at&t can tell if you've already sold your iphone!

[ColsTiger]

gizmodo is reporting that at&t is going to refuse giving the automatic discounts on new iphone 3G versions if customers have been using another phone besides the iphone. Evidently, at&t can tell when the old sim card has been inserted into a different phone. The article says they will refuse to give the discount even if you haven't changed your account. Read the article:

at&t to make a lot of people mad (http://gizmodo.com/5023575/people-who-sold-their-iphones-may-not-be-eligible-for-subsidized-iphone-3g-upgrade)

People that don't qualify for the discounts will have to rely on their ability to qualify for an equipment upgrade. To check to see if you qualify, you should sign into your account at attwireless.com.

[dturner]

Man, they have every base covered don't they? Seem unfair to deny an upgrade if you kept you account active. If this is true there are going to be a lot of disappointed/pissed off people.

[benso87]

I saw this article a few minutes ago, and it makes me worry just a little.

I've been using a $10 Nokia phone during the day when I'm at work (construction), because I don't want to break my iPhone. I'll be pretty pissed if they try to tell me I'm not an iPhone customer because of that. I might have to go in tomorrow and ask, just to be sure.

It would've been nice of them to mention this a while ago, though....

[ColsTiger]

Man, they have every base covered don't they? Seem unfair to deny an upgrade if you kept you account active. If this is true there are going to be a lot of disappointed/pissed off people.

I don't see how they're going to do it either, but I'm sure the technology is there to tell which type of phone you last used to access the network. I'm glad I've got my phone still in use. All along, I thought the current iphone data plan would be sufficient.

[dturner]

My question is this. I know there are people on this forum that put the iphone sim in another phone to use at work or some other situation but still use the iphone other times. I wonder how this will be handled?

[Ace4261991]

wtf thats bs if they do that. we all sold our iphones to get the new one why should they care how we got the money its more money for them in the long run. they should of at least let everyone know that this is how theyre gong to do it when the iphone 3g was announced or i would have never sold my iphone.

[Lincoln]

I've popped my iPhone's SIM into a few different phones quite a few times. If AT&T tells me I'm not eligible because of that, I'm going to be livid.

- John

[jarofclay73]

It looks like you'll be fine if you haven't put your iPhone SIM card into another phone.

[freakydeaky dutch bastard]

hmm.. I've been using my blackberry (with iPhone sim) for the past few days because I had to send the iPhone in for a battery repair. Does I no get the discoun? Lucy have som splainin to do..

[ColsTiger]

I saw this article a few minutes ago, and it makes me worry just a little.

I've been using a $10 Nokia phone during the day when I'm at work (construction), because I don't want to break my iPhone. I'll be pretty pissed if they try to tell me I'm not an iPhone customer because of that. I might have to go in tomorrow and ask, just to be sure.

It would've been nice of them to mention this a while ago, though....

Just make sure to put your sim back in your iphone and make a call on the network before you go to buy the new iphone 3G.

[free2rhyme590]

yea i guess they track which phone you have your sim in because a couple days ago my mom and i switched phones... i put my sim in her bj2 and she put her sim in my iphone and automatically on the att website it showed i had her bj2 and vise versa... immediately when we swapped back att updated it instantaneously! im glad i didnt sell my phone!

[jarofclay73]

If they know each time you pop your SIM card into another phone it should also record the times you pop it back into your iPhone. I think it's for people who are shown you have been using some other phone with the same SIM for the past several months or so.

[Lincoln]

Hopefully they'll just base it what phone the SIM is in at the time of purchase.

- John

[ColsTiger]

I've popped my iPhone's SIM into a few different phones quite a few times. If AT&T tells me I'm not eligible because of that, I'm going to be livid.

- John

I don't know, but evidently they can tell if you're no longer an iphone owner. They might even be able to track the original IMEI. If someone else is using it, you may be out of luck.

[dturner]

yea i guess they track which phone you have your sim in because a couple days ago my mom and i switched phones... i put my sim in her bj2 and she put her sim in my iphone and automatically on the att website it showed i had her bj2 and vise versa... immediately when we swapped back att updated it instantaneously! im glad i didnt sell my phone!
Well, that answers my question above and people like John. But for the ones that sold their phones........

