For me I would say right around the 4S launch when Verizon and Sprint both had it at the time. From then on it seemed like EVERYONE had an iPhone.
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When did the iPhone lose its sense of exclusivity to you?
- Thread starter tymaster50
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Isn't that what apple is striving for - everyone having an iPhone. I don't consider the phone something to flaunt or some status symbol but rather a tool to help me make calls, listen to music, etc.
June/July 2008 when Apple announced it would sell the iPhone $199/299 on contract.
I got it launch day waiting in line for $600. Even when they dropped price to $400 in Sept 2007. Most couldn't afford it.
But by using the subsidy model. The $199 price tag on contract made it seem like a bargin. Remember other smartphone like Palm Treos, Blackberries often sold for $300 even on 2 year contract.
So Apple made their iPhone seem like a bargin with the $199 price
I got it launch day waiting in line for $600. Even when they dropped price to $400 in Sept 2007. Most couldn't afford it.
But by using the subsidy model. The $199 price tag on contract made it seem like a bargin. Remember other smartphone like Palm Treos, Blackberries often sold for $300 even on 2 year contract.
So Apple made their iPhone seem like a bargin with the $199 price
Agreed and subsidized price helped it make it wildly popular. I'd not pay 600 dollars for a cell phone not matter what it can do - that's just me though.
I don't know if you remember but when the first iPhone came out so many people wanted it, I was in 6th or 7th grade by then (im a senior in hs now) and only 1 person in the whole school had it and everyone was jealous, skip forward to high school, it is the year of the 3GS, no one has it but a few choice people, rare to spot iPhones in the wild in my area, I'm using an iPhone 3G. Everyone thought it was the coolest thing ever. iPhone 4 comes out my 10th grade year, a few more people have iPhone now but not noticeable since most people had verizon. iPhone 4S comes out, bam everyone now has an iPhone 4 or 4S. For the price people pay for it/contract pricing you might as well flaunt it!
After the 4S came out is when it seemed like everyone had either an iPhone 4 or 4S. Probably because it was finally made available on carriers other than AT&T.
Nor did I. However, some people do, I take it. I deem many things exclusive, but the iPhone is far from being so.
Would you deem high-end macs as exclusive? I would, most people can't easily afford that.
I never even thought about that because it doesn't matter to me.
In hindsight, people won't ask you to see your iPhone as they did in 2007-08.
If you want to be exclusive, just get a Porsche Blackberry.
In hindsight, people won't ask you to see your iPhone as they did in 2007-08.
If you want to be exclusive, just get a Porsche Blackberry.
But you've got an iPhone 4. Two in fact.
You do realize that you will pay that $700 in the end. If you buy a subsidized phone, than basically the deal is "You pay us $200 now and the rest you'll pay over a period of two years."
You will be paying that $700 in the end. The onliest difference between buying it subsidised and unsubsidised is that in the first scenario, you spread your costs over two years. In the last scenario, you pay it all at once.
It's one way of looking at it. The way I see it, I'm going to need service for at least 2 years no matter what. I pay the same monthly price regardless of the price of the phone. So why shouldn't I spend just 200 and not 700? I have a 5 now, well not yet, need to pick it up tomorrow
Well, there are lots of people who buy the phone unsubsidised and than pay a small, monthly fee for their data, text messages and minutes. Or, like you do, pay it at a subsidised price and than pay a high monthly fee for data, text messages, minutes, the phone plus 'rent'.It's one way of looking at it. The way I see it, I'm going to need service for at least 2 years no matter what. I pay the same monthly price regardless of the price of the phone. So why shouldn't I spend just 200 and not 700? I have a 5 now, well not yet, need to pick it up tomorrow
But you will be needing service no matter what you pay up front. So your 700 up front will end up being 1200 in two years. (If you take your math of a 200 dollar phone being 700 in 2 years i.e +500)
Yeah you can get service at a lesser rate, but I do not think it makes up the 500$ difference.
What is your point? Your original reference was with regard to the iPhone. As such, members are responding to your query in kind.
Actually, why did you ever consider the iPhone exclusive? That is a more pertinent question.
the steep pricing in relation to the economy, and the reputation that Apple has.
No one in the US is getting discounted service for buying an unsubsidized phone (prepaid may be the exception). If that was the case I would gladly pay 700 for the iPhone, but being that I pay the same either way monthly, I would rather take the discount.