Price of iPhone WITHOUT a new contract??

[MovieCutter]

1. The iPhone will NOT be for sale outright without a contract.

Once again, I don't buy this. I can't buy something because I'm already a customer??? The logic doesn't compute. So basically, if I signed up with Cingular last month, I can't buy an iPhone until almost 2 years from now??? I don't believe that for one second.

 

[jaw04005]

I spoke with the owner of my local authorized retailer today, and she told me that existing customers would be able to purchase the iPhone regardless of their contract status. It would just extend our contracts two more years, and we would have to choose a new, special voice and data plan. Although, she did warn me that the iPhone may not be available with FamilyTalk.

I assume she knows what she is talking about considering her daughter is a regional Cingular sales representative.

 

[zap2]

Once again, I don't buy this. I can't buy something because I'm already a customer??? The logic doesn't compute. So basically, if I signed up with Cingular last month, I can't buy an iPhone until almost 2 years from now??? I don't believe that for one second.

It sucks, yes. It was cheaper for me to switch to Cingular, then to redo my plan with Verizon, because once they have you, your roped in for 2 years, Then they offer up good deals for you to stay.


That the way the cell phone companys work were, it sucks, their evil, but I(along with million of others) put up with it because we need/want their products

 

[zap2]

I spoke with the owner of my local authorized retailer today, and she told me that existing customers would be able to purchase the iPhone regardless of their contract status. It would just extend our contracts two more years, and we would have to choose a new, special voice and data plan. Although, she did warn me that the iPhone may not be available with FamilyTalk.

I assume she knows what she is talking about considering her daughter is a regional Cingular sales representative.

Maybe...but Apple hasn't put anything out their offical, so it could all change. Also I'll be upset if I can't be a family share plan.

 

[MovieCutter]

It sucks, yes. It was cheaper for me to switch to Cingular, then to redo my plan with Verizon, because once they have you, your roped in for 2 years, Then they offer up good deals for you to stay.


That the way the cell phone companys work were, it sucks, their evil, but I(along with million of others) put up with it because we need/want their products

But they can't deny the purchase of a product to an existing customer. It makes no sense in hell. And from what I can tell, Apple is gonna sell this device to everyone they can, and they're the ones calling the shots in this deal. Cingular is taking a back seat in the relationship. Apple will dictate the terms of sale of it's own device, again, a practice unheard of in the cell-phone industry, just like a service provider agreeing to sell a device exclusively for several years SIGHT UNSEEN!

 

[LxTxNx]

I spoke with the owner of my local authorized retailer today, and she told me that existing customers would be able to purchase the iPhone regardless of their contract status. It would just extend our contracts two more years, and we would have to choose a new, special voice and data plan. Although, she did warn me that the iPhone may not be available with FamilyTalk.

I assume she knows what she is talking about considering her daughter is a regional Cingular sales representative.

WOW!

1. iPhone is not going to be distributed to indirect re-sellers. e.g. Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, Momma Papa shops etc.
2. The part of buying it regardless of where you are in your contract? You can't even do that now if you wanted up re-new your contract for a $10 phone...That’s just funny!
3. Choose a new VOICE PLAN? LMAO Why? For what reason?
4. No FamilyTalk? LMAO! Isn't the point of it being EXCLUSIVE to add to AT&T's growth?

Man your post is comedy!

 

[LxTxNx]

But they can't deny the purchase of a product to an existing customer. It makes no sense in hell. And from what I can tell, Apple is gonna sell this device to everyone they can, and they're the ones calling the shots in this deal. Cingular is taking a back seat in the relationship. Apple will dictate the terms of sale of it's own device, again, a practice unheard of in the cell-phone industry, just like a service provider agreeing to sell a device exclusively for several years SIGHT UNSEEN!

If you don't believe me and I work for the company call the company yourself!

1-800-331-0500

 

[jsnuff1]

If you don't believe me and I work for the company call the company yourself!

