iPhone upgrade program question

[demisheep]

My wife and I are going to sign up for the iPhone upgrade program at the launch of the iPhone 7. Does anyone know how the preorder process will work with the iPhone 7 launch? Was the iPhone 6s launch preorders combined with the iPhone upgrade program done online?

 

[Alexrat1996]

I have same question

 

[nrvna76]

For 6S your were not able to preorder using the program. I preordered at full price and then switched when I picked it up. Wasn't perfect but I expect them to have it figured out this year.

 

[demisheep]

To clarify - I forgot, the program started with the 6s (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and it required you to sign up in person BUT a few months later, they started signups online. BUT will they allow us to sign up for the iPhone 7 online? I sure hope so.
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For 6S your were not able to preorder using the program. I preordered at full price and then switched when I picked it up. Wasn't perfect but I expect them to have it figured out this year.

Can you give me some more details? You actually preordered a phone as usual, paying full price, then were able to switch to a monthly payment with the program? Like they credited your first charge?

 

[nrvna76]

Can you give me some more details? You actually preordered a phone as usual, paying full price, then were able to switch to a monthly payment with the program? Like they credited your first charge?[/QUOTE]

Yes, exactly that. The person didn't quite know how to handle it but got some help and it went fine. For this reason I think it'll be setup as a preorder option.

 

[Mlrollin91]

For 6S your were not able to preorder using the program. I preordered at full price and then switched when I picked it up. Wasn't perfect but I expect them to have it figured out this year.

For the 6s iPhone upgrade program you went online and reserved a phone and a time that you would like to go into the store and pick it up. I was in and out in under 20 minutes. You didn't have to buy it full price and deal with in store returning and repurchasing.

 

[nrvna76]

For the 6s iPhone upgrade program you went online and reserved a phone and a time that you would like to go into the store and pick it up. I was in and out in under 20 minutes. You didn't have to buy it full price and deal with in store returning and repurchasing.

They did not have this option right away. It took a few days.

 

[Mlrollin91]

They did not have this option right away. It took a few days.

Not true. I did it on 9/12 at midnight as soon as the website launched for preorders.

https://www.macrumors.com/2015/09/12/iphone-6s-now-available-for-pre-order/

Article is from 12:08am Pacific. 7 minutes after pre-order launch and it states customers can make reservations for iPhone upgrade program.

 

[nrvna76]

Not true. I did it on 9/12 at midnight as soon as the website launched for preorders.

https://www.macrumors.com/2015/09/12/iphone-6s-now-available-for-pre-order/

Article is from 12:08am Pacific. 7 minutes after pre-order launch and it states customers can make reservations for iPhone upgrade program.

Have zero interest in arguing with you. Making a reservation did not necessarily hold an iPhone for you. It was not a preorder. Should be different this time anyway.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Have zero interest in arguing with you. Making a reservation did not necessarily hold an iPhone for you. It was not a preorder. Should be different this time anyway.

Making the reservation did indeed hold the phone. The email sent out with the confirmation gave a 15 minute window to arrive otherwise your phone would be released. You clearly didn't do this method as I did, so you wouldn't know.

 

[lordofthereef]

Making the reservation did indeed hold the phone. The email sent out with the confirmation gave a 15 minute window to arrive otherwise your phone would be released. You clearly didn't do this method as I did, so you wouldn't know.

I can confirm this. Their phones were held for the full business day and out back into inventory ad midnight. They were then sellable the following business day.

 

[aristobrat]

I can also confirm that. Both my roommate and I made the reservation online 3 AM ET the morning they went on sale and picked them up on launch day at the reservation time.

The store we picked them up set aside all of the reserved phones and sold the rest to people in the non-reservation line.

 

[nrvna76]

I did not order on launch day. I ordered after they had stock. Not sure why I did not have this option though.

 

[ricktat]

For 6S your were not able to preorder using the program. I preordered at full price and then switched when I picked it up. Wasn't perfect but I expect them to have it figured out this year.

Did they allow you to pre-order an unlocked phone at full price? Or did you have to tie it to a carrier number?

I forget how it worked.

 

[DMVillain]

Making the reservation did indeed hold the phone. The email sent out with the confirmation gave a 15 minute window to arrive otherwise your phone would be released. You clearly didn't do this method as I did, so you wouldn't know.

This is what i did. iPhone Upgrade Program, for some reason, wasn't available at 3am EST when reservations went live, so I reserved a full price 6s Plus for in store pick up, hoping to switch to IUP. This path worked for many people. I, however, tried another preorder later that day, around noon. IUP was available at that point and I went with that. As mentioned, I (intentionally) missed the first window I reserved and that phone was released. I'd be surprised if Apple doesn't fix this this year, but you should have the full price option if not.

See the attachments. One confirmation for full price in-store pickup, one for IUP.

 

[Cutiekitty92]

I'd love to know if this is ever coming to the UK

 

[nrvna76]

Did they allow you to pre-order an unlocked phone at full price? Or did you have to tie it to a carrier number?

I forget how it worked.

Honestly, I forget too. I thought the IUP was supposed to be an unlocked phone.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Honestly, I forget too. I thought the IUP was supposed to be an unlocked phone.

iPhone upgrade program is an unlocked phone, but it is still a carrier phone. Meaning even though you are paying Apple, they contact the carrier to upgrade the phone/number. It is not the unlocked sim free version. That version typically doesn't become available until 2-3 months until after the iPhone launch.

 

[DMVillain]

iPhone upgrade program is an unlocked phone, but it is still a carrier phone. Meaning even though you are paying Apple, they contact the carrier to upgrade the phone/number. It is not the unlocked sim free version. That version typically doesn't become available until 2-3 months until after the iPhone launch.

How is it a carrier phone?Coonsidering that the phone isn't tied to the carrier at all (by plan, contract, or firmware lock) doesn't that make it fully unlocked?

 

[Mlrollin91]

How is it a carrier phone?Coonsidering that the phone isn't tied to the carrier at all (by plan, contract, or firmware lock) doesn't that make it fully unlocked?

It is a carrier phone. In order to sign up for the IUP you must give them your carrier and carrier information. When you go sign up for the IUP you receive an iPhone with the sim card of the carrier you have. Unlike the truly unlocked version which is sim free.

The device is unlocked, and can be used on any network you choose, but you are still required to get the device with your carrier's sim preinstalled.

 

[GP-SE]

iPhone upgrade program is an unlocked phone, but it is still a carrier phone. Meaning even though you are paying Apple, they contact the carrier to upgrade the phone/number. It is not the unlocked sim free version. That version typically doesn't become available until 2-3 months until after the iPhone launch.

I'm in Canada, and I got my unlocked, sim free version on launch day.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I'm in Canada, and I got my unlocked, sim free version on launch day.

In the United States it launches 2-3 months after the release of the iPhone.

The iPhone 6 became available sim-free 3.5 months after launch. The 6s became available sim-free 1 month after launch.

 

[sjsharks13]

Question: if we already are on the iPhone upgrade program do we need to do another credit check when we get the 7? Or is it simply just hand in my 6s and get the 7?

 

[lordofthereef]

In the United States it launches 2-3 months after the release of the iPhone.

The iPhone 6 became available sim-free 3.5 months after launch. The 6s became available sim-free 1 month after launch.

Iirc this last launch we had sim free day one.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Iirc this last launch we had sim free day one.

https://www.macrumors.com/2015/10/08/sim-free-phone-6s-available/
About 2 weeks after original launch day. I was wrong on my date, but still not available at launch.