Apple to Allow iPhone Subsidies?

[Sweetbike40]

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Existing customers will just have to sign up for 2 more years of ATT service.

I don't think it works like that. I've tried to upgrade my phone in the past before the contract was up and couldn't get as much as a discount. Even if i signed another 2 year contract. They make you wait til the end or a month before the end of the contract before they give the you highest discount allowed.

 

[chazzonline]

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Existing customers will just have to sign up for 2 more years of ATT service.

Yeah Sounds reasonable

 

[pmoeser]

Seems like it is the carriers who are the bullies.

I note that the article says Apple bowed to pressure.

Steve doesn't bow to pressure from potential business partners. Never has and only ever did back down on the cash back when he dropped the price of the iPhone because of PR reasons.

Steve has taken on the entire computer industry and won in favour of Apple.

Steve took on Disney and Hollywood and won in his favour.

Letting carriers subsidise the new phone is in Steve and Apple's interests. The original model will have paid for the R&D and now they they have larger profit margins.

Go Steve, Go iPhone 3G!

 

[AJ1BostonMASS]

im slightly confused does that mean I can have an iphone with verizon? Because there has been a rumor about that for a while

 

[gianly1985]

All this mess about the "ENTRY TICKET"....who cares?? The MAIN $$$-sucking will be the monthly fee....that's the real way you pay the phone....at least in Italy......2 years COMPULSORY.....
Actually, many italians won't care about national carriers and will take assault of UK and USA stores to buy the iphone at low price and **** the 2-years-contract (if they continue to allow you to activate or SHOULD I SAY NOT ACTIVATE the contract AT HOME.....noobz 🙄 ). The only good way to buy an iphone (2g or 3g), in the opinion of many Italians, is this:
1) go to USA (or find a friend/relative), for other purpose of course
2) use the power of the strong EURO against the Dollar
3) buy iphone and don't activate the contract
4) use ziphone (by Italian "zibri") to one-click-unlock the iphone
5) and you're done 😀


Many have done so...and many have done it with O2 UK iphone for RIDICOLOUS 169£ that is 210euros....some people take low cost airlines to london just to buy some iphones 😀
In the end, WE DISLIKE contracts, we are the country of PRE-PAID simcards, no contracts! Our carriers are aware of this so I'm afraid they will force us to sign the contract IN THE SHOP, NOT AT HOME.....but there are plenty of foreign countries to explore 😀


ps: sorry for my English

 

[macerroneous]

no s***

To date unlocking has been the only way for 149 countries to experience iPhone. One estimate is almost a million iPhones were exported and unlocked.

I call that pre-release market research. 🙂

Rocketman

I'm just a speculator, (I mean guesser) but I think there are more like 3 million iphones taken out of the US. (The number was something like 1.4 million as of 12/31 and Apple and ATT have been pretty mum on the subject ever since.) The ONLY way to tie this phone to a carrier is to offer a rebate, due to the ease with which hackers managed to unlock it. Apple was counting on revenue sharing from their carriers, but we all know they don't get that revenue if the consumer doesn't sign up.

SO... I believe the new business plan calls for Apple to get its cash upfront, but sacrifices the revenue sharing by actually INSISTING the carrier give a rebate. ie We still pay top dollar for a phone, Apple gets its cut upfront, the carrier comes out even because it doesn't have to share revenue. The Russian and Nigerian pirates will pay more, because they don't have a carrier to offer a rebate. Everybody's happy.

BTW, if you care, I've been posting this for months. Also, I'm a fanbois.

 

[imwoblin]

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I think both Apple and ATT will have to acknowledge iPhone 1.0 users and give them the same deal as new customers. After all as everyone has said, we paid full price for the original iPhone. If they game us, they will have a lot of pissed off iPhone 1.0 users.

 

[0098386]

Here's an idea - if we complain about it enough maybe they'll give us more money back from the first batch of iPhones? 🙄

But seriously. Subsidised is what they do in the UK. As soon as the 8gb iPhone hit £169 it flew off the shelves. Even just £100 is all it needs, I'd still buy one.

 

[macerroneous]

iphone 1.0 rebate

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I think both Apple and ATT will have to acknowledge iPhone 1.0 users and give them the same deal as new customers. After all as everyone has said, we paid full price for the original iPhone. If they game us, they will have a lot of pissed off iPhone 1.0 users.

There's a rumor you can turn your old phone in for free. That would make me happy.

 

[gianly1985]

The lower is the price, the lesser chance they will let you go home without signing a 2-year contract....that's how I see it....
In fact, I see the £169 UK iphone as sort of a miracle....I can't think at those lucky people who took an iphone for miserable 210euros......

