Unfortunately, I jumped from a Blackberry to an iPhone 3G last August shortly after the new 3G was introduced. I say unfortunately because the iPhone 3GS is the phone I really wanted – but didn’t get. Let me explain.
I’m a payments professional by day and an aspiring photographer otherwise. The photo and video features of the iPhone 3GS are just about ideal for a go anywhere device that’s always in your pocket. The new iPhone’s everyday photo/video capabilities coupled with a high-end digital SLR (in my case, the Canon 5D Mark II) for those special photo shooting occasions are just about everything I might need to satisfy my photography desires!
Would I love to upgrade from my iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3GS for its enhanced photography features? Absolutely. But, then there’s AT&T – who thinks I haven’t owned my iPhone 3G long enough to qualify for the best pricing on the 3GS. Based upon the pricing signals AT&T is sending to the market, they’d prefer that I stay with my original iPhone 3G for at least another year.
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).
The result? I’ll most likely be skipping an iPhone 3GS upgrade this cycle – and just living with my 3G until June 2010 when my current bondage to AT&T is exhausted and complete. I really don’t want to give AT&T another $200-$300 for an upgrade!
Who knows – by June 2010 I might be even happier with the mid-2010 rev of the iPhone – perhaps available then on another wireless network other than AT&T?