Apple Announces iPhone Service Plans

[diamond.g]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I can use the unlimited internet on the iPhone to use http://www.iloveim.com/ and contact anyone on Yahoo, AOL, MSN, and GoogleTalk UNLIMITED and FOR FREE right?

I don't know I never really got into SMS. What does that have that web-based yahoo doesn't?

Well we can send and recieve SMS while on a phone call. I know that you can't do EDGE and be on a phone call at the same time. SMS uses control lines to transfer data, I think (which is why ppl get mad when rates go up as they supposedly are low bandwidth high latency items).

Ahh, cool. I assume that those Family plans include the first and second line. That's a good deal for 2 iphones.

One phone line is included lines 2+ are extra. Otherwise yeah it is pretty good.

 

[MacKenzie999]

Switchers retaining old phone number

Hey folks...

Just got off the phone with an AT&T rep, asking if it will be possible to keep your old phone number from a previous carrier when creating your iPhone account through iTunes (iTune activation being the critical part of this particular equation).

I don't have a ton of confidence in her knowledge of the situation, but her bottom line was that she recommended I purchase the phone at an AT&T store. She was unable to tell me which of the "select" AT&T's would be carrying the phone on launch day, but that's another matter.

I suspect you could still purchase the phone at an Apple shop, then take it to AT&T for (supposedly) easier activation.

YMMV
-Mike

 

[Yankees 4 Life]

iLounge has a good chart on comparing costs. When you look at the cost over 24 months, it's pretty expensive - but note the cost of the phone itself becomes less important, and the difference between the $500 and $600 phone is no more than $5 per month over the 24 months of a 2 year contract.(He he whaddaya think, will this logic go over with the little woman?)

http://ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/total-iphone-2-year-costs-charts-details/

that chart made me extremely happy

 

[rob@robburns.co]

Hey folks...

Just got off the phone with an AT&T rep, asking if it will be possible to keep your old phone number from a previous carrier when creating your iPhone account through iTunes.

I don't have a ton of confidence in her knowledge of the situation, but her bottom line was that she recommended I purchase the phone at an AT&T store. She was unable to tell me which of the "select" AT&T's would be carrying the phone on launch day, but that's another matter.

I suspect you could still purchase the phone at an Apple shop, then take it to AT&T for (supposedly) easier activation.

YMMV
-Mike

I would imagine that for easy activation, the iTunes process will work fine. For those with more complicated situations, they would probably be better off at the AT&T store (or may its possible over the phone). I'm thinking of those who want voice, but no data or data but no voice in particular. I would imagine that even if AT&T has that possibility, you won't be able to do it from iTunes (but I could be wrong).

 

[poppe]

so say you have 9 hours of sleep a day, you average a text every 3 minutes

Dude...you are the mad jew of SMS.

9 hours of sleep, do people actually get that much? Holy crap. A good day is 6 hours. Usually 4 to 5 hours for me... Some days I don't text so much so not technically every a text ever 3 minutes but on other days I catch up. This week in june though I've been on set for a total of 74 hours on set so my texting is down. I'm only up to 1054 text messages and 600 anytime minutes use(; my plan renews July 8th.

Maybe he can text in his sleep?

I wouldn't be surprised. I sleep walk...

 

[MBHockey]

Hey folks...

Just got off the phone with an AT&T rep, asking if it will be possible to keep your old phone number from a previous carrier when creating your iPhone account through iTunes (iTune activation being the critical part of this particular equation).

I don't have a ton of confidence in her knowledge of the situation, but her bottom line was that she recommended I purchase the phone at an AT&T store. She was unable to tell me which of the "select" AT&T's would be carrying the phone on launch day, but that's another matter.

I suspect you could still purchase the phone at an Apple shop, then take it to AT&T for (supposedly) easier activation.

YMMV
-Mike

Yes, you can do it through iTunes without an AT&T Store.

 

[slffl]

I don't know I never really got into SMS. What does that have that web-based yahoo doesn't?

Uh, the ability to message almost anyone with a cellphone.

 

[Multimedia]

$60 for 450 Rollover Mins + Unlimited Email & Web Is Radically Lower Than I Expected

Wow! I sure didn't expect that. This price is radically lower than I expected at all plus rollover minutes - only $25 more than my plain - no roll over - 450 min plan with Verizon. It's only 40% more than what I'm paying Verizon now for a non-Mac phone.

Afraid I may have to pay the penalty and quit Verizon now instead of in another 9 months when my contract expires. On the other hand, I suppose there will be a better iPhone 2 by next Spring. This lower price is really an amazing shock. Now I have to contemplate switching when I thought I wouldn't be switching at all.

 

[slffl]

One phone line is included lines 2+ are extra. Otherwise yeah it is pretty good.

That's doesn't make sense though. It would be cheaper to get an individual plan and then add a line.

