How does the preorder work?

Allan -

Thank you for all of the useful information so far! I looked for this scenario but didn't see anyone ask it yet, so hopefully you can help out.

Let's say that I am eligible for upgrade on June 20. Can I still preorder on June 15 and have the discounted price for delivery on the 24th?

Thanks!

You're welcome.

You should be eligible for the fully subsidized or discounted price when pre-ordering on the 15th since activation with AT&T for the iPhone won't and can't occur until the 24th at the earliest. If not, worse case is you pre-order on the 20th but you probably won't receive it on the 24th and If so, you should be able to survive if you are unable to receive and activate the iPhone on the 24th. 😉

Do you have any idea if Apple will be taking pre orders starting at 12:01 AM on the 15th? Also it will be available to pre order online correct? How is it when ordering it online? Is the website very slow due to all the orders being placed at one time?

I have no idea about the actual time, but I'm pretty sure pre-orders will be accepted online.

I have never pre-ordered an iPhone or anything else online at the exact minute it became available for pre-order, so I don't know. I assume Apple is expecting "X" demand when pre-orders begin and will plan accordingly, but if servers are overwhelmed at the particular time you are trying to place an order, it should clear up fairly quickly. I can't imagine a few minutes or even a couple of hours would make that much difference. If it does and your order is delivered on the 28th instead of the 24th, it shouldn't be a big deal unless you must have the iPhone in hand and activated on the release date.

what if youre new to at&t and are switching from sprint? do you just preorder the iphone online and your plan then pick it up at the apple store and activate it in itunes? and if im keeping the same number my old phone wont deactivate til i activate my new iphone will it?

So, if during the course of the day on the 15th the available-to-ship on time stock is depleted, will the order process be suspended until there is new stock available? Or will the preorder process take the payment, then tell us that orders cannot be delivered until later?

I have a 2007 model and I think I deserve to be first in line for waiting so long! Just kidding. So looking forward to my new iPhone. And I'm traveling on the 27th, so it's gonna be a nail-biting wait.

What would happen if I started a new plan in february, and pre ordered an iphone 4? Would it be the same thing, just assuming my contract would be extended another four months? And would it still be $200?

No.

A two year contract is not extended. You either qualify for the fully subsidized price with a new phone or you don't. If you don't, you have to pay the full retail sales price for a new phone or pay an early upgrade price with a new phone if an early upgrade price is available. Either way, your existing contract is in effect cancelled and a new two year contract is signed on the activation date for the new phone.

Yes it is payment upon order but the charge won't hit your card until it is delivered.

The opening times for pre-ordering have varied in the past. When I pre-ordered my iPad I placed the order at 8:30 am, est and had no trouble at all and I received it right on the announced time.

You can pre order and pick up at an Apple store and have them activate it for you or have it delivered and activate yourself. It must be signed for if delivered in person or by printing off, signing and hanging the delivery authorization form for Fedex. Best way...depends on your situation. I've never had any trouble either way.

I am currently on a Verizon contract, but it has ended. I want to join my sister on her At&t plan, but how would I got about getting the new iphone? I want to use my current number, but I also want to preorder the iPhone. Is that even possible?

I tried looking through the topics and could not find this. I work in Chicago fairly close to the Apple Store. Can I pre-order mine at the Apple Store on June 15th and pay be cash at the store? I dont mind doing Credit card, but if I have the option I would rather pay up front at the store on June 15th.

Thank you in advance for your response.

Not sure about the Apple store accepting cash for this, but call the Apple store that is fairly close to where you work and ask them.