Gear

iPhone 3GS Will Cost an Extra $200 for 3G Upgraders

Current iPhone 3G owners on the AT&T network will have to pay a higher price if they wish to upgrade to the next-generation iPhone. The fine print in Apple’s iPhone comparison web page states the following: For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, […]

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Current iPhone 3G owners on the AT&T network will have to pay a higher price if they wish to upgrade to the next-generation iPhone.

The fine print in Apple's iPhone comparison web page states the following:

*For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).
*

However, AT&T told Wired.com that current iPhone 3G owners wishing to purchase the iPhone 3GS will have to shell out $400 or $500, respectively, for an “early upgrade." Not quite as pricey as what's stated in the fine print, but still, $200 extra is a pretty big chunk. AT&T's press kit displays the chart below for the pricing structure.

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On the other hand, owners of the original iPhone will be able to upgrade to the handset for the advertised cost. I know I'm getting one, since mine drowned about six weeks ago.

Want more on the new iPhone? See Gadget Lab’s full summary of the WWDC 2009 keynote.

Updated 5 p.m. with a quote from Apple's iPhone comparison web page and a price chart from AT&T.

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Image courtesy of Apple