How does the preorder work?

I see that you can preorder the phone at an apple store. But can you preorder the phone at an at&t store starting on the 15th? or is it all online?

Hi guys, I just jumped ship to AT&T this past January fully aware of the new phone that was just announced. I'm going to opt for paying retail for the new phone. I would like to pre-order it through Apple next Tuesday for home deliver on or around the 24th. Have any of you done so with previous iPhones at a no contract/non-upgrade price? If so, how does the process work? How will Apple's site know I am currently an AT&T customer that wishes to pay retail and not upgrade/renew his current contract for a lower price?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Message was edited by: minho59

Hi, I was wondering when does the iPhone 4 come out on the 24th? Does it come out exactly at midnight?

When placing the order, you indicate as a new subscriber or as an existing subscriber.

As an existing subscriber you enter you cell phone number and area code. Apple has access to AT&T's info for your account in regards to upgrade status - no different when purchasing an iPhone at an Apple store. The iPhone is also sold at Best Buy stores and Best Buy has access to the same as does any retailer that sells AT&T carrier locked phones and can set up service with AT&T for a customer.

In the past, the iPhone went on sale at a designated local time in each time zone.

When the original iPhone was released on a Friday at the end of June in 07, it went on sale at 6 PM local time in each time zone, which was fair to those that worked 8-5.

I believe the same with the 3G which I think went on sale on a Saturday morning at a designated local time in each time zone.

Not sure with the iPhone 4 if this will be when the doors open for a store that sells the iPhone or if it will be delayed until early evening as with the original iPhone.

Will the time of release be shared on june 15?

Many thanks Allan!

I have Family Talk plan with my son and he is eligible for upgrade now but I am not until Feb 2011
I know in the past ATT has allowed switching a family member's eligibility to upgrade another family member.
I want to use his upgrade to put iPhone 4 on my account and give him my 3Gs.( he is ok with this btw)

Can I pre-order to do this? How would it work?

I appreciate your help if you can, as you seem pretty knowledgeable.

You would pre-order the iPhone for your son's line/number to get the fully subsidized or discounted price. If you have the iPhone shipped to your door, I suggest taking the iPhone 4 and your existing iPhone that you son plans on using to an AT&T corporate store for the activation and switch. The iPhone 4 subsidized or discounted price applies to your son's line/number and changes the upgrade status for his line/number along with a new 2 year contract beginning on the iPhone's activation date but you want the iPhone activated with your line number and your existing iPhone activated with your son's line number.

I would do the activation and switch at an AT&T store.

So we all know that we can pre-order with Apple. How about AT&T's own website ?
Can't we do the pre-order there ?

Sign up for their iPhone 4 announcements and they'll let you know.

I did ... So far no announcements on that ...

It was announced just yesterday - a little over 24 hours ago, and pre-orders won't be accepted until the 15th. As of now, only Apple will be accepting pre-orders online or at an Apple store beginning on the 15th with more info likely to follow sometime between now and then.

*Allan Sampson: 'In the past, the iPhone went on sale at a designated local time in each time zone.*

*When the original iPhone was released on a Friday at the end of June in 07, it went on sale at 6 PM local time in each time zone, which was fair to those that worked 8-5.*

*I believe the same with the 3G which I think went on sale on a Saturday morning at a designated local time in each time zone.*

*Not sure with the iPhone 4 if this will be when the doors open for a store that sells the iPhone or if it will be delayed until early evening as with the original iPhone. "*

I plan on purchasing the new iPhone which will be my first iPhone. If I understand you correctly, I can still pre-order and then set my AT&T account up when I pre-order? The reason I ask is I'm a current Verizon customer and will be going to AT&T for the iPhone, so will I be able to pre-order? And if so will my service start whenever the phone comes in or on the 15th? Thanks for your help!

do you know if apple will actually ship iphones to people or do we have to pick them up in the store. I currently have an iphone. would love to avoid activation in the store