Early iPhone 3GS adopters will have to pay to play

When Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) SVP Scott Forstall took the keynote stage at WWDC 2009 and announced that the new iPhone 3GS would be coming to the US, by way of AT&T (NYSE: T), on June 19th, we were in shock. Less than two weeks from announcement to launch of the iPhone 3GS?! Score one for iPhone fans!

Alas, our excitment for the iPhone 3GS’s near-term launch window was short-lived. Turns out, that $199 and $299 price-tag for the 16GB and 32GB, respectively, iPhone 3GS is only available to new and “qualifying” customers. That means, any current iPhone 3G owner looking to get in on the iPhone 3GS action on launch day will likely have to pay a steeper price of admission – $399 for the 16GB iPhone 3GS or $499 for the 32GB iPhone 3GS.

Apple and AT&T offered first-gen iPhone owners the chance to upgrade to the iPhone 3G with new-contract pricing last year. This year, it looks like the iPhone duo are planning to make loyal iPhone 3G owners pay for the new iPhone 3GS flagship. To see if you’re eligible for a fully-discounted iPhone 3GS, simply log into your AT&T myAccount and hit the “Check for upgrades” link.

Eligible upgrades are looking at $199 and $299 for the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS, respectively. Non-eligible customers will have to pay $399 and $499 for the same kit. Them’s the breaks, sorry.

Hey, AT&T! How about giving us loyal iPhone customers a break? New contract pricing on the iPhone 3GS for current iPhone 3G customers would be nice…