Comments on: iPhone 3G S: Were you able to upgrade?

AT&T promised to throw early adopters a bone with the 3G S. Were you one of the lucky ones?

[pamgatlin]

I bought an iPhone 3G two weeks ago, not knowing they were coming out with a new version. Since I was still in the30 day window to return the phone, I waited until the release date to return the phone thinking I could do both on the same day. Nope! It will take 3-5 business days to reverse the previous upgrade. I guess that's okay since all of the AT&T stores are sold out anyway.

[tsrainer]

I did not try to upgrade on my account. My daughter was eligable for upgrade, so I ordered it on her number. I then activated it at home, with no problem whatsoever, and switched the sims out. She was totally excited to get my old iPhone (old being relative since it's less than a year old) and I got the new one. Easy peasy!

[jackreedthered]

ATT is being very tricky with my upgrade. I purchased the iPhone on day one, two years ago, and the iPhone 3G in July 2008, so I figured that I was ok for the $199 upgrade after ATT changed their policy.

Interestingly, they didnt change my status. The very nice ATT rep (really!) I spoke with on the phone made the mind-bending observation that yes, buying the phone in July 2008 made me eligible, but she couldn't actually change my account to state that fact. I was supposed to (really) "go to an AT&T store and make them research the fact that you are entitled to the pricing, because we can't actually change your status in the system".
Havent bothered yet- but I'm not looking forward to it (really).

[davem56]

That's the same response I kept getting from them on the phone, and in-store. That they can't do anything to change it in the system. For me, $699 for a 32GB so bye-bye AT&T. T-Mobile always makes you feel like they're able to go above and beyond to help, but AT&T customer service is powerless and couldn't even fix pricing to go along with their own stated policy. And they didn't want to because they didn't believe that the iPhone 3G S upgrade FAQ posted to their website was correct, and that they were.

[BiggShaad]

The ATT rep told me that the primary account holder in a family plan upgrades faster since they pay more on the account. The other lines have to wait 12 to 16 months. She couldn't direct me to any literature that says this. I got the 3G on opening day and wasn't under contract then. My girlfriend got her 3G in September of 2008 and wasn't under contract then. Since she is the primary account holder she can upgrade now. It says that I have to wait until March of 2010.

[ransom12]

nope, I like my BlackBerry and AT&T is ****, Alltel/Verizon have much better coverage than they do, no cell phone is worth switching to AT&T over

[Staszek]

What I am curious about is how can anyone spend more then $99 a month on a voice plan except for the family plans and two line people.

AT&T unlimited voice plan is $99 a month, so if you have one phone and one number and paying more then $99 there is something wrong.

I think they purposely did that to cut out the people with the $99 voice plans, its a very interesting cut off. Oh well doesnt matter to me I was eligible but I am curious to what they would say if I wasnt.

[holycowbrown]

The average upgrade is 20 months. However, average revenue per line is taken in to consideration to determine when a line is eligible for upgrade. In a nutshell, the $9.99 family lines will always be 20 months for an upgrade as they do not generate enough revenue to expedite the 20 month policy. When the $99.00 comes in to effect is when you have a family account or one line that generates $99.00 in rate plan and features before any business discount is figured in. This is a 3 month average that is looked at. AT&T's upgrade policy is more lenient in this case for the iPhone 3GS than any other model they currently carry. What most are missing is the 2G version was sold at AT&T's cost. Now, while they sold the phone at cost a 2 year contract was added as well. However, you were eligible to upgrade to the 3G because you purchased the original at cost and no discount was given. The upgrade exceptions for the 3GS were more than I could have expected and I've been with the company for almost 13 years.

[st-irenee]

Thanks for your article!

[formularacer]

After all the complaints seen here, I guess I wont be switching to ATT anytime soon for an iPhone. I currently have a BB with T-mobile and am more than satisfied with their service. Everytime a new BB or iPhone comes out to only ATT, I feel like wanting to swtich, but these nightmare stories about ATT keep me away. It just blows that T-mobile doesn't get more of these phones, especially now that they have a 3G network.

[djgaryb11]

I had an original 1st Gen 4gb Iphone...so I qualified for the upgrade....got to the Apple Store in Atlanta GA at Perimeter mall at around 10 am...there were about 100 people online in the "pre-ordered" line....I waited...took about 2 hours to get in the store...purchased my new 3Gs 16 GB Iphone for $199 ( which I had pre ordered on the Apple web site)....when I got it home the internet /web would not connect...and was on the phone With ATT...after talking to 4 different reps...finally got it to work...that was my experience....so overall...not too bad....Gary

[matthewluke99]

Bought my 3G in December so I'm not eligible for an upgrade -- so it was $399 plus tax for me. But I put my 3G on Craigslist, quickly got a $250 for it and now have a brand-new, super-speedy 3GS for a little under $200. Would it have been nicer if it had been free? Yes. But I understand the economics of the cell-phone business and I'm just thankful that the iPhone retains a decent resale value.

