AT&T: upgrade to iPhone 4 up to six months early
By Darren Murph 
posted June 7th 2010 1:30PM
posted June 7th 2010 1:30PM
Update: Good news, addicts! AT&T just pinged us to clarify that so long as your upgrade date is anytime in 2010, you're now eligible to spend an additional two years paying dues to AT&T. In other words, a fair amount of you will be able to buy one of these at contract price on day one. The full statement is after the break, along with AT&T's full pricing release.
AT&T to Offer iPhone 4 on June 24
Best Pricing Immediately Available to Any iPhone Customer Eligible for Upgrade in 2010
Preordering for iPhone 4 and New $99 iPhone 3GS 8GB Available June 15 at AT&T Retail and Online Stores
DALLAS, June 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T*, the U.S. smartphone leader, today announced it will offer iPhone 4, the thinnest smartphone ever with all-new design, FaceTime video calling, Apple's stunning new Retina display, 5 megapixel camera and HD video recording. iPhone 4 will be available for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model, in company retail stores and online at www.att.com/iphone, plus business channels, beginning June 24. Customers can preorder starting June 15.
To let current iPhone customers quickly upgrade to iPhone 4, AT&T will make its best pricing immediately available to any iPhone customer who would be upgrade eligible for a discounted device by the end of 2010.
"This is another very exciting day for AT&T customers," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "By teaming with Apple to deliver an extraordinary device over the nation's fastest 3G network, we're enabling our customers to access their favorite social networks and favorite business applications."
"We know that people are eager to get iPhone 4, which is why we moved up the upgrade eligibility date for current iPhone customers by up to six months. This move, combined with the new wireless data plans we announced last week, will make it more affordable for more people to purchase an iPhone and enjoy the benefits of the mobile Internet."
In addition, a new iPhone 3GS 8GB for $99 will also be available on June 24.
Pricing
iPhone 4 and the new iPhone 3GS 8GB will be available at a variety of attractive price points for customers.
All new and current iPhone customers who are upgrade eligible, plus existing customers who choose to upgrade early must agree to a two-year term commitment, and select an eligible voice and data plan for iPhone. No commitment pricing does not require a two-year term commitment, but does require both voice and data service.
AT&T will also offer current iPhone 3GS 16GB and 32GB models at new, lowered price points of $149 (16GB) and $199 (32GB), with a two-year term commitment plus voice and data plans, while supplies last.
Eligibility
Existing iPhone customers eligible for an upgrade between today and the end of this year have been made immediately eligible for AT&T's best pricing for iPhone 4 with a new two-year term commitment. Consumers can verify upgrade eligibility at www.att.com/iphone today. Business customers can verify upgrade eligibility at AT&T's Premier site, https://www.wireless.att.com/business/.
Preordering
Consumers may preorder iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS 8GB at AT&T retail stores or online at www.att.com/iphone beginning June 15. Business customers can preorder through their AT&T sales representative or by visiting AT&T's Premier site. For greater convenience and faster delivery, preorders can be shipped directly to a customer's home or business for delivery as early as June 24. Customers can also have a preorder shipped to their local AT&T store for pick up on or after Friday, June 25.
AT&T stores will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and will accommodate as many customers as possible.
Consumer Plans
AT&T customers can choose from several monthly plans that start as low as $54.99 per month for individual plans with voice and data. For families, customers can now add additional iPhones to their FamilyTalk account for as little as $24.99 per month, providing voice and data service. All iPhone plans include nationwide long distance and domestic roaming, Visual Voicemail, Rollover, and unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling.
Business Plans
Small business customers may qualify for AT&T BusinessTalk®, a shared minute plan specifically for small businesses. Companies can share up to 20,000 minutes per month among as many as 40 employees. In addition, business customers and employees of many businesses are eligible for discounted service rates. For more information, customers can contact an AT&T business account representative or visit www.att.com/iphoneforbusiness.
New Wireless Data Plans
iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS customers can choose one of AT&T's new data plans: DataPlus, which provides 200MB for just $15, and DataPro which provides 2GB for just $25. Existing AT&T smartphone customers upgrading to iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS are not required to switch to a new plan, but can choose to do so. iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G customers can add tethering to AT&T DataPro for an additional $20 per month.
Each data plan includes unlimited Wi-Fi usage at more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide at no additional charge. AT&T will help customers monitor and manage wireless data usage by sending text messages and emails as customers begin to approach their usage limit, and by providing online tools, including an iPhone app that shows monthly usage information.
