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I had a Blackberry Bold and did an early upgrade to the 3GS last October. AT&T is telling me that I have to pay $599/$699 for the iPhone 4 because everyone is allowed only ONE early iPhone upgrade consecutively. They never, ever explained this in the past. Kinda sucks, but I guess I'll have to take the early upgrade for another line on my account.
 
My upgrade date is 10/10. (htc fuze). If i put my sim in one of my parents iphones and activate it will my date get moved up. On a buisness plan if that makes any difference.
That's a good question. My guess would be no though, since the upgrade would be only for current iphone users and they probably have some sort of record showing that you have been using the fuze. If they don't have that on file though, that might work.
 
I was about to give up myself until I bumped into this article:

2eowohw.jpg


Answer these questions:

1. Is your upgrade eligibility anytime between TODAY and 12/31/2010?

If YES: you pay $199 for iPhone 4 on 6/24
If NO: answer question 2

2. Is your upgrade eligibility anytime between 1/1/2011 and BEYOND?

If YES: you pay $399 for iPhone 4 on 6/24
If NO: you are lost

If you do not want to commit to a new contract, you know what to do. ;)

Pretty straightforward.
The above has been confirmed by AT&T themselves. Here is the proof:

http://www.att.com/Common/about_us/files/iphone/pricing_fact_sheet_ip4.pdf

TIP: Print it and take it to Apple/AT&T on launch day.
 
Another thing to add to that image would be that you can only do an early upgrade once every 18 months.
 
It's not that simple..

My upgrade date is 2/20/2011 and I'm not eligible for early upgrade. I would have to pay full price 599/699...

Well that's my upgrade date too. I went to an ATT corp store and spoke to somebody. They told me not to worry because I will still get early upgrade pricing like I did last year when I bought the 3GS. The ATT employee said that all current iPhone owners who have had their phone for at least 6 months will be getting early upgrade pricing, even if their date is 02/2011 and their upgrade message said something to the effect of paying full retail pricing.....
 
I got 3g and 3gs on launch and paid the middle tier pricing for both but my upgrade date is 2/2011 and I can only buy the no contract phones. I just got off the phone with an AT&T rep. I sent the link to the pdf and although she would not make a note to my file, she consulted with her supervisor who told her that on the 15th we should all see our *639# updated to reflect "early upgrade" pricing as long as we have had our iphones for either 6 months or 1 year (that part wasn't clear). I would rather have had a note added to my account ... but at least there appears to be hope for the middle tier pricing.
 
The above does not apply to iPhone owners. We are special.

After all, which part of "All iPhone owners are eligible for at least an early upgrade." is still not clear?

I spoke to multiple employees and managers at multiple AT&T stores today, and they all have said that since I used my early upgrade from a Blackberry to a 3GS last September, I cannot get $399/$499 pricing for iPhone 4. They all said that you can not get an early upgrade until 18 months later, which is silly because at that point I'm then eligible for a standard upgrade anyway. It's a real bummer, but seems to be a very poorly communicated fact.
 
I spoke to multiple employees and managers at multiple AT&T stores today, and they all have said that since I used my early upgrade from a Blackberry to a 3GS last September, I cannot get $399/$499 pricing for iPhone 4. They all said that you can not get an early upgrade until 18 months later, which is silly because at that point I'm then eligible for a standard upgrade anyway. It's a real bummer, but seems to be a very poorly communicated fact.
They are all confused and don't know what they're doing. Haven't you figured this out by now?

All you gotta do is print the above PDF and take it with you on launch day. Simple.
 
They are all confused and don't know what they're doing. Haven't you figured this out by now?

All you gotta do is print the above PDF and take it with you on launch day. Simple.

I hope you're right. I'll be going to my local store on the 15th to preorder, I'll bring the PDF print out with me.
 
I spoke to multiple employees and managers at multiple AT&T stores today, and they all have said that since I used my early upgrade from a Blackberry to a 3GS last September, I cannot get $399/$499 pricing for iPhone 4. They all said that you can not get an early upgrade until 18 months later, which is silly because at that point I'm then eligible for a standard upgrade anyway. It's a real bummer, but seems to be a very poorly communicated fact.

I've also spoken to multiple representatives on this. One mentioned the policy of 1 early iPhone upgrade per 18 months. The other 2 reps didn't mention the rule, but could not explain why they could not give me at least the early upgrade discount while other users in my same scenario were receiving the FULL subsidized price. One even admitted that they don't know all the details and they are getting updates every day. The Apple rep I spoke to said that I should for sure be getting the early upgrade discount (I got my 3GS on launch). But I feel like just because an Apple rep told me won't stop ATT from denying me.

Anyway, I think the best course of action is to wait and let them get their **** figured out. This whole thing is always a mess every year. They make it so complicated.
 
Ok, I just rang AT&T (yet again) and was finally told that I am eligible for an early upgrade. The rep even mentioned the "Upgrade date after January 1, 2011" rule (see the table). So it does seem that reps are slowly being educated one by one as to how the upgrade eligibility works this time.

Keep trying.
 
Here's a question: after 18 years im finally allowed to get a phone, so i'm getting the iPhone 4. My question is - when preordering/reserving the iphone 4 im going to be adding a line to our family plan so how is it going to work? Do i need to open a line in advance beforehand or will Apple set it up for me, if they do this do i get to pick the area code i want/a list of numbers to choose from? Or what would be the best method for me to go about this? I know that since im a new customer i get the discounted price.
 
Here's a question: after 18 years im finally allowed to get a phone, so i'm getting the iPhone 4. My question is - when preordering/reserving the iphone 4 im going to be adding a line to our family plan so how is it going to work? Do i need to open a line in advance beforehand or will Apple set it up for me, if they do this do i get to pick the area code i want/a list of numbers to choose from? Or what would be the best method for me to go about this? I know that since im a new customer i get the discounted price.

Are you 18? You need to go to an Apple store or ATT store and ask them to run a credit check on you, today (lol). You may have to pony up a deposit which will be a very nasty surprise if you find out on the day of. Hopefully not, but i've seen this with all my buddies who have absolutely no credit history.
 
I just got a reply from an email I sent to AT&T in reference to that PDF and I'm STILL confused. Note: My account says I'm not eligible for any discount and have to pay $600 and my upgrade eligibility date is 2/11. They responded:

I believe we are now on the same page as you are referring to the special early upgrade for iPhone program. For you, this date will be 11/20/2010. Be advised that multiple reasons go into determining eligibility dates including revenue generated and payment history.

For existing customers who are not yet eligible for our best iPhone pricing, AT&T offers a special program exclusively for iPhone--early upgrade pricing. This gives customers who do not yet qualify for an upgrade the opportunity to upgrade at a special price. This must be performed at a company owned AT&T retail store.
 
My parents are buying it for me :cool:
but i have to do the running around and they swoop in to give out the money
but yeah how would the whole phone # assigning work
 
Question for the people who are NOT currently able to get the early upgrade pricing ($400/500).. did you do an early upgrade to get the 3GS last year?
 
Having trouble understanding this. I'm the primary person with four add a lines. All lines are eligible for the upgrade pricing. Does that mean i can pre order five iPhone four all at once? (one for each line)
 
Having trouble understanding this. I'm the primary person with four add a lines. All lines are eligible for the upgrade pricing. Does that mean i can pre order five iPhone four all at once? (one for each line)

Sounds that way to me. 1 per phone #.
 
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