1-800-331-0500

I dont know what your smoking there buddy but you can renew your contract whenever you like. I can go out and sign up for a new contract and call cingular the next day and tell them I want to renew my contract and it will be extended for another day. Yea you dont get price discounts on phones for doing that, but why would anyone deny renewing your contract when they can keep you longer and take more of your money?

For the iphone and existing customers it will as simple as buying the phone for the 500/600 price and renewing their contracts for another 2 years no matter where they are in their current contract.

 

[MovieCutter]

If you don't believe me and I work for the company call the company yourself!

1-800-331-0500

I did, and you're full of ****. Nobody has a CLUE as to pricing. Supervisors, management, first level support, etc. NOBODY. Seeing as that's the case, i think we both need to just sit back and see what happens. However all the ATT employees I just talked to said that it would be VERY stupid for a company to refuse to sell a product to ANY kind of customer, existing, or new.

 

[jaw04005]

WOW!

1. iPhone is not going to be distributed to indirect re-sellers. e.g. Radio Shack, Wal-Mart, Momma Papa shops etc.
2. The part of buying it regardless of where you are in your contract? You can't even do that now if you wanted up re-new your contract for a $10 phone...That’s just funny!
3. Choose a new VOICE PLAN? LMAO Why? For what reason?
4. No FamilyTalk? LMAO! Isn't the point of it being EXCLUSIVE to add to AT&T's growth?

Man your post is comedy!

I know your new, but we can do without the theatrics in your posts.

Like MovieCutter said, I have yet to understand the logic associated with your argument. Apple and Cingular offer a new, unsubsidized phone for $599, yet require a 2-year contract and lock out current customers (who are not eligible for an upgrade).

And believe it or not, I have upgraded outside of Cingular's normal policy.

 

[MovieCutter]

I dont know what your smoking there buddy but you can renew your contract whenever you like. I can go out and sign up for a new contract and call cingular the next day and tell them I want to renew my contract and it will be extended for another day. Yea you dont get price discounts on phones for doing that, but why would anyone deny renewing your contract when they can keep you longer and take more of your money?

For the iphone and existing customers it will as simple as buying the phone for the 500/600 price and renewing their contracts for another 2 years no matter where they are in their current contract.

EXACTLY

 

[Koodauw]

Nobody has a CLUE as to pricing. Supervisors, management, first level support, etc. NOBODY.

Right. So until we hear one way or another, its really all just speculation. So lets just let it go. The iphone is going to change some norms, we'll find them out as we go along.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

my gut is tell me if you are a current customer and not eligible for an upgrade yet you will not be able to get the iPhone. The reason for this is you phone was subsidized by Cingular and it was kind of like a loan that you are repaying over the next 2 years and cingular wants to get their money back.
We also know that cingular has to pay apple a certain % of the money they get of iPhone contracts. Now from there that % could be what they normally are using to pay off the phone they subsidized so by letting you upgraded early they are losing money on your old phone.

Now it does not sound so stupid for not letting customers who are already in a contract to do be able to upgrade. Also remember people who are with the other carriers have to break contract to get the iphone early.

 

[LxTxNx]

Actually Effective May 1st 2007 - 1 - Year price with a 2 - year contract will no longer be available. Customers who have completed more then 6 months of their contract can now be offered $75.00 off the “No commit” equipment pricing in return for a new 2-yr contract. THIS WILL NOT APPLY TO THE iPhone!

What AT&T is trying to do is have a lot of new activations(subscribers) and that's the reason why it's ONLY going to be with a NEW 2 year contract the day you purchase the iPhone.

Once again:

1. The iPhone will NOT be for sale outright without a contract.
2. The iPhone requires a NEW 2 Year contract either UPgrade or New Line.
3. To qualify for a new 2 year contract you need to be 21 months into your account.

AT&T also has VIP customers that has a list of specail offers for certain customers. To be a VIP customer your Revenue should be over $100 a month(a line) and have not had your account suspended for non payment within the last year. VIP customer can upgrade 18 months into their contract... Offers usually are for phones AT&T want to push. This doesn't mean you'll be able to do the iPhone for this I dont know the final word on that.

