Apple to Offer iPhone 3GS Free on Contract?

[dagamer34]

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I may be wrong but I doubt $100 up front is the big barrier to entry for feature phone users. I'd guess it's more the $2000 over 2 years in data fees etc that keeps them from switching.

You'd be surprised what a difference $100 makes. Most people don't think like you and me, where price is only one of many factors in buying a phone. Instead they think "Oooh, $100 phone, that must be ok!"

And then as tech nerds, we all collectively shake our heads...

 

[Ciclismo]

I really feel like at this point there is a super small, if any chance of seeing an upgraded design from the iPhone 4.

I'm sure the Siri stuff is going to be AMAZING, but I'm still hoping for a slight upgrade to the phone. I'll really be a bit surprised if nothing changes.

So getting a dual core processor, twice as much RAM, a better camera and over 200 improvements/additions to the OS is not enough to be considered "a slight upgrade to the phone"?

 

[Adidas Addict]

1: 3GS free on contract? Hell the iPhone 4 has been free on contract for over a year.

2: People that say the 64GB flash is expensive, don't worry the extra size of the iPhone 5 lets them fit in 2x32GB chips.

 

[grapemac]

Oh you still end up paying for it through subsidy. Will Apple still provide updates for the 3GS or will the latest iOS still work on it? 2 year contract is a long time when the phone is already 3 generations behind. So in another year when iOS 6 comes out and drops support for the 3GS and will require a A4/A5/A6 equipped iDevice, the 3Gs will be left behind.

The fact you mention "left behind" makes it clear you don't understand the wide variety of customers there are.

Someone coming from an iPhone or iPhone 3G gets the features from iOS3 or iOS4 that those models didn't get, plus features of iOS5, plus iCloud, plus the hardware improvements of the device itself (video recording, 3MP camera, compass, faster processor, twice the RAM).

Someone coming from a 'dumb phone' gets everything iPhone/iOS brand new. AND for the same price each month they're currently paying for their Pay&Go phone.

That sounds bloody good, no?

Whether Apple provides updates to 3GS beyond iOS5 is inconsequential. It can run iWork, it can use iMessage, it works with iCloud, it can be paired with a bluetooth keyboard, it has AirPlay, it doesn't require another device to sync to... It's a great device/phone/computer even if it remains on iOS5.0 for 2 years.

 

[GorgonPhone]

all this BS news... just give me a new iphone with a 4" screen

 

[Tiger8]

Check it out:

$49.00=iPhone4 with 2 yrs contract(8GB)
$399.00=iPhone4 for purchase-Prepaid services(8GB)

$99.00=iPhone4S-16GB-2yrs contract
$199.00=iPhone4S-32GB-2yrs contract
$299.00=iPhone4S-64GB-2yrs contract

$199.00=iPhone5-16GB-2yrs contract
$299.00=iPhone5-32GB-2yrs contract

Just wait and see!!

Did you copy and paste your post from the other thread? LOL

2 out of your last 4 lines need to go. If Apple offers an 'S' and a '5', no way they would complete at the same price point.

 

[dfnj123]

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The 3GS is free and has been free at Radioshack for the past few months already...

Just saying...

iPhone 4's have been $50 cheaper than all other US retailers at them as well

 

[allmIne]

the sad thing is that this phone is still better than some new released droids....

What's that like? Living in a cave, I mean.

 

[jadot]

Nothing Wrong with that *NT

Nt

 

[usman93]

So whats the point of a low cost iPhone 4?

iPhone 4 should be free.
iPhone 4S should be $99
iPhone 5 should be $199

(With contract)

I DISAGREE

iPhone 4 shud be $49 for 8 Gigs
and the iPhone 5 shud be $199 for 16 gigs
the 3GS i guess can be free, but id rather pay and extra $50 for the iPhone 4 cuz its soo sexy

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all this BS news... just give me a new iphone with a 4" screen

HELL YEAH! apple seriously needs to increase the iPhone and iPod screen size.

The bigger the better- just as long as they dont make it fat

 

[dontwalkhand]

3GS is still a nice device

This is a good idea, the 3GS still has plenty of life left in it, and for free with contract, means less flip phones out in the world....better for my eyes and all

 

[RMo]

Sooo ... if I pay full (unsubsidized) price for the new iPhone, can I get a discounted contract? Please?

