Better to start new AT&T plan/phone and then get iphone?

Originally Posted by hulbdo

I'm switching over from Verizon. Just wondering, do you guys think its better for me to start a new AT&T plan & porting my number to get a new/cheap phone. And then a few days later, buying the iPhone and switching my account over to that? That way I'd have a free back-up phone in addition to the iPhone?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by unrealii

If you already have an account with ATT, they will extend your account 2 years if you go through the setup for the iPhone. If you sign up for an account now with a throw away phone, then call up ATT to move it to your iphone, you are putting yourself 4 years under contract with ATT.

Originally Posted by odnerd

I'm pretty sure it just reverts back to 2 years from the day you add the iPhone data plan... Not 2 additional years on top of the original 2...

Originally Posted by hulbdo

You guys think its okay if I do it only days apart between starting a line and switching it to the iPhone? They don't say anything on their site about why this can't be done. There won't be a second activation charge will there?

Originally Posted by unrealii

If you already have an account with ATT, they will extend your account 2 years if you go through the setup for the iPhone. If you sign up for an account now with a throw away phone, then call up ATT to move it to your iphone, you are putting yourself 4 years under contract with ATT.

Originally Posted by Etch

I was actually thinking about this a few days ago. I'm due for another subsidized phone for another contract. I picked up an iPhone but hacked it and using my existing sim and plan right now. I was wondering if it would work to take a new cheap phone and start a new 2yr contract, THEN properly activate the iPhone and not loose any real time. Basicly get a new free/cheap phone out of the deal for more or less the same contract.

I've had my iPhone for a few days now...and it's not looking like a keeper to me. I'm probably gunna take it back soon.

1) The earpiece volume when on the phone (using it normally) is too quiet. With it turned up all the way, it merely is acceptable in a dead quiet room. Absolutely no where near loud enough anywhere public that is semi loud. The phone is completely useless in that situation unless you have a headset. That said, the external speaker is no problem with mine unlike others with the quiet earpieces. Mine is very loud (albeit not crystal clear when turned up) with media, and seems to be no worse then several other phones for speakerphone.

2) I absolutely HATE the way this thing runs through iTunes. It's the most idiotic non-intuitive setup I have seen in a long long time. There is no way to move stuff between phone and pc without doing a sync of EVERYTHING. I find that just utterly retarded that for example, if I wanted to add 1 album to the iphone which already contains 3 gigs of stuff, I cant add just that 1 album, instead, I need to re-transfer EVERYTHING, EVERY TIME! stupid stupid stupid. THat drives me up the wall.


So yeah, unless they come out with an update to increase the earpiece volume as well as simpler drag and drop file management between the phone and computer via explorer or ftp before my 14 days are up, the iPhone is going back and I wont have to worry about trying to get a free/cheap phone in before doing a proper ipod plan.

Originally Posted by illution

LOL... Big fat wrong...
As I said, my friend did it on his 2 weeks old contract and what AT&T did is just extend the 2 year contract from the day he add the iPhone data plan and the old contract is nullified.
No such thing as 4 years contract lol... people who kept their phone for 4 years are pretty backward in technology

Originally Posted by unrealii

Guess the ATT/iphone must be special. You try this with any other phone/service provider, they will lock you in.