I can assure you current Cingular wireless customers will be able to purchase an iPhone next month.
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Price of iPhone WITHOUT a new contract??
- Thread starter skythefly13
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No doubt
It is guaranteed that you will be able to buy the phone from either apple/cingular stores, though only for RETAIL PRICE if it isnt with a 2 year contract.
I think I may have figured out a way to get an iphone for its 2 yr contract price, which is downgrade my current plan ($40 a month) to the cheapest possible plan, making my slvr l7 a small monthly payment. I am about 9 months into my 2 year contract, unfortunately. This is all under my mom's billing. Sorry, im 17. And my parent are divorced.
THEN, I will go under my dad's billing account and joing his family plan, and will add a new line onto his. This should allow me to get the iphone for the 2 year contract price right?
It is guaranteed that you will be able to buy the phone from either apple/cingular stores, though only for RETAIL PRICE if it isnt with a 2 year contract.
I think I may have figured out a way to get an iphone for its 2 yr contract price, which is downgrade my current plan ($40 a month) to the cheapest possible plan, making my slvr l7 a small monthly payment. I am about 9 months into my 2 year contract, unfortunately. This is all under my mom's billing. Sorry, im 17. And my parent are divorced.
THEN, I will go under my dad's billing account and joing his family plan, and will add a new line onto his. This should allow me to get the iphone for the 2 year contract price right?
So the new thing at AT&T is anyone who have completed at least 6 months of their existing contracts. The customer will be able to renew their contract and receive a discount the discount will only $75 off the retail value. This is good news for iPhone customers that want to get it but stuck in a recent contract. The phone will have to be called in to be activated and according to the meetings we had. Also if you loose or get your phone stolen the phone WILL NOT be able to be activated after LOST/STOLEN has been reported to us.
So are you saying if you report your missing iPhone lost or stolen, ATT will send the lock signal to the iPhone and cripple it even beyond getting it re-activated? That sounds kinda stupid, what if you lost it at home but thought it was stolen, you find it the next week after you already deactivate it and now you are screwed?
Maybe I miss understood?
The original owner will be able to restore service as normal but the new person that found/stole your phone wont be able to activate it.
Okay I have agreed on everything MovieCutter has said. Since the iPhone is a very special phone (what other phone has EVER had so many rumors and speculations), many people will want to get it. Obvious. $500-$600 is ALOT of money for a phone. Nothing like that has ever been done before. For all the people that are currently on AT&T, including me, there will not be anything different than the $500-$600 price. Let me tell you why. When I tried to upgrade to a Motorola V3i a while ago, I would have had to pay $100 more than the $100 price they had. Okay so what would be the iPhone upgrade price? $1000? NOBODY WILL PAY THAT PRICE. I can assure you that myself and millions of other AT&T customers will not buy the phone for that price. I have always loved and supported Apple, but not AT&T. There is just a point where people will not buy your services. You just can't charge whatever you want. It will not work. $600 is pushing it (just look at the PS3). And I do not no this for sure, but I am just using common sense like MovieCutter did. NOBODY EXCEPT MAYBE VERY POWERFUL AT&T EMPLOYEES KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT THE PRICING WILL BE LIKE! That means you, LxTxNx, and all the low level AT&T employees are not certain on ANYTHING!
i really hope so, I know that some phones are around $100 with a 2 year contract but over $300 for retail. this would kill me if it happened.
Wouldn't surprise me if it's only for new customers. The only thing Cingular's concerned about is getting new customers, not keeping the current ones happy. Something many of us have experienced first hand.
It won't be any different than a game console launch. So if you're wondering what the unsubsidized price is, probably at least twice the retail price on eBay. I doubt there will be an "unsubsidized" option through Suckgular.
It won't be any different than a game console launch. So if you're wondering what the unsubsidized price is, probably at least twice the retail price on eBay. I doubt there will be an "unsubsidized" option through Suckgular.
