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The Official word for those under AT&T Contract

gr8tfly said:
Yes. There are many people that know for sure. The question has been asked of AT&T. They explicitly said the new contract starts when you activate it. It does not add 2 more years to your current contract. Call them yourself and see. Having said that, I will agree nothing's 100% until it happens. But, I have no worries whatsoever about this being wrong. If I did, I wouldn't by typing this - I would be on the phone tracking down the several [AT&T] specialists who verified this info.
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I did call. I got explicitly told all sorts of things, including I would need to pay to break my contract and also it would extend my contract 2 more years. Others have posted similar reports in this same thread. By your own admission, you're not calling, so you don't know what ATT is saying.

Personally, I don't want to waste my time blissfully waiting in line Friday to find out what I assumed isn't true. It seems what we all hope is true, which is great, but there is still mixed messages coming out of ATT, which keeps this issue from go away.
 
SIM card?

Does anyone know what the scoop is with the SIM for current AT&T customers? Do we move ours to the iPhone? Does the iPhone even have a user swappable SIM card? If this has been discussed to death, my apologies, but how about a link? :)
 
EricNau said:
So I could sign up for 2 years with AT&T today, get a free phone in the process, and then sign up for the iPhone on Friday, and after everything I will have only added 3 days onto my original contract?

...Sounds like a great way to get a free backup phone.
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I've seen some others come up with that idea, but I think there's a minimum contract time required (like 30day). On the other hand, there's usually a return policy which probably would be as long as 30days.

I'm absolutely certain I don't have a clue on how that would work. :)
But, it might.....
 
Squonk said:
Does anyone know what the scoop is with the SIM for current AT&T customers? Do we move ours to the iPhone? Does the iPhone even have a user swappable SIM card? If this has been discussed to death, my apologies, but how about a link? :)
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It's user swappable. Tray in top of phone.

I didn't get a definitive answer from AT&T, but she thought if it was a current version, it should work. There probably isn't much reason to use the old one, unless you need to xfer phone numbers. If you already have the phone synced, I wouldn't worry about it - just use the new SIM.
 

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EricNau said:
So I could sign up for 2 years with AT&T today, get a free phone in the process, and then sign up for the iPhone on Friday, and after everything I will have only added 3 days onto my original contract?

...Sounds like a great way to get a free backup phone.
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I bet that AT&T has been quiet on the eligibility issue to keep this at a minimum. If they advertised that anyone could do what you mentioned they'd take a financial beating.
 
kuyu said:
I bet that AT&T has been quiet on the eligibility issue to keep this at a minimum. If they advertised that anyone could do what you mentioned they'd take a financial beating.
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I'll be doing this right in the store on Friday and then throwing the spare phone on eBay. Kinda like a % off coupon for the iPhone... :p
 
gr8tfly said:
It's user swappable. Tray in top of phone.

I didn't get a definitive answer from AT&T, but she though if it was a current version, it should work. There probably isn't much reason to use the old one, unless you need to xfer phone numbers. If you already have the phone synced, I wouldn't worry about it - just use the new SIM.
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Thanks! You sure are swell. I mean GR8! :D
 
Aloha everyone,

Take this for what you will. I called up the Cingular store in the Ala Moana shipping center to ask a few iPhone-related questions. Here is what I gleaned:

- the shopping store kiosk (next to Sears) is an "AT&T branded" store
- my current family share plan will NOT have to be extended by 6 months (we just switch to Cingular last December)
- I simply have to purchase the iPhone and add the data plan

To summarize, even though my wife and I signed up with Cingular last December (meaning that we've already been customers for 6 months, so I stil have 1.5 years left on my current contract), I need only purchase the iPhone, select one of the data plans for existing customers, then once it's activated, I'm good to go. My monthly cell phone bill will only increase $20/month. That's great news for me, and my wife is not displeased with the slight increase. Of course, I may have received incorrect information, but I verified and re-verified the information given to me while on the phone, so I think it's pretty much valid.

:apple:HawaiiMacAddict

P.S. I also contacted the Ala Moana Apple store, and they verified that the iPhone is ONLY 4GB or 8GB. It still would be a very very welcome surprise if we were able to add a 0 (zero) behind that capacity! :D
 
gr8tfly said:
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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this is correct. i went to my att store today and asked but the rep there didnt know anything. i went online to the att wireless tech support live chat and asked. the live tech told me that i would be able to get the iphone and sign a 2 year contract with my current plan (which isnt due for an upgrade until october).
 
I swung by an ATT store while doing some running around. The rep said point blank they know nothing. They're getting training Wednesday that will presumably fill in many details.
 
I'm not going to read the entire thread to see if anything was decided but my local AT&T store said even if you were in a contract, you'd be able to get the iPhone and it would just overwrite your current contract. Because of this, I made my line w/ a $10 phone (to keep as a backup) and then should have no problems on Friday.
 
