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Will we be able to upgrade to the iPhone 5, if it comes out
- Thread starter spartanrob
- Start date
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Dial *639# that will give you the latest info on your renewal at this time. Since we don't even know when the I5 is going to be released your questions really hard to answer! 
I think the days of early upgrades are past.
I was in the same boat for the iPhone 4 to 4S upgrade, and I was not allowed to upgrade early. I bought the 4 soon after it came out. My normal upgrade timeline made me eligible January 2012 (right now). AT&T would not allow me to upgrade early to the 4S without a "large early upgrade fee."
Since I really wanted LTE and was looking forward to a redesign, I decided to hold on to my 4 and be one of the first in line for the next iPhone.
I'm not so sure about that. I'm eligible to upgrade my iPhone 4 for an 18 dollar upgrade fee and my iPhone is under a year old.
I wanted to go from my 4 to a 4S. I was willing to renew my contract. But Apple insisted that I pay a $70 early upgrade fee as well as another $15 for some other fee that I can't remember. My contract was not up until February of 2012 at the time. It was not enough of an upgrade where I felt like arguing with them.
AT&T has to make enough back on the phone (through your monthly contract payments) to justify the gigantic discount you got for signing up. Only then will they allow you an early upgrade for no extra charge. If you look at how much a brand new, unlocked iPhone costs, you'll see why they do this.
AT&T has to make enough back on the phone (through your monthly contract payments) to justify the gigantic discount you got for signing up. Only then will they allow you an early upgrade for no extra charge. If you look at how much a brand new, unlocked iPhone costs, you'll see why they do this.
That article is based on ONE users experience while talking to a CSR of all people.
AT&T sets the upgrade policy and eligibility requirements, not Apple or any other phone manufacturer.
They base it on how long it takes them to recoup the subsidy costs on the device.
The higher the costs, the longer it takes to be eligible for your next upgrade.
That article is based on ONE users experience while talking to a CSR of all people.
AT&T sets the upgrade policy and eligibility requirements, not Apple or any other phone manufacturer.
They base it on how long it takes them to recoup the subsidy costs on the device.
The higher the costs, the longer it takes to be eligible for your next upgrade.
That's fine, to each his own.
And i can easily say about your post "well that post is from one user on MacRumors who thinks he knows AT&T's policy but doesn't even work at AT&T of all people
"My cousin's Husband works for AT&T and not in a customer service position and when i asked him about the 4s (before it was released) i asked if they would move up dates because mine was about 2 months off from the release date and he said "i would think they will because that's what they did last year, but it's Apple's call, not ours"
BUT even that comment alone doesn't mean it was 100% true.
So unless you are a higher up in AT&T you cannot for sure say whether it's apple's call or AT&T's call to move up the upgrade dates.
Fair enough, but anyone with half a brain can do simple research to see that it's simply not the case here.That's fine, to each his own.
And i can easily say about your post "well that post is from one user on MacRumors who thinks he knows AT&T's policy but doesn't even work at AT&T of all people
My cousin's Husband works for AT&T and not in a customer service position and when i asked him about the 4s (before it was released) i asked if they would move up dates because mine was about 2 months off from the release date and he said "i would think they will because that's what they did last year, but it's Apple's call, not ours"
BUT even that comment alone doesn't mean it was 100% true.
So unless you are a higher up in AT&T you cannot for sure say whether it's apple's call or AT&T's call to move up the upgrade dates.
Pick ANY smartphone on AT&T and see what your upgrade eligibility is compared to an iPhone... shocker... they're all the same.
A manufacturer may throw an incentive AT&T's way for special pricing to move more units, but Apple has never had trouble selling iPhones.
That article is based on ONE users experience while talking to a CSR of all people.
AT&T sets the upgrade policy and eligibility requirements, not Apple or any other phone manufacturer.
They base it on how long it takes them to recoup the subsidy costs on the device.
The higher the costs, the longer it takes to be eligible for your next upgrade.
Exactly.
Apple doesnt controll AT&T's or Verizons subsidies and subscribers account.
Its solely AT&T's or the carriers decision on who they will subsidize and for how long and if they will provide early upgrades and for who and for how much.
