iPhone News...

[lorax123]

bump.
July 11th is only a few more weeks away! I hear you are going to have to do an onsite activation. Is this going to take forever you think?
Odd that this is going to happen on a Friday, isn't it?

 

[sailors_wfe]

woo hoo! Thanks for bumping this thread, I'd forgotten about it and just this weekend DH said I can get a iPhone I've got Sprint currently and am locked into a 2 yr contract (just renewed in Feb ) and was waiting for the Instinct to come out.. DH and I went down to the sprint store this weekend to check them out and they wanted $500 for the phone DH said we're not spending that much money on a phone.. I cleaverly pointed out that it would be cheaper to get the new $199 iPhone and pay the $150 to get out of my contract then it would be to get the Instinct (that was what I wanted anyway ) Anyway, long story short... I've been told that I can spend $350 on whatever phone I want... I talked sprint down to$300 for the Instinct (I love the cancellation #... they can be talked into anything if you threaten to cancel ) but after reading reviews I think I'm just going to wait until July to get the new iPhone (is it here yet.... is it here yet ) I have a ?? about the plan prices.. I know right now it's $60 for the basic iphone plan, with a $10 charge coming with the new 3G... but what does that include? unlimited data (internet, text messaging, gps in the "new" plan? ect) I know it's like 450 talk minutes (something like that) but what else is included? Just curious if I should go up to the next plan... I really only need about 450 minutes, but I don't want to have to worry about the surprise $3,000 bill I heard about when the iPhone first came out and I haven't been able to find out anything about plans anywhere online
Thanks guys!!! I'm trying to talk DH into letting me take the day off of work to go stand in the LONG line at the apple store to get one of these beauties on the 11th (I LOVE stuff like that... midnight movies... black friday 0-dark-30 shopping Midnight release of Harry Potter books )

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I know that I pay $100 a month for my phone, but I have never had any extra charges no matter how many text messages, how long I've been online or where I've called. Honestly I forget what I opted for when I signed up because it was so long ago and no bill in front of me, but I know I pay $100 a month and the rest of the family their phones are $15 each-they don't have IPhones though.

 

[nikjd68]

bump.
July 11th is only a few more weeks away! I hear you are going to have to do an onsite activation. Is this going to take forever you think?
Odd that this is going to happen on a Friday, isn't it?

Not really. They want to go into the weekend and either report the phone is sold out, or like a movie opening they want to report a huge number on Monday.

The onsite activation, I hear, is to prevent the problems with people not signing up for AT&T once they bought their iphones (i.e., unlocking them) and the problems with the online registration not working well. I don't think it should be a problem. Even for the original iphone, after the first few hours on sale there were no lines to speak of at any of the stores. And remember, onsite activation is the rule in the industry, not the exception.

 

[girli565]

I know that I pay $100 a month for my phone, but I have never had any extra charges no matter how many text messages, how long I've been online or where I've called. Honestly I forget what I opted for when I signed up because it was so long ago and no bill in front of me, but I know I pay $100 a month and the rest of the family their phones are $15 each-they don't have IPhones though.

Does the basic $39.99 + $20 data include all text messaging? Or is unlimited text messaging more?

 

[nikjd68]

Does the basic $39.99 + $20 data include all text messaging? Or is unlimited text messaging more?

No text messaging (SMS) included. The talk is there will be a $5 charge for 200 messages, unlike the unlimited SMS in the original iphone.

Even without the $5, all-in-all the 3G iphone will cost more over the 2-year contract period then the original iphone.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Does the basic $39.99 + $20 data include all text messaging? Or is unlimited text messaging more?

I don't have my bill in front of me so I couldn't really say and I signed up a year ago. I can tell you my bill has never been anything less than $100 a month though. $60 a month would be a dream.

 

[CelticBelle]

I have a question...
I want to get the iphone and begin a new individual contract. I am on my parents family plan that ends in august. I heard that if you are just switching to a different plan (me individually from a family plan) then they dont charge you a cancellation fee. I also heard that the original plan holder (my mom) would have to be there to approve me leaving the plan.

I want to do this switch before I leave for florida for 6 months. The only time I will be able to see my mom is the weekend after the iphone comes out. I would be so upset if they were sold out and my one chance was blown. What do you guys think? Does anyone know about plan switching?

 

[daneenm]

The only time I will be able to see my mom is the weekend after the iphone comes out. I would be so upset if they were sold out and my one chance was blown. What do you guys think? Does anyone know about plan switching?

One thing to mention is that you do not have to activate to buy the phone. You can buy it and then wait until you see your Mom to activate.

--Daneen

 

[CelticBelle]

One thing to mention is that you do not have to activate to buy the phone. You can buy it and then wait until you see your Mom to activate.

--Daneen

I thought that they are now making you activate it in the store when you buy it. I was thinking that that wasnt an option. If it is then that would be great.

 

[daneenm]

I thought that they are now making you activate it in the store when you buy it. I was thinking that that wasnt an option. If it is then that would be great.

Are you buying at an Apple store? If so, the don't have a way to activate you in the store. You log on and do it from your computer. I don't know what AT&Ts policy is but I would imagine it is the same or similar.

--Daneen

 

[nikjd68]

One thing to mention is that you do not have to activate to buy the phone. You can buy it and then wait until you see your Mom to activate.

--Daneen

The new phone will require activation when it is bought. It makes sense. The $199 price is subsidized by AT&T. They aren't going to let people buy the phone without activation.

