I am with VZW right now and get a pretty hefty discount through General Motors. I was going to switch Friday to AT&T and get the new iPhone, but I just called in and was told there are no Corporate discounts for rate plans/data plans, no discount on accessories and no discount on the iPhone its self.
I knew there would be no discount for the phone, but I thought at least give a discount on accessories and defiently on the rate plans. This just turned me off and I will be staying with VZW.

Is there any idea why they will not give a discount on the rate plans for the iPhone but they will give discounts on any other phone??

I believe the info you're getting was for the first iPhone, because what the rep (?) said was true of the first iPhone. I don't work for AT&T, but from what I know, have heard, and read the new iPhone should qualify for discounts on the device and rate plans.

Save the $99 Unlimited Plan, which of course, is the one I have to get!

If it's true, it'd be for the same reason the iPhone has it's own special rate plans: because it's that desirable and AT&T knows they can do whatever they want b/c people will still be clamoring for the iPhone. Plus, ATT can just point north and say "be glad you're not Canadian and have to deal with Rogers/Fido"

Oh yeah, forgot about that plan, but I think that's the policy for every company. I know with Sprint, the $99 unlimited plans does not qualify for discounts. I believe the same if true for VZW and AT&T, but I am guessing, so don't quote me on that.


Fair point. I also think that for Apple to attract more corporate customers, they have to allow for discounts. They added exchange support, so clearly they want to attract corporate customers, who traditionally and almost mindlessly go with the Blackberry. And considering that the BB Bold isn't a slouch, Apple wouldn't make that mistake or will they?

yeah the first iphone had no corp discount allowed on it at all. i think the new 3G iphone may allow corp discounts on your plan.

I dunno if Apple has that much say into things anymore. Apple did what it could to make it attractive to business users. Still, AT&T is now the ultimate gatekeeper. When they were revenue sharing, Apple had more say in things like that. Now, they're just like any other supplier.

You might be right.

On top of that I guess AT&T is discounting the phone this time (through their subsidy). As to why they won't discount the accessories or plans, Wait for it ......................................... Because they don't have to. their the only game in town!

No?

I don't know the terms and conditions of the exclusivity contract between at&t and Apple, but I imagine Apple could hit at&t hard. A change as simple as giving the iPod touch normal "phone" functionality and then providing a SIP client on the phone would cut deep into at&t's "exclusivity."

I know I would buy an iPod touch (over an iPhone) if it could be used as a VoIP endpoint.

I'd also buy an iPod touch over an iPhone in the same ideal scenario -- but I'm willing to bet that as a part of that whole exclusivity thing that there's contractual language that says that Apple won't do anything that would be seen as competing with at&t -- like giving iPod touch the ability to be a VoIP endpoint.

There's still revenue sharing, Apple just gets it upfront. In exchange for getting a fat check for every iPhone activated instead of 24 small ones over 2 years, Apple let AT&T change the prices.

$100 per iPhone 3G activation, upon activation from what I read.

And to the OP, I've been reading the opposite. That my corporate discount on my voice (and possibly data) plan will apply even if I have an iPhone 3G, wheres it explicitly did not on the original iPhone.
Reason: because it's now being sold to corporate/business customers for business use, so the corporate discount does (and must) apply. The first iPhone was exclusively consumer only, so they did not have to honor corporate discounts.

People have been told to just go buy the iPhone 3G (there is no corporate discount on the actual phone.) Then contact AT&T and have your "FAN code" (Foundation Account Number) applied to your account to start receiving service discounts. It will take at least a full billing cycle to kick in, though, just so you know.
If you go to an AT&T store they MAY be able to apply the FAN when you sign up. But bring a pay stub from work and try to find out the FAN code if you can ahead of time.

You can also go to http://wireless.att.com/ go to the business section, enter your email address to check for corporate discounts. From the email log in and you can apply for the FAN discount online through a link on the "premiere" site there.

I have been told by AT&T that FAN discounts will not be applied to the new iPhone and that I should not go into the customers account and add it becacuse it will be removed and therefore anger the customer.

Personally, I think not giving the FAN discount will anger the customer anyway.

Well I am on hold right now with the business center, if the fact is I cannot receive a discount through my corporation, i will just stay with VZW and my blackberry.

Thanks guys!!