Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone monthly cost limit?

dagger55

dagger55

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 23, 2007
143
0
Austin, TX
I went be my AT&T store today to try and get some information about how much this thing is going to cost me per month, and the sales rep informed that she did not know, but that they were scheduled to have a meeting next Wednesday after closing time, and she planned on learning about the price then, and to check back Thursday with her.


I'm as excited about this phone as anyone else here, but I am a little worried about the fact that I havent seen the price per month for this yet....

Seeing the price of the phone (500-600), and the price of the BT headset(129), so far this product is VERY expensive. I know there have rumblings that AT&T is planning on having a special iPhone plan which will be required in order to use the iPhone on the network....

Is anyone else worried this 'special' plan might in fact be VERY expensive, just like everything else so far associated with the iPhone?

Is there a price ceiling out there for anyone who wants this phone, but simply wont get it if the price per month is $xxx.xx?
 
I want it to not come with a data plan and be under $50. I don't use phones enough to justify paying much more for that, and I want the iPhone primarily because of everything else it can do (and there's enough wifi for me to be satisfied...) so I can cut down on the gadget clutter going on in my purse.
 
I'm with you, Janey. I have no problem spending $500 dollars for an iPhone (heck, my first iPod cost $500 back in 2002), but if I have to sign up for a (minimum) $40 calling plan + a $40 data plan on a 2-year contract, I'm afraid I'll have to opt out. That would make the total cost of ownership $2,420 over two years (and that's without a case or bluetooth headphone).

I'd be happy to buy it without a data plan (and without a calling plan, for that matter). I think the highest I'm willing spend monthly would be $50 total.
 
I know. For me it's not the cost of the iPhone or the possibly expensive iPhone plan(s) that is making me lean towards the sub-$50 range, it's that I wouldn't use it because I just don't really need a crazy data plan on top of a crazy calling plan. I only use up like 3-400 minutes/month and you should see the number of rollover minutes I have right now even with a cheapass plan (granted, by itself it's also over $50...not including extras like messaging). There are better things I could spend that money on, like a new mac pro :D

The <$50 plan is probably not feasible though. Data plans aren't cheap at all and alone would probably be $50ish.
 
I don't imagine it would be any more expensive than the blackberry unlimited, which is $40 a month.
 
janey said:
There are better things I could spend that money on, like a new mac pro :D
Click to expand...

I've made the decision that if I decide not to get the iPhone, I'll pick up a new MacBook to replace my aging Pismo instead. Even at twice the initial cost, the MacBook will be far cheaper in the long-run. Either way, next week will be fun.
 
Flowbee said:
I'm with you, Janey. I have no problem spending $500 dollars for an iPhone (heck, my first iPod cost $500 back in 2002), but if I have to sign up for a (minimum) $40 calling plan + a $40 data plan on a 2-year contract, I'm afraid I'll have to opt out. That would make the total cost of ownership $2,420 over two years (and that's without a case or bluetooth headphone).

I'd be happy to buy it without a data plan (and without a calling plan, for that matter). I think the highest I'm willing spend monthly would be $50 total.
Click to expand...

That's a very common plan right now. Why would AT&T/Apple have a plan that is significantly less? The voice plan will almost definitely be the same as the current offererings and the data will probably end up being $40.
 
If the data+calling plan passes the $100 mark... its going to be tough for me to justify getting this phone, even though i really really really want it.
 
Flowbee said:
I've made the decision that if I decide not to get the iPhone, I'll pick up a new MacBook to replace my aging Pismo instead. Even at twice the initial cost, the MacBook will be far cheaper in the long-run. Either way, next week will be fun.
Click to expand...

A moment of silence for the Pismo as it faces its retirement. Mine finally retired a few months ago. I found him a nice farm with a large yard where he could run and play.

This will be my first mobile phone (I've put it off as long as I could but always said I'd get one if Apple ever decided to enter the market.) These things make me nervous. I'd really like to have a few days to digest the plans before purchasing. Unfortunately, I'm going on vacation the very next week and want it for the trip - which puts the time crunch in there. Grrrrrrrr.

