The definative iPhone activation and eligibility thread.

[ATTingular]

Originally Posted by WTEngel

I called AT&T Customer service and got an identical story. Bottom line, anyone who purchases an iPhone is purchasing it outright, whether you are eligible for upgrade or not. New customer, old customer, heck, if you want to go to the Apple store and purchase one without a plan or anything, unactivated, it sounds like you can. You wont be able to power it on or use it for anything other than a paperweight because it isn't active with a valid SIM chip, but hey, it's a damn good looking paper weight right?

$499.00 - 4gb
$599.00 - 8gb

Plain and simple. No upgrades, subsidies, blah blah blah...at least that seems to be the story AT&T is sticking to.

That's what I thought. I'll change the main post to reflect that.

Originally Posted by mav

Thanks for posting this.

As I mentioned in my other thread, I already found out that I'm not eligible. At least this is the stance several of my local AT&T stores are taking. I was hoping to get one under my corporate account, but it looks like that path has been taken away as well.

This sucks.

You're ineligible for a standard upgrade, however the iPhone is not a standard upgrade. It seems you will be asked to extend your contract to 2 years and get the data plan, but you'll be able to get the iPhone.

Originally Posted by Youngbinks

Great and very informative thread. I am also eager to hear if upgrade eligible people get a discount on the iPhone. I am prepared to pay the full $599 but if there is any chance of a discount that would be great.

No discount. Period.

[brinox]

yea definitely informative - i had no idea a data plan was going to be required, but that makes sense after ATTingular explained it thanks

[ColsTiger]

I hereby nominate Attingular for Post of the Year! Excellent post!

Thanks for spending the time to put it all down in one post. This is pretty much what we've thought for a while now and it does seem that there will be one price for the iPhone whether you're a new customer, an existing customer, or an existing customer with upgrade eligibility. If we find out any different, then it should be posted in this thread for Attingular to edit into his original post.

This thread will be extremely helpful to people searching for details about the iPhone plans.

Thanks again.

[Remain Nameless]

Originally Posted by mav

Thanks for posting this.

As I mentioned in my other thread, I already found out that I'm not eligible. At least this is the stance several of my local AT&T stores are taking. I was hoping to get one under my corporate account, but it looks like that path has been taken away as well.

This sucks.

Keep the faith man, there's plenty of information out there that conflicts with your findings... hopefully it will work out.

[Spin This!]

If this thread is definitive can you at least spell it right?!

I refuse to believe anything posted anonymously on the Internet until release day.

[gt1948]

Originally Posted by ATTingular

Again, I'm not 100% on how upgrades will be handled, but if you're already eligible for a standard upgrade then you're golden no matter what.

I'm Golden, How Sweet it is.:

[Marksman]

Thanks for putting that information together.

I got a bit concerned. I am a cingular customer, and I am about 7 or 8 months into my contract. As long as I can extend and buy, i will be happy.

[ebrunn]

If all this is true(and I think it is) then AT&T has just f'd up big time and ruined all the work Apple put into the iPhone. Leave it to Att to screw something up that could have been so nice.

[mav]

Originally Posted by ATTingular

You're ineligible for a standard upgrade, however the iPhone is not a standard upgrade. It seems you will be asked to extend your contract to 2 years and get the data plan, but you'll be able to get the iPhone.

I hope you're right. Right now, I'm down to Plan C - add a line to my account.

[007youknowme]

these voice plus data fees hurt, gonna see my cell fee skyrocket over $100 a month for one line. ouch.