Want to write for iPhone Alley? We're hiring!

Home ›

AT&T To Extend iPhone 3G S Subsidized Pricing To Some iPhone 3G Owners

Submitted by Michael Johnston on June 17, 2009 - 1:19pm.
in

AT&T has posted a press release stating that it will offer the iPhone 3G S to iPhone 3G owners at the full subsidized price. If you're "upgrade eligible" July, August, or September, you'll be eligible for the $199 or $299 pricing of an iPhone 3G S. The change will not be reflected in AT&T's systems until tomorrow, so check your eligibility tomorrow. Those looking to upgrade at the new price can do so after the 18th online or at an AT&T or Apple retail store.

Read on for the details!

Importantly, we want our customers to better understand our wireless device upgrade program. Like most U.S. carriers, we offer a variety of phones that we sell below our actual cost when customers agree to sign service agreements. In general, the more a customer spends with us, the quicker they become eligible for a price break on a new device. For example, iPhone customers who spend more than $99 a month per line with us generally are eligible for an upgrade between 12 and 18 months into their contract.

We also currently offer early upgrade pricing only for iPhone 3G S and iPhone 3G.

All of that said, we've been listening to our customers. And since many of our iPhone 3G customers are early adopters and literally weeks shy of being upgrade eligible due to iPhone 3G S launching 11 months after iPhone 3G, we're extending the window of upgrade eligibility for a limited time.

We're now pleased to offer our iPhone 3G customers who are upgrade eligible in July, August or September 2009 our best upgrade pricing, beginning Thursday, June 18.

[...]

If you're one of the customers who benefits from this change, and you've already preordered from an AT&T store, we'll adjust the price of the device when you pick it up. If you benefit from the change and you pre-ordered from AT&T online, we'll send you an e-mail and issue you a credit.

If you pre-ordered an iPhone 3G S through Apple's online store, your upgrade eligibility will be reassessed based on AT&T's new upgrade policy for iPhone 3G owners. If you are eligible for the lower price, Apple will issue you a credit for the difference as applicable.

So, what if you still aren't eligible for our best upgrade pricing and you still want iPhone 3G S now? You do have options:

You may qualify for the iPhone 3G S early upgrade price of $399 (16GB) or $499 (32GB).
You can pay full retail—and not have to sign a 2-year contract—at $599 (16GB) or $699 (32GB).

Thanks to Michael Bower for the tip!

Submitted by jedimacfan on June 17, 2009 - 1:30pm.
The official press release:

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=13745

Submitted by Stephen007 on June 17, 2009 - 1:33pm.
This really should say some 3G customers will be eligble for 3G S subsidized pricing. I am not. My eligibility date is 12/13/2009 and I purchased on 7/12/2008. I guess, from reading the press release, I don't spend enough money to get mine earlier than 18 months.

Submitted by Peter000 on June 17, 2009 - 2:01pm.
Yeah, It's not for people who PURCHASED the iPhone 3G in those months, it's for those who are eligible to upgrade during those three months. They're saying, "you don't have to wait for your eligibility. You can get the phone now."

I'm not eligible until 3-29-10, even though I purchased my iPhone 3G on launch day. This is because I have a base plan. The only extra I have is 200 texts.

Misleading...

Submitted by Smola on June 17, 2009 - 2:22pm.
The article info and the release info are a bit misleading. Unless, perhaps, iPA knows something we don't. iPA said 3G owners who purchased the phone in July, August or September will be eligible. The release says 3G owners who are upgrade eligible in those months will be eligible for the subsidized price. So which is it? Or are they one in the same??

Awesome!

Submitted by Wadester on June 17, 2009 - 2:54pm.
I just went in to an AT&T store yesterday to ask this very question and they said that my upgrade eligibility date was some time in march. However, when i saw this i jumped up and went back today. The store manager told me all customers who PURCHASED the phone in July Aug. or Sept. are eligible for the special deal.
Thank you AT&T!