[jjvaldez]

i put my sim in a tilt a few days ago to play with mobile tv and now no matter how many times i change it on teh website it tells me i have a tit, wtf

[ColsTiger]

yea i guess they track which phone you have your sim in because a couple days ago my mom and i switched phones... i put my sim in her bj2 and she put her sim in my iphone and automatically on the att website it showed i had her bj2 and vise versa... immediately when we swapped back att updated it instantaneously! im glad i didnt sell my phone!
What do you mean it showed it? Did it show it on the features page, or are you talking about the image when you select that number?

[jarofclay73]

i put my sim in a tilt a few days ago to play with mobile tv and now no matter how many times i change it on teh website it tells me i have a tit, wtf

You put the SIM back in your iPhone?

[dturner]

Hopefully they'll just base it what phone the SIM is in at the time of purchase.

- John
Based on what free2rhyme590 said, this is what it sounds like. As long as you put the sim in the iphone and I guess make a call everyone should be good.

[jarofclay73]

Based on what free2rhyme590 said, this is what it sounds like. As long as you put the sim in the iphone and I guess make a call everyone should be good.

Just for good measure, surf a bit, check weather, stocks, etc. :laugh2:

[jjvaldez]

You put the SIM back in your iPhone?

yea like after 3 min and it still thinks i have the tilt, it been more like 2 weeks, dont know why i said days...

[dturner]

Just for good measure, surf a bit, check weather, stocks, etc. :laugh2:
Yeah, anything that involves the sim card.

[jarofclay73]

yea like after 3 min and it still thinks i have the tilt, it been more like 2 weeks, dont know why i said days...

If you can, visit your local AT&T store and make sure that gets changed ASAP. Hopefully, they understand...

[free2rhyme590]

What do you mean it showed it? Did it show it on the features page, or are you talking about the image when you select that number?

it shows it on the main screen of your number and then i had called att to lower my iphone plan to the 20 dollar plan since we got family text and they verified that my sim was in a iphone at the moment

[Saverino]

Wow. This really makes me glad my sale of my iPhone fell through.

And also, I don't think it counts if you have ever put it in a different phone. I think it matters on whether or not you are currently using an iPhone and have a data plan.
But I'm going to call AT&T right now to check.

[kisstine]

Man, they have every base covered don't they? Seem unfair to deny an upgrade if you kept you account active. If this is true there are going to be a lot of disappointed/pissed off people.

I sure hope none of those disappointed/pissed off people are in front of me in line.:gasp: It's gonna take long enough as it is.

[free2rhyme590]

You put the SIM back in your iPhone?

yes i put my sim back in my iphone and it registered as my sim in the iphone and hers in the bj2

[dturner]

And also, I don't think it counts if you have ever put it in a different phone. I think it matters on whether or not you are currently using an iPhone and have a data plan.
But I'm going to call AT&T right now to check.
This is the way I understand the article. The ones that probably need to be concerned are the ones that sold their phones.

[Alexander]

This technology has been here for years I believe. I remember a few years ago I switched my SIM into another phone and Cingular's site reflected the recent change. And I do believe it involves a phone's specific IMEI number.

[jarofclay73]

This is the way I understand the article. The ones that probably need to be concerned are the ones that sold their phones.

True, true. Because you can't get that iPhone back to become an "official user."

I know people wanted to sell their v1s before the 3G came out, or else you couldn't sell it for more than $199-$299. But, in retrospect, I suppose that wasn't a good idea.

[dturner]

I sure hope none of those disappointed/pissed off people are in front of me in line.:gasp: It's gonna take long enough as it is.
Good point. I'm sure there are a ton of people that are not aware of this. They are going to go Friday to get the new phone and BAM--Sorry dude, no go.

[reas0n]

for those that still have their phones it shouldnt be a problem....just show them your phone lol but for those who sold em looks like your s.o.l.

[jarofclay73]

Now, let's say after you sold your iPhone you discontinued your AT&T bill, in effect, leaving AT&T.

