Yeah, I've got to admit Jobs got me with this one. I'm in.

Wonder whether there will be a midnight opening in Providence this time?

Very tempted. I'm wondering what will happen to people who already have iPhones... will they have to re-commit to a 2-year contract, or will they be able to swap the old SIM into the new phone? Whoops... the reality distortion field wore off for a moment. Who cares if I need to do a new contract with AT&T? I need my frakkin 3G :-)

Still waiting for Android on T-Mobile, but that's a mighty nice phone. Very tempted...

I still haven't bitten. I have a Nokia N95 on T-mo. It has GPS and Edge already.. I am tempted though now that the iPhone has 3G. Although I'm still not excited by AT&T.

Those of you who aren't convinced yet should still come. And maybe, just maybe, the rest of us we'll let you touch our new phones. ;-)

Does anyone have any info on the AT&T monthly service fees for 3G?  If it were going to be the same as the EDGE plans, I feel like they would have specifically announced that...?

I've definitely held out for long enough. My $20 T-Mobile Motorola has served me well for two years (as much as I've tried to break it to have an excuse). The time has come.

@Matt.  $30/mo unlimited 3G data

and oh yeah, the $199 price requires a 2-year contract (still pretty darn good)

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008...

@Jack That's low. :)

I've been jealous of the ability to listen to voicemail selectively since the original iPhone came out. I love my Blackberry, but it might be time for something new...

Hilary

Interestingly, Apple changed the business model with ATT. Instead of a share of monthly revenue, ATT now pays a couple hundred bucks subsidy when you buy an iPhone; they pay Apple $400 and you pay $200, they eat the difference.

Apparently they plan to make it up over the 2 year contract, with the increased data price ($30, from $20). This also has the consequence of making it much harder to buy an iPhone, skip the activation, and unlock it for use on another network. 

 Of course there are no geeks on this board that would be tempted to do that. Regardless, you have to activate the new 3G iPhone when you buy it.

This made my current phone look even sadder than last week. A replacement is overdue. See you there.

I have loved my original iPhone - but I cant resist 3G..I am in!

But what do I do with my old iPhone?

See you there!!

Given the iPhone 3G's impending release and $199 price (w/contract), it's amazing how much the original ones are still commanding.

Completed iPhone auctions at Ebay

And the "unlocked" ones really are at a premium 

Been torn between the BB curve and waiting for the 3G iphone and I've finally decided,  I'm in next week.  Although I may descend on a nearby AT&T Wireless store instead of lining up at PP Apple store.  I'm just so relieved to trash my Treo and get away from Windows Mobile.

I hear you Tamara... I've had Windows Mobile on my past two phones and I am definitly ready for a switch! Its probably going to be Blackberry :) I don't think I can hold out for Google's Andrioid.

I'd like to be done with my windows mobile phones but I have a few more months on my contract.  That is probably a good thing; it will slow me down a little so I can see how well all of you instant adopters are doing with your iPhones.  1st gen always makes me a little nervous.  Although I can’t wait to try out the new SDK…

Its unclear whether there will be a midnight opening for the iPhone at the ProvPlace Apple Store. The AT&T store at Eagle Square told me they hadn't received their briefing yet, but that last time, they shut the store down after lunch for an hour or so to unbox and stock the phones, then opened at 3. However, the info below from AT&T corporate contradicts that...

From MacRumors:

- AT&T announced yesterday that U.S. AT&T stores would be opening at 8am to launch Apple's latest phone. [Also, FAQ from AT&T on iPhone launch here]

Apple has not yet announced the time they will be opening their retail stores on launch day, but they are holding a briefing with retail stores on July 6th about the process. MacRumors readers are continuing to organize local meetups for launch day.

 From TQDaily (tip o' the hat to Jack Templin):

 aggregated guide of "getting ready for iPhone 3G"

Best tip to reduce your delay in getting your mitts on your new iPhone: because new AT&T activations require paperwork and a credit check, you can get that pre-completed at the AT&T store where you plan to make your iPhone purchase, and save yourself some minutes in the store on July 11th.

Thx, Allan. More great info here - What you need to know before you buy an iPhone 3G

Jack - The link is not working.

