If you're fortunate enough to have access to a Premier (business, that is) account with AT&T, you're now able to forgo the charade of meandering down to your local store to buy -- or place an order for, more likely -- the
iPhone 3G. All three varieties of the best cellphone Apple makes are now available directly through the carrier's B2B online store for the usual $199 / $299 pricing scale; if we had to guess, it's just a matter of time before they'll throw the doors open to the riff raff (read: us), too. We'll drink to that.
[Thanks, Vasudev R.]
Update: We touched base with AT&T, and it looks like the real news here is that Premier account holders who pay their own bills now have access to the iPhone 3G online, whereas before, only those whose bills were covered by their companies had access. The more, the merrier!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brad @ Aug 14th 2008 12:05PM
I was able to order my iPhone 3G 16gb Black from Premiere the first day they were released in the US.
yeah yeah @ Aug 14th 2008 12:39PM
yeah me too. i ordered 15 of them off the premier site from day one. some old ass news here.
Ed @ Aug 14th 2008 12:53PM
I think they just added the option for individuals who get a discount through their employer instead of companies that pay for employees' phones. I'm in the first group and just got this enabled on Premier.
Josh @ Aug 14th 2008 12:05PM
share the love att...what gives?
attathomeguy @ Aug 14th 2008 12:08PM
Notice how is says apple requires a 2 year contract. Yeah right AT&T it is AT&T that requires a 2 year contract!!!!!!
Jake E. @ Aug 14th 2008 12:08PM
*is jealous*
abargo @ Aug 14th 2008 12:08PM
"Apple requires a 2-year commitment."
Actually, AT&T requires a 2-year commitment. I don't think Apple cares as long as they get paid.
cstarbird @ Aug 14th 2008 12:18PM
I noticed that too. Silly AT&T!
Brandon @ Aug 14th 2008 1:08PM
I'm sure AT&T doesn't care as long as they get paid either, but the problem is a 2-year is probably the only way that's going to happen!
Chris H @ Aug 14th 2008 12:13PM
"the best cellphone Apple makes"
I was unaware of another cellphone currently in production by Apple...*sarcasm*
Mihir @ Aug 14th 2008 12:20PM
if you buy through premeire, do you still have to sign up for the $40/mo data plan? i ask because i got grandfathered in on my $15/mo data plan (unlimited data) and would REALLY like to keep that.
fyi...anyone with a valid virginia tech email address can get the premeire discount. it's how i got mine.
Puntachu @ Aug 14th 2008 12:38PM
It is possible to do this. When I wanted to buy a new phone without a new plan, the support team told me to order with the changes to the plan, and call them back once I recieved the phone, telling them that I no longer desired the changes to the plan. They were able to revert it back to my old plan, with no changes, and I kept the phone. Apparently, as long as you cancel within so many days of the plan change, they can undo it all for free. You keep the device, as well as the discount you recieved at the order. I was really suprised that their own support team suggested it, but it worked.
gothike @ Aug 14th 2008 1:32PM
Let's say you get into the premier site using a friends email, do you to prove you are the person the email address is owned by or that you are a current student at Virginia tech?
AlekZander @ Aug 14th 2008 12:22PM
===== Mandatory iPhone-sucks comment =====
It doesn't have video recording or copy-paste or MMS and
that greatly inhibits my mobile activities I'd much rather
have Verizon's V-Cast service which allows on-the-go
downloading and Apple wants you in their walled garden
and anyone who likes this phone is just a fanboy blah
blah blah blah blah blah blah...
dereth @ Aug 14th 2008 12:22PM
I'm a premier customer too.
Isn't this available like quite a few weeks ago?
zephxiii @ Aug 14th 2008 12:23PM
It would be fine for biz use if it didn't drop calls all the time :P .....well maybe that bad batch of iphones has been all sold by now which allows them to offer it to biz customers lol
Mihir @ Aug 14th 2008 12:32PM
it seems that thru premeire, you don't have to buy a data plan. meaning i can stick to the $15 unlimited data plan i have right now (old medianet unlimited plan).
anyone using the old medianet plans? does it work?
yeah yeah @ Aug 14th 2008 12:50PM
it still works. i had the 1st iphone, and threw my sim into the iphone 3g, and it works fine. but i did get a txt from ATT saying i need to upgrade my plan. but everything still worked just fine. i did decide to call it in, and they couldnt upgrade my plan, so i asked them if anything will happen to my phone or account, they said no.
waiownsyou @ Aug 14th 2008 12:40PM
It's not the source, it's the fact that you started with the word rumor. That and the smiley face in the end kills it.
JD @ Aug 14th 2008 12:42PM
Since when is a phone network selling a phone with business features
to business customers news?
Good stuff engadget.
Eric @ Aug 14th 2008 12:44PM
http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/08/13/hsbc.mulls.iphone.swap/
Frank Furter @ Aug 14th 2008 12:45PM
Actually, they haven't ditched anything, but are considering it.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10017065-37.html
LongshotX @ Aug 14th 2008 12:49PM
Should I get an Iphone or a Tilt through Premier?
Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 14th 2008 12:50PM
5 hours talk time on 3g? I think they mean standby time.
totoro @ Aug 14th 2008 1:09PM
http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/wp-content/phoneimages/2008/06/apple-3g-iphone-battery.jpg
:p
NinjaTickets.com @ Aug 19th 2008 11:48PM
Its 5 hours or more of 3g talk time or web time.
Mihir @ Aug 14th 2008 12:52PM
@gothike:
i don't think you have to prove it. can't remember for sure though as i signed up about 2-3 years ago. only thing is, you wouldn't get any emails to reset your password if you ever need to.
but, once you get everything set up, you could probably just go in and change the email addr in your profile.
Mihir @ Aug 14th 2008 12:54PM
you decided to call what in? the txt msg telling you to upgrade? and how long have you been using medianet on the iphone? just want to make sure you didn't notice any extra data charges on your bill. are you on the $15 medianet unlimted plan?
Silvio @ Aug 14th 2008 12:56PM
I have Premiere account both through my old uni email and current employer. I've been checking for iPhone and it definitely wasn't there until recently. Yes, it requires you to at least order the data plan which for me is showing up as $30 ($27 after my 10% discount). It will NOT let you order without selecting a data plan. That blows since I am currently on the media max 200 bundle which is unlimited data plus 200 txt msgs for $19.99. I wonder if I could just order it then remove the iPhone plan afterwards in the self-service site?? Hmm...
Brad @ Aug 14th 2008 5:01PM
10% discount? Yikes....that's low. I'd hate to tell you what discount percentage I get.
Rookie @ Aug 14th 2008 12:57PM
I have luckily access to premiere through my business. Can we do the same trick as the old iphone (buy without activating and then jailbreaking?). I went through the checkout process and they make you add a voice and data plan to the order, so it seems you sign the contract online right away. Anybody care to comment on this?.
Also, what's the maximum number of lines per person?
JR @ Aug 14th 2008 1:00PM
Don't know if this is old news but the plans are 10% off for me on Premier. Anyone seeing larger discounts?
Flip9z @ Aug 14th 2008 1:04PM
19% on my site :)
Keisha Kornbread @ Aug 14th 2008 1:37PM
My company gets 20% off.
IBM gets 22% off.
devioustrap @ Aug 14th 2008 1:30PM
20% for me
thatguy @ Aug 14th 2008 1:33PM
27% on my account.
joseph.l.williams @ Aug 14th 2008 1:56PM
4 billion percent here
ryeguy_24 @ Aug 14th 2008 3:35PM
what is your data plan in dollars per month?
and voice plan?
erickenobi4 @ Aug 17th 2008 9:31PM
4 billion hahahahaha thats awesome
totoro @ Aug 14th 2008 1:07PM
Where's the tethering plan, AT&T?
Bassir @ Aug 14th 2008 1:13PM
Wait, so you can order it online, and the plan is apparently 24 dollars if you're adding it to a family plan?
Nice. Because I had no idea my father had a premier account.
reck @ Aug 14th 2008 1:23PM
is there anyone for me to acces the site i really want to get the iphone 3g online but dont have an email address they accept and my college doesnt give out emails address someone help me is there any way around it
thatguy @ Aug 14th 2008 1:31PM
I see a 27% discount on my account.
Evolution2001 @ Aug 14th 2008 2:40PM
27% here too on service and 50% on pretty much all accessories (headsets, cases, etc.)
To people asking about what all you need to get the premier discount, you should have what's called a FAN number. Each corporate/premier/partner/whatever will have a specific number. It's what shows up in the top-right corner of your billing statement.
Neumann @ Aug 14th 2008 2:02PM
Seriously, yesterday I ordered my iPhone from the store with thru Direct Fulfillment or whatever, and today, BAM! Could have saved myself a few gallons of gas, some time, and whatever my discount would have been. Oh well, I still get my FAN discount on my service...wooo 10%...
RC @ Aug 14th 2008 2:26PM
I noticed this on Premier last night. I guess they figure biz customers are least likely to buy them and sell them or try to unlock them.
Paul Dullford @ Aug 14th 2008 2:28PM
Great! Now all we need is to sell this from the consumer online store, with some kind of built-in help, a Mobile Safari with plug-in support, streaming media, customisable camera settings, tethering, a bundled certain app with ruby icon and ridiculous mantra ...
Evolution2001 @ Aug 14th 2008 2:44PM
Eh...guess I can't embed pics...hence people giving the links
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2762654623_f82fd86c12_o.gif
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2763497352_6744ec579f_o.gif
/first time poster
Cheryl @ Aug 14th 2008 2:52PM
I live in the Annapolis, MD area and am trying to decide betweeen an iphone (my heart's desire) w/ ATT service and keeping verizon's service and wating for the new Blackberry Thunder. My big question is how the ATT service is in this area, on the I-95 corridor between MD and Massachusetts, in cenral Mass, and between Annapolis and Chapel Hill, NC.
I've looked at the ATT coverage maps, but they area poor substitute for personal experience.
Any input would be most appreciated.
heshmati4 @ Aug 14th 2008 2:58PM
Verizons coverage is much better than AT&T's coverage...
Though the BB Thunder is not out yet, expected to come out around Oct. for Verizon...
If you need a phone now, you have better luck with the iphone. It's a wonderful device, but if you are not a hurry, you might want to wait until you see RIM's offerings with the Thunder and make your decision then...