Will switching to the iPhone be seamless for existing Cing/ATT customers?

[RR08EvoX]

I am currently on a family plan with my dad and sister. We all have blackjacks and have the optional unlimited data plans. The account is under my dads name and he is in pittsburgh while I am in Boston.

Since I am allready an existing cingular customer and have the data plan, will I be able to simply purchase the iphone and have it activated without changing anything and without my dad being present at the store?

 

[rdowns]

Nobody knows.

No details have been released. If you're into speculation (and who isn't if they're here), try one of the 3,238,456 iPhone threads.

 

[JW008]

I'm having a similar problem, I live in Tallahassee and my parents are in KY. I've updated before (obviously not to an iPhone--but to a Razr back in the day) and all I needed was the last four digits of the main users Social Security Number (in my case, it was my dad's). There wasn't any trouble besides that, but I'm going to go to my ATT store on Wednesday or Thursday (when they hopefully have more info) before the launch and double check that I've got everything I need to update our plan from a 1000 miles away.

 

[RR08EvoX]

^^ yea I seem to remember them asking for a social number or tax id number. Hopefully thats all they will need and Im not stuck with them saying my dad must be present to sign some form.

 

[furthur]

It might be a problem...

I spoke on the phone with an AT&T salesman in Brookline, Mass yesterday and he told me they WON'T be selling iPhones to existing AT&T customers (like me) on the 29th.

He says the product will only be availble for "new" customers and that existing customers will have to wait "a few weeks." We both agreed this was outrageous but that's how he says it's going to be.

I'm even in the unique position of being an AT&T customer whose contract expired in January and I thought that by staying with them and going month-to-month I'd have a seamless transtion to a new two year contract and an iPhone.

Wrong.

The lone alternative he suggested was that I cancel my service now and sign up again next Friday - but then I lose my phone number. Nice.

Everything I can find on-line (including the famed talking points memo) seems to indicate otherwise, but my store says if you're a loyal AT&t customer you're screwed.

Anybody else hear this???

Exculsivity is a powerful thing. But I'm surprised AT&T would dump on their loyal customers like this.

 

[loudestnoise]

I spoke on the phone with an AT&T salesman in Brookline, Mass yesterday and he told me they WON'T be selling iPhones to existing AT&T customers (like me) on the 29th.

He says the product will only be availble for "new" customers and that existing customers will have to wait "a few weeks." We both agreed this was outrageous but that's how he says it's going to be.

I'm even in the unique position of being an AT&T customer whose contract expired in January and I thought that by staying with them and going month-to-month I'd have a seamless transtion to a new two year contract and an iPhone.

Wrong.

The lone alternative he suggested was that I cancel my service now and sign up again next Friday - but then I lose my phone number. Nice.

Everything I can find on-line (including the famed talking points memo) seems to indicate otherwise, but my store says if you're a loyal AT&t customer you're screwed.

Anybody else hear this???

Exculsivity is a powerful thing. But I'm surprised AT&T would dump on their loyal customers like this.

That's stupid to believe, anyone will be able to buy an iPhone. As to information needed without the primary account holder, I would have your phone number and the last 4 digits of the social security number of the account holder (not yours if you aren't the account holder) and even having your AT&T account number might not hurt.

 

[applehero]

I spoke on the phone with an AT&T salesman in Brookline, Mass yesterday and he told me they WON'T be selling iPhones to existing AT&T customers (like me) on the 29th.

He says the product will only be availble for "new" customers and that existing customers will have to wait "a few weeks." We both agreed this was outrageous but that's how he says it's going to be.

I'm even in the unique position of being an AT&T customer whose contract expired in January and I thought that by staying with them and going month-to-month I'd have a seamless transtion to a new two year contract and an iPhone.

Wrong.

The lone alternative he suggested was that I cancel my service now and sign up again next Friday - but then I lose my phone number. Nice.

Everything I can find on-line (including the famed talking points memo) seems to indicate otherwise, but my store says if you're a loyal AT&t customer you're screwed.

Anybody else hear this???

Exculsivity is a powerful thing. But I'm surprised AT&T would dump on their loyal customers like this.

If you believe that I have some ocean front property on the Kansas border for sale, cheap!!!

C'mon, at&t isn't THAT stupid. That kind of move would permanently damage their business. I would hate to be a part of that 'post-mortem' meeting with the shareholders!

 

[atszyman]

If you believe that I have some ocean front property on the Kansas border for sale, cheap!!!

C'mon, at&t isn't THAT stupid. That kind of move would permanently damage their business. I would hate to be a part of that 'post-mortem' meeting with the shareholders!

Were any of you around before number portability? I wouldn't actually doubt this.

Before number portability when your contract ran out there was no way to get a discounted/free phone with your carrier, your options were to pay full price for a phone, or switch carriers and lose your number. I had called to ask, as did many of my co-workers and we all got the same answer. Somehow "new" customers was the name of the game and hopefully the hassle of switching numbers was enough to keep the rollover rate less than the new customer sign on rate. It's definitely improved over the last few years, and the main reason was number portability being legislated. Now AT&T has a way to lure the coveted "new" customers and keep their old. If you want an iPhone they're the only game in town. "Drop your plan/number, we don't care, you're just going to sign up with us again."

