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http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/07/03/german.iphone.upgrades/

Germans upset over iPhone 3G upgrade plan

updated 10:55 am EDT, Thu July 3, 2008

 

German iPhone upgrades


German owners of current 2.5G iPhones are angry with T-Mobile, a local publication claims. Wiwo.de notes that even though Germans paid €399 for first-generation iPhones, at least $30 more than American phones before even September price cuts, T-Mobile now expects people to pay €15 for each month remaining in their contracts if they intend to upgrade to an iPhone 3G. For some customers, this could be as much as €240.

This contrasts sharply with the upcoming offer for new customers, who will pay as little as €1 for a 3G come July 11th, in tandem with a subscription. It has been suggested that Germans may demand a rebate similar to that offered in the US following the September cuts, which was meant to appease early adopters who spent $200 extra only weeks earlier.


by MacNN Staff

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 iPhone, Germany, T-Mobile, iPhone 3G

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Comments

  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    +3
    07/03, 11:05am | report spam | Reply |

    that really sucks but...

    A contract is a contract so...

  1. Roger@MacNN

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2008

    -1
    07/03, 11:57am | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Re: but....

    But what? Isn't that ridiculously expensive for an upgrade?

  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    +1
    07/03, 12:02pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    what?

    People want to get a whole new phone, but stick with their old deal? Man, who wouldn't like that. But, really, stop the crying already. You bought a phone, you have a contract. You wouldn't be 'upgrading' the phone, you're signing a new contract to get a new phone. That's it. The only 'upgrade' benefit would be that you don't have to pay an early termination fee.

    And they want a rebate? You've got to be kidding me! Now iPhone 1.0 customers in the US who upgrade will want one too!

    And, MacNN, this isn't in contrast to new customers, as new customers will have to pay the same amount for their plan as the 'upgrade' customers.

  1. fletcher

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2005

    +2
    07/03, 01:05pm | report spam | (2 replies) Reply |

    This Does Suck

    You misunderstand. What they are saying is that you can't upgrade to a new phone without paying the cancellation fee on the old contract. That does suck.

    AT&T is allowing customers to sign a new two year contract with a new phone and let their old phone go. The old phone is a paperweight unless someone signs up for another two-year contract so I don't see how AT&T can lose.

    I can't understand why companies spend so much money to get new customers and then s**** over their existing customers so badly. It costs a lot less to keep an existing customer than to get a new customer.

  1. rytc

    Senior User

    Joined: Jan 2001

    +2
    07/03, 01:46pm | report spam | Reply |

    Contract

    If you sign up for a 2 year contract knowing full well a new iPhone will come out during those two years and then complain when one does then who's the idiot? You signed a contract for two years, when they're up you can upgrade to the iPhone 5G.

  1. dwoodruff

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2006

    +1
    07/03, 02:00pm | report spam | Reply |

    actually...

    They are just upset after their EURO cup loss... they just need something else to vent at....

  1. hjk13

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2008

    +3
    07/03, 02:24pm | report spam | Reply |

    Ridiculous!

    Typically you can buy a new phone in germany under a current contract by just paying an unsubsidized price and still use your old phone unlocked. T-Mobile is asking € 15 per month of the old contract, the signing of a new 2 year contract, a subsidized price for the iPhone 3G and then you will still not be able to use the 'old' iPhone (cost € 399) because they will not unlock it. That's ridiculous! And no, we are not just upset about the EURO cup loss. We are upset about T-Mobile treating current customers like sh..

  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -2
    07/03, 03:10pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: ridiculous

    The problem you have is with Apple, not T-Mobile.

    Apple figured they would do a whole new way of phone subsidy, so they did the whole "We'll take a piece of the monthly contract price" deal on the 1.0. T-Mobile is still responsible for that money over the next year plus. So they basically are charging you the subsidy they are being charged by Apple, so they're getting it from you.

    As for them not unlocking the iPhone, you can bet that is also an Apple requirement. Apple doesn't want people just buying unlocked phones and using them. They get no extra money out of that. They want people to buy NEW phones, so they can make the hardware sale.

  1. rytc

    Senior User

    Joined: Jan 2001

    +1
    07/03, 03:27pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Apple

    Well unlocking an iPhone 1.0 is hardly rocket science

  1. Jonathan-Tanya

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2004

    +2
    07/04, 09:49am | report spam | Reply |

    answer

    "If you sign up for a 2 year contract knowing full well a new iPhone will come out during those two years and then complain when one does then who's the idiot"

    To answer your question, the idiot is the person who doesn't stand up for themselves. Generally, those who stand up for themselves, get results....sheeple get run over and take advantage of.

    They are doing the right thing, using their leverage as a block of consumers to send notice to their german telecommunications carrier that they want a better deal.

    If they get it, good for them! And maybe you will learn a lesson about life too, my cowardly friend!

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