Comments on: AT&T blames Apple for iPhone 4S upgrade eligbility restrictions

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:11:00 +0000

Better yet, pay the cancellation fee which is less than the upgrade fee and move to a different carrier. I had this exact discussion with an ATT rep. I cant upgrade for almost another year. Dont understand why that if you are willing to extend your contract two extra years they would prefer you cancel instead and go to the competition.

By: Oliverslaughter

Oliverslaughter — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:05:00 +0000

Phone contracts should be illegal, like they are in other countries.

By: Wlg

Wlg — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:20:00 +0000

In march 2011 AT&T changed it from 12 to 20 months for iPhone customers.

By: TueWise

TueWise — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:16:00 +0000

started my contract in December 2009… my contract ends at the end of the year 2011… 2 years right? not eligible for Discounted price till July 2012… wtf?!

By: WJMcKz

WJMcKz — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:58:00 +0000

JWB, There is only one reason for the carriers to insist on “contracts” with their customers: To assign a length of time that must pass after a subsidized is purchased by a customer and to agree on the financial penalties that will take effect if the customer wants to end his contract early, by either switching to another carrier or upgrading to yet another subsidized phone. Contracts equals eligibility for an upgrade or there is no reason for them to exist. What you and the rest of the commenters that are complaining are confusing is that past history is and should be a predictor for future behavior. Just because a customer was allowed to end his contract early in the past does not mean that’s what’s to expected. It may have made sense to AT&T to allow early contract termination (or early eligibility for an upgrade – doesn’t matter what you call it) in the past and not so much now, which is what I tried to explain in my comment you replied to. Look at it this way: maybe AT&T knows something about their future service offerings that they predict will cause a significant increase in subscribers. Assuming that is the case, why wouldn’t they want to maximize profits now by adhering more closely to contracts, taking the chance that this will irritate only a small percentage of subscribers. Another scenario is that iPhone users are notorious for receiving (& sending) lots of data, taxing the network’s capabilities. Why not trade some iPhone users for less data hungry users. They make the same profit and give their networks some breathing room making all existing subscribers a little less pissed. The point is, and it really is very simple, you agreed to wait 24 months until a subsidized upgrade. Anything less than 24 months is a gift. You’re also not on the Board of Directors of AT&T, so you cannot possibly know the reasons they make these decisions. You have only two choices: accept it and upgrade when allowed, or wait until you can terminate your contract and switch to another carrier you perceive to be less capricious. Complaining about it in the comments section of a blog won’t do a damn thing.

By: JWB

JWB — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:53:00 +0000

You are confusing “contract” and eligibility for an upgrade, which are two different things. No one is arguing that his/her contract should be shortened. We just expected that the customary practice of eligibility after a year into the contract wouldn’t change. Now, inexplicably, we’re subject to a $250 surcharge.

My eligibility comes 12/24, and I just called AT&T to try to move it up. They said “the system” wouldn’t allow an upgrade to an iPhone 4S, but they would happily upgrade me to any other phone they sold. ANY phone other than the 4S. How can this be just about normal “profit making”? There seems to be no other interpretation than that it’s a coercive move designed to milk early Apple adopters, making them pay more money because they think we can and will.Worrying about AT&T’s profit — that’s awfully quaint. They just had a “meager” $3.6 BILLION quarter (profit, not revenue) and are one of three reliable cellular services in a nation with 300 million people. Worry about Sprint if you need to feel some pity for a corporation, but AT&T is riding very, very high and it seems that’s still not high enough.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:38:00 +0000

Ok, Here is a fix..it worked for me. Kind of dishonest, but here you go. Every year my wife and I order the iphone and get it on launch day. This year for whatever reason, my line is not eligibile for upgrade until February, while hers (The main line) is eligible for upgrade immediately. I spent about 2 hours each day last week from tuesday-thursday trying to get someone at At&t Customer service to change it.

