data. Purchased iPhone 3GS in June 2009. You won't be eligible until Feb 2011

Single Line Plan 39.99 plus $30 data. Purchased iPhone 3G in April 2009. Normally they won't be eligible for full subidy upgrade till Dec 2010 but ATT is being kind and moving your full subsidy upgrade to NOW for the new iPhone 4.

So those who are within that 6 months of becoming eligible (eligibility up till Dec 2010) are getting benefits of ATT's early full subsidy they made just for the iPhone.

I hope this helps people figure out why they aren't eligible.

We actually have a post and a guide on this. (the mods won't do a sticky for some reason) But there's some good information here that might not be in all of it. I'll ping Elephunkman to see if we can incorporate some of this.
 
You are correct OP. It is odd that some people are eligable to upgrade so much faster than others, even if they purchased the phone at identical times and have identical phone plans.

Like you cited from the AT&T rep, there must be a ton of variables that go into determining who gets to upgrade. I wonder what they are...

Some fair reasons might be...

1.) How much data is the customer using (if you jailbroke your phone, tether it, and use up 12 gbs of data a month, AT&T might be less likely to extend you the courtesy).

2.) Did the person have the data plan the whole time. One of my friends who bought the 3GS the same time that I did was sick of paying the data plan. So he put his sim into a dumb phone, called up AT&T and told them that he lost his iPhone and is now stuck with a dumb phone, and got them to take the data plan off of his line. Then he reinserted the sim into the iPhone but hacked it to disable data on it and it took AT&T a few months to realize that he is using the iPhone again and readd data to his plan. He is now not eligable for the new iPhone.

3.) How long they've been with AT&T, how much they spend a month, if they are part of a family plan or not etc.

But I'm sure there's plenty of unfair reasons why some people can't upgrade while some can as well.
 
Well looking at the situation i'm pretty lucky. Even though i don't get an early upgrade. I won't be in the boat of people this year who will have to pay full price next year for the iPhone.

So that sucks for all these people getting their discount early this year.
 
Why the hell are people with 3GS's complaining about not getting the new iphone at upgrade prices?

I didn't get the 3GS at upgrade prices so I passed and said that means I'll get the even better phone next year. Cause you know what? I signed a 2 year contract and realized that I'd have to finish that before AT&T would give me upgrade eligibility.

So now AT&T gets nice to some people and bumps their upgrade eligibility up and now people who have only had their phone a year or less are whining that they are entitled to an upgrade! Why do you think you're entitled to an upgrade or that AT&T is being so horrible because they aren't giving you one only half way into your contract?!!!! So they're being nicer to some people, probably cause those people make them more money. Lucky them.

Sadly, I think if AT&T hadn't been generous and just was strict on the you have to wait for your two year contract to be up we'd hear less people who think they are entitled whatever they want whining.
 
Well looking at the situation i'm pretty lucky. Even though i don't get an early upgrade. I won't be in the boat of people this year who will have to pay full price next year for the iPhone.

So that sucks for all these people getting their discount early this year.

Your one of those... glass 1/4 full kinda people huh? :p
 
Why the hell are people with 3GS's complaining about not getting the new iphone at upgrade prices?
I'm not complaning. I'm just confused as to why someone who has the same exact rate plan as mine and got their phone on the same day is getting the option of an early upgrade.

I don't feel entitled to get a discount because i'm going to get the phone either way. But i just don't get why the upgrade system has flaws in it pertaning to my situation.

But alas life does go on ;-)
 
Why the hell are people with 3GS's complaining about not getting the new iphone at upgrade prices?

I didn't get the 3GS at upgrade prices so I passed and said that means I'll get the even better phone next year. Cause you know what? I signed a 2 year contract and realized that I'd have to finish that before AT&T would give me upgrade eligibility.

So now AT&T gets nice to some people and bumps their upgrade eligibility up and now people who have only had their phone a year or less are whining that they are entitled to an upgrade! Why do you think you're entitled to an upgrade or that AT&T is being so horrible because they aren't giving you one only half way into your contract?!!!! So they're being nicer to some people, probably cause those people make them more money. Lucky them.

Sadly, I think if AT&T hadn't been generous and just was strict on the you have to wait for your two year contract to be up we'd hear less people who think they are entitled whatever they want whining.

