AT&T announced additional pricing details for the upcoming iPhone 3G today though it’s not likely to answer all the questions that people might have. Let’s go over what we do know thus far.

First off, the $199 8GB iPhone 3G and $299 16GB iPhone 3G requires a new two year contract and is available to the following customers:

• iPhone customers who purchased before July 11
• Customers activating a new line with AT&T
• Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount

OK.. so what that says to me is.. if you purchased a 1st generation iPhone before July 11th and you’re up and running with AT&T already, then by default, you’re eligible for the new iPhone 3G. What that also says to me is.. if you are already an AT&T customer AND you’re NOT an iPhone user, you MIGHT be eligible for the new iPhone 3G at the reduced discount.

So.. how do you know if you’re eligible for the discount? You’ll need to log into your account at AT&T Wireless and then click on the “Upgrade Phone” link. That will tell you if you’re eligible for an upgrade discount on a new two year plan.

Now with that said.. if you’re an AT&T customer and you are NOT eligible for an upgrade discount, then the new iPhone 3G will cost $399 for the 8GB and $499 for the 16GB model. This still requires a new two year agreement with AT&T of course.

Down the road, AT&T will also offer a no-contract required option for the iPhone but that also means you’ll be paying the most of the 3G phone with the 8GB model going for $599 and the 16GB for $699.

Make sense?

Oh yeah.. there’s also an “upgrade fee” for current AT&T customers who are upgrading to the iPhone 3G. There’s also an “activation fee” of $36 dollars for new AT&T customers. They sure know how to milk ya!

OK.. so that’s just the price of the phone. We haven’t even begun talking about the plans yet.  To me – the plans are perhaps the most annoying because they’ve changed in a devious way. First off – you’ll be paying more per month than what you previously did with the first generation iPhone. Of course, it’s faster service but.. here’s the kicker – the plan does NOT include the original # of text messages. You want text messages, that’s more too!

Let’s summarize the individual plans – all of which have unlimited data.

On the low end, there’s the AT&T Nation 450 plan which includes 450 Anytime Minutes, 5000 Nights and Weekend Minutes for $69.99 a month

Next, there’s the AT&T Nation 900 plan which includes 900 Anytime Minutes, and unlimited Night and Weekend Minutes for $89.99 a month

Next, there’s the AT&T Nation 1350 plan which has (you guessed it), 1350 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night and Weekend Minutes for $109.99 a month

Finally, there’s the AT&T Nation Unlimited which includes unlimited Anytime Minutes for $129.99. Thus, I suppose the $99.99 unlimited plans don’t apply to the iPhone 3G eh?

OK.. but notice – nowhere in here is anything about text messages. You want texting you say? That’s more! For 200 messages a month, it’ll be $ 5 dollars. For 1500 messages, it’ll be $15 dollars and for unlimited text messages, it’ll be $20 dollars a month. Yes.. that means the lowest plan will be actually $74.99 a month for 450 Anytime Minutes and 200 text messages. That’s $15 dollars more a month than what the lowest 1st gen iPhone user pays now.

Want family options?

AT&T’s FamilyTalk by default comes with two lines. Each additional line will cost you $39.99 extra for up to three more lines. All FamilyTalk lines come with unlimited data, nights and weekends and mobile to mobile.

On the low end, there’s a 700 Shared Anytime Minute plan which costs $129.99. For 1400 Anytime Minutes, you’ll pay $149.99 a month. Next up is the 2100 Anytime Minutes plan for $169.99 a month. Then the 3000 minute plan for $209.99 a month etc etc.

Of course, text messaging is EXTRA too.

Want more info or better pictures? Check out the pricing page here on AT&T’s website.

But let me see if I can summarize for you:

AT&T Nation plans:

AT&T FamilyTalk plans:

[Check out the press release]

[Check out the price plans]

Technorati Tags: AT&T, Apple, iPhone 3G, Price Details, Price Plan