This is Apple's baby, not Cingular's. Given the nature of the relationship (i.e. Cingular agreeing to sell the iPhone sight unseen, Apple taking over all marketing for the iPhone blocking Cingular out completely, etc) I'd say Apple is calling the shots on pricing. The "subsidy" is being able to get and use the iPhone, that's how Cingular is going to pull in customers. They are counting on it's "cool" factor to be enough to draw in new blood. So the iPhone will be $500/600 no matter who you are, you just have to join or be with Cingular.
And the only reason Cingular/ATT will go along with all of Apple demands is they want the Data plan $$$.
It's all $$. Cingular/ATT isn't going to bow to Apple's demands if they aren't going to still make money on the thing - and that $$ comes from the Data plan. Heck, even Apple knows that is where the $$ is and is getting a cut.
It's going to be interesting to watch play out.....
It's all $$. Cingular/ATT isn't going to bow to Apple's demands if they aren't going to still make money on the thing - and that $$ comes from the Data plan. Heck, even Apple knows that is where the $$ is and is getting a cut.
It's going to be interesting to watch play out.....
Exactly, which is why selling the iPhone to as many customers, both new and existing, as possible is in ATT's best interest. They aren't going to deny the sale of a data plan using device to existing customers, and any "ATT employee" who thinks so isn't thinking at all.
Yeah, cause otherwise they're going to incur the wrath of MovieCutter!
He's fired up already and there isn't even an official word yet...
I'm late to this post, but I'll contribute anyway. My thinking is that any of these three options is possible:
1. iPhone plans will be comparable to BlackBerry and other smartphone plans
2. iPhone plans will be quite reasonably priced, with Apple convincing Cingular to take a cut from hardware sales instead of insisting on their business model (razors vs. razor blades)
3. iPhone plans will be in line with the device cost - expensive, with only one or two plan types, and with unlimited minutes/transfer.
Any one of these is possible, in my opinion. 1. makes sense because Cingular is already doing it, 2. might happen if Apple can convince Cingular to be a close partner and not look at iPhone as just another device, and 3. could happen because Cingular has already agreed to give Apple a cut of the iPhone plans, and they'll want to make up that loss somehow.
It all depends on how exactly those variables come out by launch time. We don't know (or rather, I don't know) if Apple is making any demands at all regarding the plans, we don't know if Cingular gets a cut of the device sales, and we don't know how big a cut of the plans Apple is getting. My advice is to prepare for the worst (plans starting at $99/mo) and hope for the best (something like 900 minutes + nights & weekends and unlimited data for $69/mo)
1. iPhone plans will be comparable to BlackBerry and other smartphone plans
2. iPhone plans will be quite reasonably priced, with Apple convincing Cingular to take a cut from hardware sales instead of insisting on their business model (razors vs. razor blades)
3. iPhone plans will be in line with the device cost - expensive, with only one or two plan types, and with unlimited minutes/transfer.
Any one of these is possible, in my opinion. 1. makes sense because Cingular is already doing it, 2. might happen if Apple can convince Cingular to be a close partner and not look at iPhone as just another device, and 3. could happen because Cingular has already agreed to give Apple a cut of the iPhone plans, and they'll want to make up that loss somehow.
It all depends on how exactly those variables come out by launch time. We don't know (or rather, I don't know) if Apple is making any demands at all regarding the plans, we don't know if Cingular gets a cut of the device sales, and we don't know how big a cut of the plans Apple is getting. My advice is to prepare for the worst (plans starting at $99/mo) and hope for the best (something like 900 minutes + nights & weekends and unlimited data for $69/mo)
I wonder what happens to new customers that signed up before the iphone is released, and got a discount on their current phone, say something like a Palm 750, or Cingular 8525 ($600 retail phones, for a discount price of say 150 - 400). Would they require the customer to spend some additional money to pay off that discounted phone if they wanted to get the iphone? (from how I read it, you are going to have to get a 2 year contract with the iphone). They already got you locked in if you got a new phone say 3,4,14 months ago, and if they let you get a new iphone for say $500 (4GB model), they are then putting you on a new 24 month contract, which means, in reality, they are "losing" out on the potential money they would have gotten form your original 24 month contract. (and a part of that money is the eventual reimbursement of the phone discount). I called cingular, and they told me if I got a new phone, I would not be elible for a phone upgrade until 21 months, and if I wanted a new phone, i would have to payback the discount I got on the new phone.
