Assuming the documents are on-point, we now have some more insight into AT&T's policies regarding iPhone 3G purchase, upgrades, and subsidies.
Some iPhone owners will get free iPhone 3G replacements
If you are a current iPhone customer, and you bought you first-generation iPhone on or after May 27th (despite widespread expectation that Apple was going to release a new iPhone in a couple weeks' time), then you're in luck. AT&T will trade-up your iPhone to an iPhone 3G gratis - that's right, if you purchased your iPhone on or after May 27th, you'll be getting an iPhone 3G for free. If you bought your iPhone on May 26th, sucks to be you, give AT&T customer service a call.
Most iPhone owners in good standing will be eligible for the upgrade/subsidized iPhone 3G pricing
For the rest of us that bought an iPhone during its early days on-market, we can still get in on the iPhone 3G action at the new, lower price-point. AT&T will be allowing any current iPhone customers, in good standing (you did pay your bills, didn't you?), to buy a new iPhone 3G at the subsidized price of $199 for the iPhone 3G 8GB or $299 for the iPhone 3G 16GB.
Of course, you'll have to sign-up for a new 2-year contract with AT&T. Whatever time you have left on your AT&T iPhone contract will be nixed and replaced with a new 2-year contract from AT&T.
No more pre-paid AT&T GoPhone plans for iPhone 3G
It looks like the iPhone 3G will not be getting any pre-paid love from AT&T. The AT&T GoPhone plans for iPhone will not carry over to the iPhone 3G. That means that any new iPhone 3G hopefuls will have to pass a credit-check and sign-up for a 2-year contract to get their hands on an iPhone.
New iPhone 3G unlimited data plan - $30/month
Thats' right, with higher data speeds, AT&T will be charging higher data fees. Whereas the first-generation iPhone was blessed with a relatively cheap $20 a month unlimited data plan, all iPhone 3G hopefuls will have to sign-up for a $30/month unlimited data plan - the $30 iPhone 3G unlimited data plan must be added to qualifying calling plans. Business users can expect to add $45 on top of their calling plans to get unlimited data on their iPhone 3G.
Apple and AT&T activating iPhone 3G in-store
So, what's to stop any new iPhone 3G buyer or upgrader from just taking their newly purchased iPhone 3G home and popping in their existing SIM card? Well, AT&T and Apple will apparently be activating all iPhone 3G handset in their respective stores. Remember, to get the subsidized $199 or $299 price on the iPhone 3G, you'll have to sign a new contract anyway, so this is just AT&T and Apple's way of making sure you pay more for the new data plan and don't go about unlocking the handset for sale on the gray-market.
