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Current AT&T Customers: Become Instantly Eligible for iPhone 3G Upgrade

Submitted by Michael Johnston on July 6, 2008 - 5:11pm.
in

Current AT&T customers who don't have a first generation iPhone, or who aren't eligible for an upgrade, will have to pay an extra $200 to purchase an iPhone 3G. For those unfortunate souls, this means waiting until upgrade time rolls around, or impatiently throwing down an extra $200 for an unsubsidized iPhone.

Thankfully, there's a fantastic loophole that any current AT&T customer can use to get around this mess. All you need is a little help from a friend who already has an iPhone. Read on for the nitty gritty.

Now, before you start this whole process, be absolutely sure that you're not eligible for an upgrade. You can check by logging in to your myWireless account here. If you're not eligible to upgrade your phone, this little trick should work for you.

Bear in mind, this will only work until the 11th of July (i.e., before the iPhone 3G launch).

So here's how it's done: To become eligible for an upgrade, grab a friend who already has a first generation iPhone. Remove the SIM card from your friend's iPhone and replace it with the one from your own phone. Plug the iPhone into a Mac or PC running a recent copy of iTunes. iTunes will recognize that the iPhone is loaded with a different SIM and begin the activation process. You'll literally need to sign up for an iPhone plan at this point, sign a new two-year contract, etc. But hey, that doesn't matter since you'll be signing up for a new contract when you get your iPhone 3G. Any charges you incur will be pro-rated. It will certainly be much less than what you'd pay to get it unsubsidized.

When you're done, you can return your friend's SIM to the iPhone and your SIM to your phone. Everything will work just as it did for both parties involved. To make sure the process worked, check your myWireless account again to see if you're eligible for an upgrade.

That's it, Enjoy!

I have been Telling people about this

Submitted by rmorningst1 on July 6, 2008 - 5:56pm.
I thought about this a long time ago and have been wondering if it would work. I had a 1st generation iphone but sold it on ebay, so i am automatically available for an upgrade, but my wife is not for another year. My brother has his first generation iphone still and i am wanting to see if this will work, otherwise i will have to pay $399 for her phone. I was wondering if anyone has tried it yet. Thanks.

Submitted by jedimacfan (not verified) on July 6, 2008 - 7:01pm.
You're welcome I want a press badge next time you go! Heh.

Submitted by *supmango (not verified) on July 6, 2008 - 8:11pm.
Go on over to macrumors.com and there are several posts of people who claim it to have worked for them. I am not entirely convinced myself. My primary concern is what it does to the party loaning you their iPhone.

of course...

Submitted by bob (not verified) on July 7, 2008 - 7:17am.
of course they record the IMEI of the phone and then when the actual owner comes to upgrade they will be SOL

Submitted by transitator54 on July 7, 2008 - 11:36pm.
Now I have to find someone who has an iPhone

wow

Submitted by *bigbrass93 (not verified) on July 8, 2008 - 9:46am.
how will this effect old iphones?

Submitted by Stephen007 on July 8, 2008 - 11:14am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob View Post
of course they record the IMEI of the phone and then when the actual owner comes to upgrade they will be SOL
I would think that the upgrade wouldn't be based on an IMEI or anything but rather based on whether you have a 1st generation iPhone on your AT&T account.

tried?

Submitted by *at (not verified) on July 8, 2008 - 4:56pm.
Has anyone actually performed this, then called AT&T and simply asked them if they were available for an upgrade to confirm?

Submitted by jedimacfan (not verified) on July 8, 2008 - 8:19pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by *at View Post
Has anyone actually performed this, then called AT&T and simply asked them if they were available for an upgrade to confirm?
Yes, I have. I've done it to two of my phone lines on our family plan, and now both are eligible per the ATT account web site and from calls to the store and corporate customer service reps.

Submitted by xxx on July 8, 2008 - 8:34pm.
interesting.... So it doesn't affect the original iphone and that person's contract? Seems like a strange loophole until they catch you and you face the penalties!

Could the original be a Jailbroken iPhone?

Submitted by *bob (not verified) on July 8, 2008 - 9:20pm.
I want to try this, but I don't know anybody who has a legit account with AT&T...

