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Analysts should understand that most 3GS users didn't upgrade though. Most people don't replace a bit of hardware costing several hundred dollars / pounds (plus

Analysts should understand that most 3GS users didn't upgrade though. Most people don't replace a bit of hardware costing several hundred dollars / pounds (plus associated contract costs potentially) after 12 months. The same will be true of the Samsung Galaxy S2 - those users won't be queuing up to replace it after 12 months (or if they are it's a bad sign rather than a good one). You're not wrong about it as a factor, just saying that analysts should get this and figure it in.

jarcoal 15y ago
I don't know about most, but I think many are upgrading. I've had mine for over two years now and preordered the 4S.
JonLim 15y ago
3GS users have waited more than 12 months. I haven't upgraded yet, but that's because I wanted to wait for the lines to die before I decided on what I wanted to get. The 4S is looking mighty tempting though, and I was going to get it unlocked. (Because I hate being locked to three year contracts, stupid Canada.)
- emp 15y ago
  I did what you are contemplating - got an unlocked 4S after having my 3GS for 2 1/2 years. You won't be disappointed, the 4S is so much faster at everything. And Siri is amazing. The only downside is that I have started looking for the 'Siri button' on my iMac.
  - JonLim 15y ago
    Well that's all well and good, I'm just worried that they're going to release another new fancy phone next year and I won't be able to afford getting it (which I will want to.) Glad to hear that the upgrade is worth it though!
cshesse 15y ago
You may be correct as I think I saw an informal survey of iPhone 4S buyers that stated only a small percentage were upgrading. However, iPhone 3GS users for the most part have had the phone 24 to 12 months, and if you are eligible for an upgrade with AT&T, it seems you pay the iphone subsidy each month (by my estimates, around $50 per month) regardless of whether you upgrade or not. So it makes sense to upgrade and sell the new phone on ebay if you want to keep your 3GS.
- BertHartm 15y ago
  Can I ask about your estimate of $50 a month? I've always estimated about $20 (T-mobile's old discount) which made sense given that a $400 discount over 24 months would be about 17 a month.
  - cshesse 15y ago
    The ATT iPhone costs I think 80$ a month. If you get a Virgin Mobile phone with the same plan, it costs 35$ per month. And the Virgin Mobile plan is a little better. I was also basing this off of the Sprint iPhone costing roughly the same as the ATT iPhone, and Virgin Mobile supposedly using the Sprint network.

jarcoal 15y ago

I don't know about most, but I think many are upgrading. I've had mine for over two years now and preordered the 4S.

JonLim 15y ago

3GS users have waited more than 12 months. I haven't upgraded yet, but that's because I wanted to wait for the lines to die before I decided on what I wanted to get. The 4S is looking mighty tempting though, and I was going to get it unlocked. (Because I hate being locked to three year contracts, stupid Canada.)

emp 15y ago
I did what you are contemplating - got an unlocked 4S after having my 3GS for 2 1/2 years. You won't be disappointed, the 4S is so much faster at everything. And Siri is amazing. The only downside is that I have started looking for the 'Siri button' on my iMac.
- JonLim 15y ago
  Well that's all well and good, I'm just worried that they're going to release another new fancy phone next year and I won't be able to afford getting it (which I will want to.) Glad to hear that the upgrade is worth it though!

cshesse 15y ago

You may be correct as I think I saw an informal survey of iPhone 4S buyers that stated only a small percentage were upgrading. However, iPhone 3GS users for the most part have had the phone 24 to 12 months, and if you are eligible for an upgrade with AT&T, it seems you pay the iphone subsidy each month (by my estimates, around $50 per month) regardless of whether you upgrade or not. So it makes sense to upgrade and sell the new phone on ebay if you want to keep your 3GS.

BertHartm 15y ago
Can I ask about your estimate of $50 a month? I've always estimated about $20 (T-mobile's old discount) which made sense given that a $400 discount over 24 months would be about 17 a month.
- cshesse 15y ago
  The ATT iPhone costs I think 80$ a month. If you get a Virgin Mobile phone with the same plan, it costs 35$ per month. And the Virgin Mobile plan is a little better. I was also basing this off of the Sprint iPhone costing roughly the same as the ATT iPhone, and Virgin Mobile supposedly using the Sprint network.