Maybe you missed those posts previously posted. I know you’re able to upgrade before your contract is up I never said it wasn’t impossible but you have to be within the 6 month period 18 months into the contract to allow you to do that. They can’t give you a $200 discount off the retail value of a phone multiple times within your contract where are we going to make the money back? That’s why you get $200 or so off, because your committing to stay with AT&T for 2 years to make up for that money with the revenue you make for us. This will explain why Early Terminations exist to make up for the money that we lost when giving you a phone $200 below retail. AT&T does not get the phone much more cheaply than what the RETAIL value is. By completing 18 months or 21 months you would by then paid off your $200 18mo if your revenue is greater than $100 or 21 for the rest. That’s where VIP part comes in when customers want the newest and greatest b4 they are up for renewal. TRUST ME ON THIS I WORK FOR THE COMPANY!

 

[Spizzo]

Maybe you missed those posts previously posted. I know you’re able to upgrade before your contract is up I never said it wasn’t impossible but you have to be within the 6 month period 18 months into the contract to allow you to do that. They can’t give you a $200 discount off the retail value of a phone multiple times within your contract where are we going to make the money back? That’s why you get $200 or so off, because your committing to stay with AT&T for 2 years to make up for that money with the revenue you make for us. This will explain why Early Terminations exist to make up for the money that we lost when giving you a phone $200 below retail. AT&T does not get the phone much more cheaply than what the RETAIL value is. By completing 18 months or 21 months you would by then paid off your $200 18mo if your revenue is greater than $100 or 21 for the rest. That’s where VIP part comes in when customers want the newest and greatest b4 they are up for renewal. TRUST ME ON THIS I WORK FOR THE COMPANY!

OK, maybe I am missing your point too. I'm with Verizon and not Cingular/ATT. But I'm sure they work pretty much the same way.

With Verizon, I have a two year contract. But any time during that contract, I can buy a new phone from Verizon (not discounted) and use it, no questions asked. They are not losing any money on it, I paid retail price. My contract and plan didn't change, they are still getting the same money from me each month either way.

So with the iPhone, it shouldn't be a problem. One, it's not subsidized, so a current customer changing phones wouldn't cost Cingular anything. Cingular would actually be getting a little more money with the extra subscriptions you need for the iPhone. And since the 'will be requiring' a NEW 2 year contract with the iPhone, they win again. Not only will they not have to put out money to pay for the phone, they have you for another 2 years.

Right?

 

[sjo]

OK, maybe I am missing your point too. I'm with Verizon and not Cingular/ATT. But I'm sure they work pretty much the same way.

With Verizon, I have a two year contract. But any time during that contract, I can buy a new phone from Verizon (not discounted) and use it, no questions asked. They are not losing any money on it, I paid retail price. My contract and plan didn't change, they are still getting the same money from me each month either way.

So with the iPhone, it shouldn't be a problem. One, it's not subsidized, so a current customer changing phones wouldn't cost Cingular anything. Cingular would actually be getting a little more money with the extra subscriptions you need for the iPhone. And since the 'will be requiring' a NEW 2 year contract with the iPhone, they win again. Not only will they not have to put out money to pay for the phone, they have you for another 2 years.

Right?

Based on what is reported, wrong. At appears that cingular will have to pass part of the customers monthly bill to Apple. Supposedly, the part they give Apple is the financing part they would otherwise use to get the subsidize the phone.

Btw, MovieCutter, how old are you? You act like 12 year old... Cingular is not a club, it's a phone operator that also finances your phone purchase. It's not bad business to expect that the customers honor the contracts, instead it'd be bad business to throw $200 for a customer whenever she feels like she wants a new phone!

 

[a456]

When I first saw SJ announce the iPhone the way I interpreted his words were that the iPhone cost $____ and that included a two year line rental, which sounded pretty OK (I don't use a mobile at the moment from one month to the next, so am not used to having my income drained by such an item). From all the discussion I now see that it costs $_____ and you are tied into a contract of undisclosed rates for two years, which sounds like a bit of a burden to get the latest and greatest phone. Now I am again left hoping for a mobile device that I can easily receive and write email on without a re-mortage, and without needing to be within a Wi-Fi zone.

