iPhone 3G may be sold unsubsidized

For those looking to use another carrier the 8-gigabyte iphone will cost $599, the 16-gigabyte version will cost $699. AT&T wants you to stick with them otherwise there is no reason for such an excessive price.

What about the fact that AT&T is limiting each customer to purchasing 3 phones? If this is the case..then does it matter if you are not eligible for an upgrade...can't you just get someone who is eligible to pick one up for you too? And if they really are limiting the purchase to only those "eligible," then why the limit of 3? Shouldn't it be a limit for 1 for each eligible customer?

Erica says:
If I'm reading this right, AT&T will sell off-contract iPhones at a yet-unspecified price.

Sorry -that conclusion does not seem to be justified according to the wording of the memo.


This seems to be the part of the memo that is being discussed:

"Upgrade Eligibility and Qualified Upgrade Pricing
Upgrade eligibility will be determined based on standard upgrade eligibility rules. Customers must be upgrade eligible to receive the qualified upgrade pricing. However, not all customers will be qualified upgrades. AT&T has not determined the price of the 3G device for non-qualified upgrades.

All customers will be required to sign a 2-year agreement. There will not be a "no commitment" price for the iPhone 3G.

Note: When the 3G device launches, all active postpaid customers in good standing with a 2G iPhone will be eligible to receive the qualified upgrade pricing for a 3G device regardless of service tenure. (Customers that would not otherwise be eligible due to tenure will be made eligible at launch)."

Nothing in the memo talks about a non contract or off contract iphone.

Here is my take on this:

1. Anyone can buy a new 3g 8gb iphone for $199.00 with a 2 year contract (assuming they are
credit qualified.)

2. Anyone who owns a 2g iphone on an Att plan who is in good standing will be upgrade qualified.
(Note: When the 3G device launches, all active postpaid customers in good standing with a 2G iPhone will be eligible to receive the qualified upgrade pricing for a 3G device regardless of service tenure. (Customers that would not otherwise be eligible due to tenure will be made eligible at launch)."

3. "Upgrade Eligibility and Qualified Upgrade Pricing
Upgrade eligibility will be determined based on standard upgrade eligibility rules. Customers must be upgrade eligible to receive the qualified upgrade pricing. However, not all customers will be qualified upgrades. AT&T has not determined the price of the 3G device for non-qualified upgrades.

They don't say what the upgrade eligibility rules are for people other than those in the category
in #2 above.

No price determined for non qualified upgrades- doesn't mean a non contract phone- it means whether they will allow you to replace your current contract with a new 2 year contract plus $199.00 and whether they will do that with or without a penalty or premium?

In a worse case scenario one could presumably
cancel the current contract and pay the early termination fee
ETF (check your specific contract for details)

So again nothing in this memo says anything about an off contract iphone.

If I was under contract with Att and
I was deemed non qualified for upgrade
I would go to an Att store and tell them to either upgrade me- meaning I pay $199.00 -they cancel my old contract and I sign a new 2 year contract- or I will cancel and go with another phone at another company and they lose me as a customer.

The reps want to sell a new 3g iphone and 2yr contract -they get a commission- they will be motivated to help me get what I want.

So I guess I'm not eligible. That sucks madly. I'd totally buy an iPhone 3G if I could get the $200 dealie.

I've been on my contract since mid-December 2007. Looks like my best chance is finding a friend to sign a two-year and throw them $200, then giving them my AT&T phone.

Nobody is including the right things when calculating the price a non-AT&T person would pay to get a 3G iPhone. Here it is:

iPhone 3G -------- $199
Activation Fee ---- $36
1mo svc + tax --- ~$80
ETF --------------$170

Total: $485 + tax, or $585 + tax for 16GB.

That's using the minimum service plan, although AT&T may require you to buy a $59+ plan or higher.

This is my new thought...

Let's say at&t will charge users not eligible for an upgrade (w/ out 2g iPhone contract) an extra $200 for the new iPhone. Let's say today I buy a used/refurbed iPhone for $200, and add that to my plan (the $20 data), therefore making myself a 2g owner.

Then come July 11, I can buy the 3G iPhone at the $199 price, and have the extra 2g iPhone, paying the same thing I would've not being eligible for the upgrade in the first place. And maybe selling that unlocked to someone recouping the money I put in for the original (or give it to my gf who doesn't need 3g/GPS)

Screw it. Until they can deliver an iPod + Mobile Phone device that costs less than $40 a month to operate, I won't bother. I don't need all those minutes and a lot of the extra features. Sure it's nice to have them, but why should I pay for something I'll never need?

I guess I'll just be have to learn to be happy carrying an iPod *and* a separate, sane-rate cell phone.

If the phone + data also included DSL for when I'm at home, I might consider it a decent value, but $70 for service I'll only use sporadically is a rip-off. It might be great for day-traders and businessmen, but for someone whose career doesn't depend on being on the phone all day, it's a waste.

They'd better damn well lower the price of the iPod touch.

Current 2G iphone owner looking to upgrade, then I went on AT&T site and looked at 3G coverage. Where I live not covered still be on edge network almost all of the time, so upgrade not really a smart thing.

Developers. Please file bugs!!!
I recently filed a (polite) bug, where I told apple that the iPhone is defective by design, when tied to a CERTAIN carrier. They should solve this situation by either selling a boxed version without contract to everybody who wants it or at least offering the iPhone without contract to developers via a hardware purchase program.

So - please file bugs! Every duplicate will help.

And if you are no developer, but a normal customer, tell Apple that you hate AT&T (replace with your local exclusive carrier) and will never ever buy an iPhone, when it is tied to an exclusive carrier. As a customer just use:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

My "Eligibility" for an upgrade is 8/11/08. Am I going to have to wait a whole month if I want the $199 pricing!? Come on AT&T...I've been with ya for 6 years....don't do this to me.