 

[geekygrammy]

yes

I was wondering... I want to get an iPhone, but my Mom doesn't want one; if we both switched to AT&T on a family plan, could we do the $60/month one, and I get an iPhone with the $20 extra iPhone data plan?

My husband and I have the same situation. I have an iPhone and pay an extra $20. per month for the data plan.

 

[BossHoggin]

A 16GB 3G iphone priced at $400 would be amazing!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thaitillidie]

Wtf!?

This just doesn't make any sense!! What kind of country, backwoods-ass business move would it be to allow a carrier to discount a phone by $200 when Apple would still be selling the same freakin' product at FULL RETAIL VALUE in its own freakin' stores??! In that case WHO WOULD EVER BUY THE PHONE FROM AN APPLE STORE unless...the phone is being released unlocked. Even then it still doesn't make any sense.

I'm already pissed off at the notion of Apple wanting to "put an iPhone in the hand of every mobile user," so if all this subsidy rubbish comes to pass that's exactly what's gonna happen.

Contrary to popular belief and the way I figure it, for all these years Apple and its operating systems have been spared from being a target of hackers and cyber criminals NOT because their fortresses are so secure and impenetrable but because they've occupied a nice, cozy li'l niche at the top of the food chain.

So if they now wanna cheapen this top-of-the-line piece o' technology so drastically that every Tom, Dick and Harry can get their hands on one and broaden its availability to every corner of the earth -- then I sincerely truly hope that those same Toms and Dicks and Harrys get inside the OS and wreak havoc with viruses and hacks and all sorts of nasty stuff...in much the same way they've done to Microsoft and Windows. Afterall it's damn near a fully functioning version of the Mac operating system in this li'l puppy (I'm using my iPhone right now to type this message LOL)!!!

Why would you ever want to open it up to the world?? I'm beginning to think this is more of a popularity move than a money-making move by Apple.

I'm tellin' y'all but y'all ain't listenin'...this is gonna blow up then fade out EXACTLY like the Moto Razr did! It's all relative.

Hmmpf. A two hundred dollar "next generation" 3G iPhone...with genuine GPS, video conferencing, corporate mail access etc etc etc...for $200????!!! Have y'all lost your minds? After millions of us paid upwards of $500 for this piece o'sh*t 8 and 16GB first gens??????

That would be a mess of epic proporations...not to mention that it just doesn't make any sense!!!!

Monday's gonna be very very interesting.

 

[quagmire]

As I remember when Apple updated the iPhone to 16 GB, buying the new one would continue the old ones contract at no charge. I hope it is something similar for the 2G iPhone( 2nd generation). If I get penalized for technically breaking the contract of my launch day 8 GB iPhone because I want the new iPhone, I won't be buying the new iPhone.

 

[arn]

This just doesn't make any sense!! What kind of country, backwoods-ass business move would it be to allow a carrier to discount a phone by $200 when Apple would still be selling the same freakin' product at FULL RETAIL VALUE in its own freakin' stores??! In that case WHO WOULD EVER BUY THE PHONE FROM AN APPLE STORE unless...the phone is being released unlocked. Even then it still doesn't make any sense.

Stop. breathe.

Go to Apple Store. Buy unactivated iPhone for $399.
Sign up for 2 years of AT&T service, get $200 back (in credit or rebate)

Go to AT&T Store. Buy unactivated iPhone for $399.
Sign up for 2 years of AT&T service, get $200 back (in credito or rebate)

makes perfect sense. The $200 credit has to come at time of activation and 2 year contract agreement.

arn

 

[gianly1985]

This just doesn't make any ****ing sense!! What kind of country, backwoods-ass business move would it be to allow a carrier to discount a phone by $200 when Apple would still be selling the same freakin' product at FULL RETAIL VALUE in its own freakin' stores??! In that case WHO WOULD EVER BUY THE PHONE FROM AN APPLE STORE unless...the phone is being released unlocked. Even then it still doesn't make any ****ing sense.

1) this REGULARLY HAPPENS with many other phones, i.e. in Italy you can buy a nokia phone at NOKIA POINT or you can buy it at Vodafone or Tim or 3 and sometimes pay it LESS

2) this ALREADY happened for iphone 2g in UK at O2 with the 169£ offert while in the apple stores was still at full price!!

I'm already pissed off at the notion of Apple wanting to "put an iPhone in the hand of every mobile user," so if all this subsidy ******** comes to pass that's exactly what's gonna happen.

Contrary to popular belief and the way I figure it, for all these years Apple and its operating systems have been spared from being a target of hackers and cyber criminals NOT because their fortresses are so secure and impenetrable but because they've occupied a nice, cozy li'l niche at the top of the food chain.

awwww...live and let live....I agree that it's a shame to see this jewel in the hands of FASHION MORONS....but in the end....who cares....except for the virus-paranoic-complaint....

