[Irish2dabone]

relatively new... I saw it for the first time 2-days ago... prior to was Steve's intro of it in SF...
Do the new math with AT&T having subsidized the new AFFORDABLE 3G...
* you are locked into the new data plan for two-yr's, unlike your buying a BlackBerry or TILT from AT&T... they can activate and de-activate their data plan on a month to month basis.
* last yr's AT&T data plan was $20 per month with 20-min or txt msg'g included...
* the new plan will now be $30 per month ($120 more per yr x 2-yr's = $240) and 200 txt msg'g will now cost you $5 a month in addition... or another $120 over the course of 2-yr contract... coming to a grand total of $360 more per yr for the right to own the new 3G from last year.

[gudin]

Quote

{quote:title=Irish2dabone wrote:}
Dave, according to the AT&T sales rep I spoke with. . . {quote}

The problem with all of this is that the AT&T reps have different stories. None of these people are actually completely versed in the contract yet, and have not clarified everything. Especially if they are sales reps. They speak so they sound authoritative regardless of whether or not they actually know a thing about what they are speaking.

This AT&T rep may be correct, but other AT&T reps tell other people other things:

http://db.tidbits.com/article/9680

That article says you can give away or sell your old iPhone, and the old one will be able to be reactivated with the old plan of $20/month. After all, the purchasers of those phones paid full price, partly on the basis of the lower plan rate.

[Irish2dabone]

according to AT&T sales rep I spk with yesterday... the new data plan will cost you $30 per line (per user). Whereas before 200-txt msg's were included in last yr's $20 per month rate, there will now be a $5 charge per month added to the NEW $30 per month rate of unlimited data.

If I want to add another iPhone user, or two, it would be an additional $30 per month chg for each user. Likewise, $5 per month for each user if they want 200-txt msgs a month, or $35 per month per user

[Irish2dabone]

Understood and agree 100% with you... if a salesperson's lips are moving, they are lying.
With that being said, I called AT&T corporate sales rep two wk's ago and they informed me of the increase to $30 per month from $20 last yr., along with $5 additional cost per month for 200-txt msgs, which was once no additional charge.

Regardless, Steve may be touting a more affordable iPhone for the masses, but he has no control over how AT&T decides to charge their user's and that is HIS OUT. Bottom line is we are paying considerable more than had he left the price at $499 for the 16Gig iPhone 3G... regardless who "jacked" the prices on us. AT&T has neutralized the once affordable iPhone, which means Steve still received his cut. We'll see what happens July 11 as I am sure other's jumping on the bandwagon will report once they activate their phones. BTW, now when you buy your iPhone at the APPLE Store, you must activate it on the spot so AT&T doesn't get fleeced as last yr when people bought it at APPLE and later unlocked it in the privacy of their home.

[WaterCons]

This is actually an old question. Will the 16 GB model only provide more room for music, videos, etc. or will it provide better performance or other advantages?

[Jon Seff]

WaterCons said:

This is actually an old question. Will the 16 GB model only provide more room for music, videos, etc. or will it provide better performance or other advantages?

It's the same phone, just with more memory (unless you consider your choice of black or white an advantage). More storage means more room for music, video, podcasts, photos, and applications.

[brenttempleton]

So, who knows more about the Enterprise Data plan from AT&T, seems to indicated to get Exchange push email, we will need that. But it is hefty $45. If the iPhone will work with MobileME push email, won't the $30 data plan work for exchange too?
I live in an area that doesn't have 3G support, I was prepared to for the $20 data plan that 1st gen iPhone had, but not paying more than twice that to get my Exchange email on the iPhone too!!
At the bottom of the ATT iPhone info page:
iPhone in Enterprise
With support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, iPhone delivers push email, calendar, and contacts. And it uses enterprise-grade networking with Cisco IPSec VPN and WPA2 Enterprise support. So now the most revolutionary mobile device ever is also the ideal phone for business.


http://www.wireless....ials/iPhone.jsp

[Xenu]

There are NO pre-qualifying credit checks in advance of purchase-- unless you want them to check your credit twice: once beforehand and once at time of purchase-- two dings on your credit score, not one. Check with your local AT&T store and find out for yourself. Also, the Apple Store employees I spoke with had no idea how to do a credit check for new AT&T customers.

