Apple has posted an online iPhone eligibility tool for AT&T and Verizon customers. The tool works for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S models. The company promises one for Sprint customers is coming soon.
Users may be eligible for a reduced price on a new iPhone depending on their account status with their carrier.
To determine their iPhone 4S price, users simply select their current wireless carrier and enter their wireless number, billing zip code, the last four digits of their social security number, and their billing password (if you have one).
The tool will then return a chart that looks something like this:
Apple’s iPhone eligibility tool for AT&T and Verizon customers is here.
So I have been a loyal AT&T customer since 4 days after the Original iPhone was released. I upgraded to a 3GS day one and to the iPhone 4 day one. This was June 24th of 2010. 15 months ago. I know when I upgraded to the iPhone 4 it was only 12 months and I was able to get the upgrade price. This year AT&T is saying that I am not eligible for an upgrade until the end of February 2012. So if I pay the $549 to upgrade now will I have to extend my contract? If not, I will upgrade, then move to Verizon or Spring when the LTE iPhone comes out after June 25, 2012.
Dumb dumb, AT&T shortened the upgrade period at the launch of the iPhone 4 to ensure that people locked into 2 year contracts with AT&T so they wouldn’t switch en masse to Verizon when it released its own iPhone.
i waited a month for the phantom “White” iPhone 4 last summer before Apple admitted it would not ship then. Now AT&T wants me to wait ’til December 26 to buy an iPhone 4S without a $250 early purchase penalty. I’m lobbying them to give me an earlier date because 99% of the time I’m on Wi-Fi. They are blaming Apple for this.
Just got off the phone with AT&T – the conversation went horribly bad. The customer service rep told me that APPLE will not allow them to upgrade customers early – I openly laughed at that, and called BS on it! When I tried to point out to the dolt that I had original iPhone day one, upgraded to iPhone 3G day 1, upgraded to iPhone 3GS day 1, then upgraded to iPhone 4 day 1, but this time – 15 months later they won’t let me upgrade. She saw all of that in their system, but tried spinning it that APPLE approved those early upgrades, there was nothing they could do about it.
I told her I had a solution – I’ll gladly pay the $175 early termination to get rid of their crappy service and move to Verizon. She had the nerve to say “Well you can’t surf and talk on their service.” I told her yes I could – I can surf on my Verizon 3G iPad 2 while I talk on my Verizon iPhone 4S.
I must drop 6 calls per week on AT&T – I’m actually looking forward to getting rid of them. I’d love to go to SPRINT, but unfortunately their service is even worse than AT&T’s where I live.
I can definitely understand your frustration. However the new iPhone has a much better antenna that should reduce if not totally eliminate the dropped call thing.
AT&T’s call dropping is not unique to the iPhones. It’s a system wide problem based on lack of sufficient towers to handle / pass calls. The best antenna in the world won’t help when there just isn’t any signal available.
I walked into an AT&T store yesterday and asked the dreaded upgrade price question.
what the manager told me after looking up my account, the earliest I could get the discounted pricing on ANY new phone, was Nov 24th. I bought my iPhone 4 on Day 1.
however.. He told me that AT&T is allowing Managers to do the upgrade pricing IN STORE up to 30 days earlier. so Oct 24th.
iPhone 4S release Oct 14th..
Go to your AT&T store, and talk to the manager about upgrading. I did, and I can get that lower price on Oct 24th. (nov 24)
you must not have purchased your iPhone 4 on launch last year, for some reason you have 3 months longer to wait..
and to get that extra time you can’t do it online, nor purchase through Apple. has to be in store.
Granted it may also be a repeat customer history for me. Been AT&T for 5 years prior to the first iPhone. (was on Cingular years before the AT&T merger)
and as Sucker said, AT&T made a SPECIAL deal last year for 3GS users IF their contract was to be eligible for an upgrade before the end of the year, and only if you grabbed a iPhone 4.
this was probably due to the fact AT&T already knew of Verizon getting the iPhone 4 later, so get as many people to buy now.. the Verizon Rumors for the iPhone 4 were not too long after the release. (at least credible ones anyway)
Wasn’t even a manager who told me this but got same response at ATT store.
My date is November 16th, so not a big deal.
Will deal with my local ATT people October 16
I’ve been day 1 for all 4 phones don’t screw this up AT&T.
On second thought my wife is due for an upgrade so I can still be day 1.
Not sure I understand this!!! I have always upgraded on day one but it says to get a discount I will need to wait for November 16. Makes no sense. Will anybody that has an iPhone 4 able to upgrade on day one this time around?
Stupid ATT – why would they charge me a ransom to extend my contract? Doesn’t make any sense.
The price of the iPhone from a carrier is subsidized over a 2 year period. In other words, they need two years of data plan revenue to compensate for the upfront discount on the phone. Allowing you to buy another discounted phone before your contract is completed subverts the equation. They could, however, provide a “buyout” plan that prorated the monthly value of the subsidy and charge you that as a lump sum to enable the upgrade and fresh 2 year contract.
I got my iPhone 4 day one and my AT&T page is showing my pricing at the 199, 299 and 399 levels.
Because you (likely) spend a lot of money (on your wireless plan) and they feel they have already recouped the $300 they (AT&T) laid out for you to get your phone.
People who spend only the minimum for a single phone (with no extras) will have to wait, a bit longer because AT&T has not yet made up the $300 they laid out for your phone.
Bought my iPhone 4 on day one too and am eligible for full upgrade too. I have 900 min, 200 text messages and tethering options, so your explanation makes sense to me.
I think those number are incorrect. I looked yesterday on ATT and the early term fee for me was $150, Apple’s site shows $250.
WTF?!?
I’m no eligible until March 12, but my wife is, and she got hers more recently!!!
I just pay cash and choose carrier to suit my current need.
Got mine iPhone 4 day 1 and my upgrade is Nov 18. I’m not mad…gonna pay the early upgrade price and get my iPhone 4S.