On the verge of getting iphone but have questions!

Hi,

I am seriously considering getting an iphone but before I sign away $1440.00 ($60 x 24 months) I have questions which I hope you will excuse my slow grasp with the whole "smart phone" business!!!

1. I have found out that I can purchase this through AT&T premier store due to my work organization. It makes the data plan a little cheaper, but it is telling me that I can either pay $25.00 for personal web use, gmail, yahoo, msn etc..but if that I want to access my organizations webmail exchange that I have to pay a more expensive data plan of $38.00 (usually $45). Is this true? If I purchased the iphone without the organization's discounts (through AT&T's regular website or store) would this still be true? The iphone is expensive enough and I would rather pay the $25 to the $38 for the data plan

2. What does unlocking mean? Is it worthwhile paying out the contract early to do this? Is it possible to buy a sim card to use in this after unlocking?

2. I travel internationally once a year to Australia / Asia. If I have the phone unlocked (I'm told by AT&T that they can do this but only if in contract?) and I purchase a sim card for calls when I am there - how do I access the web? I guess my question is, when in another country can I use their sim card and have web access as well? Or can I use the sim card and still have AT&T global web access?

Thanks for any information / advice you can shed!

PhGirl.

I can try to help a little on your first question.
The iPhone plan is only $30 a month for unlimited internet and email. Then if you want text messaging you have to get whatever plan for that you want. This is what I pay for it and am unfamiliar with the discounts and stuff you are talking about. also with unlocking the phone are you talking about jailbreaking it? Ive heard good and bad things about this but have not personally tried it yet!
Good luck and I hope I helped a little.
Also the iPhone is a very good phone and is well worth the money spent for it. It offers way more than most smartphones!

Hi Brittnianne,

Thanks for your post. Because of my work organization, I can get a slightly discounted data plan of $25.00 BUT ATT are telling my that if I get this plan I can only access hotmail, gmail etc..and that if I want to access my organizations webmail as well then I need to pay a more expensive data plan which is $45.00. I guess I was wondering if I could get away with the $25.00 data plan but if I am unable to access my work email then I probably better off with the $30 regular data plan.

What good and bad things have you heard about jailbreaking the iphone? Do you know if it is unlocked whether you can still access the internet if in another country? If it is unlocked I know I can buy a sim card in that country for the calls but I am wondering about the internet/email access.
PhGirl.

Im not sure about the internet thing in another country. But all I've really heard about the jailbreaking is that it voids your contract, but also that you can un jailbreak it if you need to. Ive also heard that it didnt really change much! If I hear any more I will def let you know!

AT&T has 2 different data plans the first plan is a data enterprise plan and costs $45.00 a month. I believe this is what you are talking about. The 2nd plan is the basic iPhone data plan for $30.00. I am not sure on the whole webmail exchange thing.

2. A unlocked phone I believe is a jailbroken phone, some people are downloading programs onto their computer and syncing it to the iPhone to unlock the phone for free apps, and free customability of their own iPhone. (changing the home screen layout, calanders, and other tools for the phone.) I too have not jailed my iPhone for fear of bricking it. If you want more info on jailbreaking your iPhone search jailbreaking iPhone on YouTube.

Hope this helps you out a little bit, if you need more answers go online to AT&T.com and look for the customer service number and give them a shout. Hope you make the switch you will not be sorry you did.
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