Wednesday, June 11, 2008 -- 2:19 p.m. -- at my desk

AT&T has just informed me that the information they provided this morning was incorrect and they apologize for that.

Here's what AT&T had to say:

"If you bought the phone on or after May 27, you have to exchange it. If you're buying a new iphone and you bought your old one before May 27, we don't require you to turn in the old one."

Now I feel confident, because my contact at AT&T knows what's up. I'm told "there was some confusion on this and it's been 100 percent clarified."

So again ... if you want to upgrade if you bought after May 27 you must turn it in for a free iPhone 3g but upgrading doesn't require turning in your old iPhone.

I checked and rechecked before posting and was just told by AT&T that the info was incorrect. I wanted to make sure the correct information was updated as soon as possible.

And, regarding the old iPhone, here's what I'm told: "Details are not available yet on deactivation - i.e. you keep your old
iPhone and you want to use it as an iPod."

I'm assured I'll get that information just as soon as it comes out, and I'll make sure I let you know as soon as I do.

Thanks for calling.

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Well that's good at least. I updated my blog as well to reflect the clarification.

http://josephghammashi.com/2008/06/att-wants-old-iphone-back/

I still want to know why we can't get an unsubsidized phone though.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Thank you so much, Joe.

So...does this mean you can get a FREE upgraded iPhone without paying? Or do you have to pay for the new iPhone?

SCOTT'S REPLY: Actually, the information from this morning was incorrect, and I apologize for the confusion. You need to pay $199 or $299 and do not need to turn in your old iPhone.

Now THAT makes sense.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Yep. It seems all is right with the world. My heart stopped there for a little while.

How about finding out what happens if you get new iPhone and then want to give old one to someone else... can they still activate @ home and more importantly can they activate on OLD data plan of $20 per mo. What is Apple & AT&T are pushing everyone towards 3G?

SCOTT'S REPLY: Well, Abbi ... that's something I'm waiting on now. AT&T promises detailed information soon and as soon as I get it, I will send it your way.

Do you think they are going to come out with the 32 Gb iPhone 3 months later like they did with the 16 Gb one last year. That is just my luck!

SCOTT'S REPLY: So hard to say, Jeff. I think a bigger iPhone is inevitable, just how long it takes it what's hard to pinpoint. But I do believe it will be this year, yes.

Great, didn't sound right. Glad you were able to clarify. BUT, are we able to use our old ones as a backup phone???? Hope so. What if the new one has to go in for repair-if we can use our old phones as backup, that would be good. Or if the new one gets lost or stolen can we reactiavts our old phones on the old data plan without extending our contracts?

Thanks!!

SCOTT'S REPLY: That's the stuff that they promise soon -- details on activation and deactivation. So stand by and as soon as I know something, I'll pass it along.

So talk to me about moving all of my information from my old to new [3G] iPhone. I go in to AT&T and buy my new 16G 3G-iPhone. Somehow they activate it. Do I go home and plug it in to my iTunes, restore my backup and start using the new 3G or will I have to start from scratch with the new 3G?

SCOTT'S REPLY: Fantastic question, Tim. That's still being sorted out, whether it's via iTunes or a SIM trade or what. I hope to know very, very soon.

hey, i wanted to know if selling my old iphone, which is still functional and in contract with At&t, would keep me from upgrading to the iphone 3g when in becomes available??

SCOTT'S REPLY: It should not have anything to do with it. According to the information that's verified, your first generation iPhone is yours to keep and do with what you wish.

ATT has realized that the market resale value of the original iPhone is barely worth the cost to rehab, even if they have corporations wanting fleets of the cheapest iphone possible.

SCOTT'S REPLY: True. True.

While I at one point thought the market resale value of of the original iPhone is barely worth the cost to rehab, that is not the case if it can be jailbroken and put on another network. You cannot buy a new 3G phone to use on anything other than AT&T - you MUST activate it before you leave even an Apple store, making its true cost $40 more than the current phone over two years (an additional $10 a month over 24 months). You cannot cancel the contract without incurring an additional cost as well. The ONLY way you can use an iPhone on T-Mobile now is to buy one of the old phones and jailbreak it, or buy one of the new ones and then pay a LARGE penalty to exit from your AT&T contract.
I think, therefore, the resale value of the iPhone 2G will be fairly high, at LEAST the price of the new iPhone ($199), and as supplies of old phones that can be used on T-Mobile disappear, the price may even go up...

SCOTT'S REPLY: Very true. Now that we know the activation limitations on the new iPhone, it's true that the old ones may be appealing to a lot more people.

Is there any clarity on what happens to current "non-iPhone" AT&T subscribers. Lets say that I have a Blackberry and also have another year left on my AT&T contract. Would I be able to pay $299 and get the 16GB iPhone (I would be willing to sign\extend my contract by another 2 years) or I will have to pay more or will I even be able to get the iPhone?

SCOTT'S REPLY: All kinds of unsubstantiated rumors, Saurabh, but nothing even close to definitive. As soon as I hear something from AT&T, I will make sure I explain every option here, so keep checking back.

