AT&T offering price protection (or iPhone 4 swap) to recent 3GS buyers
By Chris Ziegler 
posted June 10th 2010 3:01PM
posted June 10th 2010 3:01PM
On a related note, modmyi.com is also reporting that AT&T corporate stores are set to open at 7AM on the 24th, iPhone 4 launch day, though we're not able to confirm this one. Word on the street is that new customers will only be able to activate one line and existing customers will be able to buy one iPhone 4 per line of service, clearly an attempt to stretch inventory as far as it'll go. With the way Apple's setting up for preorders and launch-day delivery, it seems like a lot of this chaos and bedlam is going to be avoided -- but hey, it's Apple. You never know.
@Apple Fan
Tell me again why you think people who bought a 3GS at launch (June 2009) are eligible for upgrade only 1 year later? As far as I know NO ONE who bought a 3GS at launch qualifies for anything since they all had to renew for 2 years during June 2009 and therefore they are just barely ending their 1st year of their contract. So that makes you only 10 months into your plan, which makes perfect sense why you're not getting anything.
@wanzer I bought a 3gs as an upgrade to my original iPhone day one and I get to upgrade full subsidy and the 18 dollar fee waived. I have been with AT&T since 04 and my bill is 85 a month single user. I get a discount on my bill because the company I'm with.
@Jdubcsu
So you renewed your contract in June of last year, you're now one year into your contract, and you're allowed the full subsidy of $199 for the iphone 4. Are you sure you're not talking about the early upgrade price of $399/499? Because ATT said that only people that are eligible before the end of the year (including up to December 31st) are being bumped up to June for full subsidy of $199/299. There might be internal rules set by ATT that allows full subsidy only 1 year into their contracts that they haven't told us...
@wanzer I don't understand why I can from all the rules for upgrading as I have seen. But this is what doing that one number on my phone tells me.
"As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and waive the $18 upgrade fee."
What if I bought an iPhone 3GS in December 2009 but for some reason I am eligible for a discount but a $18 dollar upgrade fee? Can i still return my iPhone 3GS and get a iPhone 4 and pay the difference?
@lazzyfrogg I got that same message as well... I bought my 3gs early this January
In the words of the great Turrets Guy, "I don't give a shit, Shit, SHIT!!!!".
@metalshinobi
Thank you. Sincerely, thank you. The new iPhone is hard as tits!
@metalshinobi Then why did you bother clicking on the link and responding in the comments?
I just don't get some people. If it doesn't apply to you and it doesn't concern you....
@Snarf101 I would like to see Apple walk a mile, in my shit!!
@xolan99 I'm too pissed to give a shit!!!
@metalshinobi
I wouldn't fuck AT&T with my own ass!
SOMEONE is really trying to get these iPhone 4s out to anyone and everyone... what's the deal with that? Apple and AT&T just seem desperate now...
So weird.
@muchlove Somehow I don't think selling iPhones will be a problem.
@xolan99 I don't think selling them will be a problem either... what's up with all these early upgrades and shortcuts AT&T is allowing though?
really think this thing is going to "pick the world up and drop it on your head" as Lil Wayne would put it... iPhone 4 is going to be huge.
@muchlove They've done this every year so as to not piss people off who just got an iphone. AT&T has a 30 day return policy anyway so all they're basically doing is extending this by like 2 weeks (from May 14th to May 7th) for people who just missed the boat.
@xolan99 gotcha. guess I've really only been paying attention this year haha. just bought my first iPhone last Aug... that would probably explain why...
@muchlove When they don't do, people complain how ATT "screws" last year's customers by coming out with a new phone they are not eligible for.
Can't win for losing...
I will be upgrading next month, even though I shouldn't be eligible until March 2011, and I am sure it is because they'd rather have me locked down if/when the iPhone comes out on other carriers.
because, yeah, I would bolt, not because I am dissatisfied with ATT but because I think other carriers will work hard to make it financially attractive for me....
