Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Upgrading to iPhone 4?

TheAppleGeek

TheAppleGeek

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 18, 2010
752
43
St. Louis
Yesterday, after months of dealing with a half-broken iPhone, I went and bought a brand new 3G at my local AT&T store. So, I asked about upgrading to the iPhone 4, whenever it releases. One of the managers told me that since I just got a new phone, I won't be eligible for the discount price. Of course, I already knew this, but I was wondering how much it will cost to upgrade to the new one releasing this summer?

Now, let's say the cheapest model will be $200. I'm guessing the price for me will be anywhere between $400 and $500?
 
K, here's what a rep at the ATT store told me to do and I suggest this: When you want to get the iPhone 4, just add a new line to get it for the discount (subsidized) price, then later cancel the old 3G line. Only downside is you will have a new number, but sometimes that can be a plus :p
 
Yes with a new 2 year and that's if they allow a partial upgrade then. It may be too early. If you want the iphone 4, stick it out imo.
 
Here's a trick and u keep ur number. First if u have someone else on ur plan that can upgrade upgrade them. Then ur current iPhone downgrade that, then ask them to switch the phone numbers. Since u have all ur contacts and stuff backed up on iTunes and ur computer u won't loose anything, the other person might but I'm not sure. I did this and it worked fine
 
Dr Kevorkian94 said:
Here's a trick and u keep ur number. First if u have someone else on ur plan that can upgrade upgrade them. Then ur current iPhone downgrade that, then ask them to switch the phone numbers. Since u have all ur contacts and stuff backed up on iTunes and ur computer u won't loose anything, the other person might but I'm not sure. I did this and it worked fine
Click to expand...

You don't need to switch the numbers, you just switch the sim cards. If you need to get a new micro sim, go into a direct AT&T store and you can get one for free or cut your old one down.
 
Can't you drop ur contract and send ur phone back within 30 days of locking into the contract without paying ETF or iPhone fee? Thought you could... I'd advise to do this if so...
 
Just to make sure I'm understanding everybody correctly, I can do the following (right?). Talk to an AT&T rep and discuss my options for the upgrade. (Should I bring up the new line?) If the rep tells me the same, I should create a new line, then within 30 days of doing so, cancel the one I have now. The iPhone should cost around $400 - $500, correct? So, by the time the iPhone 4/4G/HD comes out, everything will be cleared up.
 
TheAppleGeek said:
Just to make sure I'm understanding everybody correctly, I can do the following (right?). Talk to an AT&T rep and discuss my options for the upgrade. (Should I bring up the new line?) If the rep tells me the same, I should create a new line, then within 30 days of doing so, cancel the one I have now. The iPhone should cost around $400 - $500, correct? So, by the time the iPhone 4/4G/HD comes out, everything will be cleared up.
Click to expand...

Here are your options:

1) Return your iPhone within 30 days and there is no penalty. You'll pay for your usage and maybe a restocking fee, but you can get that waived. You'll get full discount pricing.

2) Keep your current iPhone, when the new one comes out, add a line onto your account and get the new iPhone at full subsidized pricing at that time. You then use the new iPhone on your primary line and claim that you are using a regular phone on your secondary line and only pay the $10 per month and delete the data charges. Or you could cancel the line after 30 days and pay the ETF on that line - $175 that last time I checked. You then sell your old iPhone to cover the ETF and have a little bit of cash left over.
 
Revelation78 said:
Here are your options:

1) Return your iPhone within 30 days and there is no penalty. You'll pay for your usage and maybe a restocking fee, but you can get that waived. You'll get full discount pricing.

2) Keep your current iPhone, when the new one comes out, add a line onto your account and get the new iPhone at full subsidized pricing at that time. You then use the new iPhone on your primary line and claim that you are using a regular phone on your secondary line and only pay the $10 per month and delete the data charges. Or you could cancel the line after 30 days and pay the ETF on that line - $175 that last time I checked. You then sell your old iPhone to cover the ETF and have a little bit of cash left over.
Click to expand...

That certainly would save me a ton of money. Would I get full refund, though? The reason being, because I just found an unopened 8GB iPhone 3G (what I bought) for cheaper than what it would be at AT&T. If I did that, (like I did with my now-broken, old iPhone) it wouldn't count as an upgrade, would it?

Either way, thanks for replying. I think I know what I'm going to do now.
 
I think you should be forced into paying the full $700 as a penalty for buying a 3G even after the specs for the new iPhone have been leaked.

I mean, seriously, you couldn't even spring for the 3GS? Talk about flushing a subsidy down the toilet.
 
Eso said:
I think you should be forced into paying the full $700 as a penalty for buying a 3G even after the specs for the new iPhone have been leaked.

I mean, seriously, you couldn't even spring for the 3GS? Talk about flushing a subsidy down the toilet.
Click to expand...

Why pay for the most expensive model, when within two to three months, a new one is going to come out? Obviously, the 3G is my "temporary" phone.

So, no. I didn't waste anything.
 
TheAppleGeek said:
Why pay for the most expensive model, when within two to three months, a new one is going to come out? Obviously, the 3G is my "temporary" phone.

So, no. I didn't waste anything.
Click to expand...

The 3GS will have a higher resale value than a 3G. I imagine mine will at least, should I want to upgrade to the new phone because it has an untethered jailbreak and can be unlocked. It's a nice little market, reselling your phone to pay for the cost of your new one. I sold my 3G (with cracked screen) for $200 on ebay when I was upgrading to the 3GS, and it wasn't jailbroken or unlocked (but could be).
 
TheAppleGeek said:
That certainly would save me a ton of money. Would I get full refund, though? The reason being, because I just found an unopened 8GB iPhone 3G (what I bought) for cheaper than what it would be at AT&T. If I did that, (like I did with my now-broken, old iPhone) it wouldn't count as an upgrade, would it?

Either way, thanks for replying. I think I know what I'm going to do now.
Click to expand...

Yes, this will work just fine. Be sure to get EVERYTHING annotated on your account before you leave. Also request an email sent to you stating what happened, that way you have your proof. Errors happen and you'd hate to find out on release day that they didn't change your account back to being upgrade eligible.
 
Revelation78 said:
Yes, this will work just fine. Be sure to get EVERYTHING annotated on your account before you leave. Also request an email sent to you stating what happened, that way you have your proof. Errors happen and you'd hate to find out on release day that they didn't change your account back to being upgrade eligible.
Click to expand...

Great!

I plan on going to AT&T tomorrow, and discussing this whole predicament. If all goes well, I'll be eligible once more.
 
i'm currently on a family plan with 4 iphone lines. We are currently a year into our contract and the site says we are eligible for an upgrade Dec 2010. I'm wondering when the 4g iphone drops would we be eligible? I know when the 3GS dropped, some people were able to upgrade early who had their contracts from 12-18 months. Do you think they'll provide something like that when the 4g comes out?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back