So lets say that you're one of the many, many AT&T customers that isn't eligible for the $199/$299 iPhone 3G price. I can bet that you're probably pretty ticked off, and would do just about anything to get that cheaper price. Well, according to rumors (I haven't found anyone to test this yet) there is a way. Read on for the scoop.
One of the ways to become automatically eligible is by purchasing a 2.5G iPhone, however, that just doesn't seem like a great option for most people. However, you can trick AT&T into thinking that you did, in fact, purchase one. If you have a (very trusting) friend with an iPhone, you can borrow it and pop in your current SIM card. Then you'll just need to plug it into a computer with iTunes and go through the activation process. Go ahead and pop out your SIM and give the phone back to your friend. Now go and check your AT&T account page, and it will inform you that you are eligible for an upgrade.
Of course you will still need to find this friend with an iPhone, and make sure that all of their precious data is backed up. During the process you do end up signing up for a new 2-year contract, but you'll have to do that anyway when you get your shiny new iPhone 3G. Seems like a quick and easy way to save $200.
[via iPhoneAlley]
Hmm. Sorry. This is no trick this is fraud.
-Ben
You call this fraud, however, Steve Jobs specifically stated that no one would pay more than $199 for an 8GB iPhone. There was no mention of contracts or upgrade eligibility. I call what AT&T/Apple is doing false advertising.
It’s sad really that some people are going to have to jump through these kinds of hoops to get an iPhone at the advertised price.
How about this, buy your friend’s iPhone off of them for a reasonable price. Use it for what you need it for, then sell it back to them at the same reasonable price. I know that I’ll be passing this advice along to my friends so they don’t have to pay the $200 premium.
@ Ben
Is this an educated guess you’re making or just a reflection of lack of courage?
Has anyone else given it a try yet?
I wonder if there is a record of the iPhone’s imei, or serial number, or any other identifying device code that would detect the duplicate activation. If so, this thing would not work, because it would make the original user automatically ineligible.
Does anyone know if we have to bring our original iPhone’s to the store to be eligible for the upgrade?
Because my iPhone was stolen, but I still have the reciept.
I really hope the receipt will be sufficient o_o
SOMEBODY MIGHT GO TO JAIL ITS REALLY NOT THAT SERIOUS IT IS FRAUD
Settle down Ben & Darnell, I don’t think anyone is going to jail over buying an iPhone. If Apple store employees can apply for and receive the iPhone rebate for phones they didn’t even pay for, I don’t think anyone is going to make a fuss over a loophole that would be perfectly legal.
You CAN sell your iPhone to a friend for $1.
They CAN activate it and sign up for new service.
Your friend CAN have a change of heart and decide the 2.5G iPhone isn’t for them (but still honor the 2 year contract they signed up for).
You CAN be a nice guy and offer to buy your iPhone back for $1 and start using it again.
See, it’s all perfectly legal. Nobody broke their contracts and nobody broke the law. What AT&T/Apple are doing IS in fact fraud and false advertising. Both of which ARE illegal…or at least they used to be, back when this country was run by it’s citizens and not corporations.
Wow, the trick of getting the iPhone for 200 bucks less must be a good idea. I have a feeling this might work. I have activated my number on my friend’s iPhone before, and when I went onto my AT&T account, it detected that I was on an iPhone. The question that comes to mind is: Can’t it detect a new phone once you popped it back onto your old phone?
This trick does work. I have ordered three upgrades from AT&T (not iphones though) at the fully eligible discounted price.
Yes, it is true. I am saying this because I did it yesterday, I took my friends phone, put my sim card, did the activation process and today my account says that I am eligible for the new 3G phone
Is the suggested backup of the friend’s iPhone data because the new sim activation wipes the existing data, or is it just a “better safe than sorry” suggestion?
My friend will become much LESS trusting about the situation if it is the former!
Ok, um… what if you already activated your number on an iPhone, but then reverted it back to your old phone? How do I re-activate it on an iPhone?
Well, this is a slightly safer way ..may not work for everyone.
If u r a year into ur contract,you need not wait 6 more months
Just get a 30$ additional plan(say internet or something else) so that ur monthly bill comes to around 100$. So ,now u become eligible for an upgrade as all plans 100$ and above are eligible for an upgrade.
Now wait for a day and then go get the new iphone.
While signing up for the iphone make changes to ur plans and in the end u’ll end up with the same 69.99$ plan
Hmmm..thanks for the alternative approach, Gambit, but my bill (due to Family Talk plan and data) is currently $99+ and that doesn’t seem to qualify me ahead of the (apparently) 18 month waiting period for upgrade availability. But if the magic number is exactly $100, I’m perhaps JUST short! I did just add a third line for datacard access, so I’ll be well north of $100 as of this month. Actually going to try the sim card thing with my friend’s iphone this evening.
Hey…Just wanted to let everyone know that I did this tricked and it worked like a charm. After waiting in line for 3 hrs :(, I was rung up for $299 for the 16 GB Black iPhone 3G. There is no risk involved here. Do it and keep some money in your pocket that Apple and AT&T want to steal from you!!!
Can anyone please tell me if this trick still works.
Has anyone tried this after july 11th.
I would also agree that this would fall under the fraud category. Visit my blog to learn how to trick apple into letting you purchase an off contract iPhone for only $199, in a legal way of course. computerandtechblog.blogspot.com