Six months.
So, then why did we get fully subsidized pricing on our iPhone 4’s when we are Day One iPhone 3GS buyers (not to mention Day One iPhone and iPhone 3G buyers)?
We paid $299 for each of our iPhone 4 32GB models, yet we bought our iPhone 3GS models less than 12 months ago. And, last June 19th, we paid dearly for the privilege.
Was the $299 price we got during our iPhone 4 pre-orders a computer error? Will we be charged another $200 per unit on June 24th? Or did we get it because we paid the full (unsubsidized) price for our iPhone 3GS units last June?
Has anyone else pre-ordered iPhone 4 models at the fully-subsidized prices ($199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB models) who was also more than 6 months from the end of their 24-month AT&T Mobility contracts?
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Joe Architect” for proposing these questions.]
Actually, it’s not 24 months but 18 months to qualify for the full discount. So 18 – 6 = 12, which seems correct to me.
Yes. My old contract would have expired in January. I paid $299 for a black, 32GB model. Delivery is 6/24. The $18 upgrade fee was waived.
Dial *new# from your iPhone. In may when I checked, my upgrade date was November of this year (I was also day one 3 GS). Since the announcement when I checked, it says I’m eligible for full subsidy. I was also able to preorder the 32gb for $299. Seems all good on my end.
I was originally eligible on November 19 and I got a full upgrade. I pay $88 a month. The amazing thing though, is that my sister, who bought her 3gs in December of last year and only pays $80 a month, was eligible for a full upgrade. She has payed them just over $500, barely enough to cover the subsidation, let alone enough for bandwidth anD so they could even make a profit from her. Pretty good deal.
It is for a very good reason … to lock you into another two-year contract before Apple opens the iPhone to competing cellphone operators.
I got subsidized this time and got royally screwed last time at $699 for the 3Gs
Mine still says that I’ll be eligible January 9th 🙁
Not us: I have a 3G and my wife has a 3Gs. I was able to get subsidized pricing on mine, naturally. However, my wife was listed as being eligible Feb. 2011 for her 3Gs. She called and was told the window is actually 22 months, but she is eligible for early upgrade pricing which splits the subsidized/full price difference meaning an extra $200 if she wants one. The 22-month number makes no sense as that would put her in April. I also read on an ATT FAQ that customers that pay $99 and more per line are eligible for 12-18 month upgrades: the more you pay the faster you can upgrade, which makes sense. We are on a family plan with her phone being the primary account. This technically makes my wife’s plan greater than $99 dollars so she should qualify. She has yet to check into that though; they probably have different rules for family plans
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> It may also be that the FAQ is out-of-date. The web site is pretty pathetic in terms of up-to-date information once you start drilling down deep.
It appears as if the rules/answers change depending on who you talk to. Why am I not surprised?
I’ve bought every new iPhone from 2007 iphone, iphone 3G, iphone 3GS, and now the iPhone 4 on the day it was released. Every time, ATT gave me the discounted subsidized price with a new 2 year contract extension. My wife who is on my family plan has done the same thing, but for some reason, it says that she can’t upgrade until January. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to how ATT handles upgrades.
I got my iPhone 3Gs 32GB on July 3rd last year and I just preordered the new iphone on the 15th.. so I’ve had it less than 12 months.
Bought 2 3GS iPhones 1st day, but only 1 eligible now (family plan). Goes by how much you pay per month, how many months, your standing, etc.
Bought 2 years AppleCare on each iPhone 3GS, don’t know if Apple will transfer 2nd year to iPhone4. Not that it’s possible to order one now …
Just 1 iPhone4 sort of screws up the FaceTime bennie.
I bought my 3GS for $150 from the refurbished section on at&t;’s website. All I did was wait a few months after it came out. Bought my kids the 3g for $50 ea refurbished too. They looked and smelled brand new, only difference was they were not in the fancy retail box, came with new cables and headphones. They have performed flawlessly. Apple refurbished gear is top notch, they make it like new.
So I think I am going to wait awhile on iPhone 4, I paid full retail for the original when it came out, and vowed never again to do that..Now that the 3Gs is only $99, I think I will upgrade my kids though, but if I can find refurbs for $50 you bet I’m jumping on that.
Explore your option people there are inexpensive ways to upgrade your kit..
Just tried to access my upgrade options on the AT&T;website and got a message saying that I have to call to find out.
Still website issues I guess.
Anyone else seeing the same message??
@rob nailed it. Luckily the first comment knew the answer. Even thought it is a 2 year contract, AT&T;makes you eligible for upgrade pricing after 18 months. This is to keep customers from even getting close to letting their contracts expire. They do this for all of their phones, not just smart phones and iPhones (smarter phones).
