While not many carriers are offering folks the chance to buy the new iPhone 3G without a contract, AT&T says it has plans to do so, but, of course, at a cost. The option is aimed at existing AT&T customers who are not currently eligible for an upgrade discount.

While announcing iPhone 3G pricing for new and existing AT&T customers, several attractive voice and data plans, and tips on how to be "iReady" when iPhone 3G goes on sale at AT&T retail stores at 8 a.m. (local time on Friday, July 11), the giant US mobile carrier also disclosed a rather interesting piece of information about how else it was going to the sell the iPhone 3G:

"Existing AT&T customers who are not currently eligible for an upgrade discount can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model," says the official AT&T report. However, even these two options require a new two-year service agreement, according to AT&T, but, "in the future, AT&T will offer a no-contract-required option for $599 (8GB) or $699 (16GB)," the report reveals.

Current customers can also choose to wait until they become eligible for an upgrade discount. As most AT&T customers should know, eligibility is determined by the amount of time remaining on a current contract and payment history. As for the current AT&T customers who are upgrading to iPhone 3G, they will have to pay an $18 upgrade fee when purchasing the new device, while new AT&T customers will pay the standard $36 activation fee.

Those who are holding their breath for the App Store and MobileMe should be glad to hear there's a way to grab the new device and choose whatever mobile carrier and plan they want afterwards, knowing they will have time to consider all the existing offers and not make a mistake.

And let's not forget the pleasure of taking home your new device and opening the box yourself, instead of having an AT&T staffer take it out of its confines and remove that plastic foil off its screen - something everyone simply loves to do themselves.