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iPhone Users Angry Over AT&T Upgrade Policy
All is not sweetness and light in the wake of the Apple WWDC kickoff announcements, especially concerning the evolution of the iPhone. Reader Hugh Pickens writes: "AT&T will offer the new iPhone 3G S when it debuts later this month at a cost of $199 and $299 for the 16GB and 32GB models, but only to new customers and those who qualify for the discounted price. AT&T subscribers with an iPhone 3G who are not eligible for an upgrade — those not near the end of their two-year contracts — will have to pay $200 more — $399 for the 16GB model and $499 for the 32GB model. 'This is ridiculous and slap in the face to long-time loyal iPhone customers like me who switched from T-Mobile and the only reason was the iPhone,' writes one unhappy iPhone customer. 'We have to mount a vigorous campaign to change this policy. Call your local AT&T and ask for the manager and complain. Send e-mails and post in forums everywhere.' The issue is spurring heavy debate on support discussion forums, with some customers supporting AT&T. 'The option you have is to honor the contract you freely committed yourself to,' says one forum member. 'If you want to upgrade early then you will have to pay full price with no subsidy discount. You can't blame anyone but yourself for your predicament.'"
This is totally out of left field. It's a good thing the US is chock-a-block with better wireless carriers and the iPhone is portable between them.
Things I'm also upset about:
No more free lunches.
Gas costing more than $0.05 a gallon.
Having to walk more than three feet from my car to my local superstore.
The fact that I wasn't born in a time where peace was on earth, everything is free, and we're all immortal.
I'm so angry that I'm punching a wall and hoping someone will pay for its repair as we speak.
"vigorous" made me laugh. For once I'd like to see someone launch a lackadaisical campaign. In fact, this is a call to arms - let's launch a lethargic campaign to create a new era of de-energized campaigns!
...and don't fucking enter another one like it again.
I didn't know Ballmer owned an iPhone.
I'd rather have 2 very nice escorts, I'd least I'd get screwed right!
[citation needed]
...'tis easier to blame than to improve.
I don't understand why a current owner would be angry. I can save $200 now. Why not just feel happy for me instead?
Mainly because iPhone owners have been known to eat their young.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
I screwed myself and I did it willingly because I didn't want to wait.
I think thats a common story on /., screwmaster. *ducks*
I have a similar problem. I got married a few years ago, but now thr old lady is looking a little worse for wear, and there are much younger and hotter models avaailable now! But my lawyer tells me I have an implicit "contract", and that upgrading will cost me big bucks! WTF! This is so unfair! They should have warned mme in advance how expensive it would be to trade up! Or maybe they did, but I wwas so excited with my shiny new toy to notice... either way, I'm mad as hell and I' going to bitch and moan until I get my way!
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
what about those of us who bought the iPhone at full cost ($599) the first week it was released. Why the fuck do we have to pay the same monthly fee as if we were paying for the more recent subsidized phones? Why do I have to pay for unlimited Data when I'v never used more than 500 MB in a month? (Why does EDGE suck so bad? Why does it never work when I need directions or a phone number?) Why the fuck do I have to pay for minutes I never use? Why can't I apply my rollover minutes as credits toward my phone bill? Why do I love my phone, buy hate everything about my service? Why am I stupid enough to pay $900 a year for service that is so flaky?
Unless AT&T can address my concerns, I don't really care how much the subsidized phone costs. Unless the TCO can come down to a reasonable price and the data features actually work when I need them, I will not be renewing my contract -- not even for a new subsidized phone.
I'd rather pay for the hardware and decent service than to keep throwing away money at service that doesn't meet my needs.
Win a signed Stephen Carpenter ESP Guitar from the Deftones: http://def-tag.com/?r=0008781
I refuse to pay the idiot premium on high fashion items, and that is exactly what Apple's products are.
Because my MacBook's BSD based kernel goes great with my Dolce and Gabanna sun glasses and my MacBook's user security just absolutely matches DKNY's latest for the 09 season.
Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
iPhone owners have been known to eat their young.
There's an app for that!
I don't even want to touch Kindle until I see "Kindle Final - We Will Never Upgrade This Product Again". Every time there's a new kindle I'm like whew I barely didn't buy the last one and now there's a thousand must-have features yay but WAIT WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT ONE.
Similarly, I'm never upgrading from my 4 year old laptop, ever. If I spend the money then 2 months later people will be floating past my window on flying scooters with 8-socket quad core xeons on their wrists. I'm terrified of the day I realize I'm counting memory in gigs the same way I count in megs (64 128 256 512 1024 range).
Right here:
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The "Reply to This" button?
I would think it would be harder to code a lock for the phone, and then break through the security.