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AT&T Announces Rates and Prices For iPhone 3G [Update: FAQ, Checklist Posted]

Submitted by Edward Kirk on July 1, 2008 - 9:48am.
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AT&T has announced the official prices for the iPhone 3G in the US. The iPhone 3G will be priced at $199 for the 8GB and $299 for all customers who sign up for a two year contract and meet any of the following criteria.

  • iPhone customers who purchased before July 11
  • Customers activating a new line with AT&T
  • Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for
    an upgrade discount

Existing AT&T customers who are not currently eligible for an upgrade discount can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model. Both options require a new two-year service agreement. In the future, AT&T will offer a no-contract-required option for $599 (8GB) or $699 (16GB).

Current customers may also choose to wait until they become eligible for an upgrade discount. Eligibility is generally determined by amount of time remaining on a current contract and payment history.

Current AT&T customers who are upgrading to iPhone 3G will pay an $18 upgrade fee and new AT&T customers will pay the standard $36 activation fee.

Customers who purchase an iPhone 3G can choose between the following plans:

  • AT&T Nation(SM) Unlimited: Includes unlimited Anytime Minutes for
    $129.99 a month.
  • AT&T Nation 1350: Includes 1350 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night &
    Weekend Minutes for $109.99 a month.
  • AT&T Nation 900: Includes 900 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night &
    Weekend Minutes for $89.99 a month.
  • AT&T Nation 450: Includes 450 Anytime Minutes and 5,000 Night & Weekend
    Minutes for $69.99 a month.

Unlimited text messaging can be added for an additional $20 ($30 for family talk plans of up to five lines); $15 (1,500 messages), or $5 (200 messages).

FamilyTalk Plans

AT&T Nation and AT&T FamilyTalk(R) plans are also available for iPhone 3G, and include nationwide long distance and roaming, Visual Voicemail, Rollover, unlimited mobile to mobile calling, Call Forwarding, Call waiting, Three-Way Calling and Caller ID.

FamilyTalk plans will be bundled voice and unlimited data, starting at $129.99 a month for two iPhone 3G lines. Up to three additional lines can be added for $39.99 each.

iPhone for Business

Business customers interested in the iPhone 3G should contact an AT&T sales representative or review their account information online to determine their eligibility for upgrade pricing. Corporate e-mail and other business applications require the Enterprise Data Plan for iPhone, which is $45 a month and bundled with an eligible voice plan. Small business customers may qualify for AT&T BusinessTalk. More information for business users is available at att.com/iphoneforbusiness.

iPhone 2.0 Software

The iPhone 2.0 software will come pre-loaded on all new iPhone 3Gs and is available as a free download to existing iPhone owners.

Update: For those of you who want to get ready for the iPhone 3G, they have also posted a set of "Get iReady" FAQs and and tips, along with a checklist to help you prepare, located here.

Or you can download the iReady checklist directly here.

Nickels and Dimes

Submitted by dark_coupon on July 1, 2008 - 10:25am.
Wow, they're raising the price on everything. $5 for 200 texts? Those are included in the current plan. Looks like they're trying to squeeze every penny out of whoever wants the most popular phone on the planet.

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 1, 2008 - 10:34am.
*sigh*

It sure is cold here without 3G data in the air. I sure wish there was a data plan for those of us that will never see the light of 3G.

Submitted by grafixgrrrl on July 1, 2008 - 10:48am.
no surprises there really except the data part. you know we'll pay it people, and so do they.

iPhone customers that purchased before July 11???

Submitted by Styles on July 1, 2008 - 11:03am.
What does that mean?

Submitted by Ixnay (not verified) on July 1, 2008 - 11:29am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Styles View Post
What does that mean?
I think its just so you can't buy someone elses old iphone after they get a new one, then try to get a 3g one as well for the lower price

Source

Submitted by Stephen007 on July 1, 2008 - 11:33am.
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pi...rticleid=25883

I had the same question

Submitted by madscientest on July 1, 2008 - 11:36am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Styles View Post
What does that mean?
does this mean people who purchased the iphone on june 29 07 on launch day ARE eligible to get the new 3G iphone? EXPLAIN please!!!

July 11?

