iPhone and Existing Cingular Customers (and 2 year contract)

[iPhoneObsessed]

Okay, so I'm having a mini panic attack, someone set me straight please!

I'm finding info that states that the iPhone will only be sold with a 2 year contract with Cingular. ( Reference Link Here. ) I've been a Cingular customer for years, but my current contract doesn't end until January (I bought a new phone last year and signed a contract, now I wish I could go back in time!). The article states that you're SOL if you are an existing Cingular customer, but are still under contract. I'm willing to pay full price for the iPhone! I'll pay an extra 200 bucks for it when it comes out if I have too, because that's how it usually works, phones with a 2 year contract are just cheaper, and you can still buy the phone without the contract.
I really don't want to believe the article cause I just don't know how it would all work, with the iPhone being available in Apple stores and on Apple.com, not just Cingular stores.
Okay, now I'm rambling. Hopefully someone can decipher my scrambled speech and please please please tell me I'm wrong!!!

[wmachin]

I would think that you could just buy it and switch the sim card and pay for service. That's what I've always done with Cingular when I wanted a new phone. Luckily my contract ends in June so I don't have to worry about that, but it seems as though it would be fine to do what you described.

[tompayne]

Originally Posted by iPhoneObsessed

Okay, so I'm having a mini panic attack, someone set me straight please!

I'm finding info that states that the iPhone will only be sold with a 2 year contract with Cingular. ( Reference Link Here. ) I've been a Cingular customer for years, but my current contract doesn't end until January (I bought a new phone last year and signed a contract, now I wish I could go back in time!). The article states that you're SOL if you are an existing Cingular customer, but are still under contract. I'm willing to pay full price for the iPhone! I'll pay an extra 200 bucks for it when it comes out if I have too, because that's how it usually works, phones with a 2 year contract are just cheaper, and you can still buy the phone without the contract.
I really don't want to believe the article cause I just don't know how it would all work, with the iPhone being available in Apple stores and on Apple.com, not just Cingular stores.
Okay, now I'm rambling. Hopefully someone can decipher my scrambled speech and please please please tell me I'm wrong!!!

cingular reps get goodies for signing up new contracts. tell them you will sign a new two year contract and you'll be fine. Or you can add accessories to your purchase and make a deal. it works everytime, and i was also told this by a rep. my contract isnt up till august, but the rep told me to tell them, "ill sign a contract early or buy a bunch of extra crap. ill probably just do the early contract.

[iPhoneObsessed]

I logged on to the Cingular website and did 'livechat' with 2 of their agents. Both of them seperately told me that you can always pay the retail price for a device and not have to sign a contract, though they could not tell me what that price was.

But I don't care how much it is, I'm just so so so happy that I can get one in June! YAY. Thank you so much everyone. This website/forum is the best I've ever found on the iPhone!!!

[tompayne]

Originally Posted by iPhoneObsessed

I logged on to the Cingular website and did 'livechat' with 2 of their agents. Both of them seperately told me that you can always pay the retail price for a device and not have to sign a contract, though they could not tell me what that price was.

But I don't care how much it is, I'm just so so so happy that I can get one in June! YAY. Thank you so much everyone. This website/forum is the best I've ever found on the iPhone!!!

im assuming the price is the same for everyone. AT&T already said, no discounts for the two year contracts. im glad you get to get it in june.

[mav]

I was just informed by a Cingular/AT&T rep that current customers can purchase the iPhone anytime at the regular $499/$599 price points without a contract extension if you are not eligible for an upgrade. If you are, then you could upgrade to the iPhone at a discounted price. Also she claims that the iPhone will be released the second week of June which is consistent with the rumored June 11th and June 15th launch dates.

[miguel446]

What i wonder is what the cost will be in order to access all of the iphone's features. By the time I pay for two phones, with full functionality, will I be able to afford a two-year contract?

[tompayne]

Originally Posted by miguel446

What i wonder is what the cost will be in order to access all of the iphone's features. By the time I pay for two phones, with full functionality, will I be able to afford a two-year contract?

im keeping my current contract. i have enough wifi spots around here to get what i want online. as far as two phones, im just hoping at least one of the 3 cingulars stores in this city has my phone in stock. what other stuff are you getting for it, that will get you "full functionality".

[miguel446]

Well, now I only use my phone for phone calls. No data plans, no text messaging , no anything else. So, I wonder what I'll have to pay for in order to be able to send and receive email, browse the web, text msg, send photos and the like.

[ColsTiger]

Originally Posted by miguel446

Well, now I only use my phone for phone calls. No data plans, no text messaging , no anything else. So, I wonder what I'll have to pay for in order to be able to send and receive email, browse the web, text msg, send photos and the like.

To use all the features you'll want to have a data plan. This guy has widgets that will be connected to MEdiaNet all the time. Data will be transferring over Cingular's network anytime you're not in a Wifi area. Without a data plan, Cingular is going to charge you $.01/Kb of data tranferred. That can add up to the amount of a data plan if you check email just four or five times.