$80 individual = 900 min
$80 family = 700 min

I hoping that includes lines 1 & 2

 

[PBz]

iLounge has a good chart on comparing costs. When you look at the cost over 24 months, it's pretty expensive - but note the cost of the phone itself becomes less important, and the difference between the $500 and $600 phone is no more than $5 per month over the 24 months of a 2 year contract.(He he whaddaya think, will this logic go over with the little woman?)

http://ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/total-iphone-2-year-costs-charts-details/

I guess I am lucky as my little woman is buying me an iPhone..

 

[PBz]

Has anyone brought up the fact that the iPod functionality is not going to work without activation? Not a big deal to me but could be to some folks.

 

[rob@robburns.co]

That's doesn't make sense though. It would be cheaper to get an individual plan and then add a line.

I don't think you can add lines to personal plans. With the family plans the minutes are shared which is why you pay a small premium for the sharing of minutes.

 

[NewSc2]

That's just moronic. Change supplier now! I thought it was free for everyone, or you can money for receiving texts.

it's always costed me money to send and receive. t-mobile here, formerly cingular.

 

[slffl]

I don't think you can add lines to personal plans. With the family plans the minutes are shared which is why you pay a small premium for the sharing of minutes.

Hmm. Well then what about 2 individual plans

2 indv @ $60 = $120 / 900 min total
1 fam @ $80+$30 = $120 / 700 min total

Well I don't get it, but whatever. I'll find out for sure on Friday

EDIT: Oh, and I guess you get unlimited nights and weekends on the family plan.

 

[MBHockey]

Has anyone brought up the fact that the iPod functionality is not going to work without activation? Not a big deal to me but could be to some folks.

Yeah, this has been brought up. Sneaky Apple

 

[Apollo33]

so say you have 9 hours of sleep a day, you average a text every 3 minutes

Sure, it may be an exaggeration... But you need to remember, this is the US where cellphone companies actually charge you for messages RECEIVED as well as sent. So it's not hard to imagine people sending and receiving 100+ messages a day.

 

[matznentosh]

I guess I am lucky as my little woman is buying me an iPhone..

Can't you be banned from posting for being too lucky?

 

[TheAnswer]

Wow! I sure didn't expect that...On the other hand, I suppose there will be a better iPhone 2 by next Spring. This lower price is really an amazing shock. Now I have to contemplate switching when I thought I wouldn't be switching at all.

I'm in the same boat here...I wasn't looking seriously at the iPhone because I expected the plans to be a deal-killer. Now I'm hoping that my current POS phone will just stay in one piece long enough to either hold out for iPhone 2 or at least see any kinks worked out and have more apps available.

 

[PBz]

Can't you be banned from posting for being too lucky?

We have a tradition of buying each other something nice when either of us gets a bonus at work. Well, she now works in the mergers and acquisition industry!! Heck, if one of her other deals had been approved and gone through I was going to be getting a Ducati!

She is stoked cause she is getting a ring in 3 or so months!!

 

[diamond.g]

That's doesn't make sense though. It would be cheaper to get an individual plan and then add a line.

$80 individual = 900 min
$80 family = 700 min

I hoping that includes lines 1 & 2

Nope the asterisk says for one line only. Additional iPhones are 29.99.

 

[smccostlin]

Stoked!

I am so glad to hear that I only have to add a $20.00 plan to my current voice plan at at&t, this makes me so happy... I knew everyone was just speculating when they were saying all this junk about 35-45 dollar data plan plus voice, and ow family plans were not going to be supported... Thank you AT&T! And APPLE!

 

[jap3]

So, I'm wondering...

Should I get on board as an AT&T customer now, get a free phone and sign up for a two year contract, then get the iPhone on Friday and switch the service to that?

My wife and I have Nextels now and I have to keep my phone until October, but she can leave the plan any time w/o penalty. I can then reactive the free phone in October and give it to her.

 

[RnSK]

i'm in a really small town that you have probably never heard of called San Diego. we don't get the fancy stuff out here for years after you "big city" folks. hahahahahahahaha.

And you're telling me in SD, you aren't getting a *minimum* 20KBytes sec downstream on EDGE?

 

[PBz]

Should I get on board as an AT&T customer now, get a free phone and sign up for a two year contract, then get the iPhone on Friday and switch the service to that?

My wife and I have Nextels now and I have to keep my phone until October, but she can leave the plan any time w/o penalty. I can then reactive the free phone in October and give it to her.

I would find out that you can do this first. I must admit I am kinda in this situation and happy for it. I have a 3 month old Blackberry 8800 that will make a nice subsidy if stick with the iPhone.

 

[odemadrid]

My contract with Verizon expires tomorrow. I was going to survive without my cellphone for a couple of days until the iPhone came out on friday. Should I go ahead and open a new account with AT&T, get a subsized phone, and then sell it on ebay after i get the iPhone on friday?

Is this a good idea? If it is, what cellphone do you recommend I should pick?