Yesterday’s announcement of the 3G iPhone at WWDC answered a lot of questions, but as with any unreleased product announcement, it also raised a few. Some of the questions I have seen circulating around, and some I had in my mind. So hear is the answer to some of the questions, courtesy of Brad Mays, AT&T PR.
Will you allow the iPhone 3G to be used on your pre paid service? No, each new iPhone requires a new, two-year contract. There will be no pre-paid or month-to-moth options.
Basically now there is no doubt, that the iPhone will not be able to be used on pre paid plans. This is unfortunate, as all the pre pay plans can do is give Apple more sales. It does not fit with Apple’s new plan to stop iPhone unlocking, and alas will not be allowed.
Can customers not eligible to receive a discount price, or those who are not willing to sign a contract, still get the iPhone 3G? No – see number one.
Well that is pretty straight forward. It does not answer the question though, if a customer currently on AT&T can get the iPhone 3G at the discount price. I am sure all that will come up in the future as the July 11th release draws nearer.
For people who are not in 3G areas but want the 3G iPhone for its looks, new features etc, will you still charge the extra $10 for data, or can they use the standard iPhone plans? We will provide more plan-specific information closer to the time of availability. But, as of right now, we have said that each new contract requires a voice and data plan. And, the new iPhone data plans are $30 for consumers, $45
for business users.
Well, it seems that AT&T prefers to deliver the typical corporate dance around. In my area, AT&T offers no 3G coverage, at all. There are plenty of areas with the same story, and it is hardly fair for them to pay an extra $10 a month for the same service they were getting with their old iPhone.
How will AT&T be activating the iPhone 3G, and can activation be done at home via iTunes still? All activations will take place in the store. We think this will give customers an opportunity to cover any questions they have before leaving the store.
We all know that this is not the case. Apple and AT&T are severely cracking down on iPhone unlocking, and are requiring all iPhones to go out the door activated. While there could be some truth to what was said here, it is more likely they are just trying to tighten control.
I of course do not speak for everyone. There are tons of questions I did not ask. What are the questions you all have? Please leave a comment, and we will contact AT&T again, and make another post with the answers you all crave.
Heyz. These answers lots of questions. But what if i want to buy it as a birthday gift for my friend? i’d be using my credit card, and if my friend doesn’t activate it. would i’d get fined for that? don’t think it’s reasonable. means now iphones can’t be given as a gift without giving a AT&T package together i guess.
O2 in the UK will be offering iPhone on “pay as you go” deals. So this looks like AT&T restriction rather than Apple
Thanks for the info. Was waiting 1 year for this phone. So now we can’t just add two years to our pre-existing AT&T accounts. What if I want to put only one iPhone 3G on my family plan? At least we have 1 month to clear these issues up.
My question is what if i sign up with a contract and say 6 months down the road i move to another country (that does offer iphones) will i be able to unlock my iphone to work on the new network for examples i move from the USA to Canada will i be allowed to switch my provider to Rogers beacause AT&T has no presence in Canada? How will this work?
Can you port over your current cell phone number from another provider at the point of sale and activation?
I heard that there will be 8GB, 16GB & 32GB but I only see 8 & 16GB models listed on Apple website. Any news on the 32GB?
@AT&T,
Have you finished destroying every good thing that Cingular was able to accomplish during it’s reign or is there something I missed?
Does your mom, Satan, really have red skin like in the cartoons or does she look more like Elizabeth Hurley as portrayed in the movies?
Why do you have to be such a greedy dick? Let me buy the F’n iPhone and use it how I want. I’d rather pay the $600 (I already did) and have a lower monthly nut to crack. I don’t have 3G where I live and the iPhone STILL doesn’t have A2DP so I won’t be upgrading anytime soon.
Here is a bigger question :
Will this thing finally support the stereo audio bluetooth profile , as well as the ability to ‘beam’ files between bluetooth devices ?
Will it be able to map as a harddisk (like an ipod can) so ican finally store important stuff on there ?
I generally don’t much care what hardware costs. I buy it, take care of it, and it essentially lasts forever. What I DO care about is the associated ongoing costs, whether it’s razor blades or a cellular plan. For this reason, I’m now MUCH less likely to want an iPhone.
Will there still be SMS messages as part of the data plan or will we have to pay extra for that feature?
Why still no MMS!!!!!!
One question that I have. Do you have to get the business plan to use the Exchange e-mail features?
Thank you all for all your comments. I will make sure we get in contact with AT&T and ask some of these questions. Keep ‘em coming!
Hardware innovation on the iPhone won’t happen until Macworld 2009 (Vincent’s prediction). Again, the new iPhone 3G announced at WWDC 2008 is mainly to refresh the iPhone product line prepping it for worldwide domination.
Brian says:
June 11th, 2008 at 8:05 am – Edit this comment
I heard that there will be 8GB, 16GB & 32GB but I only see 8 & 16GB models listed on Apple website. Any news on the 32GB?
ATT spokesperson will do his best to address the questions/concerns etc. But the official word is there won’t be a whole lot until closer to launch. So hang tight folks.
When travelling overseas with an iPhone 3G and AT&T plan, how would service be provided? Will AT&T hand off? Or what?
If I give my current iPhone to my mother (who is already an AT&T costumer) when i buy the new 3G iPhone, will she be able to sign up for the current $20.00 dollar data plan or will she be required to purchase the $30.00 data plan? Also, will she be required to sign a new two year contract or will she be able to stay with here current contract?