Submitted by thuggedout on June 17, 2009 - 3:19pm.
After reading the letter from AT&T it seems that if you own an iPhone 3G and are eligible for an upgrade in the months of July, August or September 2009 they will be able to get the iPhone 3G S starting June 18 2009. I guest thats goog for those owners that fall under this catagory, but if you don't fall under these three months you do not qualify for the lower price. I guest this is AT&T's way of showing a little bit of kindness to the consumer; because honestly they don't have to.As the guys of iPhonealley discussed on their podcast which I do agree with, is that AT&T gave consumers a loan on the 3G phones and now they are not obligated to give you another loan for the 3G S.

Submitted by Stephen007 on June 17, 2009 - 4:17pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wadester View Post
The store manager told me all customers who PURCHASED the phone in July Aug. or Sept. are eligible for the special deal.
I hope this is good news for you but it directly contradicts the press release sent out by AT&T. I'm wondering if you were given incorrect information.

Submitted by Wadester on June 17, 2009 - 4:30pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen007 View Post
I hope this is good news for you but it directly contradicts the press release sent out by AT&T. I'm wondering if you were given incorrect information.
I know for a fact that I will be getting a subsidized iphone 3G S this friday. How's that sound?

Submitted by frannyc28 on June 17, 2009 - 6:31pm.
Well I think that the people that WROTE the Press release for AT&[shi]T made a mistake or they are just plain stupid or, 3rd option, they are kidding us.
The press release states: We’re now pleased to offer our iPhone 3G customers who are upgrade eligible in July, August or September 2009 our best upgrade pricing, beginning Thursday, June 18.
Now, if you are a 3G Customer, that means that you bought your iphone the earliest on JULY 08. That, will allow you to upgrade your phone 18 months later according to their upgrade policy. That makes you ELIGIBLE on DEC 2009. AND MAKES IT ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE A 3G CUSTOMER AND ELIGIBLE FOR UPGRADE ON JULY, AUG OR SEPT. You could be eligible on those dates ONLY if you were a 2G Customer not a 3G customer.

So I guess (and hope) that it is only a mistake and not another misleading information from AT&[shi]T!!!

I will call to find out anyway. If I will be able (because some air-head mistyped the press release) I will be upgrading as soon as I get back to New York.

Extended Subsidy

Submitted by stevieburkart on June 18, 2009 - 4:21am.
The press release is way off from what actually happened to me.

I have three phone lines. When I checked last week (before the extended subsidy), all were going to be $399 or eligible in July, December, & January respectively. Now, the ones that were eligible in July and January both got my money refunded with this new extension. The one in December didn't receive an email refunding anything. It also happens to be the only line that doesn't have the largest calling plan. So since it was in the middle, date-wise, it looks like AT&T is really only taking care of bigger spenders.

Submitted by o-matic on June 18, 2009 - 6:18am.
now 02 please

Bigger spenders

Submitted by iPhoneSmith on June 18, 2009 - 8:37am.
Why wouldn't AT&T provide more perks to bigger spenders? They're business people like anyone else: quid pro quo. A lot of businesses cater to those willing to spend more with them.

My point Exactically...

Submitted by pilotmike on June 18, 2009 - 3:42pm.
-------Now, if you are a 3G Customer, that means that you bought your iphone the earliest on JULY 08. That, will allow you to upgrade your phone 18 months later according to their upgrade policy. That makes you ELIGIBLE on DEC 2009. AND MAKES IT ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE A 3G CUSTOMER AND ELIGIBLE FOR UPGRADE ON JULY, AUG OR SEPT--------



My point Exactically... Sure hope it is only miscommunication for the sake of AT&T

Submitted by Stephen007 on June 18, 2009 - 5:38pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pilotmike View Post
MAKES IT ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE A 3G CUSTOMER AND ELIGIBLE FOR UPGRADE ON JULY, AUG OR SEPT
Naw, if you read thru the press release they say that, depending on how much you spend monthly it can be anywhere from 12 to 18 months. They don't actually pin down the dollar figure but, basically, people that spend more money monthly will get to upgrade at the subsidized price sooner.

There's really zero chance there are all typos at this point. Many people speculated on that but nothing has been corrected now for days.