Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Isn't there phones already with 3G???? These phones are not running 700???? I refuse to believe it, and if they do cost that much then I'll just bitch a hole lot, really not solving anything.
 
Isn't there phones already with 3G???? These phones are not running 700???? I refuse to believe it, and if they do cost that much then I'll just bitch a hole lot, really not solving anything.

There are and even when they aren't subsidized they don't cost $700. Granted, none have 32GB of rumored space in them either, but if that's all that is jacking the price up like that then I will be happy with 8 or 16.
 
Besides 3G support, the following features/specs were also passed along, mostly consistent with circulating rumors:

- Lighter weight
- Black + other colors
- Focus on Multimedia with Video recording
- Video Conferencing
- GPS
- 16GB $499
- 32GB $699
The 32GB version seems about $100 too high. Should be $599 if the 16GB model is $499.

Here in Japan, they have many $500 smart phones. Softbank just upped one model from about $260 to $480 about a month ago. So cost wise it seems reasonable.

Next week is going to be fun! :)
 
The 32GB version seems about $100 too high. Should be $599 if the 16GB model is $499.
I hate to break it to you, but the 32GB Touch is going for $599 in Tokyo at the Apple Store as well as most retailers - why would they be willing to sell a 3G iPhone at the same price? Short answer: it won't happen. Expect to pay a minimum of $700 (and I think closer to $1000-1100) for the privilege of owning a 32GB iPhone in Japan. ;)
 
I hate to break it to you, but the 32GB Touch is going for $599 in Tokyo at the Apple Store as well as most retailers - why would they be willing to sell a 3G iPhone at the same price? Short answer: it won't happen. Expect to pay a minimum of $700 (and I think closer to $1000-1100) for the privilege of owning a 32GB iPhone in Japan. ;)
If you will reread my post you'll see that I was commenting that if there are 16GB and 32GB models introduced, then the difference between the two models will be $100 and not $200, US prices, per the original poster.

I was not commenting on the final price. Only the price difference.

The difference between the US price and the Japan price for most Apple items has been much closer than it was 10 years ago. In most cases, a bad yen rate accounts for the difference.

Using the 32GB Touch as an example, it costs:

- Japan --> 59,800 yen

- US --> $499

About a 120 yen exchange rate. Current rate is around 102 yen. So it is high. Although I must admit, it was nice when you could get 130 yen when Apple was still using around 120 yen. :)

If the 3G iPhone 32GB costs $599 (a $100 more than the current 16GB version), then I would expect the 3G iPhone 32GB to cost 72,000 yen.

Still well less than 1,000 to 1,100 price you estimated.

BTW, I purchased my 32GB Touch about a month ago for $400 here in Japan. The store that I purchased it from had them on sale for a limited time. So you can find good deals here occasionally. :)

...yes, I got it for about 30% off. :D

They only had 5 for sale, and only 1 per customer. :(

P.S. The place where Japan will be expensive, IMHO, is the cell phone plan with DoCoMo or whomever Apple goes with for the iPhone.
 
I look forward to actually seeing an iPhone, but for me it's not yet a practical device. I have an iPod that stores thousands of songs and music videos combined (I like to have all my music on one device), video calling and GPRS is very expensive here in Australia and if you video call from one service to someone using a different one (ie; Optus to Vodophone) it's even more expensive so it's hardly ever used here. Unless you get the deal with those awful bulky phones where you by two and can video call each other at a slightly discounted cost.

Regardless how low Apple makes the cost of the iPhone the cost of actually using it certainly makes it (and any phone similar to it) quite expensive. No doubt the iPhone is an amazing device but until video calling becomes the norm over regular calling for me it's just a feature that exists on the device yet to be explored.
 
I look forward to actually seeing an iPhone, but for me it's not yet a practical device. I have an iPod that stores thousands of songs and music videos combined (I like to have all my music on one device), video calling and GPRS is very expensive here in Australia and if you video call from one service to someone using a different one (ie; Optus to Vodophone) it's even more expensive so it's hardly ever used here. Unless you get the deal with those awful bulky phones where you by two and can video call each other at a slightly discounted cost.

Regardless how low Apple makes the cost of the iPhone the cost of actually using it certainly makes it (and any phone similar to it) quite expensive. No doubt the iPhone is an amazing device but until video calling becomes the norm over regular calling for me it's just a feature that exists on the device yet to be explored.


I only BORROWED use of an iPhone about a month after they came out on a cross-country trip, and it paid for itself (including all monthly costs for the first 2 years) more than once over. Admittedly I am in business, but even if you are a consumer that values your time, or the ability to do mobile what you were previously tethered to a broadband connection and a computer to do, you will receive value in excess of cost too.

I for one am using my profits from iPhone 1.0 to purchase 3 iPhone 2.0's so others can make me money faster too. :)

YMMV

Rocketman
 
Rocketman you're in the U.S. and prices are exceptionally different there. As I said here in Australia the prices are high. I do not believe the iPhone (or any phone for that matter) pays for itself. My MBP sure does because I use it to do work on, but a phone... no.
 
The 32GB version seems about $100 too high. Should be $599 if the 16GB model is $499.

Here in Japan, they have many $500 smart phones. Softbank just upped one model from about $260 to $480 about a month ago. So cost wise it seems reasonable.

Next week is going to be fun! :)

$599 is what I am hoping for in order to get the 32-gig

I was really shocked by the $699 price tag :(

That isn't even including any hopeful discount for an upgrade :D
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.