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.

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

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  • 66 Posted by castanedafrank on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wait til next year and get the iphone 4G for the discounted price.

  • 68 Posted by maviboncuk444 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Not worth the money and would never pay $500 to $600 for a phone... I got the Samsung Eternity and it does the job.

  • 69 Posted by nantzsdirtysouthkennels on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    the world is being takin over by ----- cell phones quit ur ----- in,,,,,,i cant beleive ppl pay that much for a phone period u stupid ----- s

  • 70 Posted by speedy33417 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    What part of a two year contract isn't clear to you??? This is a practice with ANY carrier. You sign a contract and you get a discount. If you want a new phone before your contract is up, then it's your fault. Don't expect your carrier to give you $100-200-300 off every time you want a new phone...

  • 71 Posted by feelquiet on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    What a sense of entitlement Iphone consumers have! They feel "entitled" to ANOTHER $400 discount on the latest and greatest iphone, even though they haven't fulfilled the contract obligations for their last $400 discount. Seriously folks, you already got a discount in exchange for a 2 year contract. Quit the whining!!!

  • 72 Posted by buddha2lotus on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    For #5, at least you can trade a car in, can't do that with an iPhone. And no other electronic device maker push such drastic model improvements that make the early adapters feel like such utter suckers. It's just good business practice to not piss your customer base off.

  • 73 Posted by javabum99 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    No different from other carriers policies on 'early upgrade' phone prices.

  • 74 Posted by kpmurf on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm in the same boat, but here's my question. Let's say I wait until (in my case) 6/12/2010 to get the subsidized price. You know what's going to happen, right? There will be a 3G Si or a 4G model that will come along a few months after we get our upgrades... So all of us in this boat are pretty much STUCK being at the tail end of the 'model cycle'...At some point, I'm hoping AT&T and Apple would find some way to catch us up... Well, at least my wife, whose eligible for an upgrade in August will enjoy her 3G S...

  • 75 Posted by rickgut2004 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    How about I take my SCREW OUR USERS TAX money (the 200 additional dollars that current 3G users have to pay for the 3G S) and just buy a digital video camera with it!? Thats all the lame "upgraded" phone is good for anyway. Apple needs to re-think this one.

  • 76 Posted by dajames07 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    Whut is tha big surprise?!? Everybody knew that was going to happen! It always does...remember PS3, X-Box, tha Razor phones, i-pods?? Man i can go on forever!! I don't blame these companies for over charging u fools when a new product comes out thats supposed to be all so high tech.....little do u all kno they already have tha next version made already thats even better!! And once tha sales on the first product starts to go do....drop that price on that bad boy....and after a few more months go on and put tha new version out 4 u idiots!! It never ends!!!

  • 77 Posted by sgryder1973 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    The 3.0 software update for current users is free. Honestly, that will make it pretty much the same unless you really need the 32GB version. I will wait until I can upgrade for the cheaper price

  • 78 Posted by pnl935 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    patrickromism - youre not making any sense and your comparison is awful. these people were told that they would be getting a discount. when you bought your car, were you told you could trade it in for the new model in a few months? no. Think before you try and sound smart on the subject.

  • 80 Posted by ai3di on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    AS someone who hasn't bought any of the new phones, I find you all foolish to keep shelling out this kind of money each year to have the newest and greatest. Yes, I see how great they are, and would love to have one myself, but I know better to let bugs get worked out and prices to come down. I have to feed my family first you know!

  • 81 Posted by shinejsk85 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    When you buy almost anything, you have to keep in mind that it'll probably be upgraded relatively soon. It happens with phones, computers, music players, video games, cameras.... Do you really want--or even need--to keep shelling out money to get the newest versions? Why not just wait a little longer to get the next one that comes out? When I get a new phone every two years I automatically assume I'll have it until my contract is up--unless something happens to my phone and I need to get another one.

  • 82 Posted by babyshoe57 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have AT&T U-verse, 2 iPhones with AT&T, the internet package. If I am forced to sheck out that much money to them for an upgraded phone, I AM DONE. They need to redact this horrendous statement.

  • 83 Posted by duanesfrancis on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why is anyone surprised by this? I'm ready to get my iPhone, but I knew that every summer, Apple usually has a newer, upgraded version of their products (do a quick web search and you can find all kinds of info). Rather than rush out 2 months ago - I WAITED for the new model. Stop bellyaching about this. Boo Hoo.

  • 84 Posted by ydrz2000 on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is stupid of ATT not allowing current customers for upgrade w/o paying $200. In otherwords, we are being penalized for being ATT customers. Dont worry, what goes around comes around....when the time is right!!!. All mI have to do is to cancel current contract with ATT by paying penalty and move to some one else. In this way, at least, ATT will lose one customer......

  • 85 Posted by tammylafaver on Tue Jun 9, 2009 3:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Once more, AT&T is just trying to check our loyalty again, they have to in this period of time. However, I bet the "New" IPhone 3G S isnt going to be much different than the normal IPhone, excluding it's price.

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