I wonder how many of those people who refused to buy the non-3G iPhone and were waiting for this version are going to be pissed off because because 3G is not available where they live? It's been a couple months since I checked AT&Ts 3G coverage, but the last time I did it was terrible.

Why would you be mad at Apple for releasing a improved or different device? Everyone knew all along that the iPhone would have a 3G version come out eventually. Heck I should be pissed because Apple released new MacBooks a week or two after I got mine. That is the way technology goes though.

um.. why would you expect anything from apple?
possibly a $100 rebate from att or something if you renew your contract.. thats the most ive ever gotten from a wireless company when i get a new phone..

Is there a way to refund it?

AT&T/Cingular will refund your iPhone within 14days of purchase. That's how I was able to "upgrade" my 8GB I bought a week before the 16GB model came out.

Oh, I did have to pay a restocking fee. But that was worth it.

Most cellular carriers have a 1-2 week trial period, I'm sure you can return your device if you're planning on waiting.

I suggest looking at AT&T's coverage map to ensure you're covered by 3G.

In addition, remember that the iPhone will have to pass FCC muster, so we'll likely see a 3G announcement before we see an actual product.

it wont cost us a dime to upgrade. they said so in the video they did about iPhone 2.0. if they do then screw apple!

They said it was free for the iphone, but for which one ?, may be it is only for the 3G one. taking into account the last few moves from apple I wouldn't be surprised

That makes no sense. Apple has said from day one they won't charge for Iphone firmware. The money they receive from your AT&T subscription is enough. They want money for their time and resources, but they are already getting money from every Iphone user on AT&T on a monthly basis.

An example for this is the App bundle for the Ipod Touch. Are they the same apps available for free on the Iphone? Yes. So why charge? Cause Apple doesn't get any revenue from Ipod Touch users. Apple wants money for the time and resources used to port the Apps.

@Vegan

Apple doesn't have to do anything to the apps to make them work on the touch. They run on the same damn OS and SDK. The only cost associated with it would be the cost of charging credit cards and running transactions for charging people money for it

@zach

You do realize that the iPhone and the iPod touch are completly different, right?

The iPod touch can't access the edge network like the iPhone can. So wouldnt it stand to reason that they may need to change some code to make them work? So that the program doesn't even try to connect without wifi on?

And even if the switching from edge to wifi is handled by the OS (I'm not a programmer so I have no idea) that means the OS is different on the iPod touch, because it has no edge network. So again, the code needs a little adjusting since the OS isn't the same.

Whatever version of the iPhone you have, 2.5-X.x g, the firmware updates will always be free.

The reason for this is that as an iPhone owner you are generating a continued income to Apple as they take a little slice of the monthly network service rental.

The iPod touch is a one of payment, once you own it Apple doesn't get any more money off you. So they charge you for the updates.

I don't agree, but that's the reason.

@vegan
Yes I know that it lacks EDGE (any cellular data for that matter) because it is not a phone. They aren't completely diffrent though. I'm sure it would be just as convient for them to write a line where the app checks which device its on and then decides how to go about accessing the internet. They can just write it once and be done with it. That saves alot of time. I don't think they would take the time to go all the way back and write it over. The OS is the same for both, the iPod touch just has less resources which it can easily adapt. I don't think they would write the OS allover again if they can just use the same one for both and save time and money too.

@ VeganTnT

The OS is the same and the code is the same, we all got different Macs or Pcs, with different peripherals on them, but they don't need to re-write the code for each computer

I do hope the do that, but i don't think they are going to, they don't even subsidize the phone like the other manufacturers do.