Upgrading or keeping up with the virtual Joneses

The original plan today was go to the AT&T Store (on I-35 & Parmer), get a better explanation on what’s happening with the mobile bill; it used to run between $110-115/month. After we made the change to pull back on data and go unlimited on the test messages, it jumped $20-plus. We were told originally that the bill wasn’t supposed to change, the savings from data would cover the unlimited text element.

Since the actual breakdown wasn’t available online at the time I received notice (more like the shock of it being $140), we wanted to get an explanation and/or assistance in person. I suppose I’m showing my age but there was no way in hell I felt I would receive an adequate experience online as I did Friday with Journeys.

We were handled in an excellent fashion by Chris (they’re all good, it’s why I go to the physical location, the one closest to our house is more of a small satellite). He quickly discovered the cause…some weird $20/month ringtone service. I know I didn’t sign up for such a thing because I know how to make my own (if you’re curious how I do it, ask). Chris had this removed and clarified my incorrect assumption regarding the shift we did in June.

Then Somara asked about the wait list for the new iPhone 4. He replied that it was around a few weeks yet some people’s orders have appeared in a couple days. We hemmed and hawed for about a minute and made the commitment. Somara teased me by saying it was the long-term solution to all the iOS 4.0.2 problems I was experiencing on my current 3G; it functions better than 4, yet I would only upgrade with serious reservations. We figured, why not. Getting iPads are a ways off (no employee discounts on the horizon, it’s just damned popular which is great!) and we’ve been pretty impressed with iPhone 4 through friends’. I myself am really looking forward to gaining the ability to record video: hockey is on the horizon, maybe I can catch our cats’ spontaneous acts of goofiness and anything else catching my attention.

Meanwhile, any takers on my iPhone 3G? It’s almost two years old. It’s in good shape. The battery probably has another 100 good cycles remaining. No dents or serious scratches. It has a film to protect the glass interface part. Interested? Let me know. When I receive and successfully transfer to my iPhone 4, I will purge the 3G to give it a fresh start in iOS 3.x. Starting price? $100, as is, USB cable and earbuds included. Most inquiries I’ve seen via Craigslist are offering $200.

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