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iPhone upgrade update: I did it, with the help of my wife
I have joined the Dark 3GSide.
(Credit: ThereIsNoBox.ca)A few weeks ago, I was at wit's end. I couldn't upgrade to an iPhone 3GS, and apparently neither could many other people who bought their 2008 3G in the window that AT&T had promised would net "most customers" a 2009 3GS subsidy.
AT&T was never really forthcoming about what, exactly, would trigger being qualified for an update versus not. I gave up, and then had an idea: my wife was eligible for an upgrade to her 2G iPhone, but didn't want to pay $15 more for a 3G data service. In an incredibly generous move, she allowed me to use her upgrade eligibility for an experiment.
We went to the Apple Store at Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, bought an iPhone 3GS, and then headed home. I swapped my SIM out of my 3G and into the 3GS, and synced with my home MacBook. In seconds, it seemed like a fluid swap had occurred.
Then I took my wife's new 3GS SIM and put it in her old iPhone. The iPhone 2G displayed a "plug into iTunes" screen and emergency call display when I restarted, but plugging back into her Vaio brought up an iTunes page that required reauthorization before an AT&T activation. After entering her social digits and billing zip, a funny thing happened: iTunes itself recommended to me that I downgrade my wife's newly-minted 3G data plan back to 2G, to match the phone detected. I agreed, and moments later, her first-gen iPhone was up and running once again.
Even better, we signed up for a lower-cost family plan the next day, saving even more money. Her eligibility for an upgrade is now March 2011. Mine is 1/31/2010. Next year, if she wants an upgrade, I'll give her mine. Upgrade swapping...isn't this what true love was made for?
(We recommend backing up your iPhones before engaging in a similar experiment.)
Oh, and how's the iPhone 3GS? I like the video recording a whole lot, especially for quick-capture of baby moments, and the compass+map location is a nice touch. The speed injection amounts to the iPhone finally working the way I'd always wanted it to: lag-free. Oh, and then there's the extra 16 gigs of storage space. It's worth it--for the subsidized price, that is. If you tune into the Digital City live show on Friday, I'll be sure to talk about it/show it off at least once or five times.
That was my July 4th weekend. How was yours?
Scott Stein, a New York Jets fan and CNET senior associate editor, has written about tech, entertainment, video games, and viral culture for outlets including Laptop, Wired, Maxim, Esquire Online, Asylum, and Men's Journal. He also appears on the Digital City podcast. In his spare time, you might see him performing improv in New York City (when he's not being a dad).
I did this with my wife 2 years ago so she could ditch her original Motorola RAZR to get a new Moto Qc. That was "fine and dandy" until I figured it was time to give my old Treo700w a permanent rest and get something new. I totally forgot about letting her use my upgrade; so I found out that I had about a year left until I can get the upgrade discount pricing.
I was upset, but it actually worked out for the better. VerizonWireless is getting some new smartphones later this year that I'm interesting in. I can wait, but most people don't want to.
I think it's only six months if they truly "swapped"
What IS your current cost for a family plan with a 2G and a 3GS phone? I signed up for a family plan and really am not sure that it's saved me money with only 2 phones. Of course, I have the $30 unlimited family texting option added in, though.
i also swapped with my wife because if she wants a new phone in the future, we would do the same thing in reverse. but she's happy with my handmedown 3gs ;)
I got a good one for you, I had a 2G iPhone, dating back to the original launch. On Tuesday June 16th I purchased a pre-order of a 32GB 3GS at the upgrade frice of $299, figuring what the heck I can wait a bit since they said pre orders were going to be 10-14 days behind. Well friday morning I decided that since I had not received any updates in regards to the status of my pre-order I was going to cancel it and just drive up to my local ATT store and buy one. So I called up the premier store, talked to a service rep who told me that the phone was actually shipping that day but it was still in the warehouse. He then stated that he can't cancel but can't put a note on the order saying DON'T SHIP and when the warehouse people see it they will hold it. IF they do ship it I can just refuse delivery and send it back getting a refund.
Satisfied with that response I jumped in my car, went to the ATT store and picked up my new 32GB 3GS for the upgrade price of $299. Then it dawned on me...did I really have a second phone coming to me for $299? Well hot dog I did, I accepted the delivery, noting the $299 listed on the invoice. Well what did I do next? EBay, up it went and 5 days later I was stuffing $705 in my pocket before taking into account the difference for shipping, paypal fees, original cost, etc. Long story short I was about $350 richer. All this without swindling the system, If anything I think ATT should have paid more attention to what they were doing...especially because I told the store rep the situation I went through with the Premier store and that the phone will probably ship at the upgrade price.
Going to buy a subsidized phone at the store isn't swindling the system, and wanting to cancel your pre-order phone via customer service isn't swindling the system, but agreeing to refuse shipment on a phone that was already being processed for shipment, and doing the opposite when the customer service rep possibly cleared your account (maybe even risked their job) so you could go to the store and buy one subsizdized, absolutely is.
I was unable to do so because I had no upgrades left on my account.
@ Scott Stein, seriously you did not know you could upgrade swap? I worked for VZW for some time and customers who would upgrade devices have been doing this for years now. You seriously need to ask around more about upgrade options.
I work in a Best Buy Mobile store and we have been doing this for years now. There is no real secret to it and the only thing that must be kept in mind is that anytime you place an iPhone IMEI on an ATT line it requires a 2 year contract. He has so far avoided changing the IMEI on his line of service (it still shows him as owning a 3G I assume) with the use of the sim cards and so avoids the 2 year on his line of service.
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by make_or_break
July 12, 2009 12:21 AM PDT
- Slavish pandering to technology. Well, at least you're trying to jump start at least a part of the economy. What surprises me is that AT&T--or any other service provider--doesn't tack additional time to the end of the revised contract for upgrading prior to the end of the original 2-yr. agreement.
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