Apple to Allow iPhone Subsidies?

[5teve]

Subsidised mobile phones are common place in the UK mobile phone market. Most often then not, you can pick up the latest mobile phone handset free with a certain contract. There are some phones, though, that you do have to pay a certain amount for (smartphones, etc.) but nothing as high as £269.

If the 2G iPhone can come in at a subsidised price of £99 with an 18-month contract tied to it in the UK with the handful of new features for it that are being widely speculated, this thing will kick up a vast media frenzy and definitely be this year's top-selling product -- not to mention a serious threat to other companies with mobile phones in the same market.

Either way, we'll see what happens on Monday.

 

[Zachster7]

I talked to an ATT rep today who said that because I was a new customer when I signed up last year at the iphone launch, I purchased the iphone at full retail, so if the new iphones are subsidized I will be eligible for the reduced cost because I never received a subsidy to begin with... hope this makes sense...

Long time lurker first time poster....hey everyone!

 

[zombiedictator]

If you think you can't upgrade or aren't sure - log into your AT&T account online. I bought an iPhone on launch day and it says I'm eligible for an upgrade.

I switched from Verizon to AT&T because of the iPhone, which I bought on 6/30/07 and registered a few days later. I logged into my AT&T account and it says I'm eligible for an upgrade on 3/2/09. This doesn't really make sense. Usually they bribe you into signing a 2-year contract with a subsidized phone. I paid $600 for an 8GB and now they're telling me "tough crap"?

I don't know. I hope I'm not left in the dust with a subsidization. If they are, screw em. I got screwed on the $200 price drop and I won't allow that to happen again.

I talked to an ATT rep today who said that because I was a new customer when I signed up last year at the iphone launch, I purchased the iphone at full retail, so if the new iphones are subsidized I will be eligible for the reduced cost because I never received a subsidy to begin with... hope this makes sense...

Long time lurker first time poster....hey everyone!

Did you check the AT&T site and see whether or not you are eligible?

I wonder if maybe the site is wrong and just assumes you got a subsidy when you signed the contract. But if that's the case, it's a pain in the butt if I have to go to an AT&T store Monday when I have an Apple store a mile from my house.

 

[jawporta]

Old customers

T-Mobile lets you extend your contract when upgrading your phone. So we should all have a year left, if they give us a deal for signing on another two years that would be cool.

What about existing iPhone/AT&T customers?

EDIT: But then again, when you upgrade any other phone outside your selected upgrade time period - you usually end up paying full retail anyway. So after revisiting, I don't believe there will be any type of subsidy for existing iPhone/AT&T customers. Ah! - the price of bleeding edge technology...

 

[brywalker]

I talked to an ATT rep today who said that because I was a new customer when I signed up last year at the iphone launch, I purchased the iphone at full retail, so if the new iphones are subsidized I will be eligible for the reduced cost because I never received a subsidy to begin with... hope this makes sense...

Long time lurker first time poster....hey everyone!

Makes sense, however, the employees (at store level) haven't gotten any info at all about the new iPhone.

I know this for fact.

 

[S600MBUSA]

It's funny how some people attack Apple for putting out expensive products, and then when there is a possibility that they reduce the price on something, people complain!

To those of us who aren't concerned with some nouveau riche, intellectually weak elitism, an outstanding and improved product for less money is a good thing. This is the natural evolution of things. The technology improves, and prices come down. Rational people rejoice.

If you're so obsessed about being fawned over by the very "plebs" for whom you want Apple's products to too expensive, so that you can feel superior, you need to grow up and attempt to find some other way to distinguish yourself other than conspicuous consumption.

 

[biketire]

The $200 rebate would be good if you wanted the new iPhone and an iPod nano... I would like a "free" iPod nano!

why would you need an ipod nano when you have an iphone? lol

 

[Kwill]

Excuse my ignorance, but does "subsidies" mean (if it's true) that iPhone will be available on the Verizon network? That would rule.

No. It means AT&T can pay (or subsidize) part of the upfront cost - expecting to recoup it over the 2-yr contract.

 

[Kwill]

why would you need an ipod nano when you have an iphone? lol

An old Nano remains in my car, which is controlled via DICE from the dash/steering wheel.
My iPhone remains on my person with BT enabled for handsfree calling. Not having to plug/unplug iPhone keeps me from forgetting it and allows playlists to continue from where they left off after returning to my vehicle.