So, yes, if you bought your 3GS in June 2009, you would normally be eligible for upgrade pricing of November 2010.
Since AT&T;wants to lock in as many lucrative iPhone customers as possible before they lose the exclusive later this year, they bumped up all those upgrade dates.
I have no problems with AT&T;’s coverage, or service, so this is great for me!
I bought a 3G on day 1…but because I had changed phone numbers several times in the mean time my contract had been renewed and I wasn’t eligible for an upgrade until 6/9/2011. That was, until I went into the AT&T;store and pleaded my case that I hadn’t changed hardware in 2+ years, only phone numbers.
They allowed me an early upgrade with no extra cost. Expecting my iPhone 4 on my doorstep June 24!
When your contract expires in only a part of it. It also depends on the amount of your bill on average etc. Talk to ATT. It is not a mystery! I went through this.
Hmmm, it sounds like we are in the same boat: family plans. They are definitely making it up as they see fit. Her account is definitely the primary holder with mine being the second phone. Therefore, her account is the bulk of the cost with mine being the “share the minutes and pay the data plan only” phone.
I am willing to bet they are treating family plans differently as the payback is sort of “shared” making the subsidization period longer. Even stranger is our spouses have different eligibility dates even though they were both purchased on day one? Would be nice if they explained the rules for upgrades instead of getting people riled up with inconsistencies.
I was also an early 3GS purchaser, as well as 3G and Original, plus 3G iPad. I too was surprised to find that AT&T;was offering me the subsidized upgrade fee, charging me only $18 additional They said it was because I was such a “valued customer.” Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get my order in on Tuesday. I’ll be interested to see what MDN is actually charged when the new phone arrives. I’d guess that you will get the subsidized price.
AT&T;obviously did this because they’re losing their exclusivity soon, possibly as early as this year. I was only 10 months into my iPhone 3GS contract (which was my very first iPhone, by the way), meaning that I still had 14 months left on my contract! 14 months left!! Yet I got the 100% fully subsidized price for the iPhone 4.
I bought a 32GB 3GS on Day 1 for $299, I am not elgible for an upgrade until February 21st with no no explanation from AT&T;. I ordered a 32 GB iPhone 4 for $499 and will work on the pricing with AT&T;in the meantime.
Upgrade eligibility is based on 18 months…. Not 24 months. Even though your contract is for 24 months, they want to draw ya in for longer while they still have you.
I bought the $299 3GS, and have the bill to prove it, on June 11, 2009-12 months and 6 days ago. On June 15, I bought the $299 4 for delivery on the 24th. My $299 upgrade price was confirmed by AT&T;.
Looks like some people are really getting screwed compared to me.
SO those that have upgraded, any trouble keeping your old unlimited plan?
That is what seems key to me..
I got the 3GS in November and I was able to get the 16GB iPhone 4 for $199. I think it’s because my monthly bill is over $100, so it’s a year to year thing instead of 18 months (we have two iphones on our bill, and I’ve been able to upgrade each year).
The service contract was for 24 months, but you are eligible for new hardware after only 18 months — two separate issues. AT&T;moved up the hardware eligibility date by 6 months, reducing it to only 12 months, making 3GS early adopters eligible.
There is no mystery here. Just a mis-understanding by the person who posed the original question.
To LOCK YOU IN to your contract before Apple comes out with the iPhone with a network *ahem Verizon ahem* that works..
Bought two 3GS Day One, or Week One in the case of one unit, subsidized pricing. Ordered two new iPhone 4 units, one 16gb and one 32gb, both at subsidized pricing. Both were able to keep unlimited data. To JustMe’s point, I think some of it may be related to profitability. My entire family bill is over $300 monthly [lots of people], so maybe they’re making their money.
Just a note to JustMe: is such language really necessary? Do you suffer from such a paucity of language command that you cannot get your point across any other way? It’s your prerogative, but I doubt it makes people take you any more seriously.
I bought the 3GS the day it came out, at the $299 price and 2 year contract with At&T;. I pre-ordered my iPhone 4 on 6/15/10 through Apple’s site with the full subsidized price of $299.
I remember reading an article somewhere (for the life of me can’t remember) that At&T;uses a profitability scale to determine upgrade dates. More profitable you early the more eager they are to sell you the new iPhone and keep you.
For example I pay for 450 minutes BUT RARELY use any (I have like 8+ rollover minutes left. And I consume little data. Low cost customer for At&T;because I always pay my bill in full and on time. Never call customer service etc….
And Yes I still kept my unlimited data plan
er… thats 8000+ rollover mins
Another confirmation here- I have one year left and found out I am eligable for an upgrade – lock and load!
I bought the 3GS on day 1 last year and got the subsidy for my new 4G. Both the date of purchase and the date of delivery are over 12 months by a few days, so this makes sense in terms of what Rob posted.
