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dagomike

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 22, 2007
1,451
1
Anyone get an satisfactory answer from AT&T on whether those currently on contract, but not eligible to upgrade can get an iPhone? Apple seems to plainly state current customers can add on a $20 data package to existing plans. If so, does that nullify the existing plan or extend it?
 
Yes, you can. Think about it. Apple is not doing in store activation--basically, everyone in line just goes up and gets their iPhone, pays, and leaves. They don't even know if you are a current customer or not.
 
Yes, you can. Think about it. Apple is not doing in store activation--basically, everyone in line just goes up and gets their iPhone, pays, and leaves. They don't even know if you are a current customer or not.

I understand what's logical, but that plays little part in cell phone contracts. I don't think it would be unreasonable to buy a phone from Apple and discover you can't transfer service to it because of your contract. Certainly you can't just type in a random phone/account number and it will transfer it to you -- there is a check process to ensure the request is valid and within that process may be a contract validation. In other words before people take off work to stand in line, let not just assume.

What I'm asking is as of today, w/ the new plans released, has anyone from AT&T spelled out how this works for existing customers?
 
If you are an existing customer ineligible for an upgrade you pay $500 or $600 with a two-year contract

If you are a existing customer eligible for an upgrade you pay $500 or $600 with a two-year contract

If you are a new customer you pay $500 or $600 with a two-year contract

:rolleyes:
 
The answer to this question has been avoided. With every phone in at&t history a customer must be "upgrade eligible" (at least have your phone for a year, and yes, exceptions to this rule are made) in order to sign a new two year contract and get a new phone at a discounted price. Being that there is no discounted price associated with the iphone, it would seem that ethically and morally at&t should allow current customers whether they are "upgrade eligible" or not to resign for two years, purchase and activate their iphone. Unfortunately I see a small problem with this logic. What if a customer signed up for service two months ago and got the free phone. Then on june 29th purchases the iphone and resigns their contract they just got two phones with a 26 month contract. As a n at&t sales rep I REALLY do not foresee at&t allowing this. I am going to our official training on thursday morning... i will ask this question then and see if I can get an official answer.
 
If you are an existing customer ineligible for an upgrade you pay $500 or $600 with a two-year contract

If you are a existing customer eligible for an upgrade you pay $500 or $600 with a two-year contract

If you are a new customer you pay $500 or $600 with a two-year contract

:rolleyes:

How do you know this?
 
Why doesn't someone just call? Surely, with the release of the plans today, the CSR's will have an answer to this basic question.
 
TWhat if a customer signed up for service two months ago and got the free phone. Then on june 29th purchases the iphone and resigns their contract they just got two phones with a 26 month contract. As a n at&t sales rep I REALLY do not foresee at&t allowing this. I am going to our official training on thursday morning... i will ask this question then and see if I can get an official answer.

That's how I see subsidizing my iPhone purchase. I'll pick up a subsidized phone, sell it on eBay, and then purchase the iPhone.
 
How do you know this?

Because you don't get anything discounted from Apple.

AT&T is not controlling iPhone distrobution. Only the price-gouging of the plans.

iPhone is still Apple's baby. Just corrupted by corporate greed.

The phone will cost Apple's cost. AT&T will NOT give you this phone for free.
 
Because you don't get anything discounted from Apple.

AT&T is not controlling iPhone distrobution. Only the price-gouging of the plans.

iPhone is still Apple's baby. Just corrupted by corporate greed.

What's getting discounted? The only this discounted was the phone that's already under contract.
 
All I'm asking is if anyone got some information of authority on this subject... If you're just making assumptions, please, reserve your smug comments.

NOBODY here has authority on this subject. Call ATT or Apple and find out for yourself. My comment was simply that given the information provided, it just makes sense that the phone will cost the SAME to ANYONE. Damn...:rolleyes:
 
Just got the official word

I called ATT customer service and the woman, who was very nice and sounded well informed assured me that, IT DOES NOT MATTER if you are eligible or not, you can get the iPhone so long as you sign up for a new 2 year contract. Here's the conversation

Me: Even if I just got a new 2 year contract, along with a free subsidized phone, I could still go in on Friday and get an iPhone at 499 or 599, and it would be treated as a new 2 year contract?

ATT: Yes, sir, that is correct.
 