 

[sailors_wfe]

I know that I pay $100 a month for my phone, but I have never had any extra charges no matter how many text messages, how long I've been online or where I've called. Honestly I forget what I opted for when I signed up because it was so long ago and no bill in front of me, but I know I pay $100 a month and the rest of the family their phones are $15 each-they don't have IPhones though.

wow.. I was thinking our phone bill would probably be going up some with both myself and DH on different carriers (him-sprint still) but if family add on is only $15 a month and if we could get a good deal on an additional phone it may be cheaper in the long run to switch. Thanks for the info!!!

.

The onsite activation, I hear, is to prevent the problems with people not signing up for AT&T once they bought their iphones (i.e., unlocking them) and the problems with the online registration not working well. I don't think it should be a problem. Even for the original iphone, after the first few hours on sale there were no lines to speak of at any of the stores. And remember, onsite activation is the rule in the industry, not the exception.

I can understand why they are doing this... but can you imagine the lines to get these that first weekend if we have to wait for everyone to activate the new phone... that's going to take forever and i would think Apple would have to re-train most of their staff to be able to do this since they aren't trained for AT&T account set-up (or all the hard questons like switching plans ect) I can more likely see them giving you 30 days to activate it or you'll have to pay more or something like that.. wonder when we'll find out all these details.

No text messaging (SMS) included. The talk is there will be a $5 charge for 200 messages, unlike the unlimited SMS in the original iphone.

Even without the $5, all-in-all the 3G iphone will cost more over the 2-year contract period then the original iphone.

so currently iphone users have unlimited texting? Just curious b/c i'm big on texting occasionally and just want to have an idea of what it's going to cost me and what i might have to wait to add on later.... I think it's fair that the 3G plan is more expensive by $10 a month... you're getting a "better" phone with "better" internet and paying less for it in the beginning... that makes it affordible to people like me who prefer paying a small amount extra each month... The difference isn't signifigant enough to make me want the old phone.. I'd rather have GPS and faster internet and pay a little bit more.

I don't have my bill in front of me so I couldn't really say and I signed up a year ago. I can tell you my bill has never been anything less than $100 a month though. $60 a month would be a dream.

is that because you go over every month with your data and things or is that just the plan you signed up for? I'm just trying to get a feel of how the data portion works.. I know currently I pay $10 a month for unlimited internet and $5 a month for unlimited texting, but i don't have to worry about going over on either... i'd want something like that with the iphone too

Thanks everyone!!! Sorry for all the questions

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

wow.. I was thinking our phone bill would probably be going up some with both myself and DH on different carriers (him-sprint still) but if family add on is only $15 a month and if we could get a good deal on an additional phone it may be cheaper in the long run to switch. Thanks for the info!!!

is that because you go over every month with your data and things or is that just the plan you signed up for? I'm just trying to get a feel of how the data portion works.. I know currently I pay $10 a month for unlimited internet and $5 a month for unlimited texting, but i don't have to worry about going over on either... i'd want something like that with the iphone too

Thanks everyone!!! Sorry for all the questions

Don't necessarily go by my bill...I have a business plan that all my phones are on for a total of 9 phones that includes DH and kids and my employees. That may come into play in why my other phones don't cost so much.

My rate doesn't vary each month, so I'm definitely not going over my data or anything else. I just got my bill...so let me tell you what it says:

$80 is my base charge for my phone alone. (includes call forwarding, call waiting, caller id, three way)

I have 1400 anytime minutes. I opted for the Iphone data + 200 which is an extra $20 a month. I have unlimited net and a maximum of 200 media messages.

 

[lorax123]

I think it's going to take forever those first couple days. hopefully they'll do a midnight sale that night! Of course I'll be dead for work the next day. but it's only work. :>

Since I'm part of a 5 person family plan and i'll be the only person adding the iPhone and it's data plan, it's 'only' an additional $30 to our plan right? Right now we have the basic 700 R.O. minutes and unlimited texting options (i think an extra $30 a month for all lines). For my phone and my wifes, I think we pay out $45 for both. So, I should be looking at $75 for both with the 3G? Am I figuring it right?

Anybody that has experience figuring out the cell phone bills let me know. I want one, but I don't want a crazy out of this world bill either! $75-80 is bad enough.

I'm just so looking forward to being able to check the DIS boards while at work.

 

[sailors_wfe]

Thanks for all the info guys!!!
I have one more question I'm hoping someone here will know the answer to... I have pretty poor (mid 500's ) credit score thanks to my college/young adult days... How difficult is it going to be for me to get approved for AT&T?? Just curious if I should plan ahead to have a backup or if they're pretty good about credit. I've had sprint for years and have never had any problems with them and never pd any deposits, but I just want to know ahead of time if I should be worried... anyone have any experience?

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Thanks for all the info guys!!!
I have one more question I'm hoping someone here will know the answer to... I have pretty poor (mid 500's ) credit score thanks to my college/young adult days... How difficult is it going to be for me to get approved for AT&T?? Just curious if I should plan ahead to have a backup or if they're pretty good about credit. I've had sprint for years and have never had any problems with them and never pd any deposits, but I just want to know ahead of time if I should be worried... anyone have any experience?

I've had AT&T/Cingular for 7 years now. I remember they did do a credit check, but I don't know if they still do that or not.

 

[CelticBelle]

recently I signed up for phone and internet through them and I didnt have to go through the credit check or deposit thing like we did with pg&e I dont know if its different for wireless phone service, but thats my info.

 

[rb71593]

I've had AT&T/Cingular for 7 years now. I remember they did do a credit check, but I don't know if they still do that or not.

The credit check does not usually happen but at&t reserves the right to check it.

 

[rb71593]

Are you buying at an Apple store? If so, the don't have a way to activate you in the store. You log on and do it from your computer. I don't know what AT&Ts policy is but I would imagine it is the same or similar.

--Daneen

Well, I've heard that apple now can activate at the store and you can't buy the iPhone without activation. You also cannot buy it online and have it shipped to your house.