[LarryMcJ]

Maybe I'm in a unique situation, but I can't find an answer for my question. I moved to AT&T in February and purchased an 8GB iPhone for $399. Last month I just got tired of using the iPhone on the slow 3G network so sold it and started using an old Cingular RAZR someone gave me. Now I obviously want to go back to the iPhone 3G but don't know if I can for the lower pricing.
Apple clearly states that "anyone who signed up with an iPhone plan prior to July 11, 2008 will be able to purchase the iPhone 3G for $199/299. But AT&T customer support told me they were not sure...but they thought I'd have to wait till the end of my 2-yr contract to get the iPhone 3G for the lower pricing.
This makes no sense as I signed up on an iPhone plan and switched to a phone that was not a subsidized phone. Yes, my original contract does bind me to the 2yrs, and I'm not worried about that, or the fact I'll have to begin another 2yr contract if I buy the iPhone 3G. But according to what Apple is saying, I should be eligible for the iPhone 3g for $199/299. Any thoughts or clarifications?
Larry

[snagitseven]

I will be a new subscriber on AT&T. I want to buy 1 iPhone and one basic standard second phone (no data service needed on it). I'm assuming the $129 family plan price is for 2 iPhones w/700 shared minutes. What would it cost for a 700 minute plan with 1 iPhone w/data and 1 standard phone w/no data? $89.95 $10? ($5 if 200 message plan on iPhone only?)

[bmccarty]

So what's up with existing pre-paid customers of ATT? From what I can tell:

1) I cannot get a pre-paid plan on the new iPhone.
2) As an "existing customer" I try to login to see if I qualify for the lower price, I get redirected to the pre-paid site login page. Does that mean I'm not qualified?? Or I'm not recognized as an existing customer?
3) When I check to see if I can port my existing phone number to a new plan it says that I cannot. I had already heard that months ago when I checked to to getting a standard plan.
4) I assume that I cannot transfer any balance from my current pre-paid plan to a new standard plan.

So my question is, will ATT consider me a new customer w/ the lower cost phone or does it consider me an existing customer even though I can't port my phone number, I cannot log into their wireless site and I can't transfer my balance?

I would expect that if I'm willing to lose my phone number and my balance, the least ATT could do is let me qualify for the new customer discount on the phone.

Does anyone know what their plan is?

[snagitseven]

Can't find this anywhere.....

If you buy one iPhone (new sub w/AT&T) and want 2nd basic standard phone for voice only (no data) what would a family plan cost (700 min)? The $129 Family plan must be for TWO iPhones. Is the $10 2nd phone charge applicable here?

[nuckelhed]

First of all, when you agree to and sign the two year contract, you are agreeing that you will not cancel your AT&T service before the end of the contract. If you do, you agree to pay and early termination fee (ETF). As I understand it, being a Tilt owner and having the current $30 data plan, you are not agreeing to keep the data plan coverage for two years; you are simply agreeing not to cancel your AT&T service for two years.

Secondly, the data plan covers things such as surfing the internet, using the App Store, receiving Yahoo! e-mail, accessing iTunes, and so on. If you do not do these things there is no need for a data plan, but guess what...who is going to get an iPhone and not use those features. NOBODY So, the unlimited data plan is to keep customers from paying thousands in monthly service fees because of data usage.

Chances are, if you're an existing AT&T customer and you have an unlimited data plan, you are paying the current $30 monthly fee. Unless you have the old iPhone. In my area, the Verizon service plans are a low as $79.99 per month, which includes 450 anytime minutes, unlimited data, and most regular wireless features. (Caller ID, 3-Way Calling Etc...) The AT&T plan being offered with the iPhone is about $39.99 for voice, $30.00 for unlimited data, and $5 for 200 text messages. Right about $75 a month. I think the plans offered by AT&T are competitive with other wireless carriers in the US.

One last thing, all wireless carriers lock their phones to their network.

[daddylong]

"Can I add an iPhone 3G to an existing FamilyTalk plan?
Heck yeah, you can."
Yes but the real question is how much does it cost. If you have a FamilyTalk plan with two standard low end no-data-features cell phones and add one iPhone 3G to it, what does AT&T charge? The only published rates for 3 phones are for the FamilyTalk plan with 3 non-iPhone phones, or the FamilyTalk plan with 3 iPhones.

[yourashero]

the reason why you dont keep your iphone first gen. is because you bought it in a non 3G area, which also doesnt have apple or corporate ATT stores to check it out, but you enjoy technology in your small town so you bought the first gen iphone not knowing that the speaker isnt loud enough (which has been improved on) and the battery will be even better since youre not using the 3G. Its really terrible that you you get charged so much more and still dont get text messages. boo apple.

