iPhone Sales Guide Answers Your Buying Questions

The AT&T wireless sales guide for iPhone has leaked onto the web. You can download it at the bottom of the article. Here are some key points that answer the most burning questions about there when it comes to buying an iPhone tomorrow. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have in the comments (or, download the 65-page guide and read for yourself).

Existing AT&T/Cingular customers under contract will not pay a penalty to buy iPhone. You’ll pay the same $499/$599 as a new customer. Your contract will simply be reset to two-years when you activate iPhone.

(This is a good point to note that it makes a lot of sense to sign up for AT&T and pick up a free-with-contract phone or upgrade before purchasing iPhone. You’ll reset the contract to two years, then buy an iPhone, which will simply reset the contract to two years again… but you’ll get a free spare phone (even a 3G phone which you can use when you want broadband web on the road).

iPhone will be available on prepaid, but only on AT&T’s GoPhone pick-your-plan (basically you pay a flat monthly fee starting at $49.98 and up, which includes unlimited data and a few hundred minutes, just like a contract plan). The flat-rate pay-as-you-go prepaid option is not available on iPhone.

As to activation, nobody has to do anything in-store other than pay for the device. However, if you are subject to a deposit (for new customers) you would have to go back to the store and pay them the deposit; iTunes will not take your credit card to pay for the initial deposit. Because of this, AT&T will offer to run the credit check in-store, and give you a confirmation number, so you’ll be able to just enter that instead of have a credit check run at home. This of course does not apply to existing customers. If you are prompted to give a deposit, you will still have the option of a GoPhone prepaid plan.

Finally, more on the stereo Bluetooth front. iPhone will not support A2DP Bluetooth at launch. However, it appears that they will in the future. Apple stresses that their Bluetooth headset is the “mono version” of the SKU, which certainly points to them offering a “stereo version” of the SKU down the road. Apple’s A2DP headset is the cause for the delay, Apple generally doesn’t add software support for a hardware component, until they are ready to ship their own first-party version. There will be five first-party accessories at launch (travel charger, stereo headset, Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth headset travel charger, and iPhone dock connector USB cable). iPod accessories with dock connector generally will work with iPhone, except for in-car units. Apple is officially considering updating iPhone to support iPod-in-car systems.

AT&T iPhone Launch Sales Briefing (PDF)