;)
 
Grimace said:
That's a very common plan right now. Why would AT&T/Apple have a plan that is significantly less? The voice plan will almost definitely be the same as the current offererings and the data will probably end up being $40.
Click to expand...

The reason that AT&T/Apple would have a plan significantly less is because there is no hardware subsidy given in trade for the contract commitment (as it stands now, based on current statements), so theoretically that subsidy would be given on the plan through the duration of the contract.

Or else AT&T has decided that the iPhone's large influx of customers would allow them to on an iPhone-only-basis decrease their ridiculous glut of profit margins on wireless data.

Two reasons right there.
 
I am thinkin the plan will come in at around $40 a month, but I would be okay with $60 a month.
 
z400central said:
I don't imagine it would be any more expensive than the blackberry unlimited, which is $40 a month.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm thinking. But what I don't get is, why would someone be surprised if the total (voice and data) is around $80-$100?

Most PDA/Smartphone users, I would think, are paying this amount right now.

I guess people who are freaked are those who never had a PDA/Smartphone.

I'm not knocking them, just wondering why some are so concerned.
 
iMichael72 said:
This is what I'm thinking. But what I don't get is, why would someone be surprised if the total (voice and data) is around $80-$100?
Click to expand...
My point, along with Flowbee, is that some people have no big need for a data plan. I frankly won't be surprised if the total for both would be in that area, but I don't have a need for either one very much and would like a reasonable voice and possibly also a reasonable data plan for the iPhone which I'll be using for everything but those two, sparingly, that isn't in the $80-100 range.

Now if you could get, say, a $40 voice plan with a $20 unlimited data addon for the iPhone, I'd consider that good enough and get it.
 
don't forget taxes everyone! It always adds another $10 or so a month...:rolleyes:

Those who have not had voice+data plans before are in for a shock. Once you've had it, you can't *not* have it. It's like once you've had Mac, you'll never go back. :D
 
I think there is going to be major sticker shock for people on Thursday. Its going to put a damper on the iphone sales. I just hope they get the word out on plans before people start camping.

The fact that rate plans haven't been annouced yet means to me:
A. There's nothing to annouce and the rate plans are the same as what ATT already has.
B. They know its going to be ridiculous and they are waiting 'til the last minute to release the good news.
C. Apple knows the plans are ridiculous and is negotiating with ATT up 'til the 11th hour to get better pricing.

I can't see how the rate plans are going to be good. If it was good news they would have already released it.

/endrant
 
skubish said:
I think there is going to be major sticker shock for people on Thursday. Its going to put a damper on the iphone sales. I just hope they get the word out on plans before people start camping.

The fact that rate plans haven't been annouced yet means to me:
A. There's nothing to annouce and the rate plans are the same as what ATT already has.
B. They know its going to be ridiculous and they are waiting 'til the last minute to release the good news.
C. Apple knows the plans are ridiculous and is negotiating with ATT up 'til the 11th hour to get better pricing.

I can't see how the rate plans are going to be good. If it was good news they would have already released it.

/endrant
Click to expand...

I have a bad feeling that you are correct......

If it comes out reasonable, then I'll be in line waiting.
If not, then there will be one more available iPhone next Friday
 
Im on the family plan with my parents and sister. Currently I have a blackack with the unlimited data/texting plan that is 50$, the guy at the ATT store today said that the iphone data plan would be the same or LESS. Also he said I would "have to pay full price for one since Im not eligable for the discounted upgrade price"

I was under the impression they would be full price no matter what..
 
mmartahus said:
Im on the family plan with my parents and sister. Currently I have a blackack with the unlimited data/texting plan that is 50$, the guy at the ATT store today said that the iphone data plan would be the same or LESS. Also he said I would "have to pay full price for one since Im not eligable for the discounted upgrade price"

I was under the impression they would be full price no matter what..
Click to expand...

I think most people are under the assumption that the iPhone is the same price no matter what. $499 or $599. It will just overide your existing contract and make a new contract for 2 years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back