AT&T wireless contract question

[swbsam]

This isn't really a gadget/tech question and more related to the contract

Here's the scenario:

1. My personal contract is for 2 iphones [3g] (one for my dad, who's bill I pay and one for my wife) and one old school LG basic phone (for my mom), in a family plan
2. My work upgraded my blackberry to an iphone EDGE as a thank you gift over a year ago
3. I really would like 3G (or 3gS.. Even though I think it's only marginally better than the 3G) and am trying to figure out an angle where I can do so for less than $300

What options do I have?

Can I:

1. Upgrade my corporate phone while paying any fees. My i.t. department doesn't care (I checked with them), but they told me any fees for the upgrade would be between me and AT&T

or

2. Upgrade my mom's phone to an iPhone and switch sim cards?

or

3. Add a line to my account,swap sims then downgrade to the minimum family plan extra line ($9 vs $9 plus data plan)

 

[mcvickj]

1. I doubt that AT&T is going to let you modify a phone under a corporate account unless you are listed as an authorized admin of the account.

2. Seems silly to upgrade your mom to an iPhone if she is using an old school LG basic and is happy with it. I'm assuming she would never really use an iPhone to its full potential.

3. If you add a new line to your account wouldn't it be tied to a contract & a specific plan? Does AT&T allow you to modify the plan of the phone while it is under contract?

Are the sims compatible between a iPhone 3G / 3GS?

I would think option 1 is going to be the best / cheapest route if you can get an authorized admin of the account to help you make the switch.

 

[sourceninja]

I added my wife to my plan. She got the new 3GS. We then swapped sim cards. So now she has my iphone 3G and I have a 3GS. Everything works just fine.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Wrong forum - http://forums.anandtech.com/ca...tid=66&flcache=1515767

 

[swbsam]

Firstly, I'm not trying to be smug and contradict you, I really do appreciate the input and am just clarifying my original post

Originally posted by: mcvickj
1. I doubt that AT&T is going to let you modify a phone under a corporate account unless you are listed as an authorized admin of the account.

Indeed, I called at&t business and they said I'd need the last 4 of my company's tax-ID, which they'd supply if I asked (and I wouldn't try to be tricky, I would notify the correct parties here at work and pay all fees).

2. Seems silly to upgrade your mom to an iPhone if she is using an old school LG basic and is happy with it. I'm assuming she would never really use an iPhone to its full potential.

I meant that I would "upgrade" her phone in that I'd take the new iPhone, swap sims and put it in the LG (or give her my iphone edge if she wanted it, but you're right - she wouldn't use it)

3. If you add a new line to your account wouldn't it be tied to a contract & a specific plan? Does AT&T allow you to modify the plan of the phone while it is under contract?

I'm not sure, anyone know? I could ask AT&T but I'm not sure if they'd be cool with my sim swapping plan

Are the sims compatible between a iPhone 3G / 3GS?

I'm not sure - a co-worker upgraded and the shop took care of all the programming/swapping, etc.

I would think option 1 is going to be the best / cheapest route if you can get an authorized admin of the account to help you make the switch.

I think you may be right there - AT&T business said it would only be $99 + $18 + a contract extension. My only pause would be the contract extension, since I would hate for my CFO to notice that down the line. My I.T. department is totally ok with it, but I wouldn't like to face the wrath of my CFO.

 

[tfinch2]

That all new copy/paste functionality sure is enticing.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
That all new copy/paste functionality sure is enticing.

hah.

I have copy/paste on my 1st gen after the 3.0 upgrade. I'm not really a fanboy, but I do like the phone quite a bit. The only problem is that edge is absurdly slow.

edit: but I agree that the new ad campaign heralding cut and paste as a cutting edge feature is absolutely absurd and makes me think that the 3GS is a minor upgrade, a bump in the road for apple (and not worth upgrading to). In fact, it makes me kinda angry that tools out there consider upgrading from 3G to 3Gs based on a feature that's actually "free" if they just upgrade their firmware, and consider the advertisement borderline misleading

 

[sourceninja]

I guess nobody read my post. I have an iphone 3g. My wife had Verizon.

I put my wife on my plan. She got a new iphone 3GS. We swapped sims and everything is working 100%. The att store even did the swap for us.

I now have a 3GS and she has my 3G.

So YES sim swapping works just fine.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
I guess nobody read my post. I have an iphone 3g. My wife had Verizon.

I put my wife on my plan. She got a new iphone 3GS. We swapped sims and everything is working 100%. The att store even did the swap for us.

I now have a 3GS and she has my 3G.

So YES sim swapping works just fine.

Awesome - thanks for the info. Sim swapping it is!