 

[MovieCutter]

Btw, MovieCutter, how old are you? You act like 12 year old... Cingular is not a club, it's a phone operator that also finances your phone purchase. It's not bad business to expect that the customers honor the contracts, instead it'd be bad business to throw $200 for a customer whenever she feels like she wants a new phone!

You're stuck in the "old" ways of thinking about the cell- phone business. Cingular=Club is called a metaphor. When I join Cingular...I get perks that I don't get if I weren't with Cingular. Among them are free in-network calling, 3G wireless speeds, and the ability to buy the iPhone. The iPhone retails for $499/599. In order to be able to BUY the iPhone, my guess is you'll have to JOIN Cingular, hence why it is LIKE a club. You'll have to either start a new 2-year contract, or EXTEND your existing contract to a full 2 years...hence the $599 with two year contract.

LxTxNx, I DON'T trust you on this because you don't know any more than the 4 people I talked to at your company last night. Cingular is NOT going to prevent customers from buying a phone simply depending on where they are in their contract.

So I'm done arguing the ridiculous idea that Cingular is going to lock out customers from buying a piece of hardware because that idea is insane, and stupid. And nobody knows anything for at least another month...so screw it.

 

[Mydel]

OK I've read all post and I still dont know one thing... What is the cancelation fee??

 

[Rodimus Prime]

You're stuck in the "old" ways of thinking about the cell- phone business. Cingular=Club is called a metaphor. When I join Cingular...I get perks that I don't get if I weren't with Cingular. Among them are free in-network calling, 3G wireless speeds, and the ability to buy the iPhone. The iPhone retails for $499/599. In order to be able to BUY the iPhone, my guess is you'll have to JOIN Cingular, hence why it is LIKE a club. You'll have to either start a new 2-year contract, or EXTEND your existing contract to a full 2 years...hence the $599 with two year contract.

LxTxNx, I DON'T trust you on this because you don't know any more than the 4 people I talked to at your company last night. Cingular is NOT going to prevent customers from buying a phone simply depending on where they are in their contract.

So I'm done arguing the ridiculous idea that Cingular is going to lock out customers from buying a piece of hardware because that idea is insane, and stupid. And nobody knows anything for at least another month...so screw it.

forget one thing Cingular does not allow you to do that. You can not just add 2 years to your contract unless you are with in 3 months of your contract ending. Verizon allows you to do that at any time.

If you are 6 months into your 24 month contract you can not get the iPhone with out paying a fee for 15 months. Reason being is we know Cingular is paying apple so much a month per iPhone. money normally used to pay off the substized phone you are using.

Cingular did not allow people to get the Razor when it was new if they where already in a contract. what makes you think the iPhone will be ANY different.

 

[question fear]

my gut is tell me if you are a current customer and not eligible for an upgrade yet you will not be able to get the iPhone. The reason for this is you phone was subsidized by Cingular and it was kind of like a loan that you are repaying over the next 2 years and cingular wants to get their money back.
We also know that cingular has to pay apple a certain % of the money they get of iPhone contracts. Now from there that % could be what they normally are using to pay off the phone they subsidized so by letting you upgraded early they are losing money on your old phone.

Now it does not sound so stupid for not letting customers who are already in a contract to do be able to upgrade. Also remember people who are with the other carriers have to break contract to get the iphone early.

Your math is backwards, dude. If Cingular is paying Apple, then selling the phone unsubsidized to everyone and their brother makes more business sense, not less. Cingular isn't discounting, so what's the difference?

Also, from Cingular's point of view a customer paying full price is great. I paid a significant amount less than street for my phone through them, and if I decide less than a year later to get an iphone then I am PAYING THEM MORE MONEY THAN THEY ALREADY GOT FROM ME!!! FOR MORE TIME ADDED TO MY CONTRACT!! This is easy from a business perspective.