Wouldn't you then be considered a new AT&T customer when you buy the iPhone 3G and qualify for the discount?

[dturner]

Now, let's say after you sold your iPhone you discontinued your AT&T bill, in effect, leaving AT&T.

Wouldn't you then be considered a new AT&T customer when you buy the iPhone 3G and qualify for the discount?
I don't know for sure, but I bet there has to be a period of some time before you would be considered new again.

[Saverino]

I don't know for sure, but I bet there has to be a period of some time before you would be considered new again.

He's right. There is a period before you're considered new again.
I dont remember how long that is though.

[ColsTiger]

Now, let's say after you sold your iPhone you discontinued your AT&T bill, in effect, leaving AT&T.

Wouldn't you then be considered a new AT&T customer when you buy the iPhone 3G and qualify for the discount?

Not unless you had started service with a new carrier. You can't close your account without paying the ETF anyway.

[iphone1027]

Interesting since I had bought a used iPhone V1 from eBay used it for about 2 months and then sold it to someone else. On my AT&T account it states Im eligible for an upgrade on 10-6-08. However I literally have called AT&T 800 number about 6 different times already, asking the same question. "Can I upgrade to the iPhone 3G on July 11th with the price of 199.99/299.99?" They all put me on hold to check some info, come back to the line and state, "You have no problems, go ahead and get your iPhone 3G."

[Saverino]

Interesting since I had bought a used iPhone V1 from eBay used it for about 2 months and then sold it to someone else. On my AT&T account it states Im eligible for an upgrade on 10-6-08. However I literally have called AT&T 800 number about 6 different times already, asking the same question. "Can I upgrade to the iPhone 3G on July 11th with the price of 199.99/299.99?" They all put me on hold to check some info, come back to the line and state, "You have no problems, go ahead and get your iPhone 3G."

How? You're currently not using an iPhone now and you dont have an iPhone data plan right?

[free2rhyme590]

Interesting since I had bought a used iPhone V1 from eBay used it for about 2 months and then sold it to someone else. On my AT&T account it states Im eligible for an upgrade on 10-6-08. However I literally have called AT&T 800 number about 6 different times already, asking the same question. "Can I upgrade to the iPhone 3G on July 11th with the price of 199.99/299.99?" They all put me on hold to check some info, come back to the line and state, "You have no problems, go ahead and get your iPhone 3G."

alot of those guys dont know anything! i asked them something about the iphone and they gave me some 1-800-myiphone number! i was like why cant you tell me and she was like well we dont really know much about the iphone and i was like wow!

[Ace4261991]

from the comments...
Ok. I just talked to my AT&T rep about this, and this is what I determined.
You must have purchased an iPhone between launch last year and more than thirty days ago and still have the iPhone data plan on your account in order to qualify for the full discount. If you sold your iPhone, or if your iPhone is broken/unusable/in limbo, and you're using another one... You're still ok. You MUST still have the iPhone plan.
If you have officially changed the IMEI at an AT&T retailer, or removed the iPhone data plan when you switched phones, you are f**ked. Full price for you! UNLESS YOU ARE QUALIFIED FOR AN UPGRADE.
I switch back and forth from my a737 to my iPhone all the time. When I go out drinking or something, I always use my crappy lil Sammy so I don't bust up my beautiful iPhone. Never has the status of my line changed due to that. And I have full retailer access to my account to verify that fact.

[iphone1027]

How? You're currently not using an iPhone now and you dont have an iPhone data plan right?

Now but I have a data plan that I pay $20 plus $5 for 200 text msgs. I also have 2 PPC/smartphones (TILT & BJ II) that I interchange quite often. Additionally, I always speak to people in the business care division, not the normal phone line that everyone else uses. I have found the people on "business care" have always had more information in regards to these things also, when Ive needed to unlock my phones theyve gladly given me the codes to unlock the phones. I.e. The BJ II & TILT are both unlocked.:2cool:

[iphone1027]

alot of those guys dont know anything! i asked them something about the iphone and they gave me some 1-800-myiphone number! i was like why cant you tell me and she was like well we dont really know much about the iphone and i was like wow!
True, however the reps over in the business care division seem to know a lot more than the regular reps, from my experience.

