AT&T Pricing Update

[shutter]

AT&T Announcement

An Update for our Customers

Some customers have had questions about our plans and policies for iPhone 3G S, and we’d like to provide you with answers. We’d also like to announce a change to the date when some iPhone customers are eligible for our best upgrade pricing to iPhone 3G S.
PRICING

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 many customers who will benefit from this change, please note that our upgrade eligibility tools will reflect this change on Thursday, June 18.

We invite you to come to our stores beginning Friday during normal store hours, although please be aware that customer demand may exceed supply in some of our stores. You may also preorder online on June 18 at iPhone 3G S, Exclusively from AT&T and Apple - | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular, and your iPhone 3G S will arrive in 7 — 14 days. Or you can purchase iPhone 3G S at Apple’s retail and online stores, as well as at other popular retailers.

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).
* You can wait until you’re eligible for our best upgrade pricing. We invite you to check your upgrade eligibility by visiting iPhone 3G S, Exclusively from AT&T and Apple - | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular, calling *NEW# (*639#) on your AT&T device (we’ll send you a text with upgrade information), or visiting any of our over 2,200 stores.

If you want more details on our pricing and upgrade policy, check out our FAQs. And as always, you may visit one of our stores to talk with a representative.
In Summary

We’ve listened to our customers — and hope our response helps answer some of your questions and concerns.

We are incredibly proud to be the U.S. carrier for the new iPhone 3G S and will work around the clock to be ready on June 19 to serve customers who are interested in the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet.

Learn more about iPhone 3G S and iPhone 3G.

[jhamilton3]

Bout time they listened.. kinda.

[alawson84]

That's good they did that even though they were within there rights to charge the current prices. At least AT&T is trying to keep some customers happy.

[mwg3c]

I don't understand how this affects 3G customers. Unless I'm missing something, I believe no 3G customers are available for upgrade during those months. I bought my 3G on the day of launch and am not upgrade-eligible until December. Does this not confuse anyone else?

[Entertainment72]

Theoritically they only concede 3 months.. July, August and September.. so it's not all that. If you were eligible for a new 2 year contract during those months you don't have to wait. I'm a good example, my contract is up August 31,2009 so I won't have to wait till then.

[llofte]

Originally Posted by mwg3c

I don't understand how this affects 3G customers. Unless I'm missing something, I believe no 3G customers are available for upgrade during those months. I bought my 3G on the day of launch and am not upgrade-eligible until December. Does this not confuse anyone else?

I bought my 3G on launch day last year and am now eligible for the cheap price. The price of your monthly bill has an affect on how quickly you become eligible for upgrades.

[shutter]

Originally Posted by mwg3c

I don't understand how this affects 3G customers. Unless I'm missing something, I believe no 3G customers are available for upgrade during those months. I bought my 3G on the day of launch and am not upgrade-eligible until December. Does this not confuse anyone else?

If you purchased your 3G in July, August or september of 2008, you can purchase a 3G S tomorrow with the full subsidy.

The best upgrade eligibility is 12 months, so if you purchased on iDay last year and you had the best upgrade eligibility, you could not purchase a 3G S with full subsidy until July 12th of this year. If you had 18 month upgrade eligibility you couldn't purchase one with full subsidy until december.

AT&T has decided to give full subsidy to any 3G owner that purchased their phone (I am assuming from Apple or AT&T) in July, August or September, right now, you do not have to wait until december to upgrade.

[mwg3c]

Originally Posted by shutter

If you purchased your 3G in July, August or september of 2008, you can purchase a 3G S tomorrow with the full subsidy.

The best upgrade eligibility is 12 months, so if you purchased on iDay last year and you had the best upgrade eligibility, you could not purchase a 3G S with full subsidy until July 12th of this year. If you had 18 month upgrade eligibility you couldn't purchase one with full subsidy until december.

AT&T has decided to give full subsidy to any 3G owner that purchased their phone (I am assuming from Apple or AT&T) in July, August or September, right now, you do not have to wait until december to upgrade.

I don't think that's correct. I think your ability to upgrade just gets pushed up to Friday if you originally would have had to wait until July, August, or September.

[mwg3c]

Originally Posted by llofte

I bought my 3G on launch day last year and am now eligible for the cheap price. The price of your monthly bill has an affect on how quickly you become eligible for upgrades.

Hmm, I guess I didn't think of that. How much was your monthly bill?

[llofte]

Originally Posted by mwg3c

Hmm, I guess I didn't think of that. How much was your monthly bill?

Mine is around $120 between my iPhone and my husband's crap phone.