Am I making sense?
****UPDATE**** I just called cingular asking what my options would be if I got a phone today, and wanted to get an iphone in the future. He stated, in order to get the iphone, I would A) have to pay the difference between the discounted and retail retail on the phone (not the iphone, but the other one), or B) cancel my account, or C) wait for 21 months till my account is eligible for a new upgrade. He indicated that the $499/$599 iphone with 2 year contract are most likely the "reduced costs", and it would probably be "a guess" $699/$799 for the iphone without contract. I seriously don't think any of the sales/support reps know for sure, but all I know is it is probably a good idea to just sit and wait till more info about the iphone and its plans/costs come out.
So, this is 2 times I have heard that if you are a cingular customer, who got a discount on your phone when you signed up, you will have to shell out a little (or a lot depending on your phone) more cash on top of the iphone's price.
Kimo
Am I making sense?
****UPDATE**** I just called cingular asking what my options would be if I got a phone today, and wanted to get an iphone in the future. He stated, in order to get the iphone, I would A) have to pay the difference between the discounted and retail retail on the phone (not the iphone, but the other one), or B) cancel my account, or C) wait for 21 months till my account is eligible for a new upgrade. He indicated that the $499/$599 iphone with 2 year contract are most likely the "reduced costs", and it would probably be "a guess" $699/$799 for the iphone without contract. I seriously don't think any of the sales/support reps know for sure, but all I know is it is probably a good idea to just sit and wait till more info about the iphone and its plans/costs come out.
So, this is 2 times I have heard that if you are a cingular customer, who got a discount on your phone when you signed up, you will have to shell out a little (or a lot depending on your phone) more cash on top of the iphone's price.
Kimo
That makes sense to me. As much as it sucks for current customers, especially those that just signed up and got nicer phones, I can't see Cingular taking hits on phones they've already subsidized just to sell more iPhones. As much as they have vested in the success of the iPhone, it wouldn't make good business sense to suddenly allow everyone to buy a new phone for free.
At the same time, however, if Cingular isn't subsidizing the iPhone's cost at all (ie: not taking a hit on the cost of the phone in order to get more from monthly service contracts), then I can't understand what difference it makes if current customers buy the iPhone. It'd basically be an unrelated purchase, right? If this is not the case, however, and that it IS true that Cingular is going to require current customers to pay the difference, then to me that suggests either specially priced iPhone plans, or discounts on the iPhone itself.
At any rate, it doesn't much affect me. My 2-year contract ran up at the beginning of this month, and I'm waiting to see what the iPhone offers before getting a new phone and re-signing a contract. I was, fortunately, in the perfect situation: I don't lose out on service, don't have to worry about switching carriers or paying differences... and yet I'll still get the "new customer" price (if there is one) when the iPhone launches.
Essentially, if you haven't completed the 2-year term on your existing, discounted phone contract, you haven't paid for that phone yet. To upgrade to iPhone, you'll have to pay Cingular the unpaid balance on the phone you already have. The good news is that at this point your old phone is yours and you can put it on eBay to get some money back.
Some people will do this, many will not. But it's no different than any other new phone release.
I think that the announced prices for the iPhone are already discounted prices. This is supported by the fact that you'll be required to take out a 2-year contract to get one, which is exactly how they sell discounted phones. It is possible that they're using the contract requirement to mask the true cost of the iPhone.
Me too. I've been upgrade-eligible for months and was simply lucky enough to have not got around to taking up the upgrade when the iPhone was announced.
