I was one of many who was dismayed to find that I am not eligible for a discounted price if I decide to upgrade my iPhone 3G to a 3GS. In case you haven’t read about it already, amongst AT&T’s many missteps concerning the 3GS and the 3.0 update, those of us who bought 3Gs will have to pay $399.00 for a 16G or $499.00 for a 32G.
This is, of course, not the path chosen by AT&T for original iPhone owners who decided to upgrade to the 3G. Smelling extra revenue from the more expensive 3G plan surely inspired them to entice 3G upgrades a year ago; but this time, AT&T isn’t being quite so nice to their loyal customers — at least, not until March, which is apparently when the loyal customers get the same pricing as AT&T newcomers or those who haven’t upgraded in 18 months.
However, if you have a family plan, you may be able to upgrade after all. Here’s how I plan to do it:
When I got the original iPhone, my wife got a Samsung freebie as we moved to AT&T — and was fine with it. She didn’t want an iPhone, didn’t need an iPhone — “This phone does everything I want”, she declared.
Fast forward to the launch of the 3G, and she finally decided to give it a try. So we popped her SIM card in, added a data plan, and she was very happy – and now, almost a year later, is hooked on it.
So when I discovered that I was ineligible for a $299.00 32G iPhone, I decided to see if my wife was — and sure enough, she is.
So if I decide to upgrade — and I likely will — I will try a similar switcheroo – get the 3GS on her line, then simply swap the SIM card. Hopefully, everyone will be happy — or at least, none the wiser.
What are your upgrade plans?
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I've done this same sort of thing with my girlfriend's family. Her mom gave me her upgrade. It's a great idea! At&t is trying to milk us customers for all they can. Down with the cell phone establishment!
AT&T doesn't really care if you trade upgrades, at least the reps in the store don't. As for the upgrade cycle, you become eligible for a discount (usually) 20 months into your 24 month contract. The reason most people were eligible for the iPhone 3G is that everyone paid full price for the original iPhone. Since AT&T didn't subsidize your phone with the original, you were able to upgrade. With the iPhone 3G, AT&T picked up part of the cost of the phone in exchange for that two year contract. I don't know the specifics, but if its true that AT&T is paying Apple a portion of the data plan, it takes even longer for an iPhone customer to become profitable for the company.
But this isn't even unique to iPhone users. Anyone who upgrades or activates a new line enters into a contract. If they want to upgrade 6, or even 12 months later, and are not yet eligible for a discount, they can pay full retail or may be offered an exception upgrade in certain circumstances. I the case of the iPhone, the exception upgrade price is 200 dollars more than the discounted upgrade price.
I would love it if iPhones were as cheap as they are without having a contract. But I signed a contract and probably won't receive any discount if I choose to upgrade before January or February of next year. I hope it doesn't sound like I'm talking down to anyone, I just have a little experience with upgrading before I get the full discount and thought I would share.
Yea, That is what I did when I broke my 3G. Come to find out I have 4 upgrades available now. So I am in the clear. iPhone 3GS for me
I hate to be defending AT&T, but don't forget that the first Iphone was unsubsidized by AT&T, those of us who bought them paid full price(I think it was($499 for 8gig). So when the 3G came out, we were all (myself included) able to pay the subsidized price of $299 for a 16Gig 3G Iphone. Now, one year later, you forget you bought a subsidized phone and criticize AT&T for a deal you agreed to. My wife and I both bought the original 2G phones, sold them on Ebay for $400 each and then bought 3G phones for $299. We have a 4000 minute family plan and her phone is listed first on the plan, mine is the add-on line. She is eligible for a 3GS phone on July 10th at the price of 199/299. I'm not eligible until March, 2010. No way will I wait that long. Mine will sell on Ebay for around $400 and I'll pay the $499 and have it June 19th. So I bought the first phone for $500, and sold it a year later for $400. Down $100. I then paid $299 for a phone I will sell for $400. Now even. Hopefully there will be a market for the 3GS a year from now when the next Iphone comes out.
AT&T has seriously got it ass-backwards. They couldn't even have tethering available in time when they probably had a good headsup from Apple about its plans.
My plan just got over in March and I have been waiting for the new iPhone. So, I shouldn't have a problem laying my hands on a 3GS on 19th.
I guess I thought I read somewhere that some people where saying we (3g Owners) would be eligible after we have owned the 3g for 1 year….so for many of us we should be eligible for upgrade pricing sometime in Mid-July. Is that true?
Rod – I think that does not sound right. I purchased the 3G on launch day last year, and my Info page via the Apple Buy link tells me I'm not eligible for the 'standard upgrade' until September 2010. I believe there are 3 main tiers of pricing – the 'full' discount price for new users / qualified owners, at $199 for 16GB model, and $299 for 32GB model, then the 'partial discount' prices for many / most 3G owners, which put the cost at $399/ $499, and then a full, no discount price where both models costs beellions of dollars, or at least something like $599/$699
My wife has original iPhone, which I handed off to her last July. I have an Iphone 3G. Her number was eleigible for the $199/299 upgrade, mine was not until Dec 09. I ordered the new 3G S thru Apple.com and I am hoping a SIM card switch is all I will need… my wife will get the 3G, I will have the new 3G S and the original iPhone will be retired. Can anyone confirm that switching the SIMs is all that will need to be done?
@patrick: That's odd as I bought my 3G on launch day too, but my "standard upgrade" is available in March.
@Kipp: Make sure the wife has a 3G SIM card. If so, you should be good to go.
Joe – ours may be so much longer because we messed about with switches on family plan a few months back, with my wife taking on my old 1st gen, and switched my 3G from an individual account to family plan etc – I don't even recall all the changes – the wife had a grand battleplan for maintaining rollover minutes and optimizing plans etc
My upgrade plans? To cry until my iPhone 3G suffers so much water damage that I have to upgrade at the full price anyway.
AT&T is the epitome of evil and I wish they weren't monopolizing the iPhone market this way. More bars in more places??! Shit, I sure do miss Sprint PCS these days… ;(
alphabetsoup – that's an original plan for sure
IF ANYONE HAS DONE WHAT THIS GUY IS TALKING ABOUT SUCCESSFULLY PLEASE CONTACT ME! I need help with activation! I would greatly appreciate your help!
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