Submitted by Dttah214 (not verified) on July 1, 2008 - 11:37am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Styles View Post
What does that mean?
Basically if you've purchased an iPhone 2G before July 11, you will be eligable to purchase the new one at the subsidized price, keeping in mind that your bill must be in good standing. If you purchased anything 30 days before the 11th, including any 2G iPhones, you may exchange that device and apply the difference to that of the iPhone 3G. Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to see how busy the stores get.

So...

Submitted by dh42891 (not verified) on July 1, 2008 - 12:13pm.
What's stopping me from buying the subsidized $300 phone from Apple, jailbreaking and using my SIM card from my now-sold-over-eBay iPhone 2G? Is ATT going to charge me the extra $200 they think I should have paid them for the phone, even though I didn't buy it from them? Is my rate plan going to automatically change? Is Apple really going to make me activate in store as soon as I purchase a 3G? What if I'm buying a phone for someone else as a gift too? Do I have to activate and pay for the phone service too? Anyone know?

Submitted by ShawVegas on July 1, 2008 - 2:27pm.
How bout this scenerio.....Go into att or apple store, sign up for a new line, pay $200 for the new phone. Then cancel the line for the $175 early termination fee. Then unlock it and use your SIM. Stay with tmobile, have the brand new iphone for $375. T-Mobile 3G is rolling out this year, stay with your existing 19.99 plan, and you will grandfather'd in to the new 3G data plan, (if they have one and I'm sure they will). I sold my 1st Gen phone for 470 on ebay. So I'm actually making money on the deal.

Submitted by MICHAELSD on July 1, 2008 - 2:46pm.
$15 more for 3G with the same plan? Whatever... my dad pays for it ! I'm glad I got him that $180 XM radio for Father's Day .

Submitted by WatersWest on July 1, 2008 - 4:21pm.
@ ShawVegas: Be careful, I've read that the 3G technology that T-mobile will be using is not compatible with the 3G technology that AT&T is using. Therefore, if you execute the plan you describe, you may be stuck with an Edge-only device, having paid an extra $375 for no reason. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure about this, so you may want to research this VERY THOROUGHLY before doing that.

Submitted by steve101 on July 1, 2008 - 5:30pm.
gizmodo's report "from the mouth of AT&T" of the $39.99, 450 min iphone FamilyTalk plan was right on the money. wait...they were $90 and 250min off!!!

Submitted by csalinastx (not verified) on July 1, 2008 - 6:34pm.
Does this mean that AT&T at some point will allow customers to walk in and walk out, without doing the In Store Activation. Allowing us to go home and choosing another carrier.

Screwed

Submitted by *Rick (not verified) on July 1, 2008 - 9:22pm.
This is totally ridiculous. I don't need the iPhone that bad. I'm done with AT&T and the iPhone. I currently pay $109 for 1400 shared minutes and 3 lines, 200 FREE text and now they want $170.... I use the phone for the phone, the contacts and email. Screw the net. I assume if you upgrade you lose your current plan. It's just not worth it. I'm going to take all 16 employees of mine off of the plan as they expire over the next 8 months. You guys have lost me as a customer. Hello Nextel Direct Connect

Submitted by imagine engine on July 1, 2008 - 9:56pm.
The Americans have a much better iPhone Voice & Data plan than us Canucks here in Canada on Rogers network.

Submitted by macson (not verified) on July 2, 2008 - 12:23am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShawVegas View Post
How bout this scenerio.....Go into att or apple store, sign up for a new line, pay $200 for the new phone. Then cancel the line for the $175 early termination fee. Then unlock it and use your SIM. Stay with tmobile, have the brand new iphone for $375. T-Mobile 3G is rolling out this year, stay with your existing 19.99 plan, and you will grandfather'd in to the new 3G data plan, (if they have one and I'm sure they will). I sold my 1st Gen phone for 470 on ebay. So I'm actually making money on the deal.
It's not gonna work that way since you cannot cancel the contract within 30 days. First 30 days are trial period and if you like to leave within that time frame, they will ask you to return the phone. You can cancel in the second month, but by then you're already out at least $106 ($70/m & $36 activation fee + tax), and more than likely you will be responsible some portion of second month charge as well. So after paying ETF, the total cost will easily reach $500 mark.
In addition, I heard AT&T requires customers to return the phone if they cancel the contract within certain time period (2 months? 3 months? I'm not sure.) It's their common policy for subsidized phones, not just iphone.