Well, then I got a bright idea. At&t says you can check your upgrade status by pushing *639# from your iphone then hitting call. As soon as you get a message that reads, ”Thank you, your request is being processed. A message will be sent to your phone.” Take a screen shot, push the top power button and home button at the same time. This will save that photo to your camera roll. Then you’ll get a text from 108 (which is at&t). It’ll say your not eligibile for a full iphone upgrade at this time, however they can offer you one at either for retail or at $449.
Type this message into the response to that
As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee.

You will get a response on another message saying invalid number. Delete that.

So when you go to your text messages, you should have a message from 108 that says
As a valued customer, we can offer you an upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee.
Next I would call customer service and explain the message. Offer to email them the message (I wouldnt email that one as it will show you sent it) I would do some photoshopping of the photo before you send it to them. Anyhow just see if they think if you go into an AT&T store to verify the message that they will give make your line eligible to upgrade at the $199 price.
Next go to the At&t store, try and get someone young and cool to view and document the message on your At&t account. Once they do, come back later and ask to pre order the iphone 4s. Tell them someone at AT&T documented your account of your message you received from ATT and that you need to get your upgrade over road at the store per Att Business Relations.This worked for me..please report your results on this message board. I was able to pre order my iphone on friday morning (I was the first person in the At&t store, they didnt even check my phone for the message again.

(The beauty of this all is, when you call into customer support, they can actually check and see if att sent you a message at the time that you claim, it will show they did, but they cant view what it says, so your story is alot more plausable).

Another option is to have someone you know who is eligibile for the upgrade sent the *639# request to att at the same time as you. When they get their message that shows they are available for an upgrade, have them text it to you, and save the screenshot on your phone to show att.

Your last option is to pay either the early upgrade fee of $250 or pay full retail. Either of which I could of done, I just think that for my wife’s line to be upgradeable and mine to not be was unfair. We both got our phones on the same day. I know we were both under the same contract on the same account, but I’m supprised it is not discrimmatory to allow some to upgrade and not others.

By: Miles Noe

Miles Noe — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:01:00 +0000

Problem is, we have been able to upgrade every year when the new phone comes out, even if its only been one year. Now this year the phone comes out later, almost 5 months later and we are still not able to upgrade. I think its something Apple has decided. I think they wanted to have enough phones for sprint as well as VZ and ATT. if they let everyone upgrade early then im sure they would be backordered for 1 month or longer. I just think its silly I have to wait one extra month, I mean what exactly is that accomplishing.

By: Miles Noe

Miles Noe — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:58:00 +0000

I am able to upgrade Nov 16th per ATT website. Probably better since the intial hoopla will have died down by then I think!

By: Knorthern

Knorthern — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 21:18:00 +0000

AT&T is gonna lose a lot of customers with this new upgrade policy. If i have to wait till the end of my contract or even close to the end ill wait and switch to a carrier with a more reliable network with fewer dropped calls. Ive had an iPhone since the first one,and upgraded every year as well. And have put up with the bad network coverage, and hundreds of dropped calls, to have the iPhone. In fact every complaint I’ve heard from any source about the iPhone is always about the network.

So Thank You AT&T for forcing me to be patient enough to get to the end of my contract and go somewhere else!

By: WJMcKz

WJMcKz — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:36:00 +0000

Looking at this objectively, AT&T and Apple are already shortening the 24 month contract to 18 months. If they shorten it an additional 2-4 months, the “contact” time will be only 14 to 16 months. AT&T subsidizes the phone’s cost for the customer. They use part of their profits from the voice, messaging and data package fees to pay for the cost of the phone not covered by the customers purchase at the start of the contract. If the phone costs AT&T $600 and the customer pays $200 with a 2-year contract, AT&T has 24 months or approximately $17 per month to repay themselves for the phone from their profits. If that is shortened to 18 months, they must divert $22 from their profits. If they allow a customer to purchase a new subsidized phone after only 14 months then $28.50 must be subtracted from their monthly profits. I hope you can see that this cycle of shortening contract periods is indeed costing AT&T money and they are within their rights (and owe it to their shareholders) to allow customers out of their 24 month contracts whenever it makes sense financially. This is especially important now that three major carriers can offer the iPhone. Without their exclusive iPhone deal, I’m sure AT&T’s incentive to maximize profits over subscribers makes sense. You don’t have to like it and I’m sure Verizon and Sprint will welcome you with open arms when your contract is finished. Just don’t be surprised if you those carriers also insist on a minimum length of contract fulfillment regardless of when the new iPhone launches next year.

