Upgrading to Iphone Version 3.0

JohnnyG238 · 08-24-2008, 12:10 PM

I just had a scary thought...Will we be able to upgrade to version 3 when it comes out next summer at the subsidized pricing? The reason I say this is because version 1 was not subsidized so ATT lost no money when you came in to upgrade your plan to a 3G phone. You just signed a new 2 year contract. However, if you go into the store in a year to get a new phone they will potentially lose one year of cellular fees unless they make you wait one more year or charge you unsubsidized pricing on the phone. This is another reason I hate 2 year contracts!!!

MileHighRob · 08-24-2008, 01:48 PM

Actually they won't lose any money because they make you turn around and sign another two year contract. We hadn't fulfilled our original two year agreement from the first iPhones we purchased last year when the 3G came out and they allowed us to purchase the new phone with a new contract. I don't understand how you think AT&T is losing money. They are just simply extending contracts and retaining customers for a longer time frame.

JohnnyG238 · 08-24-2008, 02:05 PM

You obviously didn't read my post carefully. The first iPhone was NOT subsidized...ie ATT did not pay any money to lower the cost. YOU paid the full amount ie 399 or 499 when you bought the phone. Now they ARE subsidizing the price by paying the difference. That way you only pay 199 and 299 instead of 399 and 499. By subsidizing they are trying to entice buyers to get the phone. That $200 that ATT is paying for the price difference they want to make up over two years. They didn't have to make up any money with the first generation.

MileHighRob · 08-24-2008, 02:15 PM

Yeah, you're right, I didn't read your first post carefully.

Although I think Apple takes the hit as well. I don't think it was exclusively AT&T's decision to sell the 3g at a subsidized price. I'm certain AT&T's price on each unit was discounted accordingly as well. I believe this is why Apple had virtually all of the inventory coming out of the gate. Their (Apple) profit margin was smaller on the units they sold to AT&T vs. the ones they sold directly to consumers.

Anyway, regardless of the retail price, I'll definitely be in line come iDay3.

monkeysrock0622 · 08-24-2008, 03:58 PM

Well, it is possible that Apple and AT&T could have some kind of agreement that as long as the subsidized phone you had was the iPhone 3G, you can still get the new one at the subsized price.

paa79594 · 08-24-2008, 04:23 PM

And are we even sure to see a third iPhone next summer....
http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/08/...one.3g.target/

JohnnyG238 · 08-24-2008, 06:04 PM

Sure. Why not? They project 39 million by next summer. But how many cellphone are out now? How many people upgrade just to have the latest and greatest? I am sure there will be millions of 3G phone owners who will stand in line to purchase version 3.0 next summer. I don't think they would do anything except upgrade antenna, maybe change form factor a little, maybe upgrade camera, and increase memory. Just my two cents worth next to nothing...

Lincoln · 08-25-2008, 09:51 AM

This is the main reason I didn't get a 3G. The way I see it, iPhone 3G was made to draw in new customers, not to convince V1 iPhone owners to upgrade. The next iPhone will be designed to both draw in new customers and convince V1 iPhone/iPhone 3G owners to upgrade, as it will likely be the one to be feature packed. I want to be eligible, and by then, my original contract will be up.

mcaram16 · 08-25-2008, 02:21 PM

With all the bad publicity apple is getting right now (class action law suit) because of the 3G phone not really living up to all the hype...i can't imagine them releasing another phone next year until this one is running flawlessly for a while! Imagine selling what 12 million phones and 6 million of the owners have some kind of major problem with the phone! Especially if they can't rectify this 3G issue with a software upgrade for every 3G iphone owner...can you imagine recalling 12 million phones to replace a bad chip??? No way another phone comes out next summer! Obviously this i all my opinion...and the 3G chip maker says the chip is perfectly fine...but who knows what will happen in the next few months.

gotzaiPhone · 08-25-2008, 06:23 PM

well, what you have to remember is that AT&T allows the primary account holder to upgrade every 12 months. This is only true for the name on the account and before anyone calls BS, I've done it 4 years running now. For your second, third, fourth and so on people on your account, they have to wait the 18 to 22 months or what ever it is to upgrade.... UNLESS, they agree to this little known upgrade plan. My wife used this, any secondary user can upgrade ONCE after 12 months if the new contract they get into, they agree that they cannot upgrade again for the full 24 months. Its confusing, I know, but I've been through it.