I've read rumors that since we originally adopted the iPhone, we could potentially keep the $20 price tag with SMS for the life of our contract (including renewals). Also, we could get the 3G access for the same price, we are "grandfathered" in so to speak. If this was not the case, I think that we will keep the $20 price plan beyond the year, but only limited to EDGE speed.
First gen owners are only grandfathered if they keep the first gen device. The moment they buy an iPhone 3G, they have to get the 3G data plan, regardless of coverage. At&t can't magically tell the data to only transmit at EDGE speeds to certain device because the owner is using an EDGE plan.
If you are really having a hard time with the data changes, your best bet is to keep your original iPhone. I say this because based on the presently available At&t info, there is NO way to keep the $20 data plan and move it over to the iPhone 3G.
At&t has two choices in this matter:
1. Stick to their guns. Stop giving the iPhone special treatment and price it at $30/mo for data just like all their other PDAs and BlackBerrys.
2. Cave in, keep the iPhone on a MEdiaNet plan for $20/mo + 200 texts. They will have to offer this to EVERYONE though.
If they only allow current iPhone users to upgrade to the 3G model and stay at $20/mo, they are alienating every single one of their new customers and/or existing customers jumping from other phones.
If they keep the 200 texts attached to the data plan, they are alienating every other PDA/BlackBerry customer that pays $30/mo for nothing more than internet.
I can actually respect the predicament At&t is in. I am fine with it as it is now, but apparently, I am one of the few...