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Is anyone aching for a contract iPad?

D

Doju

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 16, 2008
1,510
1
I'd LOVE an iPad that needed to be on a 2-3 year contract.

Why? If I'm buying the 3G iPad, I'll pay an extra $130, the $30 a month. It's possible to cancel it whenever, cool, but I doubt I ever will, I'll have no reason to cancel the plan.

So, here I'll be, using my iPad just as if it were on a contract, but paying for a prepaid version. Argh.

If the contract for 2-3 years knocked $200-$300 off plus the free 3G chip (no extra $130) I'd buy it in a heart beat and be fine with being locked in.

I'm not in the US, so here's hoping our Canadian carriers will do this. With the extra money I could bump up the storage and get some nice accessories.
 
WTH?
No because there is no free lunch.

If there was a locked in version, it would be more like $50/month instead of $30/month and a two year lock in. They knock $300 off the "price" of your iPad, but you end up paying $480 more in fees in the next 2 years. Lock in is a suckers game.
 
No... Look at prepaid plans versus on contract plans, they're identical.

With contracts, though, the device is cheaper because they have you stuck with them, forced to continually pay them, even if you don't want to, for years. With this, you can just say screw it and cancel it whenever you want, which isn't nearly as financially rewarding.
 
Bytor65 said:
WTH?
No because there is no free lunch.

If there was a locked in version, it would be more like $50/month instead of $30/month and a two year lock in. They knock $300 off the "price" of your iPad, but you end up paying $480 more in fees in the next 2 years. Lock in is a suckers game.
Click to expand...

Wow that comment doesn't even make any sense. Why would they make you pay more on a locked-in contract than a pre-paid one month at a time plan? If anything you would get a slight discount with a contract.

I agree with the OP on this. I know what everyone is saying "ZOMG!!! No way!! after two years you'll be paying $720!!!" Ok... true... but what the OP is saying is that IF you get the iPad with 3G you WANT to use the 3G THEN you will probably keep using it consistently. Most people probably aren't going to use a month, then off a month, then on a month... This means if they use it for 2 years then you will be paying the $720 anyways. Now sure this may not work for some people, but if you know you will want to keep it for 2 years and will keep the data plan through the 2 years, then I think it's a great idea to get a subsidized price initially.

I think at&t should offer a 1 year plan with a $130 subsidy (get back that 3G tax) and a 2 year plan with a $300 subsidy. But of course that would be in ADDITION to the no plan pricing. This offers options for everyone.

If I were to get a 3G iPad I know I would probably get the data every month untill a) it breaks or b) I buy the next ipad ;) Those are the two main issues I see.

I would probably get a one year plan. BUT I won't be buying an iPad till the 2nd Gen AND it will probably be wifi anyways. If i need data out in the wild I'll whip out the iphone...
 
The monthly contract will most always be more expensive (before you're qualified to upgrade) vs buying out-right + service. Assuming carriers even gave you an option for discounted service for no subsidy. They don't because they want you to sign a contract... because it makes them more money.
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
Wow that comment doesn't even make any sense. Why would they make you pay more on a locked-in contract than a pre-paid one month at a time plan? If anything you would get a slight discount with a contract.

I think at&t should offer a 1 year plan with a $130 subsidy (get back that 3G tax) and a 2 year plan with a $300 subsidy. But of course that would be in ADDITION to the no plan pricing. This offers options for everyone.
Click to expand...

Think about that. $30 unlimited data and a $300 subsidy?? That just doesn't make any sense.

They are in this business to make more money, not offer you a discount on your hardware. If they give you $300 they need to get it back.
 
Bytor65 said:
Think about that. $30 unlimited data and a $300 subsidy?? That just doesn't make any sense.

They are in this business to make more money, not offer you a discount on your hardware. If they give you $300 they need to get it back.
Click to expand...

the subsidy on the iphone is about $300. I think actually a bit more. Over the course of 2 years you would spend $720 on the plan i.e. they make $420 on it. THAT'S where the money making comes in. Opposed to an ipad owner not using the plan for the whole two years, or using a smaller plan, or figure out a way to hack and use other providers...
 
AT&T will see you a subsidized ipad.

$499 and $30 a month for 12 months.

However because they like you, they will not charge you a fee to cancel your contract.
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
the subsidy on the iphone is about $300. I think actually a bit more. Over the course of 2 years you would spend $720 on the plan i.e. they make $420 on it. THAT'S where the money making comes in. Opposed to an ipad owner not using the plan for the whole two years, or using a smaller plan, or figure out a way to hack and use other providers...
Click to expand...

$720 isn't $30/month. Where do you get $300 subsidy on iPhone?

An iPod touch is <$200, so add $130 for 3G... So they give you the phone for free?

To me it looks more like a $230 subsidy, with $69/month phone plan (cheapest phone and data).

Which is a far cray from funding a $300 subsidy on $30/month.
 
