Comments on: The REAL Scoop on iPhone 3G Pricing

By: Brandon Eley

Brandon Eley — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:45:34 +0000

Jason, you can’t receive an iPhone 3G as a gift (not easily anyway). You will be required to activate the device INSIDE the AT&T or Apple stores, and will have to sign a 2-year agreement on the spot, before you get out the door with your phone.

If you’ve been given a 1st generation iPhone, you can definitely just activate it and change your plan. I switched to Cingular in February of 2007 (shortly after the Keynote) and was under contract for the Treo I got when I bought my first iPhone in June, 2007.

I think your phone has to be 1 year old to upgrade with discount, or at least that’s what it was for me. My 1 year on the Treo (that I don’t even have anymore) was up this February.

Chris, the AT&T representative told me I could buy it at any Apple Store or AT&T store. They will both honor the “upgrade discount” and be able to activate the new iPhone 3G.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:33:49 +0000

So to qualify for the “upgrade” discount do we need to purchase it directly from a Cingular Corporate store? What if we buy it from an Apple Store? Do we pay full price and are later reimbursed from Cingular when we activate?

By: Doug Petrosky

Doug Petrosky — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:05:07 +0000

It amazes me how confused people have been about this. The iPhone is exactly like any other subsidized phone except that AT&T is offering the subsidized price to more people, not fewer. Technically all current iPhone owners still have a year on their contract before they are eligible for a subsidized price. Further, it appears that people with less than a year left on their contract who are in good standing may also qualify.

By: Jim Wallentine

Jim Wallentine — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:09:34 +0000

why is this phone only available on ATT? this ticks me off. I guess if the phone was a typical phone, I would care less. Darn the luck…..

By: Frank T.

Frank T. — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:01:46 +0000

Yeah,

MacBlogz pretty much figured this out yesterday. Could’ve checked here too:

http://www.macblogz.com/2008/07/07/leaked-information-current-iphone-owners-automatically-eligible-for-subsidized-prices/

By: jason

jason — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:13:24 +0000

Hmm.. I wonder what happens if you get an iPhone as a gift, but currently are under contract with AT&T for another phone you got about a year ago?

hopefully you can just change your plan and it doesn’t cost anything more.

By: D

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:09:07 +0000

According to my account page on AT&T i will not be eligible for the discount price until I have had my phone (SE W300i) for at least two years (the length of my contract). Does this sound right? I wonder if there is “wiggle” room.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:18:46 +0000

That’s such helpful news! Based on what I’d been reading on various blogs, I thought I was going to get stuck with the higher price…which didn’t make any sense at all. Now I feel like I’ve got useful, accurate info.