By: Keysh2oboy

Keysh2oboy — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:24:00 +0000

People are missing the point… THERE IS SOMETHING different with upgrading THIS TIME.

I have had an iPhone since day 1…. in June 2007. And EVERY June, I upgrade to the new iPhone for the discounted price… EVERY YEAR.

However, this year, I was not able to upgrade in June to the NEW iphone b/c the new iPhone was NOT avail obviously.

No big deal.

Now, in Oct, it is AVAIL! But when I called to upgrade my iphone 4 to the new 4s, I am also getting the HIGHER price for upgrading.

THIS IS DIFFERENT from any other year… Simple as that.

ATT has (in the past) allowed iPhone users who are roughly 1-yr into their 2 yr agreement to UPGRADE at the complete discounted price and renew for another 2 yrs. I know this. I have done it for 4 yrs in a row… 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010… all in the month of June.

But, this time… with the iPhone 4s, ATT is NOT allowing current iPhone users to upgrade to the newer phone for the complete discount price unless you are near the end of your 2yr contract.

And no one can explain why… what changed.

But… something did change this time.

No one is trying to get out of anything— we are just trying to get the same thing we have gotten for the last 4 yrs or so…. and we can’t.

Thats simple.

By: oywiththepoodles

oywiththepoodles — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:29:00 +0000

It also doesn’t really make sense for them. Why would anyone want to upgrade to a 4S at the end of February when by the end of 2012 there will probably be an iPhone 5? Also, really pissed me off that the AT&T website actually had the audacity to say that they were offering me “an early upgrade discount” while the price was DOUBLE what new customers are getting. Thanks for the discount!

By: Oywiththepoodles

Oywiththepoodles — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:26:00 +0000

While I agree with you that a contract should be honored, people wanting an upgrade are not trying to “get out” of their contract but are instead extending it for another TWO years, therefore confirming that they will continue to stay longstanding loyal customers. Everything else, including the amount you pay monthly, remains the same, therefore neither Apple nor AT&T are losing out on anything by allowing existing customers to pay what new ones are paying. Yes, this is just a phone, and yes the wait time is a matter of months, but just on principle I believe Apple/AT&T are in facting screwing over some loyal customers.

By: Dr. Moto

Dr. Moto — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:23:00 +0000

The wife and I both got iPhone 3G phone back when they first came out. Since the wife didn’t use hers as much as I did she really didn’t need the power of the iPhone 4 so we only upgraded the one phone. Now I’d like to upgrade her 3G to the 4S and ATT won’t budge until February even though I’ll keep the old 4. Sad really.

By: Jonathan Seals

Jonathan Seals — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:22:00 +0000

It sucks that they aren’t offering early upgrades like they did with the 4.

By: Pfk523

Pfk523 — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 23:02:00 +0000

Yes I have a 4 and Att in-store rep told me I’m not eligible until 18 months into contract, Dec 4th. Rats!

By: momentoftruth

momentoftruth — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:42:00 +0000

At&t has allowed people to upgrade early for every single iPhone before this. So, its not like they have never done this, they did it every single time and people expect this time should be no different. The fact is that these companies charge you that insane plan just because its an iPhone or Android, the least they can do is uphold everyones expectations, which btw is adding money to their pockets.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:57:00 +0000

Anybody that has had an iphone for the last few years know how the system works. Buy on day one & early upgrade on the NEXT day one. Anybody that took the time to read the comments & decided to comment about something these people have received every year in the past & expected again this year is an A-hole! Just because you suck, don’t take it out on everybody else.

