Question about Cingular/ATT

[TheWart]

Hey all,

I am a current Cingular customer, and I would like to get the new iphone. I talked to an ATT person today and they said my contract says I am eligible for an upgrade in October of this year...and I was like bummer, ok.

Anyway, it just dawned on me (and this might be completely wrong, but their call center is closed tonight and won't be open until monday), but if I wait until October, does that mean I can get the iPhone for the $199/299 price **without** extending my contract another two years? More importantly, if that is the case, can I just tell them hey, give me the discounted price and start me on a new 2 year contract today?

Sorry if this is confusing, it just kind of came to me....

 

[TheWart]

Just wanted to post the answer for those that the same question...I went to an ATT store and the guy said that while my idea works for 'normal' phones, it does not apply to the iPhone, and one HAS to be up for equipment upgrade to get the discounted price, and you start a new 2 year contract regardless....oh well....

 

[cmdrdredd]

Yeah the iPhone doesn't count for the regular upgrade. You have to basically be done with your contract and start a new one with the iPhone data plan. otherwise the phone is $399 for the 8Gig one. For other phones they have upgrade periods for the phone you own. I believe it's about a year since you purchased it. You can qualify for what they call an "exceptional upgrade" where you just transfer your current service to a new phone and don't have to sign a new contract since you are already under contract. You can add and remove services whenever you want though (data, add extra minutes, texting etc). You do get a discount on the new phone by signing up for another 2 year extension. With the iPhone it is basically for new subscribers only price wise.

the way an Apple employee explained it to me was this. The phone is really $399/$499 and AT&T subsidizes the price by $200 for each one sold WITH a new 2 year service agreement with the $30 iPod data plan that does not include text. So bascally you pay $199, sign up for the plan you want + data and sign a contract for 2 years. Likely they'll get you for $100+ per month for 24 months that's at least $2400 for them. Then they pay Apple $200 for each phone sold with a contract. He said that if you just transfer service and don't sign up for a new contract, you pay $200 over the advertised price.

 

[TheWart]

Yea, that sounds about right. When I am "eligible" in October, it will have been ~16 months since I got my last phone.