[yourashero]

Why not buy the new iphone. The speaker on the old iphone is terrible and in my NON 3G area i couldnt really test one out.. I just assumed that an iphone which is based off an ipod would have loud speakers. But now that they have improved on it. I'd like to sell my old one for a new one. Also i could use the extra battery life that i wont be using on 3G. Lets go AT&T and apple. $20 for new iphone with no 3G. How bout it?

[yourashero]

Why not buy the new iphone. The speaker on the old iphone is terrible and in my NON 3G area i couldnt really test one out.. I just assumed that an iphone which is based off an ipod would have loud speakers. But now that they have improved on it. I'd like to sell my old one for a new one. Also i could use the extra battery life that i wont be using on 3G. Lets go AT&T and apple. $20 for new iphone with no 3G. How bout it?

[MacHero]

I found out some interesting things today from AT&T.
It seems that the $30 month data charge is for Unlimited Data Access for Personal Accounts. However, I am a user who wants to upgrade my existing iPhone to the new iPhone 3G and I also want to leverage my new purchase with my companies corporate e-mail system (Exchange Activesync).
I found out that my $30.00 month data charge does NOT COVER Activesync connections. That is considered to be a ENTERPRISE DATA PLAN and it is... get ready... $45.00/month.
So either I pay the extra $25.00/month fee to get the new 3G phone with OWA support, or $10.00 extra per month for the 3G phone with no OWA support, or I stick with my existing iPhone, firmware update it to 2.0 and get my OWA support and unlimited data at my existing $0.00 extra than I am already paying.
What is up with AT&T gouging the corporate e-mail access. I think that is downright just wrong and quite contrary to what we have all been told.
Don't believe me?
http://www.wireless....one3G/index.jsp
click on RATE PLANS link in middle of screen and read for yourself - that is why I called AT&T to figure out... WHY? and WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE?
I then went on to ask if I purchased the $30.00 Unlimited Data Access, how would AT&T know I was using it for ActiveSync, and he said that there is a special team of techs who will be filtering the data and 'auto-upgrading' those people who use it for OWA access to the $45.00 plan?
That sounds a bit big-brotherish to me! I hope my information was from a very bad source! but I don't think it was and I think we are all going to be in for a shock coming July 11, 2008.
Think I may keep my iPhone and just upgrade the firmware to 2.0!
Bill "MacGod" Teeple
San Jose, CA

[nuckelhed]

If you have an existing family plan...You can add the new iPhone to your current plan, you will have to subscribe to the $30 or $45 data plan and sign a two year contract. (agreeing that you will not cancel your AT&T service for two years) You continue to pay your regular monthly service fee for your voice plan but add the cost of the data plan for the iPhone to utilize, and any text message plans if you don't have one already. The other phones on the account remain "untouched". If you are only upgrading an existing phone on a family plan, you are only upgrading that device...not the plan or any shared family features. Of course, I'm not an AT&T spokesperson or anything, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. :-)

[nuckelhed]

MacHero,

If you need to access OWA...all you need to do is enter the web address into the Safari address bar. OWA stands for Outlook Web Access, its just a web page. You will have to pay the $45 dollars a month if you plan to take advantage of push services...this is where your corporate Exchange server pushes your e-mail, calendar, and contacts out to your phone at designated intervals set by your Systems Administrator. Very convinient but not necessary if you have OWA access.

[MacHero]

Nuckelhed,

Yes, I do know what OWA stands for (been IT Sr. Engineer for 15 years). Have you actually used Outlook Web Access from Safari on the current 1st Gen iPhone? It is horribly slow and hard to see, and answer and be productive. You cannot say that your functionality with OWA through Safari would be 'better' than Push Technology? It would be horribly slow and time consuming and very small on the iPhone.

You missed the point of my entire post - I did say 'Activesync' which implies the PUSH technology inherent in a Exchange 2003 SP2 or 2007 server.

The point of the 2.0 firmware upgrade is to give us the Exchange access - no one said anything during WWDC or MacWorld Expo about the Exchange (PUSH TECHNOLOGY) being $15.00 more than.

With the $30.00 plan you will get the POP3/IMAP connectors - and syncing to .ME (if you subscribe).

But if you want to connect to the Exchange Server at your work, you will have to pay an extra $15.00 - for what? That is my point - and if you have the $30.00/month data plan and 'attempt' to connect to Activesync, AT&T will auto-bump you to the next data plan.

That is my point - but thanks for the 'education'.
Bill

[famousas]

looks like you can buy at apple and walk out.

Ryan: ok, now do i have to go to an att store or will places like best buy have it
Ryan: you still there
Kristin: Only an AT&T or Apple store.
Kristin: Not online and no third party stores
Ryan: at apple how will i activate it in store, will att be there?
Kristin: You would have to bring it to an AT&T store to activate it.
Ryan: so i can buy at apple and bring it to att to activate?
Kristin: Correct.
Ryan: thank you
Kristin: Thank you for choosing AT&T. Have a good night
The chat session has been closed by your AT&T sales representative.