upgrade 3g to 3gs

Well, yes, it is a feeling of entitlement. No one forces anyone to stand in line for whatever length of time to get one of the phones. People do it to be able to say "I was one of the first...". But that doesn't change how cell phone companies do business. It's how it's always been. This is nothing new, and definitely has nothing to do with Apple. If Apple had chosen to go with any other cell phone company, the argument would be the same but with a different cell carrier name.
What does AT&T owe any of it's customers? It's a business. Personally, I don't expect to be able to upgrade whenever I want without suffering some kind of penalty if I'm still within my contract. That is why the 2-YEAR CONTRACTS exist. I go into it knowing and accepting that and I move on.

iPhoNettie

It's kind of rediculous.

The reality is that you pay so much, AT&T is kind of screwing people in the sense that they refuse to support the features that every other carrier is accepting, so to continue with their thievery further and charge the full price to users that want to upgrade and have been with them for years is, well, just poor business practice. We all know that research could have been done, and we all know the reason that the phone costs extra, but if they're not going to support the features, how can they justify this?

You're an idiot. It's called a contract. All carriers do it, they subsidize the price of the phone when you sign a contract because they slowly make some of it back from you over the course of the two years. When your contract is up and you sign a new one, you will be eligible for the subsidized phone again.

I'm sorry you find the need to have the latest phone and can't be happy with what you have. There is hardly any change from the 3G to the 3Gs anyways. A compass. WOOOOO A COMPASS!!! Video recording and voice commands could have easily been implemented on all phones via software, but Apple needed something to try and show the 3Gs as a new phone, which it's not.

Just because a "new" phone is released doesn't mean you need to run out and buy it. Get through your contract and then next year when yours is expired there will be a new phone to go buy and guess what, you will get it at a subsidized price

If you don't want to be locked into the 2 year contract, just pay full price and you can replace the iphone whenever you want.

Counter-point 😝

I agree about everything that you say iPhoNettie, but that doesn't change the facts. Just because something has been a certain way for a long time doesn't make it right. I could mention quite a few times in history where that was proven true. In fact, I guarantee that you could to.

Technology is all going cloud computing, or requiring a device that only needs to power on (essentially). There has to be a breaking point where enough people have realized how bad we're being screwed while they (cell phone companies) reap the profits from this exploding industry. It's only then that people will truly rise-up and take down those who are deserving of it.

#1 Rule of business: Don't !#@$% your customers.

Even if "you" didn't directly cause it. You cannot deny fault for anything that happens during, or as a result of doing, business with a customer. That's just how this world works. Sad, but true.

Apple's view? They will make more of a killing selling the 3G for $99 and the 3G[S] ones from the $199 up so that it makes over the difference in profit loss. That, and all of the government contracts that they have with the device.

Yes that is true if you just bought your phone and are still within the 30 days return. (I'm a new customer and bought mine on May 25) I am eligible for a free upgrade to the new phone. The rep told me that we do not have to pay the restocking fee because we are not returning it, we are exchanging. At least that is what I was told. I forgot to ask if we still keep our current phone number though. I'm sure we can.

It is funny how everyone acts likes this is a big surprise? I am an original iphone owner. I am a huge gadget freak and I LOVE all things apple. I've been buying apple since 1988. I skipped the 3G and waited for this release. So far the pattern of new release is summer. Just like many are saying not much difference between the 3G and 3G S, I didn't see any reason to upgrade from the first iphone to the 3G (which my hubby has). I wasn't eligible for the 3G at 199 until last December (two years after I bought it) anyway. I knew the pattern though and waited til now. I KNOW next summer the 4G will probably be released with TONS of new features, but hey, in summer 2011 (when I'm eligible again for the subsidized price) maybe I'll get a 5G or a 4G SS (super speed) Ha! Calm down people ... Everyone is so needy these days!

****.. i agree.. lesson learned. This totally *****. Like apple didn't have the capabilities of adding a freagin video camera to the first iphone. Very discouraged with apple.

I can't upgrade till 7/31/09. I wonder will apple let me do it a little bit early if I ask nicely?

Yes, I understand that just because that's how it's always been doesn't make it right. But it does make it a reality. And since all cell phone carriers do business pretty much the same way, why bash AT&T? As I said before, if Apple did business with a different carrier, the argument would be the same but with a different carrier name.
The point is, you may not agree or even like the way they do business, but people have a choice. If they choose to buy an iPhone 2 to 3 months prior to a rumored release (c'mon, generally, when there are heavy rumors of a new release, it's almost a given that it will happen-it's been the case so far) they have to live with it when the new release actually comes out, and not complain.

Apple could care less, ask AT&T

I know the AT&T contract stipulates a 30-day return, but I bought my 3G 17 days ago at an Apple store, which has a 14-day return policy. Anyone know if I can still get that "free upgrade" to the GS?

I feel kinda screwed because it's my first iPhone, I'm not one of the fanboys who keeps tabs on everything Apple does, so I'm ticked at people who just laugh and tell me "you should have known new hardward was coming out."

Message was edited by: Bishop^

Good counter-point ImQuackers. Although I also agree with everything that iPhonNettie says, it's good to have a complete perspective on the issue.

Here's another perspective that I haven't heard yet through all the ranting: Rather than foist all the blame on AT&T for subsidy/contract issues, why doesn't Apple partner with them and agree to drop the price to the subsidied price or something less than full price for those already in an AT&T contract that already have an iPhone? That way, AT&T could provide the subsidy for new users (which is what they ultimately want, and would be willing to pay for) and Apple could provide the subsidy for current users (keep their consumer base happy and have them continue to buy Apple products in the fanatical manner they already do ;o)). True, Apple would take a hit on this since once the unit is sold they don't receive any more revenue, but goodwill is worth quite a bit.

But to say that once Apple prices it, it's out of their hands is a bit like your original point of something being a certain way for a long time doesn't necessarily make it right.

If you think trying to wrangle a phone contract is bad, you should try returning a leased vehicle before the term is up. Shady business practices are not just limited to cell carriers.

I just purchased a refurbished iPhone from BestBuy Wednesday (6 days ago). I had been trying for about a month to buy a refurbished iPhone from ATT's website which was $149 for the 16GB, but they were "temporarily out of stock" for so long that I finally went to BestBuy and paid $199 for a refurbished one (with a 2 yr. contract of course). Now I can get a new 3Gs 16GB with video and increased speed for the same amount of $$$. I bought it (3G) not caring about the new iPhone coming out because the video recording functionality was said to be coming with the 3.0 software upgrade, not with a new phone (software vs. hardware). I'm just disappointed that I have to get a new phone just for that. Everything I read the past couple months related the video recording feature to be included with the 3.0 software upgrade. So, I knew that the new iPhone was coming out, but didn't care because I thought I would get video recording when I upgraded to iPhone 3.0. Does anyone know what BestBuy's exchange policy is? Do I get 30 days to exchange for the new model just as if I bought it from ATT? BTW I have called 2 BestBuy stores and 1 didn't know and the second said they would only exchange for the same 3G model, not the new 3Gs.