AT&T iPhone 3G Pricing Details:

[GutBomb]

Actually the new phone does cost more. You have to compare the original non-subsidized price to the new non-subsidized price.

The new 'low' price of the iPhone3G is a function of AT&T giving you a 24 month loan to cover the other few hundred dollars of the price.

why do you "have" to? besides, SJ said it's more affordable, not "costs less."

You can't pay $125,000 for a house up front because it's not affordable, but you can pay $125,000 over time for a house because it is affordable. It costs the same, it is simply more affordable.

 

[_Refurbished_]

He made the phone more affordable. Anything after that it's all AT&T. Apple doesn't get any money from the monthly plans anymore.

Stop blaming Jobs and Apple for the higher cost of the phone over the long haul.

How much is an unsubsidized iPhone that doesn't require ATT? It's not a dime cheaper. Apple has more to do with the contract than you think. They closely worked with the companies to get here. It's not like they had no discussion whatsoever with them.

In order to get the "Magical" $199 price, you have to sign up for a carrier's contract. It would be like buying a 42" LCD TV @ $400, but Sony requires that you sign up for 2 years of Comcast's most expensive service. Might be a decent deal, but that doesn't mean that LCD's have dropped in price. The money is going to a different place.

Essentially, what people have to realize is the iPhone costs a "little bit" more to own now that we have gone to 3G. Over the course of two years, you will be paying a bit more money than you paid for the original iPhone, with no sub. IMO, it's not that bad a deal. I expected to pay 3G prices AND have the iPhone be $399 or $499. I wasn't expecting them to be subbed initially. It's not an awful deal, it simply wasn't handled properly.

The only issue I'm having is how Apple handled the situation and the hilariously false commercials they are airing. Jobs made it a point to show that garbage TWO times in the keynote. Shame on you.

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

Anyone else think "we" all pay too much for cell phones?

Couldn't agree more. I think we are all paying too much in general for communications. Look at the totals that people pay for phone/internet/TV, it's crazy. I keep wanting to dump cable TV, but then Comcast will jack up the price of my internet to near the cost of cable+internet so I keep it around. Admittedly I do a of 'communicating' with my phone(s) so that's a cost I haven't figured out a way to reduce yet :/

 

[jrcsh6]

so does anyone if this is possible? to just add the iphone data plan to your existing plan even if you dont have an iphone so you can lie and say you currently own an iphone.

i'm with this person! any idea? if so i'm gonna borrow a friends and activate otherwise, forget at&t, buy an unlocked 16gb on ebay or craigslist for about $300

there's no reason to go on about at&t like anyone's suprised. they are a phone company, ripping people off is what they do. hidden fee's, b.s. terms, the text thing is no shocker.

 

[Digital Skunk]

So, now that the numbers are fully revealed I can see now that to move from my standard iPhone to an iPhone 3G it is going to cost me an extra $15 / month for services and by the time you add on fees I'll expect my monthly bill to go from $70/month to about $85 to $90/month. The ultimate question is - is it worth it? Still trying to decide.

Seriously, it's worth it if you want the device.... especially since you are already on the AT&T network.

For users that are with other companies, with cheaper and somewhat better services it may not be, and in many cases they may be loosing a lot more money than $15 a month.

For me, my bill will go from $70/month to $130/month or more. A $60 increase isn't worth the only feature that sets the iPhone apart from the others: Mobile Me syncing and iTunes syncing.

p.s. And with that extra $60 a month, I could buy a 3G card for my MBP and really get the best of the broadband in my area.

 

[Freedomflyer]

@GutBomb - THANK YOU for explaining that. People do not understand that is the point of a Lease or something similar: it makes it affordable OVER TIME and not at the moment of purchase. The only decision left is whether to pay a few dollars more/month. Over time YES it will cost more, but if you take it as you go (just like anything, sports, business, work) then it's a lot easier to manage.
Still no word on how to switch over from GoPhone to iPhone ATT account and keep my number!?!?!!?

 

[lazyrighteye]

And then do what? Go with Verizon? Verizon's data plans are MORE EXPENSIVE than ATT Yes, if the iPhone were on Verizon, it would be more expensive, just like Blackberrys are more expensive on Verizon!
God people, get over the 15 dollars a month, this pricing is the same thing blackberry users have been paying for years!!!

