You cannot buy iPhone if you are NOT eligible for an Upgrade Unless you Add A line

[joco]

Folks,

Check this out... I confirmed it with two stores.

You can only purchase an iPhone IF you are eligible for an upgrade OR you purchase a new line.

So if you currently have a Cingular/AT&T plan and you are not eligible for an upgrade you cannot purchase an iPhone... Unless you add a line for an extra 9.99 a month. Which also means you will need a separate data plan for the iPhone as well.

If you don't believe this call your local store... they have this info.

 

[rollerbones]

Folks,

Check this out... I confirmed it with two stores.

You can only purchase an iPhone IF you are eligible for an upgrade OR you purchase a new line.

So if you currently have a Cingular/AT&T plan and you are not eligible for an upgrade you cannot purchase an iPhone... Unless you add a line for an extra 9.99 a month. Which also means you will need a separate data plan for the iPhone as well.

If you don't believe this call your local store... they have this info.

I am not sure about this...Last I heard there will be no reps at an Apple store, they will sell you the phone then you have to call to activate
And the 2 AT&T stores I talked to said they have NO idea what requirements are yet and the will not know until the next week.

 

[joco]

I am not sure about this...Last I heard there will be no reps at an Apple store, they will sell you the phone then you have to call to activate
And the 2 AT&T stores I talked to said they have NO idea what requirements are yet and the will not know until the next week.

I hope you are right.. but my local store Mgr is saying this... but you make a good point.

 

[billnye97]

Well I'm safe either way. I'm eligible for an upgrade now. I would really like to know some specifics though. It's another reason to go to the Apple store instead of ATT to get the phone.

 

[Napoleon PhoneApart]

And the 2 AT&T stores I talked to said they have NO idea what requirements are yet and the will not know until the next week.

The same with my local AT&T store.

 

[iWant iPhone]

that doesn't make any sense what so ever. so your telling me, if i were to take my phone that i have right here, run it over with my car, i could not go to my AT&T store and buy the iPhone, or any new phone for that matter?

all im doing is giving them money for a device.

upgrades should only matter, if you are looking for the discount, but as i have heard there are no discounts with the iPhone.

 

[iJohn]

I've asked this same question at many places, including a few topics here and have gotten the same response. You CAN purchase the iPhone if you either A) Buy a NEW 2 Year Contract OR B) Extend your contract for 2 more years. I believe the latter choice will be used to accomadate everyone that has a contract now and cannot get an upgrade. I don't believe it costs any money to perform an extension.

 

[gentlegiantcraig]

I've asked this same question at many places, including a few topics here and have gotten the same response. You CAN purchase the iPhone if you either A) Buy a NEW 2 Year Contract OR B) Extend your contract for 2 more years. I believe the latter choice will be used to accomadate everyone that has a contract now and cannot get an upgrade. I don't believe it costs any money to perform an extension.

I was told when I talked to AT&T that if there is a upgrade processing fee it is $18 or $36 and will occur on your next bill, and you CAN get a phone by extending your contact to 2 years. He Said he knew that for sure, but didn't know what they were doing with the upgrade processing fee.

 

[WmH2]

that doesn't make any sense what so ever. so your telling me, if i were to take my phone that i have right here, run it over with my car, i could not go to my AT&T store and buy the iPhone, or any new phone for that matter?

all im doing is giving them money for a device.

upgrades should only matter, if you are looking for the discount, but as i have heard there are no discounts with the iPhone.

Take iPhone out of the equation for a moment. If I run over my phone and I do not have insurance on it, I would have to buy a new phone at full cost if I am not eligible for an upgrade and sign a new contract.

With insurance this changes a bit depending on what exactly happened to the phone and you would get a replacement of the same type of phone. I have used the insurance to apply towards a newer phone, but had to restart my 2 year contract. And it wasn't one of their top of the line "newer" phones.

In the case of iPhone, you are only getting the "discounted with 2-year contract" price. They are not selling the phone at full price because AT&T wants wireless service as well and are taking advantage of this relationship with Apple to do that.