Submitted by jedimacfan (not verified) on July 8, 2008 - 11:01pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xxx View Post
interesting.... So it doesn't affect the original iphone and that person's contract? Seems like a strange loophole until they catch you and you face the penalties!
Not so far as I can tell. I've checked my account online, called the store, and called the cust service line. All 3 places show my line and the other two as eligible for upgrades.

Submitted by Snoop1990 on July 9, 2008 - 4:20pm.
I noticed upgrade plans on the t-mobile Germany side as well

Submitted by Sam DaCool on July 9, 2008 - 10:14pm.
Omg this is awesome!!! too bad my friends dont have iPhones. arrg

Submitted by oh mang (not verified) on July 10, 2008 - 12:45pm.
A note: I did this with a friend's iphone last night and it worked perfectly. Unfortunately, when I popped my SIM back in my Samsung, AT&T detected it and reversed my status back to ineligible.

So, I just put my SIM in his phone again today and connected to iTunes. AT&T recognized the iphone, switched back to eligible for upgrade, and I'm simply not going to use my Samsung again.

Submitted by *A person (not verified) on July 10, 2008 - 1:05pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by oh mang View Post
A note: I did this with a friend's iphone last night and it worked perfectly. Unfortunately, when I popped my SIM back in my Samsung, AT&T detected it and reversed my status back to ineligible.

So, I just put my SIM in his phone again today and connected to iTunes. AT&T recognized the iphone, switched back to eligible for upgrade, and I'm simply not going to use my Samsung again.
So, it's true that AT&T can detect a new phone and make it uneligible again, huh? If thats the case I'll have to stop using my phone too >_<

Submitted by Snoop1990 on July 10, 2008 - 3:38pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam DaCool View Post
Omg this is awesome!!! too bad my friends dont have iPhones. arrg
You have to tell them about the iphone and what kind of wonderful device it is that is what apple wants you to do

Submitted by oh mang (not verified) on July 10, 2008 - 5:35pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by *A person View Post
So, it's true that AT&T can detect a new phone and make it uneligible again, huh? If thats the case I'll have to stop using my phone too >_<
Honestly, I'm not sure if they detected my phone or if I just got caught up in AT&T's house-cleaning issues, but I'd rather not risk it. It's only one day without a phone, pretty sure I'll live.

rough lock

Submitted by *whalesalad (not verified) on July 10, 2008 - 6:13pm.
I just gave this a shot with my buddies phone. My account page with AT&T says the same thing that all of my buddies who have had iphones since day one says, which is explained in the following screenshot:

http://img.skitch.com/20080711-r8idu...t34jkersag.png

What happens after July 11th?

Submitted by jto (not verified) on July 11, 2008 - 2:49am.
I am in Japan right now and don't get back until the 12th. Any idea if this will work when I get back?

Confirmed btw

Submitted by oh mang (not verified) on July 11, 2008 - 11:48am.
Just put in my order for one (7-10 bidness days to go, friends). Sure enough, rang up at $299 for 16GB.

Word to the wise: discounted rate plans (corporate AND student) have to go through AT&T to get the subsidized 3G, can't do it with Apple. Found this out the hard way (would have a 3G in hand had I gone to an AT&T retailer early this morning rather than Apple).

Damn employees didn't bother letting peeps standing line know, either. There was an AT&T store across the mall. =(

Submitted by dessine on July 12, 2008 - 1:40am.
wow I really wish I saw this before today now I have to wait till Sept!! There's no way I can afford those penalties!

Submitted by christiansprenger on July 15, 2008 - 9:37am.
Has anyone tried this after July 11th???

Submitted by Martian Manhunter on July 21, 2008 - 11:43pm.
so what you are saying is that if i sell my original iphone on ebay i'm automatically available for upgrade?

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 22, 2008 - 12:27am.
No, you're eligible for the upgrade pricing if you walk into the AT&T store with your current iPhone in hand. If you sell the phone and then walk in there, you will have to pay the larger price tag unless you are otherwise eligible. Just from what I think you've told me, I don't believe you are. However, if you walk in with your iPhone, buy the new iPhone at the $199/$299 price, then you can sell the original phone on eBay.