iPhone 4 dropped in toilet. Best way to get another

[Speedy]

My daughter dropped her iPhone 4 in the toilet. Predictably it is dead. We are drying it out but it was in use when it hit the water.

It is an AT&T model. What is the cheapest way to replace it? Looks to be around $300 for a used one on eBay.

I assume once I find an AT&T refurb or used that it is simply a matter of swapping the SIM card and then connecting to iTunes to reload her stuff and she is good to go? Or do I have to do something with AT&T?

The iPhone was new in 11/10 so it is almost a year and a half old and our contract is up in 11/12. We have three other iPhones bought on the same date. I'm still a newbie when it comes to the in's and out's of cell phones and how this works as these are our first cell phones ever. I do not wish to extend our contract two years to get a replacement phone from AT&T.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Ron

[M>B>]

Well thats kind of carapy, dry all moisture out if it and seal it in a zip loc bag with a pound of rice in it and hope for the best! Wait a day or two and see what happens.

Good luck.

Edit: The rice should be un-cooked.

[GGD]

This link seems to say that Apple may replace it for $149.

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_States&product=iphone

#
Out-of-Warranty Service

If you own an iPhone that is ineligible for warranty service but is eligible for Out-of-Warranty (OOW) Service, Apple will service your iPhone for the Out-of-Warranty Service fee listed below.
iPhone model Out-of-Warranty Service
iPhone 4S $199
iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS,
iPhone 3G, Original iPhone $149

A $6.95 shipping fee will be added if you arrange service online or by calling Apple Technical Support. All fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to local tax.

When setting up out-of-warranty service, Apple will request credit card pre-authorization for the maximum service fee listed above. This amount will be deducted from your credit limit. The final service fee we charge will be determined during testing and may be less than the service fee listed above.

Certain damage is ineligible for out-of-warranty service, including catastrophic damage, such as the device separating into multiple pieces, and inoperability caused by unauthorized modifications. However, an iPhone that has failed due to contact with liquid may be eligible for out-of-warranty service.

Apple reserves the right to determine whether or not your iPhone is eligible for Out-of-Warranty service. iPhones that are repaired or replaced have a 90-day limited hardware warranty or assume the remainder of your standard warranty or AppleCare service contract coverage, whichever is longer. Please see Apple's Repair Terms And Conditions for further details.

[silvarios]

Make a Genius apointment. I've read replacment phones can be had for something like $200. Just let Apple know what happened.

[Speedy]

M>B>, that is what is happening now. We have it sitting in front of a fan which will blow on it for a couple days. We have forced air heat and air conditioning but this time of year (at least this year) we aren't using either.

GGD, really !!great!! link if drying doesn't work (and I don't expect it to.)

[silvarios]

GGD beat me to it. I was wrong. I read 4S, but the OP clearly stated 4. Either way, $149 or $199 is a bargain.

[M>B>]

M>B>, that is what is happening now. We have it sitting in front of a fan which will blow on it for a couple days. We have forced air heat and air conditioning but this time of year (at least this year) we aren't using either.

Fan and heat won't work, you need do seal in a descent to extract the moisture. Silica jell would be best but rice works!

[Lux Interior]

M>B> wrote:
Edit: The rice should be un-cooked.

lol!

"Defrost the chickens first."

[space-time]

you can cook the rice afterwards :barf:

[Spiff]

Actually, I brought an iPhone 3 back from a dunking by heating up a toaster oven to 200 degrees, place a towel on the top of it and put the iPhone on it for 10 min ( the sides of the toaster were insulated, but the top was not). Take off, let cool. Repeat several times. Let dry for at least 24 hours. It worked!