iPhone Voice and Data Plan Rates to Come

[MacRumors]

iLounge reports on comments by AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel which indicates that AT&T will be releasing iPhone voice and data rate plans prior to launch day (June 29th).

"We will disclose before the 29th," said Siegel, noting that customers will be able to show up at stores that day knowing how much they will be charged for both the Apple-developed hardware and AT&T's cellular service plans.
It's not going to be anything exotic"

There will reportedly be separate Voice and Data plans and a 2-year service commitment will be required.

An earlier report today claimed rate plans would not be revealed until the day of launch (June 29th)

We have heard reports that some form of announcement is expected tomorrow (Friday).

[graymccarty]

Finally... SOMETHING about the plans is coming.

[JPyre]

Thank god.

[PharmD]

Agreed, that was just odd that we would know nothing about the plans before Friday.

He said they won't be "exotic". Does that mean they might actually be reasonable?

/crosses fingers

[wongulous]

Nothing exotic... what. There had better be SOMETHING good about them, because if the PHONE isn't discounted for my 2 year contractual agreement, then WHAT IS!?! It'd better be the plan!!!!

[failsafe1]

Originally Posted by PharmD

Agreed, that was just odd that we would know nothing about the plans before Friday.

He said they won't be "exotic". Does that mean they might actually be reasonable?

/crosses fingers

I think it means no grass skirts, or umbrella drinks while you sign up and purchase the new phone?

[yoman]

Originally Posted by failsafe1

I think it means no grass skirts, or umbrella drinks while you sign up and purchase the new phone?

Well if that's the case, then forget it!

[Rooskibar03]

Originally Posted by wongulous

Nothing exotic... what. There had better be SOMETHING good about them, because if the PHONE isn't discounted for my 2 year contractual agreement, then WHAT IS!?! It'd better be the plan!!!!

I think you are missing the point. When has Apple ever sold any product on price? Never.

Apple sells A teir products at A tier prices. If you want a iPhone, be prepared to pay for said device.

Apple and AT&T do not need you to buy the phone or pay the price they want for the service plan, because the guy behind you in line will be happy to.

[jk8311]

Why do so many people think these plans will be so expensive? Looking at Cingular's current plans, unlimited data goes for $20/month and 450 minutes of voice goes for $40/month. Even at 900 minutes, the most you'll be paying for is $80/month.

In terms of web browsing, the iPhone doesn't use more data, it simply displays it in its true form. In turn, I guess that could lead to more demand for bandwidth since using the web on the phone will be so much easier, but for all intents and purposes, it's no different than a smart phone.

For those of you who say we need it for tethering purposes (i.e. using the phone as a modem...much more expensive), I think that will be pretty rare. You can already get email, calendar, contacts, and internet on the iPhone...using the iPhone as a modem for your laptop will be pretty rare to start, I think.

Other thoughts?

[fenixx]

Originally Posted by jk8311

Why do so many people think these plans will be so expensive? Looking at Cingular's current plans, unlimited data goes for $20/month and 450 minutes of voice goes for $40/month. Even at 900 minutes, the most you'll be paying for is $80/month.

I agree, I think they would be quite ballsy to charge more than $30 a month for data considering the pricetag on the phone already.

[bigandtasty]

Agreed, anything over $30 for data plan would be too much!

Can't wait for the 29th!

[imwoblin]

You know I am really having a hard time justifying buying an Iphone. I am probably one of Apple's biggest fans ( I still have my Newton!) but all the hype over this device has me scratching my head. I hate my Moto Q, and would love to throw it in the toilet along with Verizon's bad service here in So Cal, but breaking my contract ($175), not knowing the data plans for the iPhone, and not having the high speed network available on most other Cingular smart phones makes me wonder. Are there THAT many people out there with so much disposable income that they would wait in line, break their existing contracts with other carriers and pay the termination fee, just beacause Apple and ATT says that this device is the greatest thing since toilet paper? I still want one of these bad boys but I will have to see the real juice.

[JW008]

Hopefully the fact that there are separate voice and data plans bode well for those of us hoping that the data plan will be optional (or at least easily cancelled if we don't use it as much as we thought we would).

I know this is a very inductive line of thinking, but:

ATT announces it offers specific iPhone plans
ATT announces it offers the voice and data plans separately
Thus while, a two-year contract is required for voice, hopefully it will not be required for data. If it was the case that data was required, why not bundle the two together in one iPhone-specific plan?

