Got the iPhone 3G? Prepare to shell out extra $$$ for the new iPhone

Mon Jun 8, 2009 6:54PM EDT

See Comments (646)

If you bought the iPhone 3G on AT&T last year and you were expecting to grab the new iPhone 3G S for $199 (for the 16GB model) or $299 (32GB)—that is, the prices announced during Monday's Apple keynote—think again.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog and AppleInsider are reporting that those of us who were eager (dumb?) enough to buy last summer's iPhone 3G will not be eligible for the discounted $199/$299 iPhone 3G S pricing that Apple SVP Phil Schiller announced during Monday's WWDC event in San Francisco.

Instead, prepare to pay $200 extra for an "early" upgrade, which comes out to $399 for the 16GB iPhone 3G S or $499 for the 32GB version. (As for me, I'm not eligible for the "standard" upgrade $199/$299 pricing until late December.)

According to TUAW, some iPhone 3G owners aren't even being offer the "early" upgrade option—in which case, they're stuck with AT&T's "no commitment" pricing of $599 for the 16GB iPhone 3G S or (gulp) $699 for the 32GB model.

But wait—didn't most of us who upgraded from the iPhone to the iPhone 3G last year get the discounted $199/$299 pricing from AT&T, despite the fact that we were barely a year into our two-year contracts?

Well, yes, but according to an AT&T spokesman I've been trading e-mails with, "there was a difference between iPhone and iPhone 3G—you and other 3G owners got an attractively subsidized price." Huh.

So that appears to be the (extremely) disappointing deal for us iPhone 3G owners who'd been looking forward to upgrading to the 3G S—and I have to say, the revelation is giving me serious pause.

OK, any iPhone 3G owners out there who'll hold off on the 3G S until they're eligible for the "standard" AT&T discount? And anyone else feeling burned that this wrinkle wasn't discussed during the Apple keynote today?

Related:
iPhone 3G owners and AT&T upgrade woes [TUAW]
iPhone 3G users to pay $200 premium for early upgrade to iPhone 3G S [AppleInsider]

 

 

Comments on Got the iPhone 3G? Prepare to shell out extra $$$ for the new iPhone

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 1 Posted by adzynr on Mon Jun 8, 2009 7:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just another reason Apple needs to look at oncoming traffic, i.e., the Pre, and see if Apple is ALWAYS worth the higher prices for computing, texting and downloading. Hmmmph. I'm an ALL apple persona and rapidly become cider on the one that seems to be getting tbe best of their devotees. Even looking at PC's at this point.

  • 2 Posted by nghieptang on Mon Jun 8, 2009 7:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    ATT IS GOOD , I CAN'T WAIT NEW I PHONE 3G S COME OUT

  • 3 Posted by bowen.colleen on Mon Jun 8, 2009 7:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    When is ATT going to put out a smaller data plan for those of us who want an IPhone but don't plan to be on the internet 24/7?

  • 4 Posted by shaggy_drew on Mon Jun 8, 2009 8:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow. Way to support loyal early adapters, AT&T. Beware. When the tides turn and AT&T's exclusive deal with the iPhone runs out, I will show the same amount of "loyalty" to them. It makes no sense, whatsoever, to make me pay $600 when I just bought an iPhone 3G two ****ing months ago.

  • 5 Posted by patrickromsim on Mon Jun 8, 2009 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    Everyone who bought the iPhone 3G last year needs to quit their belly aching. Six months after I bought my car a newer and slightly better version came out but it's not like I can go bring it back to the dealer and say, "Hey this year's model is better then last year's model, let me buy the new model at a discount because that one is better and I'm a loyal customer. Boo Hoo!" Give me a break.

More Posts: First Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next Last

Post a Comment


My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.