No worries: AT&T doesn't want your grubby, used iPhone when you upgrade
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jun 11th 2008 3:27PM
posted Jun 11th 2008 3:27PM
Seems there are some rumors floating around today that AT&T plans on scooping up the old iPhones of subscribers that come into stores to upgrade to the iPhone 3G at the tantalizingly subsidized $199 / $299 prices for the 8GB and 16GB models. This feels totally bogus at first glance, considering that some of us have destroyed our iPhones in one way or another, sold them without changing plans, or otherwise made our devices disappear permanently enough to be unavailable to the clerk at the store. We checked with AT&T, and sure enough, we're happy to report that there won't be anyone at the store giving you a pat-down and confiscating it -- the only circumstance where you'll have to turn it in is if you're taking advantage of the exchange deal for folks that bought it since May 27th. So, you know, resume making sure that your eBay and PayPal accounts are in good standing.Update: To be clear, anyone taking advantage of the $199 / $299 pricing will need to enter into or extend their contract by two years. Though many (most?) will be able to make that happen, AT&T says that there will be a "non-qualified" upgrade price as well, though the terms of that qualification and the actual pricing have yet to be disclosed. Obviously, we're following this one closely.
I could care less if they want my iPhone, as I sold it for a considerable profit on eBay in May.
What I do care about is if I'm going to be able to pick up the new version for $199 or if they're going to charge current customers more.
I kind of have the same question.
Will I still be able to get the new iPhone at $199/$299 price even though i JUST started a contract with AT&T last month. There won't be any crap like, ''oh you just started your contract last month so you can't renew it (or add 2 more years and eht end of the current contract)...you will have to pay $200 more" Equaling out to $199/$299 + $200
Now that would suck!
So if you had or ever had an iphone on your account are you eligible to receive the subsidy on the new iphone? I had the iphone for 9 months, I still have the receipt, but some dude in California has the phone now.
Yeah, I'm kind of confused about this too.
I bought an iPhone the day that the price dropped awhile back, and sold it 2 weeks ago for a sizable amount (suckers).
I want to buy the new 3G iPhone. Can I snag it for $199/299? Do I need to add 2 years to my contract (making it 3 years or so)? Or can I get it for those prices and my contract is 2 years longer starting the day I buy it? Or since I was an owner of the first one, any chance I can just grab it at those prices without renewing again?
This question has been discussed to death already on numerous sites.
Yes. you need to re-up your contract if you expect to pay 199/299. Your new 24-month contract begins on the day you activate.
What has yet to be announced is what the "Non Commitment" price for the device will be. I've read speculations that it will be from $400-600 dollars.
I am also confused. My contract isn't eligible for upgrade yet, and they don't clearly state what options are available to someone in my situation. Will I have to pay more than the subsidized $200-300 since I'm still in contract, or will they just renew my contract as a 2-year on the day of activation? I will begrudgingly wait until I'm upgrade eligible rather than pay even more than everyone else and still end up in a 2 year contract.
Seconded. I'm in the same boat. We'll may have to wait until July 11th to find out the answer.
The iPhone 3G price is $199, that's for anyone. With that price, however, you must extend your contract 2 years (or sign a new 2 year contract). There is no price without 2 year contract because you can't get the phone without a 2 year contract.
Guys, read the above news again...it has been udpated. There is an update saying something about....
"AT&T says that there will be a "non-qualified" upgrade price as well"
What the heck does that mean?? What is considered a "non-qualified" upgrade????????? Can someone please clarify?? Is this for people who are not currently eligible for an upgrade discount (if they were to get any other regular phone...such as after 18 months into the contract)???
that means the price for those who don't want to re-up their present contract for two years. it means you'll pay substantially more for the iphone if you go that route.
thanks for the extra question marks.. I wasn't sure if you were really asking a question.
I fall into "non-qualified upgraders" category. If it's more than $400, F it. I'll stick with my Tilt until the Xperia comes out.
We all know it's going to take a new 2 year agreement, that's how the first iphone was. Also, there is no such thing as a contract longer then 24 months. I guess the real question is who will be qualified. Don't blow it at&t.
there may be a work around to all of this upgrade discontentment. I have this idea that people who want the 3g iphone and currently have a non-iphone headset only have to activate a new sim card in a 2g phone and put the iphone data plan on their account. This will do two things.
1: Automatically update your contact when they reactivate with a 2G iphone
2: Automatically make them eligible to upgrade to the 3G iphone.
If i recall correctly the Iphone was the only handset that you can upgrade to without being the the contract "sweet spot" By using any iphone and upgrading your account you should be eligible to upgrade to the new 3G iphone with not issues. You should be able now to skip the soon to be unfavorable non commitment price whatever that will me.
What does this mean to ATT sales reps with plenty of people that want to get the 3G iphone but ignorantly chose the Palm Centro? Bring your laptop and grab one of those 2G iphones off that kiosk and get to activating. As it stands I see no reason why this will not work. I have activated many customers that have received hand-me-down iphones and had just upgraded in the last 6 months. Now if ATT changes their mind on letting current iphone customers upgrade regardless of when they activated the iphone then we may have a problem but we can cross that bridge when we get there
definitely waiting for Android now, this whole new 2 year thing is ridiculous.
how in the world does getting andriod: a mobile phone operating system, change the 2 year contract deal? The truth: It won't.
News flash: pay more for the device, less time on contract.
same rules apply when you buy any cell contract... but can it send an MMS yet??? anyone know?
No MMS
Most?
No. Most won't fall into that category. You have to be on like the last 4 months of your contract to fall into it... I've still got another full year.
MY question is... if AT&T is going to up the price to it's current valued customers if they are... "non-qualified" Will apple have to do the same thing at their stores... after Jobs CLEARLY stated that 299 would be the MAX price.... HMMmmmmmmm
I'd gladly pay $599 for the phone all over again if I could still get F-ING GOPHONE, but no, AT&T will confuse the shit out of you until you are forced into submission and sign away the next 2 years of your life.
I called AT&T about this today after reading it on the web. They said of course that you don't have to turn that one in but there is an $18 upgrade fee. That is all they mentioned. They didn't mention any fee regarding whether not you were qualified to upgrade or not. I mean, who is qualified that has an iPhone? If you bought it June 29, 2007, then your under the 18 months AT&T looks for when normally doing an upgrade.
I was told I could activate the new iPhone via iTunes and then switch the SIM cards out as long as the old iPhone SIM card has a 3G fireball icon on it, which mine does. So, I wonder if the $18 gets tacked on when you activate through iTunes.
yeeah i called at&t yesterday and the man i spoked to said as long as i upgrade 2 more yearss the price will still be $199/299. dont know if i helped at all but yeaahh
I think ATT will be smart enough. If I can't get it for 199/299 then I'll just get it unlocked (maybe a while after the launch, but that's okay)..
That way, I wouldn't have to pay $30 a month, and just use the current iPhone plan ($20 a month)... and yea, no 2yr commitment.
@ RVASHI
non-qualified sounds to me like if your credit sucks so bad that when they do a credit check to add an additional 2-yrs to your contract, your score comes up in the 500 range.