AT&T and Getting an iPhone – Worth It? Possible? Fair? Suck?

Written by Russ on July 1, 2008 – 4:50 pm

For quite awhile, I’ve not really cared about the iPhone. I have a Blackberry and it’s held its own. My wife has an iPhone I got her last year and I like it. I miss my camera. I miss some of the features and IM-like text messages call out to me.

I decided that I want an iPhone, and recent events (next post, I promise!) have afforded me the luxury of purchasing one on July 11th, when the 3G iPhone is launched.

But today, I spoke to AT&T to see how the landscape would play out for me, given the scenario with our family plan with them.

The Scenario

Me: Blackberry 8830
My wife: iPhone 4gb

Me: Upgraded phone in September 2007
My wife: Has never upgraded through AT&T since we started with them

Me: Not available for reduced-cost hardware upgrade
My wife: Reduced-cost hardware upgrade AVAILABLE!

The Logic

In my mind, it does not matter who is the owner of which phone, on which line. All that matters is that we have the option to purchase a new phone at a reduced cost and that we pledge 2 more years of our ever-increasing-costs mobile service plan.

To be fair, I realize that this could kind of seem like skirting the system. I don’t see it that way, but when you get down do it, I don’t write the rules.

I just wish the rules were better, overall, so we could not feel like we’re going to get royally screwed out of $200.00 to get a 3G iPhone on July 11th.

I should, from where I stand, be able to purchase the iPhone as the hardware upgrade for my wife. Then, I should be able to pass it along right over to my line and apply the services to it that I see fit.

Right?

Why should AT&T care who has which iPhone and on which line? THEY’RE BOTH UNDER THE SAME CONTRACT FAMILY PLAN!

Sorry, that’s just so crazy that I felt like shouting at the interwebs.

The Real Deal

As my curiosity became more and more piqued, I took the deep dive and called AT&T’s nearly worthless Customer Support.

Oh, like it’s a secret. Find any mobile carrier that has a glowing reputation.

After my second call (see, I told you), I learned a few things:

1) If I buy an iPhone at the reduced hardware cost, it has to go to the line assigned (my wife’s line)
2) If I simply swap out the SIM card–well, I don’t know exactly. What I gather is that I cannot do this and that there will be some form of hell to pay in the form of some sort of weird pro-rating of costs or they’ll take my baby or something evil.
3) Customer Support really knows less than most of us who truly give a crap about this stuff, and they certainly have no motivation to make us happy. In the least.

So, What Can I (We–I’m Not the Only One Feeling a Bit Ripped-Off Here) Do?

Good question.

The answer is this: I don’t know.

However, I have some questions of my own about all of this–and I need your help.

If the iPhones use SIM cards, why the heck does it matter which phone I upgrade? That is, I should be able to do a hardware upgrade on my wife’s iPhone and then just swap out the SIM cards, call AT&T and pick the services I want.

Right?

Any reason this won’t work?

What is the worst they can do? Upcharge me another $200?

I do not know, but any speculation outside of what I’ve written and what AT&T has told me would be appreciated.

I’d prefer it if AT&T doesn’t Rogers us.

Posted in Rant | 7 Comments »