I need help understanding this stuff...I purchased my 16GB iPhone on May 1, 2008 for $499. I am unhappy that the nice salesperson didn't inform me of the pending release of the 3G (I'm also unhappy with myself for being so naive). I now want the 3G. Will the ATT store take back my 2G, allow me to purchase the 3G, and make a cost adjustment from $499 to $299?

SCOTT'S REPLY: I can clarify for you, Butch.

First off, the salesperson can't talk about impending products. So even if you bought the day before the announcement of the iPhone 3G, no one would have told you.

Anyhow, back to your situation. I do not have good news for you.

You cannot return your phone and trade it up for a new one unless you purchased after May 27. To do what you want to do, you need to pay $299 for a new 16GB iPhone 3G and sign up for a new 2-year contract. Sadly, there is no trade up or return in your case.

ok I am trying to wrap my head around this. I switched from verions voyagert to an iPhone on June 2 2008 that is after may 27 2008 does that mean I get to go in and sign a new contract and turn i my old one, and get a iPhone 3g free of charge! Or do I just trade and get to pay for the 3g without penaltiy. I talked to a friend who works for AT&T and I thought he said free of charge. Thanks for your help!

SCOTT'S REPLY: In your case, according to AT&T, you should be able to turn in your old iPhone and upgrade to an iPhone 3G without cost, provided you sign a new 2-year contract and upgrade to the 3G data plan.

i purchased a new iphone in may and was wondering since it was before the 27th - will there be any wat to upgrade an old iphine to 3G?

SCOTT'S REPLY: As of this moment, Anthony, AT&T says that if you have an iPhone purchased before May 27 that you can't upgrade for free, but you can pay the subsidized price of either $199 or $299 and sign a new contract for a new iPhone. I'm assuming, Anthony, that you purchased this original iPhone from AT&T and are currently under contract?

What I will be wanting to know is if AT&T will unlock my old iPhone while I am activating my new one...

SCOTT'S REPLY: Aloha, Jacob. They haven't said, but truthfully, I can't imagine them ever unlocking your iPhone. I think it will be deactivated and useful as an iPod. Whether or not it will work on Wi-Fi and be able to access the App Store, well, that's another excellent question.

My wife and I bought two Iphones on June 1. We were quite irritated when new release was announced at 50% discount price a week later. We went back to the store within 14 days and complained to the manager. He said that in our case, if we exchanged our phones by Aug 1, we would be given our money back minus 10% restocking fee with the balance being returned to us. Granted the higher cost of data plan and text plan make it more expensive over two years but 3g will probably be worth it. Wish AT&T would get their act together and publish the actual policy.

SCOTT'S REPLY: You and me both, Todd. You and me both!

I purchased the 2G iphone Jun 10. Can I exhange/upgrade? There is an AT&T memo floating around on the web and to me it appears that only folks that bought their 2G between May 27 - Jun 9 can exchange/upgrade, can you please clarify? thanks

SCOTT'S REPLY: What I have heard from my contacts at AT&T is anyone who purchased after May 27 is eligible to trade in and up minus a 10 percent restocking fee for the next version.

If you are able to exchange your 2G (purchased after 5/27) to 3G, are they going to refund the price difference minus 10%? I called five AT&T stores in my area and all of them are clueless. thanks.

SCOTT'S REPLY: Well, the official AT&T ruling is yes .. they will refund the price of the 2G iPhone minus 10 percent.

OK i have a razzor2 vr9 3g phone with an at&t contract. can i not buy an iphone 3g and just put my sim card in it?

SCOTT'S REPLY: You cannot switch SIM cards, according to the latest information from AT&T ... and how far into your contract are you, Tom? AT&T has said that certain folks in certain contracts will not be able to upgrade.

There is a spot at www.attwireless.com that lets you type in information and it tells you if you are eligible. I'd highly recommend that.

I have the Old Iphone with a Contract and i was just wondering if i can just update it with the 2.0 and cal, itunes applications on to my old phone

SCOTT'S REPLY: You sure can, Julie. You don't need a new iPhone to take advantage of that stuff.

Question - And I am so pissed - I got the 8gb on MAY 26TH! - So if I go to AT&T, they are going to say, "Sorry - you were ONE day late?" That is SO UNFAIR! Surely they have to make an exception for ONE day? I am really mad. Any input?

SCOTT'S REPLY: Lisa, I just don't know. They don't have to help you because of the one day, but they might. My advice is to go to an AT&T store-- or call -- and ask really, really, really nicely and see if you can get someone to bend the rules just a little. You might.

I bought my Iphone on May 30th on an ATT store.
It is still not open since I've been waiting to get the new one.
Now there are sold out everywhere and don't know what to do since I've read I have only until August 1st to change it and get the price difference in credit for my next telephone bill. Any help?
Thanks!

SCOTT'S REPLY: I think you need to go back to that AT&T store and order your iPhone there and let them know you have a first-gen. See if they will be wiling to take back the old one -- they will charge you a 10 percent restocking fee. I think you've got a shot, even though it's sold out, as long as you are willing to put your name on the waiting list and wait the average 10-15 days.

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