 

[gkarris]

My take:

iPhone 3GS, 8Gig: Free at AT&T only

iPhone 4, 8Gig: $99 at Verizon and AT&T

iPhone 4S: $199 - $299 at Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile

iPhone 5 (if not Oct, then in Spring): $299-$399 at Verizon, Sprint, & AT&T (if Spring, by then, we'll have the final on AT&T's acquisition of T-Mobile).

 

[osx11]

People that still buy iPhone 3GS's need to get their finances in order.

If you're going to spend roughly $1000 per year for your phone's contract, why will $150 bucks hold you back from buying a much better phone?

This does't make sense to me.

 

[bushido]

People that still buy iPhone 3GS's need to get their finances in order.

If you're going to spend roughly $1000 per year for your phone's contract, why will $150 bucks hold you back from buying a much better phone?

This does't make sense to me.

the same way people with an income of 400 $ think they can purchase a house

 

[akuma13]

What happened about the news of Apple entering the prepaid market? $399 seems a bit much for a contract free low end iPhone.

 

[Adidas Addict]

the same way people with an income of 400 $ think they can purchase a house

You can easily afford a house on earnings of $400 a day, and quite a nice one at that!

 

[iMcLovin]

so 1 uber outdated phone, one cheap version of the current phone and one hardware bumped version of the current model. Seems to me like a lot of regurgitation of what we´ve all seen too much of over the past 2-3 years.
Do they need that many old phones on the market ? 1 cheaply made iphone 4 should be enough. ...and I wish they could release that 5 everyone is talking about - everyone wants something new, not the iphone 4 design. Even if the 4 is the worlds most sold phone or whatever it is, its still a phone that are a lot less durable than f.ex the 3Gs. I think 80% all my friends have had some problems with the iphone 4 (even my wife had to replace hers), and not to mention the outside antennas and the breakable back glass. Its been too much crap with this model imo to stick around with the exact same design.

 

[monaarts]

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If apple was to do this, iOS market share would have a MAJOR jump! It coul possibly allow apple to start selling more devices/year than Android devices amongst all manufacturers.


- Joe

 

[Adidas Addict]

Sooo ... if I pay full (unsubsidized) price for the new iPhone, can I get a discounted contract? Please?

You can in most countries yes, sim-only contracts are about 30% the price of a contract with a subsidised handset. Unfortunately I don't think this happens much in America.

 

[garylapointe]

People that still buy iPhone 3GS's need to get their finances in order.

If you're going to spend roughly $1000 per year for your phone's contract, why will $150 bucks hold you back from buying a much better phone?

This does't make sense to me.

Exactly, if you want the features of the phone and pay for it's data plan, you'll like it so much more with the faster speed and better cameras and retina display.

Just the cost to get you something more than a 3gs gets you a flash and a 720p HD camera.

With image stabilization and a few more mega-pixels, I'll stop carrying my canon pocket camera.

 

[macnisse]

Sweet old 3GS, it will be interesting to see how it handles iOS 5. Any thoughts?

 

[monaarts]

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People that still buy iPhone 3GS's need to get their finances in order.

If you're going to spend roughly $1000 per year for your phone's contract, why will $150 bucks hold you back from buying a much better phone?

This does't make sense to me.

Seriously, this is just a stupid comment to make. You don't get a discount on your plan if you own a phone out-right. What you said is like me telling you that people who buy BMW 3-series need to get their finances in order.. Why would they let 10% of the value stop them from getting a 5-series!?

 

[toddybody]

Why not? It would boost new comers to iOS/iTunes...and make future customers for all associated sales (iTunes/New iPhone...etc).

 

[commander.data]

Does Apple plan on supporting the iPhone 3GS with OS updates for longer than expected? The 2nd gen models for example didn't even make it through the full lifespan of iOS 4.x topping out at 4.2.1 vs. the current 4.3.5. Continuing to sell the iPhone 3GS means that Apple will have to continue to support it through all iOS 5.x iterations, with no early cut-off, until iOS 6 and the next iPhone is released.