Currently, less than 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use more than 2 GB a month on average. More information on the new data plans can be found at www.att.com/dataplans.
Additional news regarding iPhone 4 will be posted in the AT&T Media Newsroom at www.att.com/iphone_news.
For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com. For more information and detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
Any existing iPhone customer eligible for an upgrade between today and the end of this year will be eligible for our best pricing for iPhone 4, $199 and $299, with a two year term commitment.
· Customers can verify upgrade eligibility at www.att.com/iphone or by dialing *639#. (ABS customers can dial *639# or visit the Premier site, https://www.wireless.att.com/business/).
· Our upgrade tools already reflects this new timeframe.
Now, this is a complete phone, software and hardware -wise. I'm definitely getting one. Unlocked
@Bolo Apple is about to make a ton of money.
@Bolo
Still no flash though.
@Bolo
Still dropping calls I bet.
@Bolo Oh yes. Where do I sign?
So long evo :(
@Dr Lisbon Personally, I repeat, Personally, I don't need Flash. Since the only place I go for videos is YouTube and that's available on this platfor, I don't care about flash.
@Dr Lisbon Agreed. But the only need for Flash I really have is, believe it or not, FarmVille and this thing will be able to play FarmVille natively. Now, how soon will it take the DevTeam to unlock it? I hope they already figured that out.
They will make up the difference with the extra $375 ETF and the data overage fees!
Thanks for NOTHING! AT&T!
@Bolo:
I'm not so sure. The fake-multitasking is for sure nice, but it's not yet enough to push me off my 3G. Video calls are Wi-Fi only, that's next to useless. Not even a memory bump to 64GB.
Plus still AT&T only...(even though I personally would maybe stay with AT&T, but some competition price wise would be good)
Looks like I'm gonna have to look to WP7 or Android unless I keep my 3G for another year.
@Bolo
nothing impressive apart from the display
i dont think it wil play a major role to make a switch
anyways, i will be getting my evo soon .. :)
@Bolo really? seeing this just makes me want a Froyo device more. Maybe after 3 years I'm just either over the iPhone or over AT&T (which is probably more the case).
@Bolo I still haven't found an answer to this, but if I do upgrade to the iPhone 4 later this month, will AT&T let me keep my unlimited plan, or will have I to go all out and buy it at "full price" just to keep my data plan in-tact?
@Nintendo Tim
If you're going for the subsidized $199/$299 price points, you will have to go with a new two-year contract which entails your having to give up your existing unlimited data plan. You should be able to grandfather your unlimited plan over if you simply purchase the new iPhone in full.
@werty1432k
And $300 of that ton is mine! :)
@Bolo
I got mine for Christmas... :,( *cries*
@pwrdbykimchi
didnt AT&T say you can upgrade without having to dump unlimited data?
@jj1814
Yep, you're right. My mistake. AT&T clearly states that in today's press release. Thanks for the correction!
@Jordan
Man, good luck w/ that. My 3G is on its last leg. I'm so needing an upgrade. Plus, I'm tired of how slow it runs. Though, it is two years old, I need speed man. And the new iPhone has that. I skipped out on the 3GS and I'm glad that its paying of now.
Though, in a years time, I'm sure they'll blow the doors off the iPhone4.
@Nintendo Tim You'll be able to keep your "Unlimited" plan if you want. If you choose to take one of the other plans, you won't be able to go back to the unlimited plan, it'll be gone for good. Got this info from one of the AT&T reps. Also, Adriana Lee called them on three different occasions to verify the info and was told the same thing by three different reps.
@werty1432k
Actually, this is more for AT&T's benefit. If you'll pause to consider, this was actually the point in the presentation that a Verizon iPhone was announced for this year. AT&T isn't in the business of handouts, so they're making sure they sign you up now before the Verizon phone apparently debuts before the end of the year. This was prob a final kindness to them from Apple for believing in them first. But make no mistake, this is the farewell tour for exclusivity.
@Dr Lisbon no it has flash
with a 5 mega camera!! haha
but who cares about flash
Hmmmm, makes the Verizon iPhone more plausible.
@Parker731 i am stunned that they still haven't expanded to new carriers here. i understand the gsm/cdma issue but seriously some of us live where at&t just isn't an option. it works in my town, but my corner of the neighborhood is a total at&t deadzone.
@Parker731 Or they just want to lock in as many 3G iPhones before the LTE iPhone 4G comes out next year.
