A few weeks ago, MobileCrunch blogged that some of its readers’ AT&T upgrade eligibility had shifted to June, a shift that would allow them to buy a theoretical iPhone that might conceivably be released this month at the lowest subsidized price. When I mentioned that, AT&T told me it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Now AppleInsider is saying that folks are noticing they’re eligible for a new iPhone with subsidy. And this time, one of those people is me. A few days ago, my AT&T account said I could get the full discount in November. Now–boom!–I’m entitled to it right now, assuming I’m willing to extend my contract and pay an $18 fee.

On the off chance that Apple happens to announce a new iPhone today at 10am PT, I won’t be able to squawk that anyone else is getting it at a lower price than I am. I wonder what percentage of U.S. iPhone 3GS owners can say the same?

As AT&T told me when I wrote about the earlier deadline shuffling, it’s continuously adjusting these dates, and each customer has a custom one based on the specifics of the business he or she does with the company. But the timing is… fortuitous. For both customers who want new iPhones and for AT&T, who’d presumably like to avoid news stories quoting indignant early adopters.

(Truth to tell, though, I’m not going to buy any new iPhone without inquiring about whether it’s possible to pay an unsubsidized, commitment-free price.)

 
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