If Apple doesn't want a major outrage from existing customers they will find a way for this to be open to all customers. How it would seem fair to offer the product to someone who has had an Iphone, but not to someone who was willing to shell out the $ in the past is beyond me.
That's not an abnormal, or for that matter unfair, situation. It happens all the time with new products, new technology, etc. The reason I think the subsidized rumor has some possibility is that there are now several direct competitors to the iPhone available and more just around the corner. If the Instinct, for example, is available at $200-250 with a 2 year contract and the iPhone has no subsidy option with a forced 2 year contract I would imagine Apple will lose a lot of potential customers.
But it's not Apple supposedly doing the subsidizing. Rumor is iPhone at Apple store = $400. iPhone at AT&T = $200 with 2 year contract. Since the OP just got subsidized Razors, he probably won't be eligible for an iPhone subsidy.
That would be infinitesimally stupid. The only credible subsidizing rumor is that the iPhone costs the normal price at both Apple and AT&T stores with the subsidy/rebate being applied during the setup process.
As for the original question, typically you aren't able to reap the rewards of a new two year contract until you are at least one year into your current contract. Contrary to the above poster...
That's the case if your current phone is subsidized. However since the original iPhone was not subsidized this shouldn't apply.
... this isn't usually based on whether or not you received a subsidy on a phone you purchased at the time of the current contract.
The reason phone companies give subsidies is because the bulk of their profits come from contracted phone bills. If you are only two months into a two year contract with them they aren't going to be making a whole lot more money off of you than they already have you contracted for, so it isn't in their financial interest to give you a discount/rebate/subsidy.
In other words:
if Apple/AT&T subsidize the iPhone and
if the terms are consistent with the industry standards... no, you will not be able to take advantage of the subsidy.
