Yuppers…note that I didn’t say for ‘free’.

I’m actually pondering getting an iPhone and realized that my 2 year with Cingular/AT&T is about to end. So I am entitled to renew my contract with Cingular/AT&T and as a ‘reward’ get a new phone at ‘new customer’ cost (otherwise known as an ‘equipment upgrade’).

Since the iPhone is available to everyone, contract or not contract with AT&T, you’re best off to renew your contract if eligible (since you’ll do this anyway when activating the iPhone), get the new phone (think Blackberry or whatever is free and can be sold for a few hundred), sell it, and then offset the cost of the iPhone. Then register the new iPhone via iTunes and extend your 2 year contract yet again, but albeit a day or two later. I don’t know what the ‘fine print’ will say, but everything I’ve been reading seems to indicate that this should might be legit.

Update:  Looks like this should work per the ATT&T site (this is from their FAQ): “Q. I just upgraded my phone recently. Are there any penalties or restrictions for upgrading to iPhone right away?
A. No. Everyone can upgrade to iPhone right away.

Complete FAQ and additional details here: http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/iphone-faqs.jsp#3