I called ATT customer service and the woman, who was very nice and sounded well informed assured me that, IT DOES NOT MATTER if you are eligible or not, you can get the iPhone so long as you sign up for a new 2 year contract. Here's the conversation

Me: Even if I just got a new 2 year contract, along with a free subsidized phone, I could still go in on Friday and get an iPhone at 499 or 599, and it would be treated as a new 2 year contract?

ATT: Yes, sir, that is correct.

Wow, somebody who knows how to use a phone...the OP should really learn a thing or two from you. ;)
 
I called ATT customer service and the woman, who was very nice and sounded well informed assured me that, IT DOES NOT MATTER if you are eligible or not, you can get the iPhone so long as you sign up for a new 2 year contract. Here's the conversation

Well that makes perfect sense. I am a current AT&T customer and the pricing for phones is the same for new customers or for me who is "eligible" for an upgrade. Oh wait - right, they waive the activation fee for existing customers.

Now, what color iPhone should I get???? ;)
 
NOBODY here has authority on this subject. Call ATT or Apple and find out for yourself. My comment was simply that given the information provided, it just makes sense that the phone will cost the SAME to ANYONE. Damn...:rolleyes:

In other words, you have nothing to contribute...
 
Why doesn't someone just call? Surely, with the release of the plans today, the CSR's will have an answer to this basic question.


I called customer service and you get the phones for that price (500-600) but the rep made reference to paying extra to have the phone if you are not eligible for upgrade; over $100 and the price goes up depending on which phone

Only heard this once so take it for what it's worth. i think there are still other 'terms' that have not been released.:confused:
 
In other words, you have nothing to contribute...

I have plenty to contribute. My ability to use reason and common sense to deduct and reach a reasonable conclusion is my contribution. You're inability to pick up the phone and find out for yourself is simply detracting from any kind of contribution to this forum.

I did. This morning no one knew.

Nice...so what makes you think fanboys on an enthusiast site know any more???
 
moviecutter, why do you have to try and degrade the OP...it's rediculous to try and start an online argument with someone you don't even know.

settle for the fact that he asked a question, you didn't have the answer he was looking for, but somebody else helped him out

this is rediculous, these forums are meant so people can learn from each other, not S**t talk each other like they're playing some street ball


Thanks to the poster who called and got the info....it's music to my ears (current att customer, 8 months left on contract)
 
I just talked to an in store ATT rep and also an ATT rep over the phone.

ATT store rep:

THE ONLY 2 WAYS TO GET IPHONE ARE:

be a brand new ATT customer
be eligible to upgrade your current phone if you are an exisiting ATT customer

and a third illogical way: buy a second line even though you dont need it.


I asked him in all differnet ways that if I was a customer of ATT but only had 1 year with them that obviously I am not eligible for upgraded but that the iphone is not discounted so why should it matter, he responded that it actually is discounted and there are currrently NO RETAIL sales, and if there were it would be 600 for the 4gb one and 700 for the 8gb one.

He told me that there was no way around this and that even if i bought it on the APPLE store, that all they do is send it to new Phone activation to ATT so if I did that I would get a new number(line) or be a BRAND NEW ATT customer.

I told him it was not fair to us customers of less than 2 years with ATT and he stated that there was no options.


ATT REP on phone said:

We dont have any information on the restrictions but if an ATT store rep told you than its likely true that the only way for existing customers to get Iphone is to be ELIGIBLE for upgrade or get a second line.


Any other thoughts?
 
moviecutter, why do you have to try and degrade the OP...it's rediculous to try and start an online argument with someone you don't even know.

It's not "ridiculous" (I think that's how you meant to spell it) to point out that it would take a simple phone call to find out the answer. When the OP failed to mention that they already tried to call and find out, then came HERE for more authority...it seems silly. I didn't start an argument. I simply stated that the post referring to the phone being the same price for everyone made sense given the available information. Besides, it's fun getting the newbies all up in a ruckus.
 
moviecutter, why do you have to try and degrade the OP...it's rediculous to try and start an online argument with someone you don't even know.

settle for the fact that he asked a question, you didn't have the answer he was looking for, but somebody else helped him out

this is rediculous, these forums are meant so people can learn from each other, not S**t talk each other like they're playing some street ball


Thanks to the poster who called and got the info....it's music to my ears (current att customer, 8 months left on contract)

If a thread search is done, people will find many who have called AT&T and received the same answer I did almost 2 weeks ago: 1 price. New/old customer, eligible for "upgrade" or not. 2 year contract supersedes current contract - this means it starts the day you activate it. Clock resets, doesn't add time. This fact has been confirmed in the press release(s) today.
 
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