 

[Syrus28]

To existing iPhone owners... There is no way there would be a "trade-in" program or any sort of discount for buying the 1st one. Why? Lets look.

1.) Apple never does trade-ins. When a updated product comes out, you pay the full price just like everyone else.

2.) Cell Phone companies never do trade-ins (unless a product is defected). Why would they want your "old" iPhone? They will make you pay the price everyone else is paying.

On the positive side, existing iPhone owners are available for the subsidized price, since you never got it before.

 

[cleric]

Hurray!

If the new iPhone is indeed unlocked as sold by Apple for $400 or even $500, its a bargain rather than paying more with AT&T (Deathstar company).

Right now I have 2 - 16GB iPhones with T-Mobile and my bill is less than $81/month including taxes. I get faster Edge data rates at 120 KB/s, 1000 minutes anytime, and weekends + evenings free.

Faster than who I get a 180KB/s in Minneapolis on ATT. My brother has a T-Mobile iPhone and gets speeds similar to you.

Are you using the t-zones data plan?

As for 3g on T-mobile its a joke only going to be voice at first.

Now regarding the subsidy I suspect if its true what people are saying that ATT has given out visa debit cards before then thats what we can expect to get our subsidy on after registering.

 

[rlmccormick]

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

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

Monday's gonna be very very interesting.

I think it's entirely possible for ATT to sell the iPhone at $200 under contract. They sell the Blackberry Curve for $99 after all. I'm not sure how the manufacturing cost of the new Curve compares to the iPhone but the difference probably isn't more than $100.

 

[Rocketman]

It's funny how some people attack Apple for putting out expensive products, and then when there is a possibility that they reduce the price on something, people complain!

Early adopter
Low Price
Fully featured

You can't have all three.

Apple originally charged high prices and full boat for services, then when they reduced the hardware cost, early adopters whined, so they were rebated $100 product credit. That was a gift.

Now the device will still be high priced as compared to smart phones but will have the traditional discount for commiting to high priced recurring service contracts.

That is the way it is now.

Some day soon we will have internet wireless everywhere and VOIP everywhere and the double pay for phone and data will also be eliminated. But not today. The networks are still deploying and need the capital input.

Soon.

Rocketman

 

[Mackan]

So at the WWDC, will Steve Jobs say:

"We now allow subsidies on the iPhone. Before we were too greedy, and just wanted to rip you off, but now we understand that we will sell more iPhones if it becomes cheaper. We will still continue to try to rip you off whenever possible, though."?

Will he also say:

"We tried to make the iPhone as exclusive as possible, with revenue sharing from our carrier partner, but now we understand it will not work in all countries. We will still continue to do it wherever possible, though."?

Somone at WWDC yells:

"Hey Steve, that is all good.. no one here would ever criticize you, but what about selling the iPhone unlocked, everywhere, for a reasonable price, with warranty? Since the iPhone is so revolutionary, almost godly, it will sell like gasoline!"

Steve: "Uh... Boom!"

 

[louisvillesown]

New Contracts written with ATT void the old contract and begin a new term. What Louisvillesown is talking about is within the contract however, because no subsidies were originally recieved by the buyer. (LOUISVILLESOWN) am I right on this?

For the most part I believe. It would be ridiculous by ATT if they do not allow the rebate when one is within contract with a current iPhone. I am pretty confident that they will allow it however. The only thing I am not sure about is what they will do with the length of your contract. It will be the same thing as the last phone with signing a new 2 year contract. Only thing is will they start it on the purchase of the new iPhone or back track it to the iPhone 1 purchase. Only reason I wonder this, is because they did that with the release of the 16 gig iPhone. Those who were just upgrading from an 8 gig were able to have there contract prorated back to the date of the 8 gig purchase.

 

[strangelogic]

ATT simply the worst...

I switched from Verizon to AT&T because of the iPhone, which I bought on 6/30/07 and registered a few days later. I logged into my AT&T account and it says I'm eligible for an upgrade on 3/2/09. This doesn't really make sense. Usually they bribe you into signing a 2-year contract with a subsidized phone. I paid $600 for an 8GB and now they're telling me "tough crap"?
...

Did you check the AT&T site and see whether or not you are eligible?

I wonder if maybe the site is wrong and just assumes you got a subsidy when you signed the contract. But if that's the case, it's a pain in the butt if I have to go to an AT&T store Monday when I have an Apple store a mile from my house.