[TenaciousN8]

[quote name='doglesby']
>

TenaciousN8 said:

> What if I purchased an iPhone the day it came out, but sold it before the new model was officially announced? Am I eligible?
Eligible for what? Owning an iPhone provides no benefit in buying a new one. Assuming you didn't buy a new subsidized phone when your sold your iPhone (did you go back to your old phone?), you are eligible for the same price as everyone else.

I was wondering if I was eligible for the 199 dollar price tag. Sorry I didn't make that more clear.

[doglesby]

I hope I answered your question. Assuming you didn't buy a new subsidized phone when you sold the iPhone, you're in the clear.

[ChristopherM]

To {quote:title=bak464s:}{quote}



I'm in a similar boat as you, except that I have been their customer for 7 years and they're still screwing me over. My phone broke back in January. Knowing the new iPhone was coming out, the one I have been waiting for because I didn't want to be on the EDGE network, I agreed to buy a cheapass refurbed Blackjack to get me by until the iPhone was released. Now I get the news that people who have never been a customer get a discount, people who rarely buy equipment get a discount, but a loyal 7-year customer who upgrades every single time for renewal gets the honor of paying an extra $200. If this is the "new" AT&T, I think it is time to bust up the phone company again because clearly competition or the lack thereof is becoming a problem. In the meantime, I'm making a complete nuisance of myself to them. I despise doing that because I've been in customer service briefly, and I know they get paid shite for putting up with abuse brought on by bad corporate decisions. Sadly, that is often the only way to make the corporation do the right thing.

[doglesby]

Let's recap for a second here. You and bak464s bought cheapo phones a few months back on the assumption that you could simply buy the iPhone 3G because it's not subsidized. Turns out, it is subsidized, but you aren't eligible for the subsidy. Now you have to buy an unsubsidized iPhone--exactly what you were planning to buy several months ago. You guys wouldn't be complaining if everyone were paying $200 more (note that if the phone weren't subsidized, the rates would probably be the same; the increased data plan covers faster speed and the extraordinary load iPhone users put on the data network).

I sympathize with you Christopher. You needed a new phone, what else could you do? (Ask for a refurb?) However, the implicit assumption you and bak464s made was that the iPhone 3G would not be subsidized. Turns out, for you it isn't. Now you can wait (perish the thought!) until you are eligible for the upgrade price, or you can pay the extra $200 (as per your original plan), or you can cancel your contract and pay the early termination fee (which may be less than $200) and buy a subsidized iPhone. Lots of people, at&t customers and others, have to wait for contracts to expire. You aren't special.

Damn this linear time constraint.

[ChristopherM]

No, actually ONLY AT&T customers who buy new equipment regularly have to wait...everyone else saves $200. That is just terrible policy on the part of AT&T. Please punish me for having stayed with you for 7 years and having a broken phone! After all, it makes perfect sense that you would penalize those who spend the most with your company.

Yes, I was planning to purchase an unsubsidized phone. However, the ridiculous rate plans and the shabby treatment of longterm customers have made me reconsider that and my service in general, particularly when everyone I know who has Verizon can get service in a cave regardless of their equipment. I have many other Apple products. I can wait on this one until AT&T begins to behave a bit more like they're run by people.

[doglesby]

Suppose you get your equipment upgrade on Verizon. Three months latter a new Blackberry comes out. Do you think Verizon's going to give you a discount? No.

This is the way all cellphone providers work. You aren't rewarded for being a customer for seven years, you are rewarded for signing a contract. Once you do, the companies know they own you and act accordingly. You want shabby treatment? I had one phone during the over 5 years I was with Sprint. Clearly I had long since repaid any subsidy on my phone. Did I get a reduced bill? No, I got the option to sign a new 2 year contract for 5% off. I received the same service as everyone else; but I was, in effect, paying more.

You bought a new phone. You must have known you were agreeing to a contract extension. Now you want a discount because you've been with them so long? That's real out of pocket money you're asking at&t to put out. The fact that you actually paid for a service provided to you is no reason why at&t needs to donate money to you.

I'm sure the customer service people you've been annoying will be happy to see you move to another cellphone provider that will just as happily stick it to you.