iphone activation question

[spiffothemouse]

i have a question and would like to get a bit of advice from AI forums:

i'm currently off contract w/ Verizon and am planning on getting an iPhone 3G. i've heard that if you're an existing att customer and you get an iPhone, it renews your contract for 2 years starting when you activate your iphone.

my question is, is there any reason why i wouldn't be able to start a new contract w/ att and get a free/cheap phone (that i could sell/give away) between now and july (or whenever, really) and then get an iPhone 3G (maybe pay activation?) and have a backup phone too?

thoughts?

thanks.

[BRussell]

You may not qualify for the subsidized price if you do that. See here. (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/19/atandt-iphone-3g-199-299-pricing-policy/) I'd guess that if you just kept your old phone and contract, it would be fine, but no one knows for sure, so I wouldn't risk it.

[spiffothemouse]

shoot. well there goes that idea. i'd rather not risk it, especially when if i really need a backup phone i can buy one off ebay for cheaper than that link suggests. i guess att isn't completely clueless sometimes.

thanks for the info!