Let me start off by saying I'm not an Apple fan and don't own any of their products. That said this post isn't a bash on the iPhone. In this case it's more so those complaining about the steep price to upgrade.
As most anyone who doesn't live in a shack knows, Apple released news of the new iteration of their iPhone at their WWDC earlier in the week. This time named the iPhone 3GS. The "S" stands for speed. Right off the bat I feel like this isn't anything to crazy. At least when looking at how big the jump that the original iPhone to iPhone 3G was. Sure enough there's some tweaks that attribute to the "S" in the name, but overall nothing I'd be too concerned about if I currently had an iPhone 3G (which I do not).
Like every other carrier in the States, the iPhone 3GS is being released with promotional prices to attract even more new customers to AT&T. A 16GB and a 32GB version of the phone is being released with a cost of $199 and $299 respectively with a new 2 year contract. That said, a straight upgrade to the phone if you have an existing contract will be $499/$599 respectively. This is where many people have an issue, when in fact it's just their thinking they deserve a discounted price. Last year when the iPhone 3G was released it came in 8 and 16GB flavors, and low and behold at the same prices for the upgrade.
Many are complaining about this because of what happened last year with the release of the iPhone 3G, when in fact there's NOTHING for them to complain about. When you got your phone you signed a 2 year contract. Just about every carrier follows that scheme. Not until that 2 years is over are you deemed eligible for an upgrade, whatever the stipulations may be. The reason for the premium most people who want to upgrade, is because most iPhone 3G users haven't been on that contract for a year, which appears to be the magic period for when they can get the upgrade price.
As far as I'm concerned it's the price of new technology. You want the latest and greatest out in technology today, you are going to pay a premium over others.
