I appreciate your digging and you certainly know what you're talking about.
I do, and it seems you do too. I did a lot of research for a blog post I did on the subject for my website.
Here is the main research behind the
post:
Myself said:
Example 1
Family Plan Main Line: $50 voice + $30 data + $30 family SMS
Total: $110 / month
Upgrade Eligible: 12 months in (Purchased July 11, 2008, eligible July 12th, 2009)
Example 2
Most common iPhone Plan: $40 voice + $30 data + $20 unlimited SMS
Total: $90 / month
Upgrade Eligible: 17 months in (Purchased July 11, 2008, eligible December 12th, 2009)
Example 3
Family Plan Additional Line: $10 voice + $30 data
Total: $40 / month
Upgrade Eligible: 20 months in (Purchased July 11, 2008, eligible March 12th, 2009)
I don't agree with you on the following:
AT&T bit the bullet and created a new policity specifically for iPhone users.
What they did is what I quoted in my last post, "We?re now pleased to offer our iPhone 3G customers who are upgrade eligible in July, August or September 2009 our best upgrade pricing, beginning Thursday, June 18."
If you were eligible in those 3 months they let you get the iPhone on release day instead of waiting the extra 1 - 3 months. That basically means you have to be on a cycle which allows you to upgrade every 12 months at the full discount and have bought the 3G within 3 months of it's release.
They did NOT let everyone upgrade at the full discount. If you have the basic plan which comes out to about $70USD / month, you wouldn't be able to upgrade until you are approximately 18 months into your 24 month contract. That means with the change ATT implemented you still couldn't upgrade at the full discount even if you bought the 3G on July 11th.
I'm not trying to speak for Rogers though, maybe you are eligible for a fully subsided upgrade every 12 months by spending $85, but not in the US with ATT.