The iPod Touch Must Die ...

[a456]

... if there is a PAYG option on the new iPhone.

Hypothesis: The majority of people buy the iPod Touch because they don't want the cost of the monthly phone contract (but would happily make the occasional phone call from it if the option were available). Freed from the monthly contract and if prices come down as steeply as rumoured then no need for separate products.

WWDC Prediction: we will see a screen with an iPhone on one side and an iPod Touch on the other they will both be drawn to the centre where they will become the same (new) product simplifying the range and explaining why the iPod Touch has never really received the attention or advertising it deserves.

Extra details: PAYG customers continue to be able to pay The Cloud for Wi-Fi services like iPod Touch users or they can simply take the hit of accessing email and the web using O2 (in the UK).

[dukebound85]

that would be nice for sure

[shaunomacx]

but some people dont want a new phone, they just want the iPod...cant see such a new product being discontinued so soon after all it would say that the Touch was a failure which it most certainly isnt, sure it isnt a sure fire success but hey!

[wrldwzrd89]

... if there is a PAYG option on the new iPhone.

Hypothesis: The majority of people buy the iPod Touch because they don't want the cost of the monthly phone contract (but would happily make the occasional phone call from it if the option were available). Freed from the monthly contract and if prices come down as steeply as rumoured then no need for separate products.

WWDC Prediction: we will see a screen with an iPhone on one side and an iPod Touch on the other they will both be drawn to the centre where they will become the same (new) product simplifying the range and explaining why the iPod Touch has never really received the attention or advertising it deserves.

Extra details: PAYG customers continue to be able to pay The Cloud for Wi-Fi services like iPod Touch users or they can simply take the hit of accessing email and the web using O2 (in the UK).
I disagree - some people (like me) have no need for an additional phone but would be interested in the features it offers... the iPod touch fills this void perfectly.

[dextertangocci]

The iPod touch is not a failure. In countries that don't have the iPhone or the iPhone is too expensive, the iPod Touch is perfect.

[Phil A.]

... if there is a PAYG option on the new iPhone.

Hypothesis: The majority of people buy the iPod Touch because they don't want the cost of the monthly phone contract (but would happily make the occasional phone call from it if the option were available). Freed from the monthly contract and if prices come down as steeply as rumoured then no need for separate products.

WWDC Prediction: we will see a screen with an iPhone on one side and an iPod Touch on the other they will both be drawn to the centre where they will become the same (new) product simplifying the range and explaining why the iPod Touch has never really received the attention or advertising it deserves.

Extra details: PAYG customers continue to be able to pay The Cloud for Wi-Fi services like iPod Touch users or they can simply take the hit of accessing email and the web using O2 (in the UK).

Only half correct IMO - the iPod touch is also useful in countries that don't have the iPhone available. Whilst there have been a lot of announcements about increased availability of the iPhone, there will still be places where you can't get one, and in those countries, the iPod touch makes a lot of sense...

[a456]

The iPod touch is not a failure. In countries that don't have the iPhone or the iPhone is too expensive, the iPod Touch is perfect.

If the iPhone is not too expensive, though, and if countries without specific carriers can slap a PAYG SIM card into the phone from any provider, what then?

[a456]

...cant see such a new product being discontinued so soon after all it would say that the Touch was a failure which it most certainly isnt, sure it isnt a sure fire success but hey!

But what if Apple view the iPod Touch as a transitional product produced for the sake of demand while they got the iPhone into an economically viable position to make it irresistible to the majority?

[sunfast]

PAYG phones are never discounted like contract phones anyway - the discount is to lock you into a lengthy and lucrative contract

[beyondthesmile]

I disagree - some people (like me) have no need for an additional phone but would be interested in the features it offers... the iPod touch fills this void perfectly.

I second this. I had no need for another cell phone but liked the Touch.

[teleromeo]

I almost never use my portable phone so I would consider an iPod touch if I needed a new iPod. On the other hand, I need more storage than what they have currently.

[a456]

I second this. I had no need for another cell phone but liked the Touch.

OK, entry level iPhone at the moment is £269 in the UK and entry level iPod Touch is £199. Without the contract in the equation this is even at the moment a relatively small gap. If that gap got smaller or disappeared, who would still buy the Touch and pass up on the opportunity to be able to access the Internet and email (even if only in an emergency) outside of a Wi-Fi network area? Not me, and I doubt many others.

If there was a cheaper EDGE iPod Touch without phone then I'd be very tempted to go for that though.

[Tom B.]