The odd thing is that my original eligibility date was in October or November…
If you paid the full unsubsidized price for the 3GS then it did not affect your pricing bonuses. If you bought the 3G 2 years ago at the $299 price point, then full price on the 3GS, your last subsidized bonus for pricing was 2 years ago. Which should make you eligible this year for full subsidization. You’re lucky in the US, only having to sign 2 year contracts. In Canada, we are forced to take 3 year contracts.
Mike F.,
What are you paying $70+ per month for?
I can understand how there will be so many Verizon fans here, wishfully thinking there is a sign in this. There is NOT.
Apple’s exclusivity agreement with AT&T has been confirmed by several insiders (on condition of anonymity) three years ago. People have short attention span and nobody remembers this anymore. We get to look forward to two more years of Apple-AT&T marriage.
As for upgrade eligibility, AT&T is just doing some (apparently effective) marketing, buy advertising something they’ve already been doing before.
If you have a phone (any phone) on AT&T, you can upgrade it anytime between 12 and 18 months since signing the contract. How soon will depend on your cumulative spending with AT&T. If you spent enough money to pay back for the phone, AT&T will automatically upgrade. If now, they’ll hold you to the 18-month date, as stated when you log in and check your account.
Again, no amount of wishful thinking will bring iPhone to Verizon (or any other carrier) before the summer of 2012, unless somehow Apple manages to wiggle out of that 5-year agreement.
We have a family plan- 2 first day 3GS phones (as well as first day original iPhones)… 1 phone upgrade path bounced forward from Nov to June and is avail for immediate upgrade. That happened a month or two ago. When that occurred the other phone was listed as upgradable in Nov 2010. I have a screen capture of that page. After iPhone 4 announcement and the “generous offer by AT&T;- that makes all upgrades till the end of the year subsidized” I went and looked again and they DELIBERATELY PUSHED MY NOVEMBER DATE FORWARD TO FEBUARY 2011!!!!!! That now makes my upgrade $499!!!!
I am furious! We both have unlimited everything and pay a FORTUNE each month to AT&T;, not to mention our ipads etc…. AT&T;used to have good customer service- if you called with a legitimate issue they took care of you, but lately not only is their tech service garbage, but they have taken on a “too bad for you” attitude.
So now I’m sitting here trying to sort through this issue with them for days and watching the ship dates on the iPhone 4 roll further and further into the future….
JERKS!!!
If I remember correctly AT&Ts;policy is that you can get a fully subsidized price as soon as 18 months (depending on how much you pay). Therefore if they took another 6 months off of that it goes to 12 months. Thus, if this policy is repeated, so as to make the customers a bit irate, one could get a fully subsidized iPhone every year when they come out.
a bit less irate**
Primary account holders of accouts that exceed a certain revenue amount can upgrade every 12 months.
@Mad
I’m with you. Same thing happened to me with family plan. I was able to order one for my wife since she had the 3G. But, with my 3GS, I’m stuck at Feb 2011. 🙁
Both my wife and I bought 3GSs last July. I upgraded from a 2G, my wife was a new iPhone user. We both are able to upgrade on 6/24/10 to a new iPhone 4 without paying any extra penalty. Don’t know the full reason, but I’ll take it. Don’t forget how ATT got skewered last year when it was going to charge extra for 3G owners to upgrade to 3GS, even with a new 2 year agreement.
I suspect ATT wants to lock us in to another 2 years before Verizon gets the iPhone in a few months. No biggie; I’ve been pretty happy with ATT. I seriously doubt Verizon will be much better, and I’m sure Verizon (or T-Mobile or Sprint) will have their own issues.
@Mad, Snow Leopard:
I am in Snow Leopard’s boat: The 3G is upgradeable as expected, but the 3Gs eligibility has been moved to February as well. It was at 18 months, like Mad observed, before.
And to Jeff, singidunum, et al: the window is not 18 months as has been stated — even AT&T tells me so. If true, every first day 3Gs owner would be eligible and that is not the case. It is technically between 12 months and 2 years (based on monthly bill) with AT&T now moving dates around for some people for no given reason. (My wife’s and Mad’s upgrade switch is proof of that.)
This is one of the reasons why people are getting irate: AT&T is not forthcoming when asked about upgrade schedules and it gets worse when you know others on the same schedule who pay less per month and are eligible yet you are not! This would negate the “the more you pay the sooner you can upgrade” rule that they tout. They are definitely not following any logical rules.
I bought iPhone1 on day one and got full subsidy when I bought an iPhone 3G on day one. I then got full upgrade subsidized price when I bought (thru pre-order) a 3GS on day one.
