Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Analyst Claims Apple May Release $349 iPhone for Prepaid Markets This Year
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Considering there's no hints of a next generation iPod Touch, maybe this is true. Or completely wrong. 
some people don't need data. that's what's great about prepaid and being able to do what you want. not being forced into paying data if you don't necessarily need it.
competition. if we can buy an iPhone and take it anywhere, verizon and at&t will have to compete by lowering rates. this is the way it should be.
Apple seems to be the only one on board with this... which is why they are pushing for a software SIM...
the 3GS is still around. what's the difference between what you are suggesting? Almost everyone i know that is getting a new iphone isn't opting for the cheaper 3GS.
There is proof that the number is $150 or higher. Virgin Mobile sells an Android for $150 usable on a $25/month plan (unlimited data, text, 300 mins) with no contract. They sell like hotcakes.
So $150 is viable, but how much higher? A plan like Virgin would sell a zillion at $150, $200 even. Perhaps higher?
Big bold assumption there. People on prepaid just don't see a reason to pay $80 a month, when $15/month prepaid plans fit their usage much better.
I would do this in a heart beat if I'd be able to get it on Virgin Mobile, heck Virgin Mobile sells the iPhone in Canada.
Wait... Charles Whitmore is making iPhones!?!
I may not have read the whole article properly. Either way, $349 seems like a fair price point. I don't know what some of you are bugging out about.
I may not have read the whole article properly. Either way, $349 seems like a fair price point. I don't know what some of you are bugging out about.
Same here. I bought an LG Optimus V last month. It does what I need it to do but I'd rather have an iPhone. However, I don't see the point of spending $100 a month when Virgin only charges $25 a month.
There's an enormous market, even in the US for non-contract phones and plans. $300 would be an ideal price but $349 isn't a deal breaker.
This would be good. Too bad they couldn't come in at a lower price point. Imagine a prepaid iPhone for $99? Our dream would actually come true then, every human on earth would have an iPhone, all other companies would disappear, and we could bask in the euphoria of world consisting only of Apple. It makes my heart skip a beat to think that this day is coming.
Very interesting graph! I had no idea prepaid phones were so rare in the US. I've only ever had prepaid since my mobile phone usage is quite minimal, and I don't think any of my friends and family have a contract phone unless their employer gave them one.
Good luck with that. but I agree wholeheartedly.
this will only happen if:
AT&T merger with T-mo gets killed (only a dream of course)
Sprint gets iPhone,
then- people will have (4) choices of plans, which with basic economics leaves us all with cheap, cheaper, cheaper still, and cheapest.
Count me in.
everyone seems to think that prepaid means you have bad credit or you are poor and can't afford to get on a contract....that's not true at all.
it's common practice in US to just sign your life away for 2 years and get your phone subsidized so you don't have to pay for it upfront. But instead you pay loads of money and fees over the life of the contract.
Too many people are stuck on wanting to pay a cheap price for the phone upfront but willing to basically finance it over the life of the phone and do it monthly.
i love prepaid and will never go back to a contract again.
Good luck with that. but I agree wholeheartedly.
this will only happen if:
AT&T merger with T-mo gets killed (only a dream of course)
Sprint gets iPhone,
then- people will have (4) choices of plans, which with basic economics leaves us all with cheap, cheaper, cheaper still, and cheapest.
Count me in.
iphone on virgin mobile would be insane!