This is an interesting idea, but would students still just get free iPod touches over the summer, or would they get Pay As You Go iPhones instead (when they are available)?

[jonnylink]

The phone parts take up a lot of room. That is why the iPhone is thicker and has less capacity than the Touch. I don't see myself buying a phone I don't need for more money with a smaller hard drive that is at the same time thicker and heavier, just on the off chance I'd like to make an expensive phone call.

Unless they can somehow make the phone parts not use any space and bring the price down to the iPod Touch's they'd be pushing out customers like me.

[aethelbert]

I'm pretty sure that they're carrying the iPhone is exclusive to the current carriers in the countries where it is available. I really don't understand why people think that it will be unlocked and whatnot.

[DuckSoup]

I totally disagree with the OP. I have NO need for the iPhone and even if I needed a new cellphone the very week I bought my Touch I would have ourchased a cellphone AND the Touch. The iPhone - for me - is a horrible choice as it totally misses the mark for what I want and need in a cell phone.

Mike

[Chundles]

I'm pretty sure that they're carrying the iPhone is exclusive to the current carriers in the countries where it is available. I really don't understand why people think that it will be unlocked and whatnot.

We believe it will be sold in two forms here, locked and subsidised or unlocked and full price.

Our laws state that phones sold only in locked form are illegal.

Optus and Vodafone have signed non-exclusive deals here as have many other carriers around the world.

[aethelbert]

We believe it will be sold in two forms here, locked and subsidised or unlocked and full price.

Our laws state that phones sold only in locked form are illegal.

Optus and Vodafone have signed non-exclusive deals here as have many other carriers around the world.
I'm pretty sure that they'll try to lock it down wherever they can, though. They had unlocked ones for sale for a while in France due to legal problems, but that didn't last too long, nor did it affect any other countries.

[eXan]

The phone parts take up a lot of room. That is why the iPhone is thicker and has less capacity than the Touch. I don't see myself buying a phone I don't need for more money with a smaller hard drive that is at the same time thicker and heavier, just on the off chance I'd like to make an expensive phone call.

Unless they can somehow make the phone parts not use any space and bring the price down to the iPod Touch's they'd be pushing out customers like me.

+1

Currently, Touch comes with double memory and a much thinner case for the same price as iPhone. I don't want to pay extra 166$ for something I will probably never use and a thicker case.

[nick9191]

If there is a PAYG option for the iPhone the iPhone will cost nigh on 600 dollars. And an iPod Touch is $299.

[iMpathetic]

+1

Currently, Touch comes with double memory and a much thinner case for the same price as iPhone. I don't want to pay extra 166$ for something I will probably never use and a thicker case.

Precisely why I have a touch and not an iPhone. The thickness and monthly charges really detract form the Jesusness.

[Dagless]

I disagree with the OP too.

Chances are the PAYG iPhone is going to be very expensive since there is no subsidy, especially if it still has a 3G radio, bluetooth, possibly even GPS. I'd rather buy a cheaper iPod Touch than fork out potentially a lot more for the same thing with features I don't need. Which would also bulk out the iPod Touch (very impressed with how thin that machine is, not so much the iPhone).

I can't imagine them combining the 2.

[wildbill]

Only half correct IMO - the iPod touch is also useful in countries that don't have the iPhone available. Whilst there have been a lot of announcements about increased availability of the iPhone, there will still be places where you can't get one, and in those countries, the iPod touch makes a lot of sense...

The Touch is also useful in countries with the iPhone. Since my town has pretty much been forgotten by AT&T and I can't get bars in most of the area I live and work then the iPhone is useless to me. On the other hand I use my iPod Touch almost everyday.

Though I am sure the deal worked out well for them, I still think picking AT&T in the states was a mistake.

[goosnarrggh]

I'm pretty sure that they'll try to lock it down wherever they can, though. They had unlocked ones for sale for a while in France due to legal problems, but that didn't last too long, nor did it affect any other countries.
I think you're mixing elements of the situations in France and Germany.

As of the last reliable news I've read on the topic, in France the unlocked version was offered as an option right from the start, and it is still legitamitely offered for sale as such, but at a significant price premium. If this has changed, then it sure didn't make any news headlines on this side of the pond.

In Germany they were temporarily required by a court injunction to do the same, but it was quickly overturned on appeal within about a week.

[Gunga Din]

I disagree - some people (like me) have no need for an additional phone but would be interested in the features it offers... the iPod touch fills this void perfectly.

yea, the iPod touch is all i need as well. The less time i'm on the phone, the better.