Hasn't ATT already stated that they would not be subsidizing the iPhone, which means 499 and 599 are the price. End of story, no more, no less.
So why if there is no subvention of the price is there this big issue. Sell me the friggen phone and be done with it.
So why if there is no subvention of the price is there this big issue. Sell me the friggen phone and be done with it.
Precisely. It's a new model. Everyone is stuck in the old mindset. The money is in the massive amount of new customers ATT is getting just by being the only one to provide the iPhone on top of all the data plans they're going to sell with it.
Not officially, no. There have been other rumors that AT&T has said there will be rebates and what not to lower the cost, which is why many people are still arguing about prices and whatnot.
Then if that is the case, 499 and 599 are the high price without a subvented contract? If this, this is the price I we should be able to walk into the store and buy one for. This discussion will just keep going round and round.
IMHO, there is no way SJ will let the goofballs over at ATT keep this product out of the hands of anyone who wants one. That includes making it cost prohibitive.
Well I didn't say that either. My point is that nobody knows. It's assumed right now that $499/$599 is the price WITH a contract AND without, because that is what was displayed at the keynote in January, and because it's been said that Cingular isn't subsidizing the cost. However, rumors have also floated around that Cingular WILL be offering rebates...
Honestly, everything is speculation until at least June 11, if not later..
While I agree with almost everything you've said, there has to be a transition period from the old to the new model of doing things. I'm inclined to think that there is some logic in that if you bought a new iPhone 1, 2 6 months into your current contract that AT&T is losing money on the phone at a rate of about $9 per month before your 21 months (roughly $200 discount with a new 2-year contract divided by 21 months equals $9.52). If you're only a month into the contract, AT&T has only collected $9-10 of the $200 subsidy.
In my mind, this is the reason for 1) Activation and 2) the early termination fee ($175 with Verizon). The activation fee is gravy anyway, but coupled with the early termination fee (which is usually pro-rated and reflects the "payments" to the subsidy) the sum-total is roughly the $200 subsidy given with a new phone + 2-yr contract.
Now under the current model of subsidized phones you get the initial phone at a discount (of $200) and the subsidy is paid back over the course of 21 months (as shown above) which is why Verizon, et. al. will let you upgrade with "new every 2" at the 21-month mark but if you decide to upgrade 1/2 way through the contract, you may, but you'll have to pay full retail. Why? Because you've not paid off the subsidy/loan from the first phone. But in this case the price of the iPhone is the "subsidized" price. <- This is the problem with switching from the "old business model" to the "new business model".
One might think, though, that since there is no subsidy on the iPhone (it WILL be either $500 or $600 regardless), and the plans most likely will not be discounted; that AT&T will be able to pocket the difference from the lack of subsidy on the iPhone and use that money towards the initial phone subsidy. However, we've also discussed that Apple WILL get a portion of the revenue (probably the part that would have gone to repay the subsidy.)
Now I don't have all of the answers, and I don't need to because AT&T has already figured this out, but the key to all of this lies in how AT&T plans on recovering the remainder of the subsidy from the initial phone purchase of it's current customers. This is the ONLY part that AT&T care about as it's the only thing with the potential of becoming "lost revenue". You'll still have to sign a new contract, and rather than going to the phone manufacturer, the $9.52 will go to Apple instead.
That's just my take on this whole situation... now to wait out my existing Verizon contract (1m in...
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Here is my last 2 cents on this:
1)Why doesn't Apple do what they do best, develope and sell a product and make a profit
2) AT&T do what they do and sell the service and profit off that.
Apple shouldnt get any service plan revenue and ATT shouldnt get a cut of the iPhone profit..
Seems simple enough.
1)Why doesn't Apple do what they do best, develope and sell a product and make a profit
2) AT&T do what they do and sell the service and profit off that.
Apple shouldnt get any service plan revenue and ATT shouldnt get a cut of the iPhone profit..
Seems simple enough.