By: WJMcKz

WJMcKz — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:01:00 +0000

Hi Jbee, I’m one of the commenters that referred to those who are complaining as acting like children. Your opinion, if I understand you correctly, is that (phone and cable?) the carrier (AT&T) and the manufacturer (Apple) are “rewarding” new customers instead of existing (“longstanding loyal”) customers. First, by way of disclosure, I have been a customer of AT&T Wireless (Cellular One, Cingular) uninterrupted for over 25 years. They were the only cell company at the time and I’ve had no reason to change. I’ve also been using Apple products, also uninterrupted, since 1986. I state these facts to show that I am a “longstanding loyal” customer of both companies. Over the years Cingular and AT&T Wireless have made some exceptions for me and my family, I assume due to the extreme length of time I’ve been a customer. However, I believe when you agree to a contract, you should honor it without complaint, barring any significant, unforeseen circumstances. The reason the behavior I referenced seems childlike to me is that what’s involved is a cell phone and a waiting period of months! It’s not like the new customers are paying less, or agreeing to a more favorable contract. Everyone is being treated the same! Only in the mind of an immature person would this seem unfair. It’s the self-centered attitude that is annoying. “It’s not fair. Give me what I want, not what I agreed.”

By: Jbee

Jbee — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:27:00 +0000

some people on here are calling others “children” because they have to obey their contract and wait for subsidized pricing.

For what the phones really cost to make and the $100+ per month we pay for service, $199 they SHOULD be giving early upgrades. The phone and cable companies are both guilty of giving new customers big savings instead of their longstanding loyal ones. My two cents.

By: WJMcKz

WJMcKz — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:52:00 +0000

You’re right, of course, it’s not a child’s fault when they are spoiled. Their subsequent behavior, annoying as it is, is the parent’s fault. But that’s as far as the metaphor can go, I’m afraid. The “children” in this case are, in fact, adults and should have learned by now that you don’t always get what you want, or become used to. To whine about online, in a useless blog comment’s area, is childish, which is essentially what I called it in my original comment. As far as being bitter and joyless, you couldn’t be more mistaken. I am sad to day, but take joy in every day just to be alive and reasonably healthy. I have 4 wonderful children who are adults now and, even though they were spoiled in my opinion, have mostly left their childish ways behind them. I cannot imagine any of them whining like some of the commenters have re: this blog. By-the-way, do you think that tolerating childish behavior in adults makes a person more joyful and not “bitter”.

By: Dogllama

Dogllama — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:34:00 +0000

So why are you berating the “children”? Shouldn’t you be berating the “parent” (att)?

By the way: You sound like bitter and joyless person.

By: WJMcKz

WJMcKz — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:07:00 +0000

I didn’t say it was crazy, just spoiled. That’s exactly how you spoil children giving them something until they think they’re entitled, in spite of what they agreed to.

By: Patrickianmurray

Patrickianmurray — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:07:00 +0000

They (AT&T) have set a precedent of allowing Iphone users to upgrade every year at the discounted price. I have had the 3g,3gs and 4 all on launch day at the discounted rate so it is not crazy for loyal AT&T customers to expect that.

By: Discuss

Discuss — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:42:00 +0000

The price of phones has changed! Stop pretending you know what the deal is and read your contract! Apple very much dictates what the iPhone is going to be sold at and if they will lift upgrade eligibility. You think as money hungry as you say AT&T is that they wouldn’t want yo get that device in everyones hands possible? Duh

By: Discuss

Discuss — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:38:00 +0000

Thats pretty smart let me pay 175 in term fees then pay 200 for a 16g iPhone on sprint or Verizons network where you can multitask and use voice and data simultaneously so in Essence you are trading in your smartphone for a dumb phone! Genius!!! News flash every carrier has contract agreements you must fulfill 20 months of the agreement before you are eligible for and upgrade. It’s a contract that’s why you get the subsidized price…. Rocket science….