I just got a 32GB iPhone4 for $299, or full upgrade subsidy thru the apple store pre-order. What I am now worried about is that I was not one of the lucky 600,000 and didn’t get to order my iPhone 4 until day 2. I guess we’ll see in a year.
I think there must have been something special for always buying on day one when the new model came out.
I’ve purchased every iPhone model on release days. On my second try around 8:00 AM EST, I got my iPhone 4 – 32GB for $299 and unlimited data. I thought for sure that I’d be slapped with an extra $200 when I show up to pick it up; like I did with my 3Gs, which I am selling in gazelle.com for $215.00. All I really know is that I would be thrilled if I can get my phone for $299.00.
I can see myself know …looky here! $299, printed on my pre-order receipt, sir. What do ya mean I have to pay an extra $200.00. Are you insane?
ATT’s recent rash of bad will moves has to be in preparation for the ax about to fall on them from Apple which cuts their exclusivity …
Class action here
I still can’t believe some of you have not yet figured out why some upgrades are done earlier than others.
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/upgrade-advantage.jsp
It comes down to how much your line is worth. Not your account, not when you bought a particular phone. This has been like this for years, yet people are always confused why one person’s upgrade is after 12 months as opposed to someone else that has to wait 21 months.
To clarify:
At&t;weighs how much your line is worth, and gives you discounts accordingly. If your line is worth more than $100 before taxes, you are able to upgrade after one year or 12 months. On the opposite side of the spectrum, if you are a $10 secondary line with no other features, you must wait at minimum for 21 months. Everything else in between varies.
I got my 3GS around the middle of July 2009 for the fully subsidized price. I was shocked that my iPhone 4 pre-order was priced at $299 for the 32GB model, since my contract is currently under 12 months old. Even with the 18 month number, I shouldn’t be upgrade eligible until January 2011. I thought I’d have to wait or pay the $499 early upgrade price.
@pickles
That link you posted clearly states that everything written on that page EXCLUDES iPhones….
AT&T;has no clear posted iPhone upgrade policy. It’s completely random and not definable.
Yes, I am a second line on a family plan, but have unlimited minutes, unlimited data and texts + ipad usgae and other world connect type charges etc. I am high dollar to them, yet they altered my upgrade date AFTER iPhone 4 was announced from 18 months to 21 months!!!
Makes no sense and frankly makes me want to buy unlocked version and tell at&t;where they can stick it!
I was told because of my heavy usage, i was eligible early.
john
My wife an I both got are 3gs in November an only I’m aloud to get the 32 gig for $299. Hers is $699. I’m the primary an have been with AT&T;for 5+ years. Pay close to 200$ a month. But I barely had my 3gs for 8 months. My wife isn’t happy about paying 699$ for the iphone4 when she had her 3gs 2 weeks longer then me. So I think it has to do with how much the primary person pays a month an if they pay on time. I’m not gonna ask AT&T;any question about it now, that’s for sure. I’m just gonna get mine for $299 and get my wifes for 699. We already sold are 3gs. The messed up thing is, I called AT&T;before we thought about selling the 3gs’s just to make sure the websight was right an he told me my wife’s would be 599$ an mine $299. Till I found out today hers is 699$. We already pre ordered from best buy buy they only take $50. So today I triple checked at apples websight. They also said $299 for me then I found out $699 for the wife’s. That’s when she got pissed off. She woulda kept hers 3gs if she woulda known it would be $700 for a phone! luckily we will only pay $450 if minus what we got for our phones. But still, it worries me until I pay an get the phones in our pockets. Mine better not go up.
Att gave me unlimited upgrades, I upgraded my lines 5 times in six months before I got the iphone. I even called to point out the error and they didn’t seem to care. and now I am up for another upgrade even though I bought my 3g in september. att is ridiculously inconsistent (although that kinda works for me so im not complaining
Correct pickles but that was my point: people I know that have been on track with me with the same account length are eligible yet I am not.
However, just tonight I found out that at&t switched our phone numbers. my 3G was the secondary therefore paying the family add-on and the data plan. My wife’s 3GS was on the primary account which is in the top tier of pickle’s link. My 3G is old enough to qualify even on the secondary plan. My wife should have been eligible based on her account pricing. Checking the account today I find out that my number has become the primary with my wife’s being the secondary. That explains why her upgrade is in February – she is paying very little and this has not recovered the upgrade price. This irks me to no end: they swapped the numbers thereby changing the upgrade schedule for my wife. They will be getting a nasty call tomorrow about this. Unbelievable!
I too was eligible for the $199 price after only a year with the 3gs. I had read that it was dependent on a few factors including your account spending. I have 4 phones on my line including 3 iPhones and spend over $200/month for service. None of the other iPhones are eligible until 6 months away from the contract completion.
I can, and I am only at a year as of july 7
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