iPhone Service Question (data plan)

[esoin]

I am currently on the 700minute family plan on Cingular/ATT. Four phones total. Not eligible for an upgrade. I want to replace one of our phones with the iphone.

My questions is: Can I simply purchase the iPhone at the apple store, pop in my current sim card and activate a data-plan via Cing/ATT?

I called ATT this morning, and the lady said that I need to buy a completely new 2 yr plan + data-plan. Is this true?

Thanks much,

esoin

[Twinnie]

I think so, possibly wait til it comes out in Europe and import it.

[dietPEPSI]

you say you have ATT....sorry this doesnt answer your question but at least you can answer one of mine...

How is the service with ATT??? Is it perfectly fine??? I live in a big city so i shoudlnt have a problem getting signal and dropping calls should I??

[esoin]

Originally Posted by dietPEPSI

you say you have ATT....sorry this doesnt answer your question but at least you can answer one of mine...

How is the service with ATT??? Is it perfectly fine??? I live in a big city so i shoudlnt have a problem getting signal and dropping calls should I??

I'm located near San Francisco, California. We've had cingular service for over 5 years. Strictly for voice and text messaging. They seem to have the cheapest family plans, and the rollover minutes are wonderful. Within the last few years, the signal reception has been pretty good. It used to be a lot worse a few years ago. However, i'm complete happy with the reception now. However, I would suggest asking a cingular/att user in your area about their experience. I can not comment on data plans (EDGE, media net) as I have never used them. I'm hoping the iPhone will let me exhaust data features of the mobile phone.

[iPhool]

I don't think you can use your old AT&T sim from the FAQ.


http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/iphone-faqs.jsp#sim
Q. I'm an existing customer. Can I swap out my current SIM card and start right away?
A. No. iPhone must be activated before it can be used. iPhone includes a pre-installed SIM card for your convenience.

[esoin]

Originally Posted by iPhool

I don't think you can use your old AT&T sim from the FAQ.


http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/iphone-faqs.jsp#sim
Q. I'm an existing customer. Can I swap out my current SIM card and start right away?
A. No. iPhone must be activated before it can be used. iPhone includes a pre-installed SIM card for your convenience.

DO'H, I must have missed that while reading the FAQ. My bad.

That policy really stinks.

[esoin]

I just called my local ATT retail store. They said that all I would have to pay for was the iPhone and the additional $20/month data plan which will be tacked onto my current Family Plan.