I bought my Iphone from AT&T store on 21st but the phone was shipped on June 2nd,
does it count as purchased after 27th ?
if so, how will the exchange for the new 3g iphone works??
ATT and APPLE are such dicks; if you want to sell more phones why try to screw the customer at every turn. ATT always looks for ways to rip off its customers. A 2-year contract to buy the phone. Apple should sell the iPhone at the right price and let us do what we wish with it. PERIOD. AFTERALL, IT’S OUR DAMN MONEY!
So – they activate it in store now huh? Is that only at att stores? If you buy from the apple store do you activate through itunes? I would imagine that the apple store would be faster if this is the case….
If I’m currently in a 2-yr contract with AT&T will I be able to buy the iPhone w/o paying some sort of penalty for renewing my contract?
When I called my local AT&T store the clerk informed me that at the time of purchase, my 2-yr contract would simply renew if I were to buy the iPhone, essentially just starting all over again. Granted this call was made a mere matter of hours after the WWDC (and therefore complete info. was probably not made known to this clerk), I’m wondering if this is truly the case?
@Alex:
This is an FAQ. The response has been that you’ll just have your contract restart at the date of purchase of the iphone and be required to hold it for 2 years from then.
@Mike O’Brien:
You pay through the nose for international wireless roaming.
hay im just wondering im in new zealand and if buy the 3g iphone off a sight thats not a phone sight would it work on prepay at all or is there no way it could work at all please give me a reply thenks heaps??
Apple are the ones who set the price at $200. AT&T needs to raise something in order to make anything off it now. And those of you who would rather pay $600 for the device without a contract, well, can’t you still buy out your contract for $200 or whatever it is? Heck, with the new FCC ruling, buying out your contract should be easier now than before…
Rogers now has a new cancellation fee. Well not so new but quite expensive. if you cancel your contract, they charge $40.00 per month up to $400.00 maximum. It used to be $20.00 per minth and a $200.00 maximum.
So “Fredbo” you can still pay your $600.00 if you wish.
Has anyone tried simply getting the iphone and then canceling within a couple of days just to use it for it’s other features? Does ATT shut you out or lock it down?
My home and office both have wi-fi so that’s all I want it for. That and mobile me is coming out which makes it even nicer.
I know the ipod touch does this but it’s just not as pretty as the iphone and I like the camera and external speaker.
Also, I H-A-T-E ATT service. More bars in more areas… yeah right…
Michelle,
I heard you can cancel after a few days, without incurring a cancellation/contract cancellation cost/fee. But it has to be done within the trial period, so call AT&T to get specifics. Just ask, what if I don’t like the service?, calling about another phone that is… ;)
Once you cancel, you still have to pay full price though, so it will be more than 199 or 299, since those prices are for a phone with a 2 year plan.
hope this answers your question.
I’ve heard this second hand, reading through forums and what not.
I doubt I’ll be back here, since I just found this site, so good luck!
Apple is selling 8GB iphone at $199 with 2 year AT&T contract. but if i or any one don’t want to get bound with that at&t contract. will they sell it? even i am ready to pay the double amount ie 400$ for 8gb iphone but without any restrictions. can this be possible?
Hey, Does anyone know if you have to buyout your contract for AT&T or do they just add 2 years on to your existing one????
honestly the real problem is that at&t and apple choose not to inform people of the pricing for uneligible customers. Steve Jobs said in his keynote presentaion that the number one reason people did not get the iphone was because of its price, so they cut the price by $200. But then you find out its not true but only for new and eligible customers, wtf, then $10 bucks more a month for 3g really, they weren’t charging that before, and then $18 upgrade fee, does no one else annoyed by this?
digg.com/apple/Customer_Service_Try_Corporate_Service
Got iPhone through ATT, got Data Plan, don’t want it. Well here you go, it’s your lucky day!
1. Grab thefollowing, activated iPhone, website to “Jailbreak” an iPhone, an old craptacular SIMCard Phone capable of getting on the ATT network (I found one online for <$20)
2. Jailbreak iPhone
3. Download BossPrefs
4. In BossPrefs, turn EDGE off. EDGE is the cellular internet. Keep Wi-Fi on
5. Write down IMEI (or IMAI, i forget) and serial number from the craptacular cell phone
6. Remove SIM card from iPhone
7. Put SIM card in craptacular cell phone
8. Call ATT, tell them you changed your phone. Make sure they cancel the data plan service, everything else the same. They will askfor the IMEI or Serial #
9. Ensure craptacular phone works on ATT service.
10. Put SIM card back into iPhone. Enjoy less $$ on your bill, no more data plan!
*** Note: Cannot stress importance of turning EDGE off. ATT will know you have an iPhone if you access data via cellular and not Wi-Fi ***
Enjoy
Hey, identified your website by accident performing a research on Google but I?ll definitely be coming again. ? How can I think in God when only final week I bought my tongue caught inside the roller of an electrical typewriter?
I just couldnt leave your internet site before telling you that I actually enjoyed the top quality details you present to your visitors? Will be again often to check up on new posts
We wish to thank you again for the gorgeous ideas you offered Jesse when preparing her own post-graduate research and, most importantly, with regard to providing all the ideas in one blog post. In case we had been aware of your site a year ago, we’d have been saved the unnecessary measures we were participating in. Thanks to you.
vast chart you procure