[a456]

If there is a PAYG option for the iPhone the iPhone will cost nigh on 600 dollars. And an iPod Touch is $299.

You forget that the iPhone is not subsidized at the moment. People are paying the full price, the price won't go up from where it is. The American price is $399 for the base model (8 GB). The equivalent iPod Touch is $299 (8GB). Now if there was a base model 16 GB iPhone for $350 PAYG ($50 less than the current iPod Touch 16 GB)? Most people would I think be happy.

[Eärendil]

You forget that the iPhone is not subsidized at the moment. People are paying the full price, the price won't go up from where it is. The American price is $399 for the base model (8 GB). The equivalent iPod Touch is $299 (8GB). Now if there was a base model 16 GB iPhone for $350 PAYG ($50 less than the current iPod Touch 16 GB)? Most people would I think be happy.

I don't think apple would kill their own product like that.

IF the iphone gets 32, the iPod Touch gets 64. Otherwise they wouldn't have released it in the first place.

iPod Touch is great, i need an iPod most of the time, sometimes a web browser, and i use maps and mail a lot.

Movies are great for trips, great. The more movies I have the better.


I wouldn't buy an iPhone, and many people think the same.
Apple wouldn't close its doors on the iPod users.

[IJ Reilly]

The OP has a good point. I'm ready to replace my old phone, and I'd like an iPhone, but I've got an AT&T calling plan for $30/month which entirely suits my needs. This plan can't be switched to an iPhone, at least last I checked it could not. Give me an iPhone under $200 and a PAYG option or some other plan which doesn't assume that I live on my mobile phone and I might become an iPhone owner. I'd still keep my touch, though.

[reidjr]

The OP has a good point. I'm ready to replace my old phone, and I'd like an iPhone, but I've got an AT&T calling plan for $30/month which entirely suits my needs. This plan can't be switched to an iPhone, at least last I checked it could not. Give me an iPhone under $200 and a PAYG option or some other plan which doesn't assume that I live on my mobile phone and I might become an iPhone owner. I'd still keep my touch, though.

I think some are getting a bit confused.

1)The $200 iphone will likely be a contract.
2)The pay as you go phone will cost upwords of $500.

[IJ Reilly]

I think some are getting a bit confused.

1)The $200 iphone will likely be a contract.
2)The pay as you go phone will cost upwords of $500.

We can't get "confused," because nothing has been announced yet. I think some get confused about the difference between a fact and a rumor.

[Crispy Duck]

I listen to my music collection (nearly 60GB) exclusively with my 80GB iPod.

Mostly connected to my stereo at home, in the car connected to the stereo, at work connected to computer speakers, and very occasionally with headphones.

If there were such a thing as an 80GB iPhone.... would I still want to use this as my exclusive music player?... and have my music interrupted every time someone calls me? Erm... NO THANKS.

I want my music player and my mobile phone SEPARATE. ;)

[reidjr]

We can't get "confused," because nothing has been announced yet. I think some get confused about the difference between a fact and a rumor.

No but as a rule pay as you go phone cost much much more.

[IJ Reilly]

No but as a rule pay as you go phone cost much much more.

TracFones cost as little as $15.00, and I also said "or another plan that doesn't assume that I live on my mobile."

[Ugg]

I have a Virgin Mobile plan that costs me $60 a year, no taxes or fees on top.

Obviously I don't use my phone very much but I do need it from time to time. I would gladly have paid up to $30 a month to ATT for an iPhone. However, it looks like neither Apple nor ATT are interested in the non-corporate, non-teen group of adults like me.

It would be nice to not have to carry two devices around, but it looks like that's my only choice. So, an iPod Touch for me.

I'm going to wait though and see if there's a price drop. Maybe in September?!

[Sweetbike40]

iPod Touch stands for freedom from contract. It's for those who are independent.

[TheCookie]

I want my music player and my mobile phone SEPARATE. ;)

I'm torn on this. I really like having separate devices, and it's important to me to have one device that can hold all of my music. None of the iPhones even come close to that right now.

At the same time, I really do wish I didn't have to carry around two comparably-sized items that could theoretically be combined.

Guess I'll stick with my video iPod for now...

[IJ Reilly]

I'm going to wait though and see if there's a price drop. Maybe in September?!

That seems almost inevitable now. It's going to be a little difficult to sell an 8GB iPod touch for $299 when an 8GB iPhone goes for $199. Apple being Apple though I expect they'll release new models at a lower price instead of simply cutting the price on the models they sell currently.

