I am a cingular customer and have been so for a while. So most people are trying to get on teh cingular bandwagon soon to get an iphone. DON't do it. Here's why. I called up to see about waiting lists and get more info. Even though i ahve a contract and a line i was told you HAVE to open a whole new line to get an iphone even if you are a current subscriber and, they will not sell it without a new contract. This phone is really just to get new subscribers, they don't care about their current base. I'm over it.
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MORE Stupid iphone policies
- Thread starter mashinhead
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I say everyone relax until we have some kind of official word. Cingular/AT&T/Apple Employees know absolutely nothing as of yet...aside from what they are told to relay onto customers...most of what they say is just speculation.
no get an iphone if you want, do not prematurely subscribe to cingular, do it when the iphone launches
It's the same policy as upgrading from any phone. When you use your upgrade discount, it's based on extending your contract for another 2 years. It's still unclear whether there will be a discount when you "upgrade", but the bottom line is you have to signup to a new contract, whether you are new or existing customer.
Not sure what they mean "new line" - they have to give you your same phone number. "New" probably means the plan will be new/current.
I'll run this by my friend who works at an Apple Store and see if he has any info [that he can give out publicly]. But from what we've been talking about so far, he hasn't given any indication the process would be different from what I've outlined here.
Not sure what they mean "new line" - they have to give you your same phone number. "New" probably means the plan will be new/current.
I'll run this by my friend who works at an Apple Store and see if he has any info [that he can give out publicly]. But from what we've been talking about so far, he hasn't given any indication the process would be different from what I've outlined here.
thats not what i was told, i was ready to just extend my contract and specifically asked that. I was told you have to open a whole new line if you want the iphone. You can not buy it without a contract, and you can not extend your contract. I called one of the stores in my area and i will call a few more and post.
1) Don't trust anything an AT&T employee tells you. They haven't even been trained on the iphone policies yet.
2) If true, probably only applies to AT&T store sales. Do you really see Apple saying no, you can't buy one in an Apple Store if you have an existing account?
3) You can always add a new line if you have a family plan for $10 per month. Then just swap the sim cards and you're set. Of course, $10 per month isn't chump change, but this could be worth it if there's some kind of calling plan discount as part of the package.
4) If AT&T and Apple do this, they'll piss off every existing AT&T customer ... seems like the worst possible customer service idea for both companies. I just don't see it happening.
My recollection of my past upgrades (quite a few now) is they never extend your contract (unless you consider going to the the same plan as an extension). It's always whatever their new available plans are. Sometimes, they can give you the same plan, but again, it's not an extension per se.
I'll be interested to see what the other dealers say, though.
my suggestion is that if you called a local store last time then try calling the cingular hotline and talk to a service rep.
makes sense...
I think that it makes sense the a "whole new contract" is created when purchasing the iPhone. I am sure that the deal between Apple and AT&T has some kind of revenue sharing cnsidering that the iPhone is not being subsidized. Therefore, AT&T would have to keep all of the iPhone accounts separate from the "normal" AT&T accounts.
Implementation-wise, I would assume that if you wanted to upgrade from your phone to an iPhone while you are still under contract, then AT&T would replace your current contract with a new iPhone contract. This allows AT&T to easily track the financials, and you are still a customer locked into the 2-year iPhone contract.
Thoughts?
Hickman
I think that it makes sense the a "whole new contract" is created when purchasing the iPhone. I am sure that the deal between Apple and AT&T has some kind of revenue sharing cnsidering that the iPhone is not being subsidized. Therefore, AT&T would have to keep all of the iPhone accounts separate from the "normal" AT&T accounts.
Implementation-wise, I would assume that if you wanted to upgrade from your phone to an iPhone while you are still under contract, then AT&T would replace your current contract with a new iPhone contract. This allows AT&T to easily track the financials, and you are still a customer locked into the 2-year iPhone contract.
Thoughts?
Hickman
NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING YET!!! If anyone tells you how the iPhone is going to work, contract-wise...THEY...ARE...LYING!!! NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING. Wait for it to come out. It makes no sense for AT&T to refuse to sell the hottest product on the market to existing customers. It's stupid, and ridiculous. Wait for it all to pan out...again...NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING...if they claim to, they're LYING!
I agree completely. They'll most likely make you switch to an iphone plan so apple can get some of the revenue. You have new 2 year conract. And your old contract will most likely just be changed over free of charge.
If they made all exsisting customers switch plans and pay to get out of them that would be rediculous and horrible marketing. There are PLENTY of exsisting AT&T customers who want to get their hands on the iphone, and they'd be pissed if they had to pay 500-600 bucks for a phone and then however much it cost to get out of their exsisting contract.
well they do, the catch is this, you have to be 'eligible' for an upgrade, which from what i've gathered, not under contract but on a month to month basis. althought i've gotten two response on who is eligible for an upgrade. i was told that either after half the contract is up or the whole contract is up.