@Mustangsamjr
My thought exactly, I think AT&T knows people want to jump ship, and if the iPhone opens to new carriers even next year they want to lock everyone possible in, and if they do ETF (which they increased).
@aaronaut I'm not sure why you are stunned. They made an exclusivity deal with AT&T and isn't over yet. There's nothing to be stunned about. It was just wishful thinking. I hope we get other carriers next year, but this year it's AT&T only, just like before.
Great so everyone who bought the 3GS when released is not able to take advantage of any upgrade. All this means is that the 3G users should all be able to upgrade, but nobody with 3GS can. Not that generous if you ask me. Accleerate this by one year, now thats generous.
@Dobber My supervisor that bought the 3GS a month or two after it was released checked the iPhone upgrade eligibility site (not sure where it's at) and it said he's eligible with just an $18 upgrade fee and as long as he renews his 2-year contract again. You can text a number too apparently, I think Engadget had an article on it...
@Jordan I didn't sign anything Jackass. Don't even own one. Think this through before you jump to start pushing crap out of your mouth you blowhard. Don't strain yourself so much to be a blog troll...
@Dobber:
Then what the hell are you bitching for? You don't think 6 months is generous? Well....what do you care if you don't have one?
@Dobber I have the 3Gs and am eligible for the upgrade. What are you talking about?
@Jordan
You really think ATT is being generous? The most plausible reason is that they want to lock up as many people into new contracts before Verizon gets the phone. They're not doing it for you, they're doing it for themselves. The shareholders would have it no other way.
@Ulfius:
That may be true, but does it matter? 6 months is generous when compared to every other US carrier, and specifically when it comes to how expensive an iPhone is to AT&T.
They may have their reasons for doing it, but 6 months is also a huge win for consumers.
@Fragmented Not really, on Sprint you can upgrade your primary line ever year at discounted/new customer rates regardless of which phone you are buying if you qualify for premier. So that's a whole hell of a lot more generous then upgrading only to this year's iPhone on AT&T.
@Jordan
Here's something they didn't say. I'd expect that new two-year agreement to tack on 24 months to the contract, not be two-years from your upgrade, so although they're letting you get a new phone 6 months sooner, they'll keep you locked up for the next 2.5 years and get just as much money from you as if they made you wait 6 months to upgrade (barring a switch to another provider).
@KAL326 Actually AT&T does the same. Unfortunately I don't see the upgrade date being pushed up any sooner on my account. Then again the Account is just 8 months old. Gonna Check it again in a week and see if anything has changed.
F**k they're getting desperate!
I'm in
So wait, if I bought the 3GS on launch day last year I won't be eligible to get the new iPhone4? Thats a load of Crap! Sick of ATT.... Sick of them not having coverage in the City, but yet they have coverage in the rural areas...
@greengiant912
Actually that's a good point - if you bought a 3GS in July then your contract expires in 2011. Early adopters will be fine though since their contracts (if 18 months) expire just before end 2010.
@MarkAnderson Where do I find my contract expiration?
I was an early adopter, I bought it Day one lol. So your saying I will be eligible?
@greengiant912
Well if you got it in June and it's 18 months then your contract should expire just before the end of December 2010 which means you can upgrade. If you took 24 months then I don't think you can.
Give AT&T a phone or check your account details. It should be on there.
@MarkAnderson pretty sure that all 3GS customers were locked into a 24 month contract, as was I...
@greengiant912
So basically anyone with a 3GS is pretty f**ked then?
Wow. Shit offer from AT&T.
@MarkAnderson
nah, i got my 3GS in July and I'm eligible. All anyone has to to do is dial *639# and they'll get a text letting them know
@superbeau I got my 3GS last year in June and so did my girl, it says I'm eligible.
@superbeau
Sweet. You on an 18 month contract?
@superbeau I dialed that and it seems I am eligible. I think if this is your first contract with ATT you might not be eligible. I have been a customer with them since the first gen, which might allow for better eligibility.
@superbeau Me too. Been checking online, and it's said 2/2011 up to this morning. After the keynote, called the *639#, and (since I'm a few days late on my bill) it said "Due to past due balance...an upgrade is not available. [snip] After payment, we can offer you an early iPhone upgrade with a new 2-yr commiement and an $18 upgrade fee..."
Not quite sure if "early iPhone upgrade" means I can one for 99/199/299, or if it just means I get the privilege of paying full price. Not much concern, as I'm planning to get a Milestone, or switch to a Droid2 on VZW.
@greengiant912 I bought it on the first day last year and I'm eligible. You should be too.