How far are we from Apple as service provider?
In my mind, that's when the iPhone platform really takes off.

 

[queshy]

How much are the hidden fees with ATT (i.e. system access fee, 911, etc.)?

 

[avigalante]

Anyone else think "we" all pay too much for cell phones?

I certainly agree; it's price gouging at it's finest. The ascent of mobile phones have crippled users into subpar network and customer service at best.

With regards to the announcement, I am amazed at how many negatives this story received in relation to the 1G iPhone (and it's only 1:30PM EST); see below:

1G iPhone news story on MacRumors:

2G iPhone news story on MacRumors:

 

[slackpacker]

Right, but if you enjoy photography then after the initial new-purchase high quickly wears off you'll enjoy photography just as much with your fancy lens as you would without it. Your photographs may not turn out as good technically, but you would enjoy it just as much with or without the fancy lens.

p.s. This isn't economics, it's sociology. I'm not a sociologist but I am interested in the human condition. So when I hear of important study results about people's happiness and our future's sustainability, I take notice.

I'll wait for the govenment to tell me I am spending to much.

 

[Surely]

Actually the new phone does cost more. You have to compare the original non-subsidized price to the new non-subsidized price.

The new 'low' price of the iPhone3G is a function of AT&T giving you a 24 month loan to cover the other few hundred dollars of the price.

Agreed.

$399 + ($20 x 24 months) = $879

compared to:

$199 + ($30 x 24 months) = $919

or, to include the now not-included 200 text messages:

$199 + ($35 x 24 months) = $1039

or you can look at it this way:

Price of 1st gen iPhone: $399

Price of subsidized 2nd gen iPhone: $199 + ($10 x 24 months) = $439

However, the new iPhone does have more features (3G, GPS), so that may justify the increased price.

However, Apple typically prices upgraded hardware at the same price as the previous version, so this does not fall within the typical pattern of Apple pricing.

Also, no one is forcing anyone to buy this phone and sign up for this plan, so they can charge whatever the hell they want. This is a luxury item, and is priced as such. If you don't like it, don't buy it.

 

[CKohkah]

Am I the only one who is relatively pleased with these prices?

I pay 50 on my family plan at the moment and 40 for my data and text messaging for a grand total of 90.00 and 9.99 for my wife's number.

My wife is going with TMobile, so It will just be myself on the AT&T account, so when I change it over on 3G day, I'll be paying 69.99 for my voice and data plan and 20 for my unlimited text, totaling 89.99

The same price I was paying before with the 2G iPhone.


I'm cool with that.

 

[Enuratique]

To people bringing up Sprint's pricing

Sprint has to be that cheap to entice customers to switch to their network! Sprint has hemorrhaged the most customers lately. With the cell market saturated the way it is now, it's not about signing up new customers who don't have a cell phone as it is convincing consumers with an existing plan to switch.

The biggest loser in the wireless wars is Sprint, the No. 3 mobile operator. Sprint has already said it expects to lose 337,000 net postpaid customers in the third quarter, putting its losses in that category at more than 1.03 million over the past five quarters.

Source

If Sprint had the iPhone exclusivity deal, I wouldn't expect them to offer such plans with the iPhone.

 

[Xiph0s]

Official rate plans for the new iphone have been released and no text messages are included.

ALL Existing customers will be charged a $18 upgrade fee.

*Source*

Update 11:15A.M. from Corporate Representative:

If your a existing customer with a existing plan you will either replace or add on a iphone data plan for $30/month. However you will be required to have a CURRENT AT&T plan to be eligible for the $30/data add on rate.

Are the prices above including the 30 dollar mandatory 3G price for the IPhone?

Thanks
Marc

 

[CKohkah]

Are the prices above including the 30 dollar mandatory 3G price for the IPhone?

Thanks
Marc

Yes, The unlimited 3G data is included in those prices.

 

[3kids]

How much are the hidden fees with ATT (i.e. system access fee, 911, etc.)?

I have honestly not had any surprise charges since I got my iphone last year. Being a skeptical person I fully expected some, but all has been fine. I have never been more than any other month.