Finally, Cingular/ATT are a business based on low churn. If Cingular/ATT is basically saying pay 175 and start over, how many do you think will flip them the bird and move on to VZW or Tmo or Sprint? And how is that beneficial?

Seriously, there is no compelling business argument to deny existing customers upgrades with new contracts. One or two calls to retentions and you'd have your iphone...they DO NOT WANT TO LOSE SUBSCRIBERS! They already allow early upgrades (WELL before the 21st month) if you ask really nicely. I know, I do it every freakin year, and I've been a cingular customer through my parents and on my own since they were Cellular One.

I will be floored if Cingular is stupid enough to deny upgrades. It's freaking money on a platter for them...another 2 years and no discount on the phone...it's every Cingular accountant's wet dream.

 

[LxTxNx]

You're stuck in the "old" ways of thinking about the cell- phone business. Cingular=Club is called a metaphor. When I join Cingular...I get perks that I don't get if I weren't with Cingular. Among them are free in-network calling, 3G wireless speeds, and the ability to buy the iPhone. The iPhone retails for $499/599. In order to be able to BUY the iPhone, my guess is you'll have to JOIN Cingular, hence why it is LIKE a club. You'll have to either start a new 2-year contract, or EXTEND your existing contract to a full 2 years...hence the $599 with two year contract.

LxTxNx, I DON'T trust you on this because you don't know any more than the 4 people I talked to at your company last night. Cingular is NOT going to prevent customers from buying a phone simply depending on where they are in their contract.

So I'm done arguing the ridiculous idea that Cingular is going to lock out customers from buying a piece of hardware because that idea is insane, and stupid. And nobody knows anything for at least another month...so screw it.

Dude your pretty naive huh?

I'm very done discussing this same thing I'm trying to tell you something we all know on the inside and you don't "trust" me... whatever I just know that when it happens late June I'll be laughing and you'll be well i dunno getting a new line? LOL

No hard feelings.


I enjoyed the challange

 

[ExileinBlonde]

Nobody KNOWS for sure how this is going to play out. I talked to a representive at my local Cingular, and she said that if you are currently involved in a contract, you cannot get the iPhone. I'm not getting invested in all this drama, I'm just going to wait and see what happens.

 

[Mal]

sjo, I've dealt with idiots at Cingular (I work for RadioShack, so I'm even occasionally dealing with inside lines), but you take the cake. Cingular wants to sell phones, and they want to keep people under contract as long as possible. Apple wants to sell iPhones, and they don't care who they sell them to, as long as that person will be using Cingular for the next two years. In summary, no speculation necessary:

All customers, regardless of current status in contract with any provider, will have to pay $500-600 to Cingular/Apple for the iPhone, and will be required to sign a two-year contract from the date of sale, whether it is an extension or a new activation.

I've done plenty of midterm activations myself, and there's no issue, except of course the customer does not get the subsidized price. With the iPhone, it's not an issue. Even in those cases, Cingular likes to try to get them to resign a contract, though it's not usually required unless you change the plan. Presumably, since the plan will have to change in some way, that is the justification for renewing the contract two more years from the date of purchase.

jW

 

[MovieCutter]

sjo, I've dealt with idiots at Cingular (I work for RadioShack, so I'm even occasionally dealing with inside lines), but you take the cake. Cingular wants to sell phones, and they want to keep people under contract as long as possible. Apple wants to sell iPhones, and they don't care who they sell them to, as long as that person will be using Cingular for the next two years. In summary, no speculation necessary:

All customers, regardless of current status in contract with any provider, will have to pay $500-600 to Cingular/Apple for the iPhone, and will be required to sign a two-year contract from the date of sale, whether it is an extension or a new activation.

I've done plenty of midterm activations myself, and there's no issue, except of course the customer does not get the subsidized price. With the iPhone, it's not an issue. Even in those cases, Cingular likes to try to get them to resign a contract, though it's not usually required unless you change the plan. Presumably, since the plan will have to change in some way, that is the justification for renewing the contract two more years from the date of purchase.

jW

Amen (coming from an atheist...)