I'd like to believe that they value their current customers enough not to do this but I would give this a 50/50 shot at being true.

 

[applehero]

Yes, I was around before number portability. Actually being in the telecom industry, I saw how it changed the business. There is no way that Apple would agree to only allowing them to sell to new at&t customers on release date. NO WAY!! There's no way at&t would want the bad publicity that would go along with that type of policy. There is enough bad things being said about at&t these days, do you really think they want to make things worse? This is a common sense thing.

 

[abgould]

I too spoke to two different AT&T stores along with one Apple store, and all three said that existing ATT/Cingular customers would be allowed to purchase and also transfer their numbers to the iPhone on the 29th. Not doing so would cause numerous confusion and bad feelings.

 

[dannyallen34]

I too spoke to two different AT&T stores along with one Apple store, and all three said that existing ATT/Cingular customers would be allowed to purchase and also transfer their numbers to the iPhone on the 29th. Not doing so would cause numerous confusion and bad feelings.

I've also talked to 2 AT&T people, including one local store and one corporate customer service person. Both have said that you can simply buy the new phone and extend your contract, not needing to cancel it. You can also just transfer your phone number to the iPhone for free. The AT&T corporate customer service person said that a data plan is not required, too. So, I could just keep my $10/month voice plan on my family plan and just use the iPhone's browser at WiFi hotspots (which, on a college campus, are everywhere).

 

[gr8tfly]

I've also talked to 2 AT&T people, including one local store and one corporate customer service person. Both have said that you can simply buy the new phone and extend your contract, not needing to cancel it. You can also just transfer your phone number to the iPhone for free. The AT&T corporate customer service person said that a data plan is not required, too. So, I could just keep my $10/month voice plan on my family plan and just use the iPhone's browser at WiFi hotspots (which, on a college campus, are everywhere).

Yes, anyone can buy it, with the 2 year commitment. Same info I got last Wednesday.

 

[schuerman]

So, I could just keep my $10/month voice plan on my family plan and just use the iPhone's browser at WiFi hotspots (which, on a college campus, are everywhere).

Actually...Cingular/ATT require that you have a data plan CURRENTLY in order to use WIFI on their phones.

I have a Cingular 8125 and I can't use my WIFI because I do not have a data plan.

It sucks...Why do I have to pay them for FREE internet???

 

[dannyallen34]

Actually...Cingular/ATT require that you have a data plan CURRENTLY in order to use WIFI on their phones.

I have a Cingular 8125 and I can't use my WIFI because I do not have a data plan.

It sucks...Why do I have to pay them for FREE internet???

Oh really... Well that does suck. Maybe it will change with the iPhone?

Edit: Actually, the person on the phone told me that a data plan wasn't required because I could just use the Wifi hotspots. I hope that is true because I don't really see the need to use the browser while not near a hotspot (checking stocks on the interstate? I'll just wait to get to school lol)...

 

[furthur]

Were any of you around before number portability? I wouldn't actually doubt this.

Now AT&T has a way to lure the coveted "new" customers and keep their old. If you want an iPhone they're the only game in town. "Drop your plan/number, we don't care, you're just going to sign up with us again."

That's what worried me when the guy was telling me this.

What AT&T wants are NEW customers. If a potential customer comes into their store next Friday and can't get an iPhone that person may not wait. They might go somewhere else and just buy another phone.

So they take the phone I would have bought and they give it to the "new" customer... and tell me I can have one but I'll have to wait "several weeks" because I'm already with AT&T.

How can they do that?

Exclusivity.

They know I want an iPhone... but if I leave AT&T I can't have one for FIVE years.

So I wait.

I think it's shady. But deep down I have to admit it's probably good business. And I'd bet Apple doesn't have a say in how it's handled.

I hope the guy was wrong. But I'm just sharing with all of you what I was told.

 

[applehero]

My mother, brother, aunt, and uncle all work for at&t and I can tell you that they are not giving exclusivity to new customers only. The only restriction on iPhone purchasing is limited to at&t employees. They have to wait 30 days after launch until they can purchase it. EVERYONE else has an equal chance at getting one. END OF STORY!

 

[furthur]

My mother, brother, aunt, and uncle all work for at&t and I can tell you that they are not giving exclusivity to new customers only. The only restriction on iPhone purchasing is limited to at&t employees. They have to wait 30 days after launch until they can purchase it. EVERYONE else has an equal chance at getting one. END OF STORY!

Believe me, my friend, no one hopes you're right more than me...

 

[Shrek6446]

I am currently on a family plan with my dad and sister. We all have blackjacks and have the optional unlimited data plans. The account is under my dads name and he is in pittsburgh while I am in Boston.

Since I am allready an existing cingular customer and have the data plan, will I be able to simply purchase the iphone and have it activated without changing anything and without my dad being present at the store?

I am in the boat as you are with your family plan. I spoke with an ATT rep yesterday, and he said that I could buy the phone and activate it without my dad having to be there. All I had to have was the phone number that i was switching and my ID.