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I don't get why you people think that setting the iPhone to $0.00 would increase it's popularity. People setting up a 2 year contract, wanting an iPhone, won't mind spending a one time fee of the $99 or $50 or $20. It's the DATA plan people are concerned about.

I would gladly buy an iPhone for $200 with a two year contact with NO DATA plan. It would be the same price as an iPod touch but it doubles as phone/texting device.

Back on topic though; I can see Apple doing this after the Holidays...maybe towards January-ish - with leaving the 3G and going for a $99 3GS. I don't think "Droid" mania is as big as everyone thinks; it's mostly popular among geeks who frequent Gadget sites (which are a minority of people).
100 percent agree I think the UI is ugly to imo.
 
If this comes to pass it probably has more to do with production efficiency than anything else. Fewer component differences (processors, etc.) to deal with, just a capacity difference. I would bet component prices are dropping making making the 3G unnecessary, and giving an apparent increase in value at the low end.
 
I would just see a silent phasing out of the 8GB 3G with the 3GS....

More apples style.
 
i think instead we will see (after holidays, jan, feb'ish) Refurbished 16gb 3GS's for 100 or 149. while the 8gb 3G will be $49 or free like u guys said.
 
I'd buy one. You have to understand, most normal phone users don't have music, videos on there phone. They use it for calling and sending texts (you geeks will obviously disagree). They don't need countless GB's. Browsing the web takes up nothing, making calls and texts takes up nothing, and maybe a few of their favourite songs and a movie/TV show. 8GB 3GS will be a smart move.
 
Still the best phone, with decent enough service. Id rather have an awesome phone on B+ service, then a ok phone on Verizon (A)

absolutely agree.

anyways, this is a rumor that actually makes sense and could and should be implemented by Apple/AT&T to attract even more customers.
 
Apple wont launch an 8gb 3GS.

The average person wont be putting more than 8gb of music on their iPhone, so they can just buy the $99 3GS. Currently, if they want all the 3GS features they have to pay $199. Whilst its great for the customer, it loses a $100 for Apple, which is why they wont do it. That and Phil saying no new products.
 
Driod assult ...

This is serious competition. Apple got outclassed by hardware specs and matched (exceeded in some features) by the Droid handsets. So matching $99 is NOT ENOUGH. They need to drop to $69.96 or lower to get some attention.

Lets face it. Only the Touch users will upgrade and some late-comers, most who wanted a GS already got one and a large number will abandon that platform due to higher than expected carrier/usage costs. It is a reality in the market that needs to be addressed in the mist of depressed economy and fierce competition in the market. Great for consumers, I guess.;)
 
8gb iPhone 3GS - $99 w/2 yr contract
8gb iPhone 3G - FREE w/2 yr contract

Make sense now?

Makes perfect sense. I hadn't really thought of the free phone though (which would be HUGE competition against rivals!). I was thinking of a natural progression in replacing the 8GB 3G with an 8GB 3GS (an essential hardware upgrade).

If they can pass a credit check, put a phone in their hand! :)
 
This is serious competition. Apple got outclassed by hardware specs and matched (exceeded in some features) by the Droid handsets. So matching $99 is NOT ENOUGH. They need to drop to $69.96 or lower to get some attention.
How is one outclassed by newer hardware? :confused:
 
With the monthly fees Rogers are asking for the iPhone in Canada, the price of the iPhone isn't the real problem.

Even if the iPhone was free, I couldn't afford the monthly plans. I also don't want to sign a THREE years contract for a phone.

I hope Telus and Bell have more sensible plans.

Hum, just checked the coverage map for Telus and Bell. No coverage for my area, so forget it. A free iPhone could only be used as an iPod touch. :rolleyes:

Nope, Bell/Telus havent introduced better plans. However I have heard that Telus/Bell have allowed customers to keep their voice plans, and SOME people have been able to keep their data (sometimes unlimited) with Bell, so that's an upside to some people who are already with Bell/Telus.

It's just aweful that all three require a THREE year contract for a freaking phone, or even an iPhone!!! The Canadian cellphone industry is aweful. Everyone is hoping Wind Mobile will change that, but due to CRTC criticism, Wind won't be launching anytime soon now. Ugh.
 
It makes sense if you think about it, Apple has to eventually abandon the iPhone 3G for the 3GS... And as usual, they change their products, and not their prices.
 
not sure if that would even help push sales, I think its good to have a different cheaper model
 
Just saw a Droid

...not nearly as impressed as I thought I would be.

The Droid (the Motorola one) has extremely laggy home screen scrolling. It doesn't demo very well.

Overall, yeah, the specs may be better but specs can lie. There are a lot of pixels that the Droid needs to shove around for that high-res screen.

Do admit the screen is nice.

Edit - overheard the VzW salesguy tell a customer that the Android App store had "hundreds of thousands of apps."
 
My monthly iPhone bill is $77 after taxes. I don't see why a $99 phone is such a great pull for people when it is a fraction of the total amount one has to spend to have a phone for two years.

However, I DO see Apple dropping the 3G phone, although I doubt they will give them away. $49 maybe... $29 maybe, but not free.
 
Nope, Bell/Telus havent introduced better plans. However I have heard that Telus/Bell have allowed customers to keep their voice plans, and SOME people have been able to keep their data (sometimes unlimited) with Bell, so that's an upside to some people who are already with Bell/Telus.

It's just aweful that all three require a THREE year contract for a freaking phone, or even an iPhone!!! The Canadian cellphone industry is aweful. Everyone is hoping Wind Mobile will change that, but due to CRTC criticism, Wind won't be launching anytime soon now. Ugh.


TELUS is a joke. For $65 per month you get 250 minutes & 1 gig of data. Whereas for $10 more a month with Bell you get 400 minutes and 2 gig of data.
 
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