Being a true phone geek, I learned a little trick a few years back that I want to share with you. For years, AT&T/Cingular/AT&T have provided pretty decent phones every year. This doesn’t affect most of their customers, but those of use who like to upgrade every year need to try a new strategy out.
What I did a few years back is sign up for a family plan. On this family plan, I have two lines; one I use everyday and the other one. When it comes time to upgrade, all I have to do is swap my phone lines. Generally the under payed AT&T store folks are glad to help me out. I may pay a little more for a family plan, but not as much as you might think.
Now that the iPhone 3GS is out, it sounds like it is time to upgrade again. Most folks are a bit miffed due to fact their accounts aren’t eligible for an upgrade. I’m not having that problem right now, and I’ll be sure to get one on June 19 or pretty close after that.
Good luck. Hopefully this mess will shorten the lines on opening day…most likely not.
Do you keep the same number when you switch to the other line?
Sure do. I've had the same number for 5 years now at least.
Nice hack do you just pay $10 a month for the unused plan?
Sure. Sometimes I give the phone to the kid to use.
Does it show up as two separate lines? Or does the system just pick the one that's eligible?
An extra $10 per month for the extra line, plus the minimum family plan is $10 more expensive than the single plan. An extra $240 per year, not sure it is worth.
I already have a family plan with 2 lines… we use both.. how can i make it work? for one line it tells me im not eligible for an upgrade until 8/22/09 and the other 01/16/10… what to do?
Actually it should shorten them immensely, since the iPhone faithful ($700 before July 12) are the ones who camp out and stand in line. Hopefully, Apple gets what I sense is what it wants: out of its contract with one of its worst service suppliers: AT&T. There was passive-aggressive wording and stunts in the presentation at WWDC (watch it again) and an overall feeling that they were taking a jab at AT&T, while not, of course. I think Apple is expecting an uproar, even goading for one. Let's see what happens…
http://img.4chan.org/b/res/140510944.html
I have a family plan. Two lines including one iphone 3g and both are not eligible for upgrade for a long time. I actually paid the early cancellation fee for Verizon on two phones in Dec to switch to iphone At and T in Jan 09 and now the new one is out! How can I make the line switch thing you discuss work for me? As of now they say I can add a line with cheaper 3gs pricing but there would be 3 phones sharing minutes.
Good trick. I will have to visit the store soon looks like.
bryan, i knew this had to be possible but how exactly and at what point in the purchase process do you swap phone numbers to keep the same number between the old and new phones? thanks
There is a problem,
AT&T will charge you the MANDATORY $30/mo FOR A DATA PLAN… no way to get it without it…
So $10/mo + $30/mo = 40×24= $960…. not worth it unless you really do have two people using and paying the lines…
I guess this is all moot. I have no will; I've already pre-purchased the phone, and hopefully it will arrive Friday.
I think it is worth it man!
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