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AT&T iPhone 3G Pricing Details:
- Thread starter iphone529
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Well, as I said, that's AT&T's fault - not his. They are the ones that said ".20 cents per message" not "$.20 per message" That's a difference of 1/100 and hence his confusion.
Settle down there buddy.
So if I gave you money off a product, and you signed a 2yr agreement to be my customer as a stipulation of said money off with the knowledge that you cannot get money off a future product until X-amount of time has passed, you think I should eat some $$$ so that you can get a new product, thus not abiding by your end of the agreement?
Yes I do. Why? Because of the MANDATORY $30/month data plan.
You just don't get my point--what you wrote here is how OTHER phones are treated by AT&T (and everyone else), but the iPhone is different, even according to AT&T. Even the non-subsidized price requires a 2-year contract and a MANDATORY $30/month data plan which NO OTHER PHONE requires you to have. The iPhone is not, repeat NOT like every other phone. The subsidy/contract arguments are not relevant.
In order to entice me to upgrade to an iPhone with a $30/month data plan, AT&T should give me the subsidized price on the iPhone and ADD 2-years to my existing contract if I am not eligible for an upgrade.
That would be fair. The current setup is not fair at all.
Another alternative would be a higher-priced iPhone that did not require the $30/month data plan.
I am NOT buying an iPhone3G on launch day, or perhaps at all. Honestly, this is Apple's fault, not AT&Ts. Had Steve in his WWDC address where they unveiled the iPhone talked about the subsidy issue, then I would never have expected to get a 16GB iPhone at $299, and would not be upset now and would be in line next Friday. But for some reason when Steve said "Everyone gets the iPhone3G at that $199 price" made me believe that "everyone" would include me.
Since I'm not a part of "everyone," I won't be getting an iPhone. This is Steve's loss, for my part, not AT&T's.
Family Plan solution..maybe ( for me )
I've been with AT&T for awhile...no current iPhones. I have a family plan with 2 lines; 1 for me and 1 for wife. My line is eligible in Feb 09. My wife's is eligible in Nov 09.
I'm going to add a new line to our current Family Plan so that I can get a new iPhone 3g 16GB for 299. Then I think I'm just going to pay the 399 to upgrade my wife's line. Once my current line ends its term in Feb, I'll just drop it. Since the current rules for an extra line are 10 bucks a line, I figure I can just hang onto that monthly charge until Feb. I'm not sure how all the pricing will work though with the way they are arranging the iphone plans; I have to study that a bit more. Hopefully it will just work out fine, but I'm sure there will be some hiccups.
If that doesn't work out, I'll still just choose to upgrade the wife's line and that way my line will be eligible sooner. Of course I'll still get the iPhone.
.
I've been with AT&T for awhile...no current iPhones. I have a family plan with 2 lines; 1 for me and 1 for wife. My line is eligible in Feb 09. My wife's is eligible in Nov 09.
I'm going to add a new line to our current Family Plan so that I can get a new iPhone 3g 16GB for 299. Then I think I'm just going to pay the 399 to upgrade my wife's line. Once my current line ends its term in Feb, I'll just drop it. Since the current rules for an extra line are 10 bucks a line, I figure I can just hang onto that monthly charge until Feb. I'm not sure how all the pricing will work though with the way they are arranging the iphone plans; I have to study that a bit more. Hopefully it will just work out fine, but I'm sure there will be some hiccups.
If that doesn't work out, I'll still just choose to upgrade the wife's line and that way my line will be eligible sooner. Of course I'll still get the iPhone.
.Middle ground?
It's fascinating to see all the competing posts with one side complaining that they deserve the lowest price on the iPhone because they're AT&T customers and they should get the price that others will or that Steve promised it would only be $199 (even though they already got a discount on some kit) and the other side shouting, "Shut up, you got your cheap phone when you signed up!"
I'm an AT&T customer who is not eligible for the cheap upgrade price. I signed up a couple of months ago because my Verizon contract was up, I needed to make sure the service worked at my home (it was weak previously, but seems fine now) and because my lovely wife wanted a Curve for the 20 texts she sends a month (no data plan, though). I expected to buy an unsubsidized phone at around $500, as did many of us, I think.
Why didn't they offer a better price? What I think a lot of folks are missing in this discussion is that AT&T is not in the business of keeping customers. The business they're in is locking customers in for 2 years with cheap phones and then watching them leave when competing carriers pull them in with sweet deals and new gadgets. They aren't after loyalty. AT&T would probably argue that they wouldn't get any from the public who wants new and cheap every couple years. It's the model for the industry in the States and they choose to go along.
I'm not thrilled with AT&T and their pricing (I think a $100 premium would have been more appropriate), but it's not my call. My call is whether to buy the phone (I probably will) and when. When for me will be a week or two after the launch. I'll still get my phone and, if enough people do the same and blow their launch, AT&T will get to feel a little dissatisfaction too.