I am staying with my Nokia N95 until I hear that the new iPhone has A2DP Bluetooth allowing for stereo audio over Bluetooth. It's amazing to me that Apple hasn't included this when one of the main selling points of the iPhone is its seemless integration with iTunes. I use a Venturi Mini Stereo Bluetooth Receiver/Handsfree in my car which is patched into my Aux input on my stereo. This allows me to turn my car on, hit play on my phone in my pocket, and immediately have music (2 channel stereo) playing over my car system. Also, when a call comes in, the music automatically pauses and I can take the call hands-free. I hang up and the music continues. Good, simple stuff that the iPhone needs.

@Kook - thanks for the heads up - fixed now

Jack thanks for the link. I hope I'm not breaking any rules with the following...

I have a hard time believing those plan prices. They are VERY high unless they include the $30 3G data plan, which they seem to indicate are NOT included. The old iPhone plans were fairly competitive.

FTA: AT&T Nation 900: Includes 900 Anytime Minutes, unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes and additional minutes priced at $.40, $89.99 per month

From ATT.com: the "Nation 900 w/Rollover® Minutes" plan costs $59.99 (includes unlimited nights and weekends and additional minutes @ $0.4)

The delta is quite a preimum to pay for visual voicemail (which I really like but not to the tune of $30/month). What else is included?

We're still on the fence. I want an iPhone 3g real bad but the monthly cost is too high for my cheap ass. It's going to depend on how much my better half wants one. A family plan with SMS will be $140/month and that will be the biggest non-housing expense that we have. Lots of Internet-on-the-go would be nice, but is it _that_ nice? I'm not so sure.

6:30am Fri. Apple Store at Providence Place Mall. Who's in?

And if you're in, be sure to read this official page from Apple - What to bring when buying iPhone 3G .

I won't be buying an iPhone, I'm in a contract with Verizon until next summer (when I will be considering an iPhone), but I'm curious about the plans.  I'm having a hard time finding good information (you'd think they'd spell it out boldly for you about how much the plans cost).  AT&T says that the data plan will cost $30 on top of a "qualified" voice plan.  Does the cheapest voice plan (at $39.99) count or is that not "qualified"?

Also, for everyone curious, Apple's website say it'll go on sale on Friday at 8:00am.  Sounds like no midnight openings.

@runawayjim, here is a link to the plan pricing for the iPhone.

Hope to see you all for the madness on FRI morning at the Apple Store !

I'm going to opt to sleep in (who am I kidding... baby boy will be up long before 6:30). Sean got us iPhones so long ago that we were even part of Steve's mea culpa to the early adopters! (I got iWork out of it.)

If you go, take photos though. Should be a blast. 

I am definitely in the market for an iPhone. I hope to get there early and join the crew (how early is early?) but I have to drop my kids off at a friends house first - save me a spot!  -Anisa

"Early" is 6:30am.

I'll be buying one, and hoping to pick it up on Friday, but though the geek in me is tempted, the economist in me can't justify waiting in lines or for stores to open. I'll call some AT&T and the Apple store late morning and see how the stocking and waits are. Hoping to head over around lunch time in the hopes it won't be too crazy.

I just did my credit check at the AT&T store at the mall. very easy. They said they have 40 phones in and 40 more coming in later today. And rumor has it more shipments scheduled each day. The AT&T store opens at 9am. Once you are in the system you can buy your phone at the AT&T or Apple Store.

AT&T store says they will sell only one phone per person, so if planning on buying more than one you have to have as many bodies next to you.

If your name starts with A get down to the Apple Store immediately. In line here with Annisa, Allan, Adam and Andy. The line is looong - from the Apple store almost to Macy's... They are spraying the crowd down with coffee. ;-)

Has anyone downloaded the 2.0 iphone software for existing users like myself?

I activated the phone in-store a little after 10 AM. Apparently I was lucky. The activation server had crashed about 20 minutes earlier, but then the staff announced the new (nationwide? worldwide?) directive to give up and send everyone home to activate, after which it almost immediately started working again.

Jack and Alan - Did you get your phone activated yet?

-Anisa 

Allan was able to activate a couple of hours ago, and I finally successfully done so just now.

How about you and Doug, Anisa?

tflan: I downloaded 2.0 yesterday (got the link that Macrumors put up before Apple shut 'em down). I'm enjoying it, for sure. The Remote app blew me away. :)

My new iPhone 3G is dropping _a lot_ of calls as I use it around various parts of Providence. Anyone else having this problem?