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:16:00 +0000

Although they were the first to “4G”, their coverage is the worst and their 4G is the slowest. Their 3G coverage isn’t bad but very slow compared to AT&T, but almost up to Verizon 3G speeds which are also pretty slow comparatively. I say buy it unlocked and use it on the carrier that has the best 3G coverage in your area.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:40:00 +0000

BS!

Discount date ranges are dictated by the carrier. If you signed a contract for an iPhone and some other Android phone you will be eligible for discount pricing after a set amount of time no matter what phone you have and no matter what phone you want to upgrade to. AT&T is trying to tell you that Apple dictates the length of time between discounts for Blackberry’s and Android phones too? BS! That’s how retarded they think their customers are.

Now, how in the hell did you get offered the iPhone 4S 16GB at a full retail price of $449? It’s listed at $649 for me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:40:00 +0000

BS!

Now, how in the hell did you get offered the iPhone 4S 16GB at a full retail price of $449? It’s listed at $649 for me.

By: Jeremy M

Jeremy M — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:35:00 +0000

My upgrade is in Feb and the rep said that they could give me an early upgrade on any non iphone.

By: Jeremy M

Jeremy M — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:35:00 +0000

My upgrade is in Feb and the rep said that they could give me an early upgrade on any non iphone.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:25:00 +0000

*gasp* You mean people will have to, you know, follow the upgrade cycle laid out in their contract! Say it aint so! /s

At&t blames Apple, because pointing out to customers that they’re being stupid and ignoring what was written in their contract doesn’t make them happy.

By: David Thompson

David Thompson — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:46:00 +0000

If you call Att wireless & speak to a supervisor they will tell you that you can early upgrade one month on the 25th of October but there is a catch. You have to pay the full price $449 for the 16gig, $549 for the 32 gig & $649 for the 64 gig. Attention Steve Jobs just died Im in shock

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:36:00 +0000

Obsolescence – fact of technology in this age. But 6 months late = quicker obsolescence.

By: 5280-Guest

5280-Guest — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:31:00 +0000

Yeah, our company hired a lawyer once, and he got paid… No one else did. But he stuck around long enough to help file the bankruptcy paperwork.

Lawyers add a LOT of operational overhead costs.

By: George Kelly

George Kelly — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:25:00 +0000

That sucks!

But I guess AT&T has to pay for their “All Star Legal Team” that’s trying to steamroll the AT&T/T-Mobile merger through, and pretend Antitrust Law doesn’t exist.

What AT&T is doing, is they’ve hired multiple legal teams from the Federal Trade Commission, over multiple presidential administrations. This must be expensive, and lawyers aren’t cheap. In fact, most of the good ones bill out at $300-$500 an hour, because I can’t figure out what else has changed.

By: Elle Kasey

Elle Kasey — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:06:00 +0000

Well, I just called AT&T. My husband and I each ordered an iPhone 4 on launch day. I’m eligible for a discounted upgrade, they want to add $250 to the price of his phone to upgrade early. I asked what the ETF is on his account – they said $175. So I guess they’re leaving us with the option to pay them $175 so he can walk somewhere else and get a phone without the surcharge – a “savings” (because all of this is B.S.) of $75. Pretty dumb AT&T. The rep blamed Apple and insisted there was no waiver or credit she could apply.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:35:00 +0000

Can I make a suggestion?

If you’re about to upgrade your phone, why not wait to check out Sprint. They don’t play games. The phone is a world phone, and also looks like they’ve invested into their network more than most, and it’s also a cheaper plan.

By: Guest1

Guest1 — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:27:00 +0000

Oh my. You’ll have to wait a month and a half. Please don’t commit suicide. November will be here before you know it.