The user above is incorrect stating Apples controlls AT&T subscribers updates.
But again if his cousin's Husband said so then it must be right
rjohnstone said:
Ok so maybe controlling their upgrade eligibility is a bad phrase. Do you have any proof that (knowing how many iPhone's Apple sells) that Apple would/wouldn't pay the rest of the subsidized price that some customers still have left on their iPhones, which would in turn move those customer's eligibility date up.
And you can't speak from iPhones to other smart phones. I'm pretty sure that last year when the 4 came out, you could only upgrade early to the 4 if you had previously purchased the 3gs. Meaning if you were on another smartphone you were paying retail price or subsidized price plus the $250 upgrade fee.
Exactly.
Apple doesnt controll AT&T's or Verizons subsidies and subscribers account.
Its solely AT&T's or the carriers decision on who they will subsidize and for how long and if they will provide early upgrades and for who and for how much.
The user above is incorrect stating Apples controlls AT&T subscribers updates.
But again if his cousin's Husband said so then it must be right
Or you can look at what i actually said.
Pretty sure i said despite my cousin working for AT&T and that he said something doesn't mean he was 100% correct
I also said no one can be correct in assuming that apple does/doesn't have some part to play in if they move up the upgrade dates of previous iPhone users. so to say i'm wrong makes no sense, because i never said anything definitive
it's NOT up to Apple whether or not you can upgrade...whoever told you that should be flogged with a cat o' nine tails...it's the carriers call
Why would Apple pay for the rest or any portion of the subsidized price? And make less money per phone?
They get their money either by people buying them full price or by the carriers kicking in the rest of the subsidy when the user upgrades.
Do you think they have any problems selling iphones or any extra stock for them to do that? You didnt see what happened in China?
You dont make any sense.
They get their money either by people buying them full price or by the carriers kicking in the rest of the subsidy when the user upgrades.
Do you think they have any problems selling iphones or any extra stock for them to do that? You didnt see what happened in China?
You dont make any sense.
Yes, this is a great article, but on the whole it is untrue. I was able to upgrade from my 4, to my 4S for 299, the regular fee with upgrade, and I bought the 64Gb.
And just because a customer Service Rep for At&t blames Apple for this fiasco, Doesn't mean they know anything about it. In the same way no CSR knows when the next iPhone or iPad is coming out. This specific rep was probably trying to lay blame at the feet of Apple, to get rid of the person they were talking to.
just because it is written in cult of mac does not make it true.
Yes, I can speak to that.
My father-in-law, long time BB user, upgraded to an iPhone 4 when they came out. He liked my 3GS and wanted to get an iPhone. I told him to wait for the new one as it was only a month away. He was 11 months into his contract when the 4 came out and was able to go to the iPhone with a full subsidy price.
I also recall a lot of people bitching right here on MR because they didn't qualify for an early upgrade even though they got their 3GS on launch day the year before. I remember some had to wait another month and some had to wait until November.
This absurd assertion that Apple has any say into any carries billing practices is laughable at best.
Exactly.
Apple doesnt controll AT&T's or Verizons subsidies and subscribers account.
Its solely AT&T's or the carriers decision on who they will subsidize and for how long and if they will provide early upgrades and for who and for how much.
The user above is incorrect stating Apples controlls AT&T subscribers updates.
But again if his cousin's Husband said so then it must be right
Correct, I don't know if anyone has noticed but the iPhone has all the same rules as any other smartphone. There used to be a 10% restocking fee now its $35 just as any other device. Insurance was not provided and now it is. Att came with the new rules for upgrade this past spring and if you upgraded to the 4s you are now under the new policy. 20 months fulfilled on the contract for full upgrade and at least 6 months for early upgrade. Payment history will also determine if these upgrades get pushed back. Phone lines that have suspensions are not allowed to upgrade as everyone. So just check your upgrade and see what the date is for the full 2yr upgrade price and stick with that mates. People that think they will complain to get it pushed will surely have a rude awakening. $325 ETF fee that declines $10 each month fulfilled. Some will get it moved up but majority will not.