I'm tellin' y'all but y'all ain't listenin'...this is gonna blow up then fade out EXACTLY like the Moto Razr did! It's all relative.

Hell of a fade out 😛
After miiiiillions of sales...and a place in phone history....

 

[Wigletbill]

This just doesn't make any ****ing sense!! What kind of country, backwoods-ass business move would it be to allow a carrier to discount a phone by $200 when Apple would still be selling the same freakin' product at FULL RETAIL VALUE in its own freakin' stores??! In that case WHO WOULD EVER BUY THE PHONE FROM AN APPLE STORE unless...the phone is being released unlocked. Even then it still doesn't make any ****ing sense.

I'm already pissed off at the notion of Apple wanting to "put an iPhone in the hand of every mobile user," so if all this subsidy ******** comes to pass that's exactly what's gonna happen.

Contrary to popular belief and the way I figure it, for all these years Apple and its operating systems have been spared from being a target of hackers and cyber criminals NOT because their fortresses are so secure and impenetrable but because they've occupied a nice, cozy li'l niche at the top of the food chain.

So if they now wanna cheapen this top-of-the-line piece o' technology so drastically that every Tom, Dick and Harry can get their hands on one and broaden its availability to every corner of the earth -- then I sincerely truly hope that those same Toms and Dicks and Harrys get inside the OS and wreak havoc with viruses and hacks and all sorts of nasty ****...in much the same way they've done to Microsoft and Windows. Afterall it's damn near a fully functioning version of the Mac operating system in this li'l son of a b*tch (I'm using my iPhone right now to type this message LOL)!!!

Why would you ever want to open it up to the world?? I'm beginning to think this is more of a popularity move than a money-making move by Apple.

I'm tellin' y'all but y'all ain't listenin'...this is gonna blow up then fade out EXACTLY like the Moto Razr did! It's all relative.

Hmmpf. A two hundred ****ing ollar "next generation" 3G iPhone...with genuine GPS, video conferencing, corporate mail access etc etc etc...for $200????!!! Have y'all lost your ****ing minds? After millions of us paid upwards of $500 for this piece of **** 8 and 16GB first gens??????

That would be a butt-****ing of epic proporations...not to mention that it just doesn't make any sense!!!!

Monday's gonna be very very interesting.

While your concerns are valid, as a business model for a COMPANY... it is retarded to think that Apple should purposely remain small in order to isolate themselves from hackers.

J

 

[TwinCities Dan]

This just doesn't make any ****ing sense!! What kind of country, backwoods-ass business move would it be to allow a carrier to discount a phone by $200 when Apple would still be selling the same freakin' product at FULL RETAIL VALUE in its own freakin' stores??! In that case WHO WOULD EVER BUY THE PHONE FROM AN APPLE STORE unless...the phone is being released unlocked. Even then it still doesn't make any ****ing sense.

I'm already pissed off at the notion of Apple wanting to "put an iPhone in the hand of every mobile user," so if all this subsidy ******** comes to pass that's exactly what's gonna happen.

Contrary to popular belief and the way I figure it, for all these years Apple and its operating systems have been spared from being a target of hackers and cyber criminals NOT because their fortresses are so secure and impenetrable but because they've occupied a nice, cozy li'l niche at the top of the food chain.

So if they now wanna cheapen this top-of-the-line piece o' technology so drastically that every Tom, Dick and Harry can get their hands on one and broaden its availability to every corner of the earth -- then I sincerely truly hope that those same Toms and Dicks and Harrys get inside the OS and wreak havoc with viruses and hacks and all sorts of nasty ****...in much the same way Microsoft and Windows. Afterall it's damn near a fully functioning version of the Mac operating system in this li'l son of a b*tch (I'm using my iPhone right now to type this message LOL)!!!

Why would you ever want to open it up to the world?? I'm beginning to think this more of a popularity move than a money-making move by Apple.

I'm tellin' y'all but y'all ain't listenin'...this is gonna blow up then fade out EXACTLY like the Moto Razr did! It's all relative.

Hmmpf. A two hundred ****ing dollar "next generation" 3G iPhone...with genuine GPS, video conferencing, corporate mail access etc etc etc...for $200????!!! Have y'all lost your ****ing minds? After millions of us paid upwards of $500 for this piece of **** 8 and 16GB first gens??????

That would be a butt-****ing of epic proporations...not to mention that it just doesn't make any sense!!!!

Are you still here!?!?! 😱

Quit your swearing and grow up! Every post I read of yours makes me wish you still had your Moto Razr! 😡

I'm sure your firm warning has Steve-o shaking in his shoes! 🙄

Technology to the masses IS a good thing, if it is too cheap for you, I am sure they will accept however much extra money you want to give them for your new iPhone. 😉

 

[Fonzijr1964]

dumb dumb dumb. Now it will be like the RAZR.

