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How much $ to upgrade to 4g if I get a 3g now?

W

willpower101

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 12, 2009
138
0
If I sign a two year contract with at&t now in feb, and the 4g comes out in june or july, what price am I going to be looking at to get the new one?
Is there a special upgrade price?
Will I have to give my 3g back?
Is there a time period before I can do this?
Would I have to terminate my contract?
Other relevant info, etc...

[I meant 3gs, not 3g]
 
willpower101 said:
If I sign a two year contract with at&t now in feb, and the 4g comes out in june or july, what price am I going to be looking at to get the new one?
Is there a special upgrade price?
Will I have to give my 3g back?
Is there a time period before I can do this?
Would I have to terminate my contract?
Other relevant info, etc...
Click to expand...

You would not get a break and would pay full price. Not really a way around it. Breaking your contract would be like paying for the difference in price the new phone would cost.
 
Would I not be eligible for early upgrade pricing?

If you qualify for the best upgrade pricing, you will pay $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model--these are the same prices AT&T will charge new customers signing up for a two-year contract. If you don't fall into either of those categories, you may be eligible for what AT&T calls its "early upgrade pricing": $399 and $499 for the 16GB and 32GB models, respectively.
 
Just sell the iPhone you're getting with the contract at the market price to pay for the early upgrade.
 
willpower101 said:
Would I not be eligible for early upgrade pricing?

If you qualify for the best upgrade pricing, you will pay $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model--these are the same prices AT&T will charge new customers signing up for a two-year contract. If you don't fall into either of those categories, you may be eligible for what AT&T calls its "early upgrade pricing": $399 and $499 for the 16GB and 32GB models, respectively.
Click to expand...

No, and what you bolded was a one time only deal that if it is used this year would require having the phone longer than you will have owned it.
 
You'd be crazy to buy an iPhone know with 4 months or so until 'teh new hotness'
 
The iPhone 3G 16gb goes for about $300 on eBay, so you can guess how much you have to pay for the new one and subtract that $300 from it. If I were you, I would wait, it's March now, so you're only waiting 4 more months.
 
-aggie- said:
if it is used this year would require having the phone longer than you will have owned it.
Click to expand...
Can you link me to the eligibility requirements stating the length of time you have to have the phone to qualify for early upgrade pricing? I tried searching all last night but came up with nothing.

Applejuiced said:
Why would anyone waste their subsidy for a 3G model? If anything go for a
3GS or wait for the new one.
You can get a 16GB 3GS refurb for $49 thru best buy: http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1882030
Click to expand...
Corrected. I meant 3gs. of course I would want to buy the most expensive version now and sell it at market value when the new one comes out. Jailbroken+unlocked 16/32gb phones go for 300-400/500-600 respectively.

And the best buy deal expired three days ago :(

Gix1k said:
You'd be crazy to buy an iPhone know with 4 months or so until 'teh new hotness'
Click to expand...
Due to a regulatory fee increase I was able to get out of my 4 month old contract with sprint and keep my rooted htc hero. But they won't allow me to stay month to month with them and require that I port out. So I'm going to the iphone since I've owned one without service and used it way more than my hero. I had 30 days, so it's now or never.
 
willpower101 said:
Can you link me to the eligibility requirements stating the length of time you have to have the phone to qualify for early upgrade pricing? I tried searching all last night but came up with nothing.


Corrected. I meant 3gs. of course I would want to buy the most expensive version now and sell it at market value when the new one comes out. Jailbroken+unlocked 16/32gb phones go for 300-400/500-600 respectively.

And the best buy deal expired three days ago :(


Due to a regulatory fee increase I was able to get out of my 4 month old contract with sprint and keep my rooted htc hero. But they won't allow me to stay month to month with them and require that I port out. So I'm going to the iphone since I've owned one without service and used it way more than my hero. I had 30 days, so it's now or never.
Click to expand...

If you already own an iPhone, why not just go month to month with that and wait for the 4G? What about the 3GS is so necessary to have when a better phone will come out in ~3 months?
 
beamer8912 said:
If you already own an iPhone, why not just go month to month with that and wait for the 4G? What about the 3GS is so necessary to have when a better phone will come out in ~3 months?
Click to expand...

Both online and in store they refuse to set me up month to month with the iphone. They said they won't activate it without signing a 2 year agreement, even if I own it. If I'm going to do that, then I might as well get the one they're going to give me and sell one. They also refuse to let me buy one outright at the 699 cost and sign up month to month. They said they can't let an iphone leave the store without a contract.
 
willpower101 said:
Both online and in store they refuse to set me up month to month with the iphone. They said they won't activate it without signing a 2 year agreement, even if I own it. If I'm going to do that, then I might as well get the one they're going to give me and sell one. They also refuse to let me buy one outright at the 699 cost and sign up month to month. They said they can't let an iphone leave the store without a contract.
Click to expand...

You can buy an iphone at the Apple store for full price without setting up a new account or signing a contract.
Then go with a cheap slide phone to AT&T and tell them you want a month to month contract. They have noncontract plans. Then after you leave put your simcard in the iphone and call up customer support and if you want have them add the $30 unlimited data to your account.
 
Applejuiced said:
You can buy an iphone at the Apple store for full price without setting up a new account or signing a contract.
Then go with a cheap slide phone to AT&T and tell them you want a month to month contract. They have noncontract plans. Then after you leave put your simcard in the iphone and call up customer support and if you want have them add the $30 unlimited data to your account.
Click to expand...

