Austin360 blogs > Digital Savant > Archives > 2009 > June > 08 > Entry
Wait, WHAT’S the iPhone 3G S price again? (Updated)
Update to the update, 5:30 p.m.: Official word from AT&T on the issue of iPhone 3G S pricing for existing customers:
AT&T will offer iPhone 3G S and iPhone 3G at a variety of attractive prices:
These price points are available to all new customers and to existing customers who are upgrade-eligible (qualifying customers). Upgrade eligibility varies with each customer, but in general you will become upgrade-eligible the further you are into your service agreement. Customers can find out at att.com or in one of our stores if they are upgrade-eligible. If they are not currently eligible for an upgrade but still want iPhone 3G S we’re offering an early upgrade price of $399 (16 GB) and $499 (32 GB).
- iPhone 3G S will cost $199 (16GB) and $299 (32GB) for new and qualifying customers.
- iPhone 3G will cost $99 (8GB) for new and qualifying customers.
- The 16 GB iPhone 3G will be available for $149 while supplies last.
I’ve also noticed that going to the AT&T site and logging in qualified me for an upgrade for a $99 iPhone 3G that wasn’t available at that price on Apple’s site. The 3G S is not available there yet, but that’s a world of difference from what I was seeing on the Apple Store site (which was pulling information from my AT&T account to see if I qualified).
According to AT&T, customers can pre-order the 3G S now at stores or later tonight on the AT&T iPhone page.
(End of update)
I was going to update the post on Apple’s announcements today, but given the curiosity over the new iPhone announced today, I thought it was worth its own post.
As Techcruch pointed out in a post after the Worldwide Developer Conference keynote afterglow had faded, pricing of the new iPhone 3G S may not be as clear as the presentation led us to believe.
The price of the phone may actually be as high as $599 to $699 for the 16-gigabyte or 32-GB models for those who are not qualified for a subsidy from carrier AT&T. As stated in the fine print on Apple’s comparison page (in teeny-tiny hard-to-read text):
For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB). Visit www.wireless.att.com for eligibility information.
So, early adopters, before you take your wad of cash to the Apple or AT&T store, you might want to call ahead and see what you’re qualified for and what you might actually be paying. This is worst-case scenario, of course. It’s very possible that original 3G buyers won’t even have to deal with it. But then, why even post that on the Apple site in such a scarily worded way?
I’ve got an e-mail in to AT&T to inquire further on this issue. The phone’s not out until June 19, so at least there’s a little time to figure this out.
From what I’ve heard, those of us who didn’t the leap to the 3G phone will qualify for the $199/$299 prices automatically. Hey, sometimes it’s good to be a cheapskate!
Update, 4:44 p.m.: I just tried entering my information to see what would happen on the Apple site, and got this bad news:
Oh well. I guess those of us who don’t qualify for the upgrade will have to start calling it the Apple 3G $.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment Categories: Gadgets, Phones
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By Sherry
June 11, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this
My adult son had just purchased an 8GB iPhone two weeks ago at the $199 price. When this price-drop announcement was made, he called AT&T who agreed to credit his account for $100, so he was very pleased with their customer service.
By Omar Gallaga
June 9, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this
Chuck -- see previous comment, right above yours. No news yet, just rumors.
By Chuck
June 8, 2009 11:48 PM | Link to this
I'll ask here as well, was there any news to the AT&T only contract? Why would I shell out $700 if I can wait til next year when my contract expires and go with a new carrier who will at that point also have the iPhone? Plus as AT&T is doing, the new company would probably offer an incentive to join their network(i.e. lower priced iPhone.)
By Omar Gallaga
June 8, 2009 10:49 PM | Link to this
It's still just a rumor, but given the subtle slights against AT&T in today's keynote, I'm taking those rumors more seriously now.
By Melanie
June 8, 2009 8:51 PM | Link to this
I have heard rumors that Verizon will be carrying the iPhone sometime soon. Is that true?
By Dustin
June 8, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this
I would assume that the reduced pricing refers to anyone who would normally be eligible for a phone upgrade discount. This would include anyone who has completed a two-year contract and is on a month-to-month plan, and those who have completed the better part of a two-year contract and ATT has deemed eligible for an upgrade based on usage history. You can always check such upgrade eligibility on the ATT My Account web page - there's an Upgrade Eligibility link that shows the status of each line. I'm not sure there's anything "new" about this policy as it relates to the 3GS.
By maczter
June 8, 2009 4:29 PM | Link to this
I added a third line to our family plan $10/month) to get the discounted price on the iPhone 3G, so we conveniently now have two other lines that qualify for equipment upgrades and I'm being shown the advertised prices "as an existing customer".
Here's a screenshot for the skeptics among you...
http://twitpic.com/6xi2n/full