New iPhone launches today, new AT&T experience store opens

The faster, more powerful iPhone 3GS launches today at AT&T Inc. and Apple Stores nationwide and will offer price breaks for those looking to upgrade.

Those who are eligible to trade up, regardless of whether they have an older iPhone or other mobile device, can sign up for another two-year service contract. The upgrade deal offers the 16-gigabyte iPhone 3GS for $199 and the 32-gigabyte version for $299, said AT&T spokeswoman Meghan Roskopf.

Customers can check their upgrade eligibility at www.att.com/iPhone or at the AT&T stores. Or call *639# from an AT&T handset and receive a text with information about your upgrade eligibility, she said.

The price for the newest iPhone, if you're not eligible for the upgrade, is $399 for the 16GB and $499 for the 32GB.

Those who pre-ordered with exclusive carrier AT&T will be the first allowed inside at 7 a.m. All others, need to wait until the regular opening times.

The Apple Stores will open two hours earlier at 8 a.m., including the one at Woodfield Mall.

This time, the 3GS launch could be busy, but each store will have its usual staffing, said Roskopf.

"It's hard to tell if we'll have lines," Roskopf said. "We learned a lot from the launches of iPhone and iPhone 3G and will be prepared if there are lines at our stores."

The launch of the first iPhone about two years ago in the back yard of Schaumburg-based Motorola Inc. created havoc. Lines snaked around Apple and AT&T stores throughout the suburbs.

To learn more about this launch, visit www.wireless.att.com/iphone/ and click on "Get iReady." Or go to youtube.com/shareatt.

Also today, AT&T opens its third "experience" store in Illinois, this time at 70 W. Madison St, in downtown Chicago. It is 4,500 square feet in area with music, video, couches and two high-definition TV screens, along with all the latest phones to try. Special sections are created for consumers and business people.

The newest Chicago store is similar to the experience stores that opened in the past 11/2 years in Oakbrook Terrace and Aurora, Roskopf said.