You are 100% correct. Its not the fact that AT&T is not upgrading me... I wouldn't expect an upgrade and don't feel entitled to one and have planned to wait for the next iphone... whats upsetting some people including me is that some of us know other people who got the same phone at the same time on the same plan, and for whatever reason had an upgrade date a couple months earlier and now can get the newer iphone EIGHT MONTHS earlier. Its not that i expect to get upgraded and its not the end of the world and I'll just wait until next year, but how can you tell me you can't see where there'd be some frustration that a generous gift was bestowed upon some people by AT&T and those of us who just barely missed the gift won't be just a little bit jealous. There's no entitlement... there's no saying this is an outrage or unfair... it just kinda sucks to just miss the cut thats all. And i'm sure 99% of the people preaching this whole... its a contract... stop with the sence of entitlement...etc etc... either a) made the cut and can't see where we're coming from or b) have no interest in the phone and don't want one themselves. I'd like to hear from someone with an upgrade date of Jan or Feb that isn't at least a bit jealous the same deal wasn't extended to them (or at least one that would move you to say... august or september...which would be an equal 6 month jump). So you all get off you're preachy milk boxes and stop feeling hollier than thou because you're not in our shoes.
 
You are 100% correct. Its not the fact that AT&T is not upgrading me... I wouldn't expect an upgrade and don't feel entitled to one and have planned to wait for the next iphone... whats upsetting some people including me is that some of us know other people who got the same phone at the same time on the same plan, and for whatever reason had an upgrade date a couple months earlier and now can get the newer iphone EIGHT MONTHS earlier. Its not that i expect to get upgraded and its not the end of the world and I'll just wait until next year, but how can you tell me you can't see where there'd be some frustration that a generous gift was bestowed upon some people by AT&T and those of us who just barely missed the gift won't be just a little bit jealous. There's no entitlement... there's no saying this is an outrage or unfair... it just kinda sucks to just miss the cut thats all. And i'm sure 99% of the people preaching this whole... its a contract... stop with the sence of entitlement...etc etc... either a) made the cut and can't see where we're coming from or b) have no interest in the phone and don't want one themselves. I'd like to hear from someone with an upgrade date of Jan or Feb that isn't at least a bit jealous the same deal wasn't extended to them (or at least one that would move you to say... august or september...which would be an equal 6 month jump). So you all get off you're preachy milk boxes and stop feeling hollier than thou because you're not in our shoes.

Uh, I made the cut cause I waited the full 2 years (ok, maybe I'd have to wait a month or two if it was the full 2 years, but it was the full time they usually make you wait for upgrade eligibility).

I didn't make any early upgrade cut last year. At best got hte discounted prices (that were a little more expensive). I just decided to wait it out and then I'd really get an upgrade from what I had by this year (I guess it helped the 3GS wasn't a huge leap from the 3G).
 
Uh, I made the cut cause I waited the full 2 years (ok, maybe I'd have to wait a month or two if it was the full 2 years, but it was the full time they usually make you wait for upgrade eligibility).

I didn't make any early upgrade cut last year. At best got hte discounted prices (that were a little more expensive). I just decided to wait it out and then I'd really get an upgrade from what I had by this year (I guess it helped the 3GS wasn't a huge leap from the 3G).

Ok, thats you...(do you think i'd complain about someone getting bumped up a few months when they've waited almost 2 years?????) but there are PLENTY of people who got the 3GS launch day, like myself, who did make the cut. My best friend for example. We have the same plans, pay the same each month (both the primary of a two iphone family plan), and both got our phones on launch day, yet he made the cut. Now there are a TON of variables (150 in a very complex formula according to the AT&T rep i talked to) and I'm not saying there's some variable i'm missing and that its not fair. Math is math and their formula's are in place and there is SOME reason he got it before me... but in all OUTWARD appearances, it seems that we should both be elligible. I'm not going to dispute it, but don't get mad at people who are on the other side of the fence to these guys and wonder how could they possibly be jealous....
 
Yeah I bought my 3gs last august and I spend nearly $175 a month for my bill so I was hoping to be one of the chosen ones
for an early upgrade. Turns out I'm not eligible till next march. So looks like I'll be hanging onto my 3gs till iPhone 5 comes out. Unless i can sell it to recoup most of the cost of the new phone then I may go that route.
 
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