macnn
02/06/2008, 10:05am, EST
Wednesday, February 6th
iPhone upgraders encounter SIM problems
Some shoppers who have decided to upgrade from their current 4 or 8GB iPhones to the 16GB model are experiencing problems, anecdotes indicate. Although users should be able to insert their old SIM card into the new phone, and resume calling after identifying themselves as an existing AT&T customer, confusion reigns over whether or not the new phone automatically adds another two years to a person's AT&T contract. While some people have claimed no extension whatsoever, others have been angered to discover an extra obligation.
Part of the confusion may be attributable to the employees of Apple Stores and AT&T, some of whom are delivering contradictory messages on whether a contract extension is required; it may in a few instances be possible to negotiate no added contract length. A few users, though, are reporting trouble using their old SIM cards at all, in which case Apple is asking people to simply use the new card, and once again identify themselves as an existing customer.
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If Apple/ATT are forcing folks to start a new contract just because they updated their phone...folks need to vote with their wallet and take their business elsewhere.
The iPhone isn't that nice.
I wonder if people bitch about the maker of the subway cars in New York City, when the subways run late??? :-)
If, on the other hand, you upgrade by getting a new iPhone and KEEPING the old phone, then you're resetting your contract. You now have two iPhones, one of which will never complete its two-year kickbacks to Apple.
Technically, it should be "the new iPhone isn't anything better then the old one".
Erm, except unlike every other phone contract/finance model, you pay FULL PRICE for the iPhone AND are forced to get a contract.
I can go into any store and buy any phone without a contract if I want to pay full price.
re: hmmmmm, wrong company
Nope. Not the wrong company. If this is indeed a case of having to re-commit to AT&T for another 2 years if you upgrade iPhone there is zero chance that Apple has not gone along/agreed to it.
Your old iPhone doesn't become magically unlocked allowing you to sell it on to recoup some of your losses.
This is an incredible show of arrogance from Apple & AT&T, great way to mistreat your customers! No wonder they're having such a hard time to even come close to their 10 million iPhone targets with this attitude.
(an Unlocked iPhone Owner)
Eventually, they transferred me to Apple, and then Apple transferred me back to ATT.
I did have to register as a new customer, but they gave me my old phone number about an hour later.
IPhone's full price (without a contract) is about 750 EUR (around US$ 1,100). If we were to adjust this price according to the difference between EU and US subsidised prices (350 EUR vs. US$ 400), it would imply that an unlocked version in the US, if offered, would be priced at around US$850. When you pay $400, you get a very big discount.
When you buy a new iPhone without completing your full term on the previous one, someone has to pay Apple for the revenue never received for the device (for the remainder of that term). You DID pay discount when you bought it, didn't you? Obviously, extending your contract is a logical thing to do, which is done by virtually every other carrier and with every other phone.