The Good and the Bad for Current AT&T Customers Under Contract


According to information released Tuesday, current AT&T customers can add an iPhone data plan to their current calling plan for $20/mo. After some inquiries, it appears this applies to all AT&T customers, regardless of their current contract. While information is still trickling through AT&T, IGM finally got a consistent answer on the subject.

Typically, customers must be past the 20th month of a 24 month contract before upgrading to a new phone. The iPhone has caused much confusion with this bedrock rule, but apparently it does in fact not apply to iPhone upgrades. According to AT&T reps, any AT&T customer will be able to purchase an iPhone and in fact simply add on the $20 data plan. So it appears only those under contract with other providers will be obstructed from buying an iPhone on launch day.

What this means to customers' current contract is still a bit murky. The AT&T reps we spoke with expect either the 2-year contract will simply restart, or the new 2-year contract will be tacked onto their existing contract. It's expected those details may not be known until launch day or at least closer to Friday. The contract extension seems the most logical, as presumably there's a subsidized phone on there. For customers past the 20-month mile marker, they should be able to simply upgrade w/ a new 2-year contract.

Also, those looking at family plans, Apple has stated the plan for two iPhones. If, however, you are looking to have one iPhone and a different non-iPhone, expect to pay $80 for the iPhone family plan, then $9.99 for the add on. While the math is a little different, this family plan still works out to essentially the same as a 700 minute standard family plan w/ a data plan.

The bad news for those who enjoy individual service discounts, all business and other discounts will be void with the iPhone. This of course means no discounts on the iPhone itself, but also the voice and data plans. Even if a customer currently enjoys a service discount, when that service is transferred to the iPhone, apparently the discount is nullified.

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