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AT&T To Offer No-Contract iPhones to Existing Customers Starting March 26th?
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Would Apple and Verizon just make a deal already!
...they can't until at very least June 2009, if not June 2010.
EDIT: nope, not till June 2010
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/535540/
Look, I'm no phone guru, and forgive me if this topic has come up before.... but when will apple see the insanely burgeoning monetary logic in building a device that is totally excluded from this AT&T bondage? Surely their agreement cannot possibly preclude EVERY OTHER mobile device that can be imagined... Give me an "iCell" or whateverTF with "different" features that I can use with any carrier [I would sign any reasonable contract] - done. And if Steve still has a woody for his "price points" then take out the effing camera or something, drop it down a benjamin less than the iPhone and lets make it happen captn....
This could be true, but think of it this way.. If AT&T can get these customer's with the 1st gen iphone to upgrade they might make more money... With all the new feature's it would be in AT&T's best interest to try to get everybody onto a new phone.. I have this feeling that they will charge for MMS.. I know we pay enough for our plans, but I can see them increasing the text plan from $20 an month to $24.95..
Let's just say AT&T has 8 million iphone customer's that an extra $39 million a month extra for MMS... That is a big difference to there pocket's so I can see that happening.. I hope not because the service for this phone is starting to eat a hole in my pocket...
James
Look, I'm no phone guru, and forgive me if this topic has come up before.... but when will apple see the insanely burgeoning monetary logic in building a device that is totally excluded from this AT&T bondage? Surely their agreement cannot possibly preclude EVERY OTHER mobile device that can be imagined... Give me an "iCell" or whateverTF with "different" features that I can use with any carrier [I would sign any reasonable contract] - done. And if Steve still has a woody for his "price points" then take out the effing camera or something, drop it down a benjamin less than the iPhone and lets make it happen captn....
Apples contract doesn't preclude EVERY OTHER mobile device that can be imagined, just the ones that use the cell phone network. They can make a stripped down iPhone that doesn't offer cell phone service. They do sell such a device and it is called the iPod Touch.
Is it possible ATT's exclusive with apple expires in June, and ATT wants to clear out some of the iphones they have in inventory, anticipating a slowing of demand (not for the phone generally, but for the phone from ATT)?
It's possible, but most estimates say 2010 is when the exclusive deal ends with AT&T, no one knows for sure except the 2 companies.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/535540/
I said I wasn't a guru but don't insult me. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't familiar with Apple's product line. I believe I was quite clear about using a loophole in the agreement to make a cheaper PHONE. I have heard the touch described as a "stripped down" whatever ad nauseam- you have pointed out the obvious. If there is no legal way for Apple to make such a device, you could have simply said so. I am willing to admit that I do not know every detail of the agreement.
Now go back and watch the original press release for the 3G where Steve Jobs says it's cheaper. Riiight.
I have a 2G iPhone (since Dec-07) w/ ATT & have the 200 texts/month and end up paying ~$73/month... I think the data plan for 3G iPhones is $10/month more, correct? In any event, I won't upgrade until a hardware upgrade (beyond mere storage capacity) happens.
same thing happening in Japan, Softbank is giving the iphone away for free, but you must still have the basic plan, that consists of unlimited internet use, and a white plan for calls.
Softbank offer will expire end of May. is that telling us something? June? July new phones?
I hope this is a clear out preceding the release of a new model.
However, the unsubsidized price is the full retail value, so there's not a large incentive to pick one up under those terms. Also, I'd be surprised if they carried more than a month of stock, if that. Unless the release is happening in the next month they'll need to order more stock anyway.
However, the unsubsidized price is the full retail value, so there's not a large incentive to pick one up under those terms. Also, I'd be surprised if they carried more than a month of stock, if that. Unless the release is happening in the next month they'll need to order more stock anyway.
I thought everyone was already assuming the next gen was coming in June as they've done the past two years.
Pointless inside the USA maybe, but not pointless for Americans. The ability to travel internationally and simply slip in a local pay-as-you-go sim is sublime.
How is it pointless? Using a 3G iPhone on a 2G network (or one like T-Mobile's US network) isn't going to make it explode, it just won't do internet at 3G speeds!
Still beats buying a used 2G iPhone from some shady reseller on ebay for almost the same cash.
Still beats buying a used 2G iPhone from some shady reseller on ebay for almost the same cash.
because the general public is as switched on as macrumors, and knows every year around June/July iphones will be released...
Actually having a 3g vs 2g costs $15 a month more for same functionality. You also have to pay extra for the texts. That's why 2g goes for so much on eBay. A 3g costs $360 extra over 2 years. So that's $199 + $360 = $559. Or the previous pre-sub price of $399 for the 2g. That's an extra $160 in the pot for apple and Att to split up. It was a sweet scheme to get 2g people to anti up for the 3g after paying cash for the 2g. And, they get 15 bucks a monthmore on the contract, plus a 2 year extension. Glad I own apple stock. And even happier I didn't pony up for a 3g.
