AT&T Upgrade Pricing for the iPhone 3G

Release Date: 23 June 2008

From: www.mobilemessaging2.com

By Darla Mack

keyword: Apple, iPhone 3G

The truth has somewhat been revealed regarding AT&T's pricing of the upcoming 3G iPhone. According to Gizmodo, ineligble customers won't be able to benefit from the $199/$299 pricetag that was announced by Apple. Didn't you kind of figure there was a catch of some sort?

The 3G iPhone pricing of $199/$299 with AT&T will only be for: A) Existing customers who qualify for an upgrade. B) New customers. C) Existing iPhone customers who purchase an new iPhone and extend their contract for 2 years.

So that means that there will be an unsubsidized price for those who don't fall into that category, however, the price hasn't been mentioned.

What I find odd is that before the iPhone left the shelves of AT&T, customers didn't have an upgrade option… or so I was told by my local store. So why have one now?

Am I Eligible for an AT&T Cell Phone Upgrade?

Not all Cingular/AT&T customers may qualify for a cell phone upgrade. At this time, AT&T Mobility allows these customers to upgrade with no upgrade fee when they commit to a new 2-year contract:

* AT&T customers who have had 24 months of cell phone service since activation of their cell phone or since their last phone upgrade.

Certain AT&T customers may be eligible for a cell phone upgrade even if they have been in their current plan for less than two years (24 months), if they commit to a new 2-year contract and meet these eligibility requirements:

* Customer has had a standard calling plan plus data services costing at least $68.99 a month but no more than $98.99 a month, and who has been in contract (and not had a phone upgrade) for 21 months or more,
or
* Customer has had a standard calling plan plus data services costing $99 a month or more, and who has been in contract (and not upgraded) in the last 12 months.

A customer with a calling plan and data services of less than $69 who is 21 to 23 months into contract may upgrade for a fee and a commitment of an additional two-year service contract extension. No upgrade fee is assessed for any customers who are on a month-to-month agreement.

Note that AT&T upgrade eligibility may be further limited based on customer's usage history, payment record, previous phone replacement, etc. Upgrade eligibility is solely determined by AT&T Mobility at its discretion.