Got the iPhone 3G? Prepare to shell out extra $$$ for the new iPhone
Mon Jun 8, 2009 6:54PM EDT
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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.
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]
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27 Posted by heggoodgood on Tue Jun 9, 2009 4:02AM EDT Report Abuse
Everyone knows they are taking a risk when they buy electronics.....If it is that big a deal to someone they will pay if not they will wait simple.....Apple just banks on all their sheep to jump whenever they think their buddies might have something cooler than them!
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28 Posted by iejdaniel on Tue Jun 9, 2009 8:12AM EDT Report Abuse
AT&T wouldn't let me get an iPhone last November, as my hardware contract ran until mid Feb. My old phone literally died in January, and I have been using a 4 year old RAZR since. Why didn't I get an iPhone in February? Because everyone that wasn't living under a rock knew an upgrade was coming. The funny thing is that this Saturday, when my service contract is up with AT&T, it is buh-bye. I could get an iPhone, of course, but it wouold come with the beast that it is tethered to, the whores at AT&T. You treat your current customers like crap, and this one is gone.
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29 Posted by mwbudd on Tue Jun 9, 2009 9:43AM EDT Report Abuse
I bought my phone 3 months ago thinking that when the new phones came out in June that there would be an upgrade path. Wrong. Oh well, live & learn. I guess. This was a cheesy decision on Apple's part. I am disappointed.
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30 Posted by adzynr on Tue Jun 9, 2009 10:02AM EDT Report Abuse
to patickromsim: it's not a belly ache- read the posts. No one is asking for a discount on what they have, but they don't want to penailized and PAY MORE than the next person when they buy the NEW 3gs. I am a loyal applephite and always buy the new products when they are released, but this SURCHARGE to upgrade is crazy. Go take some pepto bismal yourself.
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31 Posted by cpuguru2 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 10:09AM EDT Report Abuse
are you some kind of Apple n00b?! anyone who has owned any Apple product knows there is zero upgrade path to anything. they will change the processor/software..you get left with obsolete junk. If you find this to be a surprise - then you are clueless. period. hello?
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32 Posted by jared_bossart on Tue Jun 9, 2009 11:32AM EDT Report Abuse
Still not sure why apple supports the exclusivity contract. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of people that simply refuse to go to at&t because of there terrible service all around. I hope at&t goes bankrupt and is unable to keep up the bribes to apple.
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33 Posted by starvingarvin5 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 11:38AM EDT Report Abuse
I am a current iPhone 3G user but see no significant difference between the the current 3G and the 3G S. I would love to have the new iPhone 3G S, but im not about to sheck out $200 dollars extra for a faster processor and video recording. I'm not upgrade eligible until May of 2010, and do not plan on paying extra for an exact replica of my phone. I'll just have to wait until next summer to buy the 4th Gen model of the iPhone (hopefully with much more features than the 3G S).
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34 Posted by surferduude132 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 11:38AM EDT Report Abuse
I dont know hwy every one is belly aching, I knew there was going to ba knew phone every year. So when I bought mine I planed on haveing it for two year's and when the 4G come Out I hope it is on more then one network. Why get a knew toy when the old one works just fine and you still get an upgrade.And and Big FU to AT&T MMS was anouced in at the deveoper conferance and they had 6 month the prepare. OH and all you folk who are wating for the teathering.. It is not going to happen.. Remember when the App for it came out and AT&T fliped and told Apple to take it down. The 3G was alway capeable of theathering... AT&T Bite me you money Whores...
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35 Posted by surferduude132 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 11:39AM EDT Report Abuse
I dont know hwy every one is belly aching, I knew there was going to ba knew phone every year. So when I bought mine I planed on haveing it for two year's and when the 4G come Out I hope it is on more then one network. Why get a knew toy when the old one works just fine and you still get an upgrade.And and Big FU to AT&T MMS was anouced in at the deveoper conferance and they had 6 month the prepare. OH and all you folk who are wating for the teathering.. It is not going to happen.. Remember when the App for it came out and AT&T fliped and told Apple to take it down. The 3G was alway capeable of theathering... AT&T Bite me you money Whores...
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36 Posted by ricster131 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 12:12PM EDT Report Abuse
It would make more sense to cancel your plan sell your iphone unlocked and then buy the new iphone.
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37 Posted by allendscotty@verizon.net on Tue Jun 9, 2009 12:30PM EDT Report Abuse
Speak with your $$$ instead of just complainning. End your contact and move on to a better company.
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38 Posted by nataleeannsmom on Tue Jun 9, 2009 2:41PM EDT Report Abuse
I don't think it's Apple's responsibility to speak on behalf of AT&T and their pricing plans, so I don't think the keynote needed to have that info. Although it would have been nice! I love my 3G and I will hold out for the 3Gs "standard" discount eligibility. However, I agree w/ shaggy_drew, for those of us who've been w/ AT&T for years, iPhone or not, there should be some sort of loyalty shown in return. The Pre's not looking too bad, huh?
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39 Posted by bozfisher on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse
Go to the apple web sight and the 32 gig is 299.00. If you are paying 600.00 you are getting ripped off.
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40 Posted by trev84 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse
That's why I kept my first generation iphone and skipped the 3g
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41 Posted by sthaynze on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:15PM EDT Report Abuse
F*** it. I'll wait till mine dies, gets washed in the laudry, lost or stolen before I get a new one. That's just my way. If you have something and it works-keep it.
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42 Posted by juliajcruz on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse
It is the price we pay for being early adopters. There will always be another, newer, better, shinier something. If you don't want to spend the money, don't buy it. It's not like your iPhone stops working just because it's not the newest version.
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43 Posted by mike.apilado on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse
Some will have to pay?? Not me.... I have a three year old cell phone - a flip phone, LG, that serves it's purpose. My little sister has to have all the latest technology and funny thing...she's deep in debt and works 40 hrs a week. I'm debt free, own property and earn enough off investment income to retire in my late 30's. Do people ever stop and wonder??????
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44 Posted by zevonodelberg on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:17PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm feeling burned by the fact that my iPhone 3G works terribly in Los Angeles. I literally drop over 50% of the calls. This may be more ATT's fault. But making such an overtaxed, crappy network their exclusive is Apple's fault. And what's with not being able to foward, or cut and paste texts? After a year with my iPhone, I am so appalled by it's lack of performance that I can't believe Apple as the chutzpah to try to charge those of us who are alredy getting screwed, hundreds of dollars for a phone that hopefully will work as well as the last one was supposed to. They oughtta call it, iEVERTHINGBUTAPHONE. Making calls? Is there an app for that?
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45 Posted by cfohlopez21 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:17PM EDT Report Abuse
Stick to what you can afford.
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26 Posted by tsalas08 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:35AM EDT Report Abuse
i agree with patrickromsim on this one even though we iphone 3G adopters are feeling the pain and have to bite down hard on the D on this situation. i got my 3G in December/January so there's no way i'll be elligible. but whatever man. We still got the 3.0 update which btw is still pretty lame since ATT wont be supporting MMS till later this summer. how noob...