It's fascinating to see all the competing posts with one side complaining that they deserve the lowest price on the iPhone because they're AT&T customers and they should get the price that others will or that Steve promised it would only be $199 (even though they already got a discount on some kit) and the other side shouting, "Shut up, you got your cheap phone when you signed up!"
I'm an AT&T customer who is not eligible for the cheap upgrade price. I signed up a couple of months ago because my Verizon contract was up, I needed to make sure the service worked at my home (it was weak previously, but seems fine now) and because my lovely wife wanted a Curve for the 20 texts she sends a month (no data plan, though). I expected to buy an unsubsidized phone at around $500, as did many of us, I think.
Why didn't they offer a better price? What I think a lot of folks are missing in this discussion is that AT&T is not in the business of keeping customers. The business they're in is locking customers in for 2 years with cheap phones and then watching them leave when competing carriers pull them in with sweet deals and new gadgets. They aren't after loyalty. AT&T would probably argue that they wouldn't get any from the public who wants new and cheap every couple years. It's the model for the industry in the States and they choose to go along.
I'm not thrilled with AT&T and their pricing (I think a $100 premium would have been more appropriate), but it's not my call. My call is whether to buy the phone (I probably will) and when. When for me will be a week or two after the launch. I'll still get my phone and, if enough people do the same and blow their launch, AT&T will get to feel a little dissatisfaction too.
All I want to know is how my corporate discount will work.
I'm eligible for 25% on voice and data so theoretically I should be:
69.99*.75+5 = 57.50/mo (no discount on text)
Needless to say if that's the case I will not be joining the torch and pitchfork mob that is forming here. Although if they axe the discount on the data (or on everything) I may be joining you.
I'm eligible for 25% on voice and data so theoretically I should be:
69.99*.75+5 = 57.50/mo (no discount on text)
Needless to say if that's the case I will not be joining the torch and pitchfork mob that is forming here. Although if they axe the discount on the data (or on everything) I may be joining you.
I just cancelled my iPhone data plan. Im moving to compact cell phone and ipod touch. It's a shame this couldn't have been done right. Imagine how many phones apple would cell if they allowed you to have an iPhone 3G without carrying a data plan.
I guess I just felt it was rude to come in and make a comment relating to something (ridiculous) that has been discussed ad nauseum in the thread. Many times. That's all.
I just talked to the sweetest lady at AT & T. So nice, yet I think so ill informed. She told me the $20 data package was what the new 3G could be contracted at, which included 200 txt. We could pick a family voice plan then each pay the $20 fee and he'd get 3G and I would keep the Edge package. I am thinking she had no idea what she was telling me. Right? SHe was reading it from the papers she had been given b/c I was asking so many questions. But still, as great as it sounds, I don't think she was right.
I am still thinking 2 individual plans are going to be cheaper.
I am still thinking 2 individual plans are going to be cheaper.
Thanks, I've also just been going back and forth with my company's at&t rep via email and he said that even though the $129.99 price looks like one large charge, it's actually broken down behind the scenes as $69.99 (voice) + $30 (data) + $30 (data). Thus my corp discount would only apply to the $69.99 portion of the $129.99 family plan price
bummer
Are you currently getting 25% off your voice and data? Just wondering since I just talked to my corporate rep and he said my 23% discount only applies to the voice portion of whatever plan I choose.
C'mon at&t, get your facts straight
Corporate Discounts will work
Just chatted with AT&T rep via Live Chat and she confirmed that discounts will be given when I asked which ones she said, just look at the corporate page, I said, "pretty smart huh Iphone is not listed, did not you know?" and she said it will be just like the same discounts as per any other phone but only for service and data, not actual handset. I said ok. I forgot to ask her how come I can't just buy a phone with a service online so I don't have to stand in line, it is ridiculous why not let people buy online, they can do the same thing with contract and activation and just send you the activated phone, why make people go to stupid store and stay in stupid lines
Just chatted with AT&T rep via Live Chat and she confirmed that discounts will be given when I asked which ones she said, just look at the corporate page, I said, "pretty smart huh Iphone is not listed, did not you know?" and she said it will be just like the same discounts as per any other phone but only for service and data, not actual handset. I said ok. I forgot to ask her how come I can't just buy a phone with a service online so I don't have to stand in line, it is ridiculous why not let people buy online, they can do the same thing with contract and activation and just send you the activated phone, why make people go to stupid store and stay in stupid lines
True, looking now I should've used the search in thread tool. I see it's come up already a couple of times. I don't think it's ridiculous, however, and there's no way I'd read 28 pages of comments to find out if it had been discussed.
No worries. We were all new once. (Sorry I called your burning issue "ridiculous.")
Hmm, this is where Tommy Boy and a tackhammer would come in handy...
I guess you don't get my point. You do realize the $30/month is what AT&T charges for all PDA/Smartphones right? The iPhone is, repeat, IS like every other smartphone in regards to intense data usage. So of COURSE if you want data, it's "mandatory". If you don't like it, do not buy an iPhone or one step further, do not use AT&T. Hell, if you don't like the 3G pricing scheme, buy a used/refurbished 1st gen iPhone and pay $20/month for your data. Sheesh.
