New data plans and how they effect people upgrading to the new iPhone

[Geckotek]

This is true. I got a rep to allow me to upgrade to a 3GS at $199 even though I wasn't elligible for the $199 price (bought a 3G 10 months earlier). Every rule can be broken, you just need to find someone to do it.

Only if the rule is just that, a rule and not a system limitation.

Here's what I think happened, to get the iPhone data plan, they are looking at the former IMEI # on the account since these users were past iPhone customers. So some reps take the time to look it up while others don't. But if you never had an iPHone, I'm still saying you can't add the iPhone data plan.

But there has been a posting on Gizmodo stating that any unlimited smartphone plan will work.

 

[Diode]

But they repeatedly said that you will be able to keep your $30/mo unlimited plan through future upgrades. Of course they can't confirm that there will be a new iPhone; they'd get into all kinds of trouble with Apple for that. This is what they said about a half hour ago:

I guess all I'm saying is there is nothing from stopping Apple or AT&T with releasing a new 4G iphone only plan that's required for the phone.

They did it with the switch from the 2G to the 3/3.5G, what's to stop them from doing it again? For instance they could bundle in video ichat or something along those lines.

I very well might be blowing smoke, but the point is we won't really know until Steve says so. Anything until then is speculation.

 

[WillieG]

I want to keep my current 30.00 unlimitted. I have sold my 3GS and am waiting for the iphone 4. That's why I sold the 3GS in the first place. Now I'm confused. I'm using a V3 Razr in the mean time. But if this means losing my unlimitted iphone plan, as the upgrade window in the AT&T page is now showing the back up phone and not the iphone, then I will forego the new iphone 4 and go and buy a new 3GS before June 7th, to retain the unlimitted plan and upgrade later on. What a dilema....

 

[CooKieMoNs7eR]

Ok can I sign up with AT&T before the 7th, and get the 3GS than when the 4G comes out I can just switch them without paying extra(I'm guessing the 4G will be $199) so its the same as the 3GS 16GB price??

 

[weezite]

Ok can I sign up with AT&T before the 7th, and get the 3GS than when the 4G comes out I can just switch them without paying extra(I'm guessing the 4G will be $199) so its the same as the 3GS 16GB price??

I think you can do that. The only thing you will need to pay is the 10% restocking fee for the 3GS.

 

[slippery-pete]

Keeping my unlimited plan and bumping my wife's plan down

 

[TempleDoc]

Is this really a problem

So here is how I see the new pricing brackets...

Most people that are going to be using tons of bandwidth are going to have an existing unlimited plan and so this won't affect them. Those who do not will only have to pay an additional $10 for each GB. Sure if you are tethering all the time this could get expensive, but for the vast majority its not going to be an issue at all.

For me as someone that would be described as a moderate data user its going to save me a few bucks in the long run. I will go for the DataPro plan and get the 2GB cap. Most months I will not touch that amount of data (sure I might get close).

Only every once in awhile will I cross that threshold. At that point I will have already received 4 automated texts from ATT warning me of my proximity to the threshold. Should I decide to cross it (at that point it would have to be a decision not to go find some WiFi) than I will have to eat the $10 for that 1GB. At that point I will have already saved $15-$20 and it all comes out in the wash.

The people that this is going to hurt are the people that should be paying more for the bandwidth they are using. If we have thousands of people using unrestricted bandwidth how can we expect ATT to provide reliable service....

Just my thoughts.

 

[Lenxal]

So someone stole my iphone 3gs last year so instead I got a blackberry 800 with unlimited data.. and im going to be getting the new iphone when it comes out.. would I be grandfathered if I switch from blackberry data plan to an iphone one?

 

[elephunkman]

So someone stole my iphone 3gs last year so instead I got a blackberry 800 with unlimited data.. and im going to be getting the new iphone when it comes out.. would I be grandfathered if I switch from blackberry data plan to an iphone one?

The blackberry packages are entirely different from the iPhone packages.

 

[Geckotek]

The blackberry packages are entirely different from the iPhone packages.

yeah, but according to a post on the front page and Gizmodo any unlimited smartphone plan is grandfathered.