Tried this in november and december with my iphone. The only thing i was able to do is sign up under a gophone prepaid plan which 100% does not allow an unlimited data package on it. I was furiously trying to throw money at att but all they would let me do is 20$ for 100mb of data, or per k/b charge.

I'm not shooting down your suggestions, I'm just trying to stir up some ideas because I have tried a lot.
 
You would have to pay at least $1500 for the 4G. How do I know? I created it. I have one now, it's pretty awesome!

For those who understand that I'm completely kidding, how about you chill and wait until it actually releases before asking people what the cost would be. You do realize that nobody knows, right?
 
willpower101 said:
Tried this in november and december with my iphone. The only thing i was able to do is sign up under a gophone prepaid plan which 100% does not allow an unlimited data package on it. I was furiously trying to throw money at att but all they would let me do is 20$ for 100mb of data, or per k/b charge.

I'm not shooting down your suggestions, I'm just trying to stir up some ideas because I have tried a lot.
Click to expand...

Im pretty positive they offer noncontract service when you bring in your own device or buy it a full price. Wether you get a rep that would help you and go for it is a different thing. Dont go with an iphone or metion anything about it. Just walk in with your own old flip phone if you got one and have them start month to month service without signing a contract.
 
Yeah I really dont recommend you buy the 3G at all. Ive had the 3g since it came out and since upgrading to 3.0 its become pretty slow. I would say just suck it up and wait for a new one.
 
ARF900 said:
dont recommend you buy the 3G at all. ... I would say just suck it up and wait for a new one.
Click to expand...
Check the thread. I'm going for 3gs 32gb and I HAVE to leave my sprint contract to avoid the 200$ etf and keep my htc hero to sell.
 
ngenerator said:
how about you chill and wait until it actually releases before asking people what the cost would be. You do realize that nobody knows, right?
Click to expand...
If the iphone is some arbitrary price x, given that we know fixed values of early upgrade cost, ETF, activation cost, and the sell price on the second hand market that can easily be guessed to july by extrapolation, we can determine if x will be lower or higher given any combination of factors.

Now the only value I'm really worried about is if the "early upgrade price" which is clearly stated in the iphone faq as if it's policy, IS in fact policy, or not?

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/internet/iphone-faq.jsp?source=IC98K1ipc00jtlFQ

Besides that, there's plenty of good analyst data circulating.

Applejuiced said:
Just walk in with your own old flip phone if you got one and have them start month to month service without signing a contract.
Click to expand...
I will try it this way and post results.
 
Why can't you pick up a 3GS now (the following math involves getting the SD $50 deal and does not include tax) then when the 4G comes out add it as a new line on your account and pay the ETF on the old line...

3GS costs $50
ETF assuming 4 months of service $155 (AT&T shaves $5 off the ETF each month)

Total: $205

Even assuming a decline in price on 3GS models when the 4G comes out you should be able easily cover those costs on eBay. Thus giving you a free iPhone (service not withstanding) for 4 months and give you subsidy price for the 4G when it arrives.

Am I missing something?
 
willpower101 said:
I will try it this way and post results.
Click to expand...

Tell them you dont want to sign a contract now, you will when the new iphone is released in the summer so you want service without a 2 year agreement. This way you can be eligeable in 4-5 months when the new iphone is released and then sing a 2 year contract.
But you know AT&T reps make their money thru commisions by getting people to sign up contracts so they might not be happy to do it but I know its an available option. If possible speak to a Manager.
 
PeteyNice said:
Why can't you pick up a 3GS now (the following math involves getting the SD $50 deal and does not include tax) then when the 4G comes out add it as a new line on your account and pay the ETF on the old line...

3GS costs $50
ETF assuming 4 months of service $155 (AT&T shaves $5 off the ETF each month)

Total: $205

Even assuming a decline in price on 3GS models when the 4G comes out you should be able easily cover those costs on eBay. Thus giving you a free iPhone (service not withstanding) for 4 months and give you subsidy price for the 4G when it arrives.

Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

First off slick deal is over as of 2.27.10 No big deal though.
The only problems i see with this:
Does adding a second line qualify for "new service price" or "upgrade pricing"? That's a difference of 200$
 
I might be mistaken, so take my post with a grain of salt...

BUT, I thought the contract and the upgrade eligibility were two different timers on your account. IE: you might need a 2 year service now, but if you dont take advantage of their upgrade option, you will be able to get the upgrade price on any phone at any time.

Again, just my understanding of it.
 
i did this last year my mother is on my plan so she upgraded her phone and i downgraded mine then had the phone numbers switched so there u have it a iphone without paying all that extra money so u can upgrade now and do what i said when the new one cums out
 
Dr Kevorkian94 said:
i did this last year my mother is on my plan so she upgraded her phone and i downgraded mine then had the phone numbers switched so there u have it a iphone without paying all that extra money so u can upgrade now and do what i said when the new one cums out
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate? I'm not wrapping my head around this for some reason.
 
my mom had the upgrade available so she got the iphone for the regular price u would pay when u have an upgrade then i downgraded witch coast a fee i think its like 20 bucks ( its low im not sure if its 20 $ tho) to her old razor . then i asked the guy to switch the phone numbers so then the iphone would now have my number from the original iphone that was downgraded.
 
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