Also keep in mind that AT&T is expecting a flood on the 29th @ 6pm. So they are trying to limit their casualties by only signing up New Contracts on that date. If you give them some time they most likely will come out with additional offers for existing accounts. (or at least this is how I am going to get through iDay, since my contract doesn't expire until the middle of August!)

 

[iJohn]

Also keep in mind that AT&T is expecting a flood on the 29th @ 6pm. So they are trying to limit their casualties by only signing up New Contracts on that date. If you give them some time they most likely will come out with additional offers for existing accounts. (or at least this is how I am going to get through iDay, since my contract doesn't expire until the middle of August!)

I totally see where you're coming from and I cannot imagine that AT&T/Apple would make it so a lot of people would not be elligible like with trying to buy other phones.

 

[gentlegiantcraig]

Isn't AT&T the "largest Service provide" ? I don't think it would make any sense to not allow there own consumers to not get the iPhone because there not eligible. They already know that they are locked with the phone for 5 years. So why not give it to all, that want it. I was told by a AT&T Rep. that I will be allowed to extend my current contract to 2 years.

 

[thedwp]

Make sure you're talking to a certified AT&T/Cingular corporate store...I've tried to buy new phones before from the "Authorized Dealers" (even at full price) and they would not sell me one because they are only interested in new contracts. BUT anytime I go to a corporate store they sell me whatever I want. Most recently I went in and bought a Blackberry 8800, paid full price.

Just to double check I called my ATT store today and they assured me I could buy an iPhone even though I'm already a customer. I will have to extend my contract, but who cares, I've got to have a cell phone from now on so no big deal to me.

 

[chefj]

Make sure you're talking to a certified AT&T/Cingular corporate store...I've tried to buy new phones before from the "Authorized Dealers" (even at full price) and they would not sell me one because they are only interested in new contracts. BUT anytime I go to a corporate store they sell me whatever I want. Most recently I went in and bought a Blackberry 8800, paid full price.

Just to double check I called my ATT store today and they assured me I could buy an iPhone even though I'm already a customer. I will have to extend my contract, but who cares,

I've got to have a cell phone from now on so no big deal to me.

Same here! I might as well have the one i want.....

 

[WmH2]

I think some of you miss understood my original post. I wasn't trying to say that AT&T couldn't handle the traffic, like phone calls/bandwidth/cellular service. I meant, you can only fit so many people in a store! Have you ever been to one of the old Cingular stores? You go in and wait in line to get waited on. It can be like 45 minutes in some markets. Now, lets complicate everything by throwing something huge into the mix... like oh, lets say... the exclusive release of iPhone. From AT&T's perspective they are interested in getting new customers from other providers. To them it's all about the number of people on their service. The fact that anyone would wanna come in and buy an iPhone is just a bonus. Current subscribers to their service won't do anything for them on iDay (Jun 29th) except add back log at the stores.

 

[torrentprime]

Shouldn't this thread get renamed? It's incorrect, I believe...
Existing customers can buy the phone; they just re-up their contract for 2 years.

 

[wjp09]

LOL. That my friends is why we don't post FACTS base on rumors.

 

[myusi]

I totally see where you're coming from and I cannot imagine that AT&T/Apple would make it so a lot of people would not be elligible like with trying to buy other phones.

I just activated a Blackberry plan 4 months ago with a 2 year contract. Last night I bought my iPhone and activated with a new plan and a new 2 year contract no problem. Not sure why some are having trouble.

 

[cman6453]

I just activated a Blackberry plan 4 months ago with a 2 year contract. Last night I bought my iPhone and activated with a new plan and a new 2 year contract no problem. Not sure why some are having trouble.

Same here. No troubles at all. Ported my phone over and everything.

 

[c1ockwerk]

i was to be due for an upgrade in august and had no problems getting an iPhone.

 

[Mystic]

wait, so you weren't eligible for an upgrade c1ockwerk, yet you still got your iPhone activated? What was your contract with your other phone?