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thenick_ttu wrote:He also said that AT&T versions of the phone are unlikely to sell out/go on backorder because AT&T uses a difference frequency that Verizon/Sprint (or something along those lines, I'm not a tech savvy person).

Heh. They said that with the 4s too and it wasn't true. AT&T is more likely to go on backorder because 90% of iPhone carriers worldwide use the same frequencies as AT&T. Verizon and Sprint may also go on backorder, but that's because Apple will manufacture fewer CDMA/GSM models due to the decreased market share.

That being said, with even die-hard Apple fans like myself being somewhat underwhelmed by the iPhone 5, I doubt we'll see either model go into backorder. For the first time ever, many of us are skipping an upgrade because there isn't enough difference. Frankly, I think the vast majority of iPhone 5 sales will come from 1) first time buyers and 2) current customers who are using 3G, 3GS, and/or 4 models. I just don't see too many iPhone 4s owners upgrading to the 5.

KC5AV wrote:I read somewhere that folks in the past have had trouble keeping their grandfathered unlimited data plan when they upgrade through the website, so I'll just wait a few extra days.

Speaking as a former Apple Senior Advisor, if this does happen (which has always been EXTREMELY rare (and usually has a singular cause which I'll explain in a minute), a simple call to Apple can get it resolved. When you get ahold of the Apple Advisor, just explain the situation to them and ask for a Senior Advisor. The SA can then get you in touch with AT&T's Product Management Center (PMC) who can resolve the issue. Please note that you cannot get to PMC by calling AT&T directly. AT&T's General Care advisors do not have access to PMC and can rarely help you in situations like this.

As for what usually causes these issues, it's usually because a has 2+ lines on their account and their phone isn't eligible for upgrade but one of the others is. So they upgrade line 2, and then try to activate the new phone on line 1 instead of the line it was ordered under (line 2). This causes no end of trouble. If you are ordering your phone on one line in order to use it with a different number, please, PLEASE, complete the activation on the line it was originally ordered under. Then go into an AT&T store (corporate, not reseller) and have them do a SIM swap. It takes all of 15 minutes and will save you multitudes of trouble.

thenick_ttu wrote:I'm in a similar situation. The wife and I have had the 3GS for 3 years now. Both phones are slowing down so we'll definitely be upgrading but I can't decide if I should go with the 5 for $200 or the 4S for $100.

Any of our board's tech gurus have an opinion?

If you are in need of an upgrade anyway, I would go ahead and go with the 5. Especially since it's going to reset your subsidized pricing anyway.

As much as a Apple lover that I am, I have to say I'm somewhat underwhelmed. Yes, the new 4" screen looks good, the A6 chip looks like it'll increase processing speed significantly (though I have an iPad 3 for any real processing work I do), and the iPhone 5 does look really sexy in the new black & graphite. But it is really worth upgrading this time? I dunno. I've had every new iPhone since the 3G. I'm thinking I'm gonna skip this one. Besides, most of the truly neat features are in the software, not the hardware. And iOS 6 is being released in 6 more days.

On the plus side, with the reduced pricing on the 4 & 4s, looks like Mom is gonna upgrade to the 4s and we'll upgrade the kids to the 4.