I agree with OP. I was more upset with there not being a Verizon version wih contract than anything else. I can live without flash, dont want a front facing camera seeing as I never use the one on my macbook anyways. I have an old Verizon plan that is truely unlimited for $60 and have been due for an upgrade for 6 months now. I would LOVE to see a discounted iPad for around $300 if I could use my upgrade and continue to use my unlimited plan (20GB streamed so far this month!) I have since given up hope on a Verizon iPad and will just use an iPad with my MiFi. 5GB caps SUCK!
 
Bytor65 said:
$720 isn't $30/month. Where do you get $300 subsidy on iPhone?

An iPod touch is <$200, so add $130 for 3G... So they give you the phone for free?

To me it looks more like a $230 subsidy, with $69/month phone plan (cheapest phone and data).

Which is a far cray from funding a $300 subsidy on $30/month.
Click to expand...

http://www.iphonefreak.com/2009/06/...-s-directly-from-applecom.html/comment-page-1

FTA:
iPhone 3G 8GB ($499): MB046LL/A
iPhone 3GS 16GB Black ($599): MB715LL/A
iPhone 3GS 16GB White ($599): MB716LL/A
iPhone 3GS 32GB Black ($699): MB717LL/A
iPhone 3GS 32GB White ($699): MB718LL/A
Click to expand...

this actually shows a $400 discount... just something to chew on. and I wouldn't include the voice in the price because every cell phone plan requires buying voice... that's kind of the point. the "extra" that is needed for the iphone plan i.e. why it's subsidized is the extra $30 for data.

and yes $720 is $30 a month for 2 years. Check your figures again.
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
http://www.iphonefreak.com/2009/06/...-s-directly-from-applecom.html/comment-page-1

FTA:

this actually shows a $400 discount... just something to chew on. and I wouldn't include the voice in the price because every cell phone plan requires buying voice... that's kind of the point. the "extra" that is needed for the iphone plan i.e. why it's subsidized is the extra $30 for data.

and yes $720 is $30 a month for 2 years. Check your figures again.
Click to expand...

Ok a I missed on that one.

But 8G ipod touch $199 vs $499 8G iphone says that is a BS number so you think you are getting a big subsidy.

Can you get a iPhone with just the data plan and no phone plan?
 
Bytor65 said:
Ok a I missed on that one.

But 8G ipod touch $199 vs $499 8G iphone says that is a BS number so you think you are getting a big subsidy.

Can you get a iPhone with just the data plan and no phone plan?
Click to expand...

3G, GPS, Camera, mic... Sure the stuff doesn't add up to a $300 difference but apple is known to hold hugit profit margins, especially if something continues to be so popular.. and especially if it is being subsidized so substantially. No one would buy the ipod touches if they were in the $400-$600 range... Sure you can argue that they artificially raise the price of the iphone to force you to get a contract, but that is still the current no-contract price.

and no. You cannot. MAYBE you can after you fulfill your two year contract... but I haven't heard of that ever being done
 
Mad Mac Maniac said:
3G, GPS, Camera, mic... Sure the stuff doesn't add up to a $300 difference but apple is known to hold hugit profit margins, especially if something continues to be so popular.. and especially if it is being subsidized so substantially. No one would buy the ipod touches if they were in the $400-$600 range... Sure you can argue that they artificially raise the price of the iphone to force you to get a contract, but that is still the current no-contract price.

and no. You cannot. MAYBE you can after you fulfill your two year contract... but I haven't heard of that ever being done
Click to expand...


Well then your real monthly contract cost is $69/month minimum.

The 3G ipad adds 3g and GPS for $130, people have stated that it is way already way overpriced and cameras should be a $5 freebie.

Basically neither the iPad 3g seems to carry the artificially high price that can provide easy subsidy on and the monthly is really $30 so less room to give that subsidy.

If they were going to do a subsidy they would have needed to plan it from the start. And the 3G ipad would be $300 more than the wifi, just like the iphone vs touch, and you would be locked into a $69/month contract just like the iphone, and then you could get that subsidy.

I amazes me that people are so naive to think that they are realling getting a good deal on a "subsidized" phone. It is a huge scam with inflated hardware costs, locking you into a inflated cost plans. Making a killing for both the HW provider and the service plan provider. People rightly complained about about this lock in before.

It is ridiculous that people are now complaining that they can't get locked into such a scam today.
 
Doju said:
No... Look at prepaid plans versus on contract plans, they're identical.

With contracts, though, the device is cheaper because they have you stuck with them, forced to continually pay them, even if you don't want to, for years. With this, you can just say screw it and cancel it whenever you want, which isn't nearly as financially rewarding.
Click to expand...

I'm a business customer so I can cancel any AT&T contract whenever I want and the fee is waived... I plan on doing this a month before the new iPhone release just like I did last year so I can get the new iPhone at the subsidized price (signing up for att with new contract) Cheating the system? Yeah but we their revenue will surely make up for it.
 
I would have no problem if that was an option. As long as it wasn't complusory. It isn't an option that I would take however. It is likely to be more expensive for me in the long run. Contracts usually are cheaper at first then more expensive in the long run.
 
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