@dogma yeah that's truth man... I just don't see it happening though... the rumor that the iPhone will be on Verizon has literally been around since 2006... before the iPhone was even released... so I tend not to believe them anymore. at all.
whiny customers annoy me. they're like the little kids whose parents always gave them what they wanted... grew up to be iPhone customers and demanded a subsidized iPhone every year... regardless of the TWO YEAR contract they signed.
anyway I hope you enjoy your iPhone 4. none of that minirant was meant toward you haha. :)
Is this really true. I bought the Palm Pre, and a iPhone 3GS on the 20th of May. But last week I exchanged my Palm Pre for the iPhone 3GS so is this TRUE!!! I really hope so.
What about the 3G? Is there any mercy for purchasing it recently? A friend of mine just got one, even though I told him about WWDC.
@runswithjedi
I think your "friend" is SOL
@wanzer Haha, I thought someone would interpret it like that. Seriously, the 3G was his first modern electronics purchase in years and he is really uninformed about the tech world. I read through the AT&T docs and it says that 3G owners can pay the difference and get a 4.
Ok they say that you can activate the iPhone 4 at your own house. however, if theyre using a micro sim, what are you supposed to do? just cut the one you have?
@daved292 it ships with a microSIM.
@muchlove oh really?? thanks!!
@daved292
As long as you back up your current iPhone to your computer when you sync up the new iPhone all your contacts, etc should also sync up to it.
Is preorder going to be available from apple or at&t? Or both?
I am eligible but i wanna upgrade by keeping the same plan i have right now.
Any ideas?
@enaybee Pay full retail price.
Um..... F*ck AT&T, I hate them.... they hurt me. They Drew Blood now im not gonna let them get away with that. I dont want a Got'damn Idrone I want freedom!!
I hope HTC releases a kick ass device by next summer for AT&T. At the rate phones are going it should have an i7 with a 12mp camera and stream 1080p video!!!
What if I bought my iPhone outright from an Apple Store on May 17th? Can I just exchange?
Is this just for the launch of iPhone 4? Or is it always gonna be the case for new customers? I guess I'm a little confused. Could someone explain cuz me and my gf like the new iPhone and we are stuck on verizon but will gladly leave since it's her mom that pays the bill not us lol
To clarify, yes AT&T stores will open at 7am, there will be seperate lines for people who preordered and opted to pick up in store rather then be delivered then a line for the people who did not preorder and are buying day of launch. Now if you upgraded last year to a 3gs or 3g on day of launch or a few months after and your line is 1. A primary line(which more revenue is generated on a primary line you will be able to upgrade to the iPhone 4. Now all other lines that are existing iPhone users at the moment and the Line is eligible in 2010 can get the iPhone 4 at the standard pricing.
@jake5ba wrong preorders are shipped to Your house. I just left AT&T corporate. Stores will get on average anywhere from 30 to 45 devices depending on size of store.
My friend tried callling AT&T to ask about this and the lady had no idea what my friend was talking about. Anyone had any success with this? Or does my friend need to go into an actual AT&T store?
@RyTyFern I was planning on calling to find this out myself. I wished someone would really confirm this. Sounds like AT&T has no clue!
nope your wrong again. Spoke with AT&T store rep and you can get one iphone 4 per eligible line meaning new accounts can have up to 5 lines and 5 iphone 4's .He made that very very clear
I can wait a week or two for a restock but what I really want to to know is, when's the IOS going to be available?
I have no complaints about my 3gs but I am getting tired of having to jailbreak just to get basic features. Also with a comparable phone on sprint and a lot better pricing I am looking at my options.
Apple better add a notification window (lockinfo) sooner than later or I'm jumping ship.
@SleptOn
According to what I have read the IOS 4 will available for download on the 21st just before the release of iPhone 4. So go into iTunes on that day and double check.
Can someone please answer this question for me? Would it be faster to pre-order and have an iPhone shipped, or pre-order for store pick up? I can't decide which one to do.
@mykalt45
It all depends on if you have the time to stand in the preorder line. If not getting it shipped would be your best bet. You would get it the same day as those waiting in line for it. Don't know if you have to sign for it though as I have not done a preorder with them before, but I will this time.