BTW, the first iPhone while not subsidized, also required you to have a 2yr agreement with AT&T.
No.
Are you currently getting 25% off your voice and data? Just wondering since I just talked to my corporate rep and he said my 23% discount only applies to the voice portion of whatever plan I choose.
C'mon at&t, get your facts straight
Chill. It's a company-to-company, discount-to-discount thing.
Since you two are trying to think of ways to get an old iPhone contract in order to qualify for subsidized pricing on the new one, I assume each of you currently has an AT&T contract with a subsidized phone (that's not an iPhone, obviously). You would have to terminate that contract, and pay the ETF, to get a contract for an old iPhone there's no way around it.
Thanks for clarifying what i was trying to ask.
i know it's a little sneaky but is it doable?
Are you currently getting 25% off your voice and data? Just wondering since I just talked to my corporate rep and he said my 23% discount only applies to the voice portion of whatever plan I choose.
C'mon at&t, get your facts straight
I'm currently with Sprint but my company's premier site shows discounts on voice and data. I believe that is different from company to company. Mine makes large flying things.
Will Iphone will be available for purchase on line
Just echatted with Premier service, and she said the info whether the new iphone will be sold online has not been released yet. She said to check the Premier site before the release to see if the phones are available online.
Just echatted with Premier service, and she said the info whether the new iphone will be sold online has not been released yet. She said to check the Premier site before the release to see if the phones are available online.
Confusion
I think the biggest confusion for me was the lack of clarity on existing iPhone owners etc.
At first I was like, so do we lose the plan we have and get one of these newer more expensive ones with the new SMS ish to go with it....
or do we get to simply keep all of our existing plan setup and simply increase the iPhone tax from 20 to 30.
Thank the maker the latter is the case. These new plans/prices are only for completely new folks. At least this is what the ATT store manager said.
I think the biggest confusion for me was the lack of clarity on existing iPhone owners etc.
At first I was like, so do we lose the plan we have and get one of these newer more expensive ones with the new SMS ish to go with it....
or do we get to simply keep all of our existing plan setup and simply increase the iPhone tax from 20 to 30.
Thank the maker the latter is the case. These new plans/prices are only for completely new folks. At least this is what the ATT store manager said.
A little too too much $$$
I just got off the phone with Billy Crabtree a sales associate from AT&T. I'm an existing customer who switched to AT&T from Sprint last year in the hopes of getting an iPhone. When I switched the iPhone was announced, but yet unavailable.
Now that iPhone 3G is coming out I'm thinking that it's time to finally get one. I have found that my AT&T account is not available for an upgrade which is understandable as I'm on a 24month commitment with a $175 cancellation fee.
What I can't understand is what Billy tells me the fees per month for the iPhone are.
Here's an example:
For my voice service I spend about $85/month for TWO phones.
Billy tells me that in addition to the purchase of a $400 iPhone I must add a data plan that will raise my bill by 39.99 a month. That's $124.99/month! PLUS a $400 iPhone.
That's unacceptable.
There's more. Billy told me that EVERY existing AT&T customer will have to add at least 39.99 a month to their bill to upgrade to an iPhone. This fee is for the DATA plan that AT&T needs to charge.
In addition he said that it's not much better for NEW AT&T customers who should be expected to pay a minumim of $93/month per line for a voice/data plan for the new iPhone.
Does anyone else think these prices are a little extreme!?!
I originally thought that AT&T is too busy wooing new customers rather than paying attention to keeping their existing customers, but I'm not so sure they want either...
I just got off the phone with Billy Crabtree a sales associate from AT&T. I'm an existing customer who switched to AT&T from Sprint last year in the hopes of getting an iPhone. When I switched the iPhone was announced, but yet unavailable.
Now that iPhone 3G is coming out I'm thinking that it's time to finally get one. I have found that my AT&T account is not available for an upgrade which is understandable as I'm on a 24month commitment with a $175 cancellation fee.
What I can't understand is what Billy tells me the fees per month for the iPhone are.
Here's an example:
For my voice service I spend about $85/month for TWO phones.
Billy tells me that in addition to the purchase of a $400 iPhone I must add a data plan that will raise my bill by 39.99 a month. That's $124.99/month! PLUS a $400 iPhone.
That's unacceptable.
There's more. Billy told me that EVERY existing AT&T customer will have to add at least 39.99 a month to their bill to upgrade to an iPhone. This fee is for the DATA plan that AT&T needs to charge.
In addition he said that it's not much better for NEW AT&T customers who should be expected to pay a minumim of $93/month per line for a voice/data plan for the new iPhone.
Does anyone else think these prices are a little extreme!?!
I originally thought that AT&T is too busy wooing new customers rather than paying attention to keeping their existing customers, but I'm not so sure they want either...
question:
If i buy a 1st gen iPhone and I'm not an ATT customer, if I sign up do I have to get a 2 year contract?
If i buy a 1st gen iPhone and I'm not an ATT customer, if I sign up do I have to get a 2 year contract?