 

[knelto]

The only thing that's changed between the original iPhone and the 3G iPhone is it's classification. The first iPhone had cheaper data because it was using EDGE. And while the original "came" with 200 texts, it technically didn't. The MediaNet plan is $15 for other cheap phones and $5 for 200 texts, which equals $20 (see picture). Now since the iPhone 3G uses 3G, it's classified as a PDA phone, which means data is $30 rather than $15. This time around they didn't include texts in the total data cost, so it shows it as $5 "extra" but it's really been $5 all along. i put up a picture of the Tilt to show it's no different from any PDA phone plan. Whether or not you were able to get just the internet without texts on the original iPhone, I don't know but in terms of ATT pricing it makes sense.

And I agree paying extra for texts sucks, but it's no different from any other phone on ATT.

 

[Digital Skunk]

How far are we from Apple as service provider?
In my mind, that's when the iPhone platform really takes off.

Agreed.

Sprint has to be that cheap to entice customers to switch to their network!

It doesn't change the fact that they are the cheapest and offer better service in some areas and have had their 3G networks rolled out long before AT&T, and offer phone insurance while AT&T just tells you to f*** off.

 

[aristobrat]

Hmm, so the equivalent of my $30 Sprint Sero plan would be $90 (actually, I get more minutes, so it's not quite a fair comparison).

Have you looked at what Sprint offers new SERO customers?

If you select a PDA phone, the only SERO plan option available is $99/month, which includes unlimited everything.

So be careful next time you upgrade your phone. If you have to resign a contract, I'm guessing you're going to have to kiss your $30/month plan bye-bye.

 

[ec51]

i'm with this person! any idea? if so i'm gonna borrow a friends and activate otherwise, forget at&t, buy an unlocked 16gb on ebay or craigslist for about $300

there's no reason to go on about at&t like anyone's suprised. they are a phone company, ripping people off is what they do. hidden fee's, b.s. terms, the text thing is no shocker.

Good luck trying to find an unlocked 16gb iPhone (1st Gen) on eBay for $300, they are all around $700 right now...

 

[Xiph0s]

Agreed.



It doesn't change the fact that they are the cheapest and offer better service in some areas and have had their 3G networks rolled out long before AT&T, and offer phone insurance while AT&T just tells you to f*** off.

17" MacBook Pro w/Nehalem; Dual 500GB HDDs; Dual 3.0 GHz proc; Dual FW800 ports; WiFi & 3G; multi-touch trackpad...SOON

Nehalem? I beg to differ, you my friend are deeply confused lol.

 

[gkarris]

So, in essence, they've raised the data $10 per month and the texting $5?

Right now I'm paying

20 for data
10 for text (i think, whatever the 1500 one is)

I'd have to pay

30 for data
15 for text



??

I think you have the older $10/month 1000 text plan, which they got rid of, it's 200 or 1500...

It's sort of like Satellite TV - you have to get the upper package with too much stuff to get the stuff you want.

Thanks, AT&T...

 

[HLdan]

The phone costs more, whether you pay now...or pay later....it's still more expensive than a 1st Gen iPhone. That's the only thing we need to get in our heads.



I'm going to get a 3G iPhone, but I'm disappointed how Apple handled the iPhone this year. I expect this stuff from ATT, but I don't like how Apple is trying going along with shady business tactics and trying to fool new customers into thinking the iPhone is cheaper to obtain and operate.

To be honest this world is about "upfront costs" "WHAT DO I HAVE TO PAY TODAY", and most people don't give a rats behind about costs in the long run. The same goes for when you buy a home, the initial fixed interest rate for 5 years is all anyone is interested in and then they will cross that bridge later when the interest rate hikes.

You have to think logically about this, yes Apple is making it seem like the lower price on the iPhone is a deal but for most people that have limited funds upfront it is a deal.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Nehalem? I beg to differ, you my friend are deeply confused lol.

This has nothing to do with the thread and I am sure no one knows what you are talking about.

 

[imacericg]

The chart confuses me. I currently have the 1400 family plan (1 iPhone + non-Phone) and it comes to $125 per month after taxes.

I plan on buying the iPhone 3G and giving my iPhone to my wife. If I want the same plan, how much am I look it?