Existing users, 
How to replace your original iPhone with an iPhone 3G
Posted 6 July 2008 @ 8pm in Guides/How-Tos
Apple has published a Knowledge Base article that contains a step-by-step process for replacing a first-generation iPhone with an iPhone 3G while retaining the same carrier. The process allows uers to preserve their SMS messages, email accounts, photos, notes, and other personal settings.
The article notes that in the US, SIM swapping is not necessary. Data from the original iPhone will be transferred to the new device’s SIM. In other countries, you can use your original iPhone’s SIM with iPhone 3G.
Feedback? info@iphoneatlas.com.
Print This Post
6 Comments
Posted by daniel4510_dotmac
6 July 2008 @ 9pm
That’s nice and all, but Apple is delusional if they think that many original iPhone users will switch to the iPhone 3G. What would be the point? AT&T sucks. Period, unless you live in a large metropolitan area. Fewer dropped calls? You bet. Because where I live you can’t make or receive calls to begin with. And we won’t see 3G service in my area for another 3-6 months. Apple’s commitment with AT&T should not have exceeded one year. Frankly, I’m embarrassed anymore to admit I even HAVE an iPhone compared to the service my T-Mobile friends receive, using their copy-cat phones. Don’t get me wrong. That’s the trouble with innovators. The next people in line follow suit and do it right. But Apple had the chance to make a few leaps and bounds with the 3G and and didn’t do it. I’ll wait another year, when their commitment to AT&T is over.
Posted by sonicphilosopher
7 July 2008 @ 6am
I live in a major metropolitan area, Seattle. AT&T sucks here too. I had them for a while and paid the early termination fee to get out. I have never experienced worse signals and such an immense amount of dropped calls. There is no way in hell I’d signup for service with them just to get an iPhone. I hope Apple makes a cdma version for Sprint, whom I’ve had the best luck with. What was Apple thinking?!?!?
Posted by jspectre
7 July 2008 @ 8am
well. for some of us AT&T works just fine and we’re just happy with them. still, i won’t be upgrading to a G3 because there aren’t enough compelling reasons to. faster internet when I’m not around wifi? not a big deal. GPS? again not a big deal.
what I would like is COPY AND PASTE! my newton could do this a decade ago! stereo bluetooth audio support! voice dialing! ya know, the features I could get on any $10 phone out there now.
Posted by likeafox24
7 July 2008 @ 9am
@ jspectre:
I agree with you. However, I want my wife to have an iPhone, so if I’m buying one anyway, I may as well get the 3G. But if I were a solitary man, I’d stick with the first-gen iPhone until third-gen. What I’d like to see? Faster processor, more memory, more battery life. Seems like the iPhone 3G is pretty much the same hardware (though I’m looking forward very much to a flush headphone jack and a better speaker (hopefully)).
@daniel4510_dotmac:
Uh. You’ll be waiting more than one year for another carrier. Try 4 years. AT&T & iPhone are married until at least 2012. I’d love to be wrong, so do let me know.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/22/apple-iphone-on-atandt-for-five-years/
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2007-05-21-at&t-iphone_N.htm
@sonicphilosopher:
Sorry you have bad AT&T coverage. I live in central TX, and I couldn’t be happier. AT&T has the best coverage here, and with the iPhone, I get better reception than my AT&T friends. It was a marriage made in heaven. Amen.
Posted by jmenkart1
8 July 2008 @ 6am
All this whining about coverage gives me a headache. I live in metropolitan DC Area and find that AT&T coverage at my home is far superior to Verizon which we had before. And coverage in DC,MD and VA is essentially the same with Verizon and AT&T overall. In my travels in and out of the country it seems fine as well. Stop complaining about the iPhone with some regional issues with AT&T coverage it’s unrelated.
Posted by simsob23
8 July 2008 @ 9am
I agree with lmenkart1. Stop whining. I tried all cellular providers and so far AT&T is the best. Every carrier has some sort of rights to specific areas so there will never be the perfect one. In my case in the Phoenix area T-Mobile is the worse. I have nothing against it, it just doesn’t work well in the area where I live. AT&T happens to be extremely good. Verizon had all kind of issues as well. Also, I found AT&T very good while traveling in the US as well as abroad. As per the new 3G phone, I think it is more a matter of “wanting” the new phone on the shelve. My iPhone has been so far the best cellular I owned, way better than the Blackberry and not even comparable to the rest being way down the scale, and I do not see a real advantage in getting the new one, at least for now.
Everybody wants the perfect situation that it doesn’t exist. If you are lucky your area has a good coverage for the AT&T/iPhone, if you are not it may soon or unfortunately it will be a while, but stop complaining about the phone itself. It is a great phone period. If you don’t like it don’t buy it or sell it on eBay.