First 3 months "wow you've got one of those"

After that "I've got one too and so does everyone in a 10 mile radius"

 

[pmoeser]

This just doesn't make any ****ing sense!! What kind of country, backwoods-ass business move would it be to allow a carrier to discount a phone by $200 when Apple would still be selling the same freakin' product at FULL RETAIL VALUE in its own freakin' stores??! In that case WHO WOULD EVER BUY THE PHONE FROM AN APPLE STORE unless...the phone is being released unlocked. Even then it still doesn't make any ****ing sense.

That's right. Calm down , breathe...

But I agree. In Australia, we now appear to be having 3 carriers available to offer the iPhone. A company owned store opening and an existing re-seller channel.

Our biggest carrier is now arguing with Apple over an iPhone release (they seem to have issues selling the hottest mobile phone device on the planet because it might be used to buy music from another music store, not their WMA offering)

The way our carriers will do it is:

1. Sell iPhone at full price and stitch us up with a hideously high data plan.

2. Stitch us up with hideously high data plans for iPhones bought on eBay, Apple Store or other locations.

3. Offer the iPhone on a hideously high data plan and hideously high monthly payment plans for the iPhone which will total about $2321 at the end of your contract.

Hey!....

 

[TwinCities Dan]

dumb dumb dumb. Now it will be like the RAZR.

First 3 months "wow you've got one of those"

After that "I've got one too and so does everyone in a 10 mile radius"

Would that be so bad? As a stockholder, I say no. 🙄

 

[Fonzijr1964]

This just doesn't make any ****in' sense!! What kind of country, backwoods-ass business move would it be to allow a carrier to discount a phone by $200 when Apple would still be selling the same freakin' product at FULL RETAIL VALUE in its own freakin' stores??! In that case WHO WOULD EVER BUY THE PHONE FROM AN APPLE STORE unless...the phone is being released unlocked. Even then it still doesn't make any ****in' sense.

I'm already pissed off at the notion of Apple wanting to "put an iPhone in the hand of every mobile user," so if all this subsidy ******** comes to pass that's exactly what's gonna happen.

Contrary to popular belief and the way I figure it, for all these years Apple and its operating systems have been spared from being a target of hackers and cyber criminals NOT because their fortresses are so secure and impenetrable but because they've occupied a nice, cozy li'l niche at the top of the food chain.

So if they now wanna cheapen this top-of-the-line piece o' technology so drastically that every Tom, Dick and Harry can get their hands on one and broaden its availability to every corner of the earth -- then I sincerely truly hope that those same Toms and Dicks and Harrys get inside the OS and wreak havoc with viruses and hacks and all sorts of nasty ****...in much the same way they've done to Microsoft and Windows. Afterall it's damn near a fully functioning version of the Mac operating system in this li'l son of a b*tch (I'm using my iPhone right now to type this message LOL)!!!

Why would you ever want to open it up to the world?? I'm beginning to think this is more of a popularity move than a money-making move by Apple.

I'm tellin' y'all but y'all ain't listenin'...this is gonna blow up then fade out EXACTLY like the Moto Razr did! It's all relative.

Hmmpf. A two hundred ****in dollar "next generation" 3G iPhone...with genuine GPS, video conferencing, corporate mail access etc etc etc...for $200????!!! Have y'all lost your ****in minds? After millions of us paid upwards of $500 for this piece of **** 8 and 16GB first gens??????

That would be a butt-****ing of epic proporations...not to mention that it just doesn't make any sense!!!!

Monday's gonna be very very interesting.

I just wrote the same thing. I got the RAZR the first day it was out for $500 or what ever it was than it dropped to be a $50 piece of junk every one had

 

[Fonzijr1964]

Would that be so bad? As a stockholder, I say no. 🙄

yes it would because how much profit could be made doing that?

 

[gianly1985]

dumb dumb dumb. Now it will be like the RAZR.

First 3 months "wow you've got one of those"

After that "I've got one too and so does everyone in a 10 mile radius"

The difference is that RAZR is (was) ONLY Fashion/Design/Status/"Wow_you've_got_it", whereas iphone is SUBSTANCE so who cares that it isn't a unique and rare item...you just have to enjoy it on your own....

 

[Fonzijr1964]

The difference is that RAZR is (was) ONLY Fashion/Design/Status/"Wow_you've_got_it", whereas iphone is SUBSTANCE so who cares that it isn't a unique and rare item...you just have to enjoy it on your own....

call me sick but i am one of those people who gets the newest best thing and wants to be like "hey i got it" and get the response "hey let me c that/wow/OMG"