Fuel to the fire

I e-mailed At&T yesterday with this same question(since I am still in contract and not eligible for an upgrade until 1/08) and after a few back and forths got this e-mail:

Dear Mr. slipperypete,

Thank you for your reply to AT&T with questions about upgrading to the
iPhone on your wireless phone number XXX XXX XXXX. I do apologize for
any inconvenience or confusion you may have experienced in this regard
and am happy to help.

I understand you have been given slightly different information
concerning who can buy the iPhone. I have discussed this with
management to get some clarification.

Please understand that we do have very limited information on the phone
due to the privacy agreement with Apple.

At this point in time, we do know that a 2 year contract will be
required. Yes, anyone can purchase the phone with a 2 year contract.
We do not know if you will be required to pay early termination fees on
your current contract in order to add this new 2 year contract (to the
same phone number). Unfortunately, due to the privacy agreement with
Apple we will not receive more in-depth information regarding this phone
until June 29 when it is released.

I hope that the information provided has been helpful and has resolved
all of your questions. If you need further assistance, feel free to
reply to this e-mail or contact customer service at 1-800-331-0500 or
611 from your wireless phone.

I encourage you to visit our web site (www.att.com/wireless) often to
view current and previous monthly statements, make payments and to shop
for new product and service offerings. Thank you for allowing AT&T to
serve as your wireless company. We will do our best to ensure that your
wireless experience is a success.


Sincerely,

XXXX XXXXX
AT&T
Online Customer Care Professional

At&T is a total joke. 2 days before the release and nobody get a straight answer.
 
For those who have ATT service already:

What if you have a smart phone, uninsured, and it breaks one year into your two year contract? Do they make you buy the same phone.

I seem like at any point in your contract you could just buy any phone and activate it..?

I remember going into verizon stores and being told I could get a new phone any time during my contract, I would just have to pay full price for the phone (no upgrade discount).

I don't see why ATT would ever tell you you couldn't buy a phone. They're just not going to give you a discount.
 
nope that is pretty much the way it works with cingular as well. one thing how i have really learned my lesson is to never get the free phone. i always do and within a year the damn thing breaks or sux. since then when looking for a phone i have always researched the phones i was looking at. that is what i did with the treo 650 and that was a pretty good decision. what will suck is what type of warranty is available for the iphone. hopefully applecare that way you can have it for three years
 
ToddW said:
nope that is pretty much the way it works with cingular as well. one thing how i have really learned my lesson is to never get the free phone. i always do and within a year the damn thing breaks or sux. since then when looking for a phone i have always researched the phones i was looking at. that is what i did with the treo 650 and that was a pretty good decision. what will suck is what type of warranty is available for the iphone. hopefully applecare that way you can have it for three years
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third party insurance would be better. Applecare you always have to pay for the screen etc.
 
tasslehawf said:
I seem like at any point in your contract you could just buy any phone and activate it..?

I remember going into verizon stores and being told I could get a new phone any time during my contract, I would just have to pay full price for the phone (no upgrade discount).

I don't see why ATT would ever tell you you couldn't buy a phone. They're just not going to give you a discount.
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Yes, that's how it works, so long as the replacement phone doesn't require a new contract, or you pay the non-contract price. What appears to be throwing the ATT sales people for a loop is a two year contract is mandatory regardless, and there is no discount or non-contract price. It's one-size fits all.

My whole point here is that regardless of what Apple's marketing says, when it comes my turn in line, Chuckles at the counter may not comprehend the memo and I've got an issue. Anyone who ever had "issues" with in-store reps should appreciate the lack of enthusiasm at the prospects of standing in the hot sun with money in hand only to hit roadblocks that defy logic. Since I'm buying from ATT, that's why I'm insistent on getting a straight story from ATT says, and could care less about Apple. It seems, however, there is a high probability its a moot point since you should just be able to just walk in, swipe the plastic and walk out. The contract doesn't even need to be a part of the discussion.
 
don't know if this was posted but it should clear up questions on whether or not uneligable existing customers can get the iphone without terminating:

Q. I just upgraded my phone recently. Are there any penalties or restrictions for upgrading to iPhone right away?
A. No. Everyone can upgrade to iPhone right away.

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/iphone-faqs.jsp
 
justinpignatore said:
don't know if this was posted but it should clear up questions on whether or not uneligable existing customers can get the iphone without terminating:

Q. I just upgraded my phone recently. Are there any penalties or restrictions for upgrading to iPhone right away?
A. No. Everyone can upgrade to iPhone right away.

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/iphone-faqs.jsp
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Makes perfect sense. They only want to tie you in to a contract so they get their money back for the subsidized phone. They don't care whether you actually use that subsidized phone, replace it with an existing unlocked phone, or buy an unsubsidized iPhone. Their only concern is that they get the money back via a 2 year contract, for the subsidised phone. And they will, you actually extend the contract for an extra 2 years over an above the days or months you've had the subsidised phone, and your doing so without the incentive of another subisidy. It's in their interest to let you buy an iPhone really. :)
 
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