[puffnstuff]

That seems almost inevitable now. It's going to be a little difficult to sell an 8GB iPod touch for $299 when an 8GB iPhone goes for $199. Apple being Apple though I expect they'll release new models at a lower price instead of simply cutting the price on the models they sell currently.

I predict the ipod touch having a bigger screen. The size of it won't change but it will go bezel to bezel.

[Ugg]

That seems almost inevitable now. It's going to be a little difficult to sell an 8GB iPod touch for $299 when an 8GB iPhone goes for $199. Apple being Apple though I expect they'll release new models at a lower price instead of simply cutting the price on the models they sell currently.

I hope so.

Even $250 would be an acceptable drop.

[lac101]

In My Opinion, there will NEVER be a "official" pay and go iPhone, the Phone providers like O2 and AT&T couldn't afford to loose money, especialy for people who dont need alot of texting or make a large amount of phone calls.

There all greedy, it just wont happen.

therefore the ipd touch is the ceepest "legal" solution, it does nerly everything that the iPhone does, why pay $30 - $50 a month more?

[Tom B.]

In My Opinion, there will NEVER be a "official" pay and go iPhone, the Phone providers like O2 and AT&T couldn't afford to loose money, especialy for people who dont need alot of texting or make a large amount of phone calls.

There all greedy, it just wont happen.?

O RLY?

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj112/tom_b_53/Picture2-1.png?t=1213134736

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo

[lac101]

Well thats shocked me, but it will probably be sold off for double the price that was mentioned at the WWDC.

[OffBrand]

That seems almost inevitable now. It's going to be a little difficult to sell an 8GB iPod touch for $299 when an 8GB iPhone goes for $199. Apple being Apple though I expect they'll release new models at a lower price instead of simply cutting the price on the models they sell currently.
What could also happen with current Touches is their asking price on eBay and elsewhere could drop if new ones are introduced. A 30 GB video iPod sells for damn near peanuts there.

[hinchesk]

Well thats shocked me, but it will probably be sold off for double the price that was mentioned at the WWDC.

That makes two of us. Didn't think I'd see in iPhone on paygo for a long time... i.e. once some critical mass was reached... sell 15-20 million phones+plans then start going after those you couldn't upsell to a plan they didn't want/need.

Rogers in Canada will be getting the iPhone 3G in July too so it'll be interesting if paygo shows up here and what the data charges will look like. I'd pay $500 for a 16Gb iPhone 3G if I could get it without a significant increase to my monthly cell spending on paygo... a few $$ for some data use I could stand.

[Ugg]

Well thats shocked me, but it will probably be sold off for double the price that was mentioned at the WWDC.

Didn't Steve J. say that the maximum price worldwide would be USD 199?

Of course, he could have been telling one of his infamous white lies in that $199 was with a two year contract and paygo buyers would pay an extra premium.

Just a month to go before we find out...

[a456]

O RLY?

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj112/tom_b_53/Picture2-1.png?t=1213134736

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo

OK, so maybe the iPod Touch won't die but in the UK sales will definitely drop unless O2 go with the impossibly exorbitant price option that forces the majority to choose contracts.

[Kohkane]

O RLY?

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj112/tom_b_53/Picture2-1.png?t=1213134736

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo

Wish that was in the US :(

[Dagless]

OK, so maybe the iPod Touch won't die but in the UK sales will definitely drop unless O2 go with the impossibly exorbitant price option that forces the majority to choose contracts.

Why, can you get 32gb iPhones now?

[.Andy]

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9331/picture1db8.png

[a456]

For all the naysayers when I started this thread think about this:

Pay & Go (O2) iPhone 16 GB - £359
iPod Touch 16 GB - £269

£90 buys you a camera, a phone, GPS and six months of unlimited data over 3G, The Cloud and BT Openzone. UK iPod Touch sales will drop. Fact.

[big-blue-wolf]

There is still no official information on the o2 website about a pay and go iPhone.

FACT.

Pay and Go iPhone (http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paygo)

[madmaxmedia]

For all the naysayers when I started this thread think about this:

Pay & Go (O2) iPhone 16 GB - £359
iPod Touch 16 GB - £269

£90 buys you a camera, a phone, GPS and six months of unlimited data over 3G, The Cloud and BT Openzone. UK iPod Touch sales will drop. Fact.

Well, yeah (if that was the price, not sure where you got it.) But there's still no point for Apple to arbitrarily drop the iPod Touch, which was your 'hypothesis'. That's what people are 'naysaying', not what the sales will be.

FACT! (that was fun)