[eyn24]

I got an ATT phone(8529) on Oct 2007,
then got the 3G on Aug 08. I paid full price (399 for the 8gig).
Then added another line. 1400 mins plan

When I checked a week back it said I was eligible for an upgrade on Aug 09 and showed that ridicules price but on 18th as mentioned in CNET. I was told (both by ATT website and Apple's) that I'm eligible for an upgrade now.

Walked into an Apple store on eve of 19th and got the phone.. In all it took 20 mins wait time and 5 min activation.

[bigwhite2k9]

I was going to upgrade no matter what the price was. I just upgraded my line to a HTC Fuze in March. And the AT&T website said I was eligible for the upgrade price. So I got my phone for $300. My girlfriend got her Fuze in January and we had to pay $500 for her upgrade. But she was eligible for an upgrade in January 2010. So I don't know what AT&T is doing. And I thought our bill was high. Its about $400 We've got a 3000 minute plan with 5 lines. Each line except one has a $30 data plan & $30 bucks for unlimited texting. Everyone except my young brothers pays $100 apiece so its not that bad. But someone pays $2500 a month on a cell phone bill. They should give you 5 32 GB iphones.

[bigwhite2k9]

Just had to send in my new Iphone 3GS in for repair. It was dropping calls left & right. Restored & reset the network settings and every other troubleshooting step. Oh well back to Iphone 3G for about a week until the replacement comes in. My girlfriends phone is working fine though.

[eweimer]

I have an iPhone 3G and am on a family plan. AT&T told me that because my number isn't the primary account on the contract that I wouldn't be eligible for upgrade until 03/2010. The sole reason being because of the family plan and not being the primary account holder. However, the primary line is eligible as described in this article.

[samanthaj089]

I work at an AT&T call center and it is all based on what you spend. If you spend over $100, you are eligible after 13 months. If you spend over $70, you are eligible after 18 months. But if you spend less than that, you must wait 23 months.

[samanthaj089]

Sorry! Didn't specify, it is spent per month. So, if you aren't the primary line, most likely you will fall in the less than $70 category. On page three of your bill, with the summary of each line's usage and such... that number on the right of the graph. That is what is spent per month.

[ScottStein8]

Is that before or after tax? In my instance, for instance, my bill came to about $96, then with taxes around $112. What arbitrary set-points...

[samanthaj089]

Before tax. So if you would add a feature to boost you up to $100 then wait a month... you would have a different date.

[Sgr76]

I can upgrade (since i didn't buy the 3G last year). I purchased the original Iphone in 7/07 and i am approaching the end of my contract. I decided not to buy it....I like not being in a contract and having the freedom to shop around.

nope unfortunately I have to wait until march of next year, which will probably turn into June (new hardware release) and that's only if i decide to stay with at&t, who knows what the future will bring

[Dan7637]

people quit blaming apple, this is AT&T's fault

so stop b****ingabout i cant upgrade, if you were smart you would wait till next year to upgrade

but you are going to be b****ing again next year when same thing happens

[uptown187]

Dan7637 is so right!!! I bought the 3G on the first day it came out. Now my upgrade date is 12/11/09. So i have to wait 6 months before i can upgrade. This is a true blessing in disguise. Now instead of upgrading in December i will just wait another 6 months for the 4G iPhone to come out. Next years phone will not only have 4G but Video Chat, 5 megapixel camera and Maybe HD video with 64gig hard drive. Apple can only go so far witht he Iphone. Yes it is true that the most of the features that i iphone currently has have already been out in phones like the Nokia N95 (Brick phone LOL), and others but if its one thing that APPLE does well is innovate. The difference bet APPLE and these other phones is that while they have had all these features like video, 5+ camera, copy, cut and paste out for a while, APPLE is the only one who acutally does all of these same features better than the other phones. Come on, seriously have you seen how easy it is to Copy, cut and paste. ohh and i tested out the video on the new iphone in the ATT store.... it is really good and doesnt blur if you shake it. Plus editing the video is really easy....Those other phones may have alot of features but you have to be honest, they all don't do them well! And lastely , everyone who is bashing ATT has a right too. Cingular was great before Big ma bell took them over and FUBARed it! So far i have heard nothing but good things from Verison and thier network so WHEN APPLE goes to Version, and it will happen, i will likely be a converter...oh and when this happens ATT will lsoe som any customers and $$$$ HAHA good for them.

[Desdichado]

I didn't upgrade because of the price differential. AT&T will miss out on an extra year of my business (that an upgrade would have required from me) and if, fingers crossed, iPhone comes out on Verizon, I will be there so quick it won't even be funny.

[Acerman123]

Seriously all comedown to AT&T & Apple that took all your money including mine.
It is Apple......they design and built a great i phone [[[[product}}}}}}... and team up with their partner in crime ....AT&T that racking up all your hard earned money. One got a great technology and the other provide data plan.....together....they make us wept. :(. When it all said and done.....Apple product might eventually die out and At & T will come back to earth. Then we can all get back to live a normal live without gadgets and become low-tech again....I love the 70's.....Radio Shack is all you need........maybe not.....they got us good.........