[free2rhyme590]

Now but I have a data plan that I pay $20 plus $5 for 200 text msgs. I also have 2 PPC/smartphones (TILT & BJ II) that I interchange quite often. Additionally, I always speak to people in the business care division, not the normal phone line that everyone else uses. I have found the people on "business care" have always had more information in regards to these things also, when Ive needed to unlock my phones theyve gladly given me the codes to unlock the phones. I.e. The BJ II & TILT are both unlocked.:2cool:

wow u should hook me up with a unlock code for the bj2 lol!
cuz everytime i call them they tell me no!

[HELPmepLox]

dude i sold my phone for almost 2 and a half weeks now im still paying for the data plan WTeFFFFF djsfhaksghdkfjgh dude they gotta be kidding....... that complete BS....!

[cdinca]

False Scare...everything is ok.

[iphone1027]

wow u should hook me up with a unlock code for the bj2 lol!
cuz everytime i call them they tell me no!

Trust me I would, but the unlock code goes by the IMEI number & they verify it's on your account. PM me so I can explain how you should go about talking to them:wink:

[eye-Fone]

I sure hope none of those disappointed/pissed off people are in front of me in line.:gasp: It's gonna take long enough as it is.
Yeah, that would really suck. :frown:

[chris]

Do you have a friend with an iPhone? If so, just pop your SIM into the iPhone.

I switch phones regularly and at times I'd see other phones on my iPhone account. I just checked and it's back to the iPhone. However, I've seen it switch to the Moto Q 9h at times. Odd, but seems that if "phone home" with an iPhone, AT&T will put you back as an iPhone owner.

I'm assuming this would work?

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

Gizmodo has just updated their site:

"Update: Looks like our the rep at AT&T gave us the wrong info despite double-checking the situation. If you recently sold your phone but haven't purchased another phone through AT&T with a subsidy and renewed a contract, then you're still eligible for a subsidized iPhone 3G (http://gizmodo.com/tag/iphone-3g/) at $199/$299. Even if you shoved your SIM into a temporary phone while you wait out the launch. If you have purchased a new phone with a subsidy, you're not eligible for another subsidy. Glad we cleared this up! Sorry for the scare. Our original post is after the jump, struck out."

[dturner]

Do you have a friend with an iPhone? If so, just pop your SIM into the iPhone.

I switch phones regularly and at times I'd see other phones on my iPhone account. I just checked and it's back to the iPhone. However, I've seen it switch to the Moto Q 9h at times. Odd, but seems that if "phone home" with an iPhone, AT&T will put you back as an iPhone owner.

I'm assuming this would work?
It should. Like I said earlier, if this is true the ones that sold are the ones that will be hurting. As long as you have your phone what you stated should work.

[dturner]

Gizmodo has just updated their site:

"Update: Looks like our the rep at AT&T gave us the wrong info despite double-checking the situation. If you recently sold your phone but haven't purchased another phone through AT&T with a subsidy and renewed a contract, then you're still eligible for a subsidized iPhone 3G (http://gizmodo.com/tag/iphone-3g/) at $199/$299. Even if you shoved your SIM into a temporary phone while you wait out the launch. If you have purchased a new phone with a subsidy, you're not eligible for another subsidy. Glad we cleared this up! Sorry for the scare. Our original post is after the jump, struck out."
So now we are back to what we already knew. This is good.

[Ace4261991]

So now we are back to what we already knew. This is good.
lmao yeah
what a scare. i wonder how many people were going crazy in side for the last hour or so because of that article. i know i was

[dturner]

lmao yeah
what a scare. i wonder how many people were going crazy in side for the last hour or so because of that article. i know i was
I'm sure a lot of spouses had to put the kids outside because mom/dad was using unacceptable language.:tounge:

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

There were a lot of people who were wishing they had diapers on in the last hour or so!

[jarofclay73]

Everyone... take a DEEP breath...