You must have changed something on 3/2/2008? I bought my iphone on day one and AT&T says I'll be eligible for an upgrade in November 2008 -- but their site is wrong because the date it is showing is the date I got my phone number changed, and made no other changes to my contract - so their computer probably re-set the clock just 'because'...

I just hope the new one is available in large numbers quickly...

 

[Intarweb]

I find it HYSTERICAL that idiots are asking/want a rebate for a one year old cell phone. Have you lost your mind? Get a grip on reality. You should be thankful you got a $100 rebate last year when you CHOSE to get a new electronic gadget.

 

[corywoolf]

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

Verizon operates on a CDMA network, the iPhone is for GSM networks only at this time. So probably not until Apple's 5 year exclusivity contract with at&t expires.

 

[imwoblin]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

I find it HYSTERICAL that idiots are asking/want a rebate for a one year old cell phone. Have you lost your mind? Get a grip on reality. You should be thankful you got a $100 rebate last year when you CHOSE to get a new electronic gadget.

Us idiots aren't asking for a rebate for a one year old phone, we are asking for a rebate on a NEW 3g iPhone with a new two year contract.

 

[j763]

Frankly, I'm dismayed...

There's far too little speculation here as to when the new iPhone will start shipping. I expect better of MR forum users.

I couldn't care less about videoconferencing and other such nonsense, just 3G (GPS would be nice) and "...and they're available immediately".

 

[JasonK]

For the most part I believe. It would be ridiculous by ATT if they do not allow the rebate when one is within contract with a current iPhone. I am pretty confident that they will allow it however. The only thing I am not sure about is what they will do with the length of your contract. It will be the same thing as the last phone with signing a new 2 year contract. Only thing is will they start it on the purchase of the new iPhone or back track it to the iPhone 1 purchase. Only reason I wonder this, is because they did that with the release of the 16 gig iPhone. Those who were just upgrading from an 8 gig were able to have there contract prorated back to the date of the 8 gig purchase.

Thanks. I appresciate your response. People in here forget they are talking to people, not machines. Name calling people idiots is rude. No one comes on here to be picked on... play nice! New iphone is coming!!!

 

[JBaker122586]

god I hope ebay buyers dont hear about this before mine sells in 20 hours

My biggest fear is mine selling tomorrow, the person not paying right away, seeing the new iPhone announcement, and deciding not to pay at all.

 

[TwinCities Dan]

Some day soon we will have internet wireless everywhere and VOIP everywhere and the double pay for phone and data will also be eliminated. But not today. The networks are still deploying and need the capital input.

I share this vision...

I can hear the ads:

"Beginning April 2012, all cellphones will turn wifi, don't worry we will give you a coupon for a conversion box"

 

[hiimamac]

My phone was malfunctioning a couple of weeks back and when Apple said they would replace it I asked if I could upgrade to the 16 GB and they told me it was only direct replacements...

Sucks, I know...

Ahhhhm iPhone, iPhone, iPhone, iPhone, alas, so much for the PRO CREATIVE user.

Macbook = could never run a game but could run motion and OPEN_GL went as high as 171% with Leopard (see barefeats.com), then Apple crippled it and its down to 70%, same with mini mac. Crush those (creatives) that made Apple who they are. But what do they care, the bread and butter is iPod/iPhone. One would think you could use a iMac (like in days past) for design work, not so, not with the glossy screen and the terrible firewire (Texas Instruments only in Mac Pro and MBP) and lots of trouble for video audio users - so one has to wonder, as they grow larger, when they will let go of their fear of the "pro" using a cheap machine to get the job done.

See here for AUDIO problems and NON TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FIREWIRE, which actually had changed in the MBP for a little while, then they went back to T.I.

http://www.gearspace.com/board/musi...ets-can-troublesome-okt-07-till-feb-08-a.html


So if apple is going to offer rebates, lets hope they offer more carriers and that the iPhone can be like a normal phone, i.e., no more NIGHTMARE genius bar appointments, phone stops working, you bring it in, swap out the SIM card and get a new phone, standard policy on all phones for 1 year.

And what's up with Insurance? Normally new phones to market have about a 6 month waiting period then you can get insurance, people do make mistakes - time to make the iPhone like a real phone, real warranty, insurance, swap sim card.

Hopefully, some other things this Monday besides the iPhone and while I think it will be announced, I don't know if it will be available on Monday, or even next week at all.

 

[twoodcc]

this sounds good to me. hopefully i'll qualify to get the phone at the lower price