Of course, you know what happened to the inductive Turkey...

[KindredMAC]

My prediction is that the data plans are going to be ridiculous and everyone is going to scream and those who were going to line up for the phone are now going to stay home.

Why else would AT&T be keeping the rates a secret until right before the launch.

Plus, why would you spend $500/$600 for a phone that relies on the internet and then have to pay $1100 a year for 2 years to use that phone for what it what was designed for?

AT&T is really going to screw this one up and the iPhone will be called a failure.

[TenaciousPZ]

Originally Posted by imwoblin

You know I am really having a hard time justifying buying an Iphone. I am probably one of Apple's biggest fans ( I still have my Newton!) but all the hype over this device has me scratching my head. I hate my Moto Q, and would love to throw it in the toilet along with Verizon's bad service here in So Cal, but breaking my contract ($175), not knowing the data plans for the iPhone, and not having the high speed network available on most other Cingular smart phones makes me wonder. Are there THAT many people out there with so much disposable income that they would wait in line, break their existing contracts with other carriers and pay the termination fee, just beacause Apple and ATT says that this device is the greatest thing since toilet paper? I still want one of these bad boys but I will have to see the real juice.

I don't think it really matters what Apple and At&t say about it. This thing truly markets itself. All you need is to know a little about current available technology, and to watch a demo of the phones known capabilities (let alone still unknown / still to come over months of software updates)...

...and its immediately worth every dollar they are asking. Its just a matter of how much its worth to you.

[cyclone84]

ATT Data Plans

Will iPhone likely fall under 'SmartPhone Connect' or 'Data Connect?'

SmartPhone Connect "unlimited" = $19.99/mo

Data Connect "unlimited" = $45/mo and up

[kupua]

2 different sources of my info...

I have information that the iPhone will require an unlimited data plan running at $45/month...

a bit of unconfirmed info from a At&t business rep that it will predominantly only available at Apple Stores and apple.com

[TenaciousPZ]

Originally Posted by KindredMAC

$1100 a year

You expect to pay less than this? I don't think anyone expects to pay less than this.....if they do they are lying to themselves which is bad if you have your hopes up for buying one. Expect $99 per month

(Don't misunderstand...i agree with you. It makes no sense to pay for functions (in the phone price) that you can't use without paying a LOT more for the plan.)

[Huracan]

Originally Posted by jk8311

Why do so many people think these plans will be so expensive? Looking at Cingular's current plans, unlimited data goes for $20/month

Do you have a link to that unlimited plan for $20/month. Whatever I seem to find on their site is more expensive, even up to $100/month:


http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...nect-plans.jsp

[GrannySmith_G5]

I wonder how many of the last 100 front page stories on MacRumors are iphone related? I'd do the math but I've got a train to catch.

[jk8311]

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-pho...hone-plans.jsp

Scroll to the bottom and you'll find "Smart Phone Connect"...

[cjewby]

I'm more excited about the woman in the background... that's a new mickeymouse shirt design that was rumored to be released in August. HOLY MOLY!

(cmon guys... to think that no one has an iphone is just silly..)


EDIT _ oops wrong thread...
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[GrannySmith_G5]

Originally Posted by cjewby

I'm more excited about the woman in the background... that's a new mickeymouse shirt design that was rumored to be released in August. HOLY MOLY!

(cmon guys... to think that no one has an iphone is just silly..)

Wrong thread. I think you want the iPhone thread below this one, or maybe the iphone thread below that iPhone thread.

[Object-X]

There is no way you can use the iPhone without having an unlimited data plan. It loses much of it's usefulness without the Internet, and this device is going to be nothing like existing devices in how you use the Internet. Besides the outlaying cost of the phone itself, the data plan can be a deal killer if it's too high.

[JPyre]

Originally Posted by kupua

2 different sources of my info...

I have information that the iPhone will require an unlimited data plan running at $45/month...

Soo when the AT&T rep told me today that it would probably be 39.99 he was guessing wrong?

a bit of unconfirmed info from a At&t business rep that it will predominantly only available at Apple Stores and apple.com

Soo the report of AT&T stores having 100 on launch day is wrong?
Didn't Steve already say "goto the AT&T stores, they'll have plenty"

[Update] Is that the same business rep that sells Qs and 8525s and WON'T be selling iPhones to business customers?