And don't forget to breathe... :smile:

[Alexander]

I think Gizmodo should make habit of TRIPLE-checking before mass revealing news to the general public. Us iPhoners don't take this kind of news kindly.

[jarofclay73]

I think Gizmodo should make habit of TRIPLE-checking before mass revealing news to the general public. Us iPhoners don't take this kind of news kindly.

Well, their downfall is that they talked with an AT&T rep, and from my experience in this forum they are not the final word on AT&T policies. :smile:

[iphone62907]

how about my situation?
my iphone broke and i still have it. its sim card was put into another phone and then thrown awayl.

edit-
was this false? i didn't read the thread

[iphone1027]

how about my situation?
my iphone broke and i still have it. its sim card was put into another phone and then thrown awayl.
You threw away your iPhone (even though it was broken)?? What did you do run it over with a car?

[iphone1027]

how about my situation?
my iphone broke and i still have it. its sim card was put into another phone and then thrown awayl.

edit-
was this false? i didn't read the thread
The original article, YES it was false.

[iphone62907]

You threw away your iPhone (even though it was broken)?? What did you do run it over with a car?

nonono threw the sim out. the iphone still here.. a few drops and viola

[iphone1027]

nonono threw the sim out. the iphone still here.. a few drops and viola
Oh whew!! :laugh2: Well were you able to read the REVISED article?

[ColsTiger]

Gizmodo has just updated their site:

"Update: Looks like our the rep at AT&T gave us the wrong info despite double-checking the situation. If you recently sold your phone but haven't purchased another phone through AT&T with a subsidy and renewed a contract, then you're still eligible for a subsidized iPhone 3G (http://gizmodo.com/tag/iphone-3g/) at $199/$299. Even if you shoved your SIM into a temporary phone while you wait out the launch. If you have purchased a new phone with a subsidy, you're not eligible for another subsidy. Glad we cleared this up! Sorry for the scare. Our original post is after the jump, struck out."

That update doesn't say anything other than the first article. All it says is that if you sold your phone but didn't get a new one with a subsidy, then you still qualify for an upgrade. In that case you get the discount based on your upgrade eligibility. If you own an iphone and have a current iphone plan, it doesn't matter whether you are eligible for an upgrade or not. Say a person bought a subsidized blackberry in April '07. He then bought an iPhone on 6/29/07. If he still has his iphone, then he qualifies for the discounted price based on that. IF he sold his iphone and no longer uses it, then it falls back on whether he is eligible for an upgrade. Seeing he bought his blackberry in April of '07, then he wouldn't qualify yet. The update on Gizmodo only states that IF you are eligible for an upgrade, then you can still get the discount. I hope everyone is eligible.

[kevlar08]

wow this is some bull, this has to be fake its just to bad to be true

[ColsTiger]

wow this is some bull, this has to be fake its just to bad to be true

As long as you didn't buy a phone from at&T with a subsidy, then you'll probably be okay. Anybody that has sold their phone should really check to see if they're eligible for an upgrade. IF you don't, then you might be in for a disappointment Friday morning.

[HELPmepLox]

its all clear'd up thank god haha i wonder are those people in line already pissed about the confusion... hahah im happy tho

[ColsTiger]

its all clear'd up thank god haha i wonder are those people in line already pissed about the confusion... hahah im happy tho

The update doesn't say anything that was said originally. If you don't have your iphone and you don't qualify for an upgrade price then you're out of luck.

That update doesn't say anything other than the first article. All it says is that if you sold your phone but didn't get a new one with a subsidy, then you still qualify for an upgrade. In that case you get the discount based on your upgrade eligibility. If you own an iphone and have a current iphone plan, it doesn't matter whether you are eligible for an upgrade or not. Say a person bought a subsidized blackberry in April '07. He then bought an iPhone on 6/29/07. If he still has his iphone, then he qualifies for the discounted price based on that. IF he sold his iphone and no longer uses it, then it falls back on whether he is eligible for an upgrade. Seeing he bought his blackberry in April of '07, then he wouldn't qualify yet. The update on Gizmodo only states that IF you are eligible for an upgrade, then you can still get the discount. I hope everyone is eligible.