I'm wanting one. Since I still have a 1st Gen Edge iPhone, I might be eligible for some discount. First, I need to pay for f2f. Then I need to see what the OS upgrade will do for my current iPhone. The sad thing is, with the $99 8gig 3G option, I won't get much for my Edge iPhone.

OK, a question pulled over from f2f wrt sharing pics as they happen, or nearly so. I have an iPhone. I found a free app that can upload to flickr (assuming this is the best way to share with everyone). So, for those more flickr savvy, if I create a set that Flickit (the iphone app) can access to post the pics to, and I batch edit to "share with group", does that share the set with the group at this moment, or as I post things?

eta OK, I did a little experiment, I created a set, added one photo, shared (all from the computer). THEN, I added a photo from the iPhone into *my* set. It doesn't seem to be in the Buffista group photostream. (ftr, first shot is me in my Jayne hat, second shot is the scoreboard of the scene shop kitty and it's hunting abilities. If anyone see's it, let me know!)

for those who are feeling frustrated with AT&T, I bring you:

[link]

I don't like AT&T for a variety of reasons, but I definitely think that some of the complaints by existing iPhone 3G users are unfair.

AT&T takes a loss on every iPhone (and almost every phone, for that matter) it sells subsidized on the understanding that they will get close to two years of service from the user; hence the contract one is forced to sign. If Apple releases a new iPhone after only one year, then only half of that contract has been fulfilled, so it makes sense that they would not sell that user ANOTHER subsidized phone.

This has been the standard upgrade policy for ALL of the phone companies for ages. If you want to buy a new phone before your contract is up, you pay more money. This is and always has been true if you use Blackberries, Palms, Razrs, or Sidekicks.

Apple has never liked the idea of their phone working like this, which is why the first generation iPhone was sold unsubsidized to EVERYBODY. But then they got complaints that it was too expensive, especially compared to other, subsidized, phones. Most people were willing to sign the contract in exchange for a cheaper phone, and they did. Those that really read everything and understood this had the option of buying an iPhone with no contract for full price, but very few took it.

AT&T has no incentive to sell iPhone 3G owners a new phone at a loss; those customers haven't fulfilled the contract they signed yet, or even close. Why should iPhone users get special treatment in this? If I bought a Pre on Sprint today, I wouldn't expect them to let me upgrade cheaply again until at least 18 months have passed, after all.

...

It is REALLy stupid that MMS and tethering plans aren't available on AT&T, though.

why don't they just ask people to extend the contract by two years instead of getting complicated?

Much as I like to slam AT&T, Gris is right. 18 mos. to 2 years is totally standard for upgrading a phone with any provider I've encountered, even in cases where the contract commitment was less than that.

That may be true on paper, but when I was with Verizon, I never paid full price for an upgraded phone, and in many cases paid less than the published subsidized price as long as I was willing to extend my contract. (And as I discovered when I left to get an iPhone, they never even really did that - I should have had about 16 months left by my count, but their systems showed me free and clear.)

I haven't been with AT&T long enough to know whether this is also the case with them, but I doubt people would be bitching so loudly if AT&T stores were willing to bend the rules to make a sale, as is standard practice for other phones and other carriers.

I gotta say, I have my own beefs with Verizon. I feel like they did a bait and switch with me - and were not willing to work with me on it. It has to do with my experience with the data card. I think Verizon's service overall is way too expensive.

I think Verizon is more stable than ATT, but given the phones I buy, I need ATT.

I decided to go on the AT&T site to see when exactly i'm eligible for my upgrade. apparently, i'm free to upgrade to any phone except the iphone right now. if i want the iphone, i have to wait until 8/29. what sense does this make???

apparently, i'm free to upgrade to any phone except the iphone right now. if i want the iphone, i have to wait until 8/29.

Huh. Now THAT is sketchy. In my head it should be a simple checkbox - upgradeable account or not - that flips a certain amount of time after your contract start date. That's how it always worked for me back when I used them.

I actually think AT&T might be more willing to be flexible in this case, like apparently Verizon is, if they weren't subsidizing it so much. Frankly, I imagine that AT&T is paying Apple a LOT for the right to sell those phones; it wouldn't surprise me if Apple is getting $400 in revenue for every new iPhone sold. So AT&T really can't afford to be too flexible. It's different when the "subsidized" price is still above the price they pay for the phone, as is the case I'm sure with many older phones.

ETA Plus, people are complaining about the written and official policy. It may well be that in a month or so, when demand for the new one dies down and there are supplies sitting around on AT&T shelves, that people will be able to talk reps into early upgrades. Reps probably still have that power. But the people being the most vocal are the ones who can't bear to wait even a month.