AT&T iPhone 3G Pricing Details:

[marksman]

I don't think they were trying to trick me, but I think they were just misinformed. I really don't want to argue with them, but I can't wait 2 years to get a iPhone 4G or whatever is out then. I also have 5 ppl on my family plan, 3 of which want a 3G iphone. ATT can make so much money from us, so I don't understand what else they want from us. Is anyone on the same boat as I am??

Odds are they were trying to trick you. Commissioned sales people tend to be of the mindset to sell now at all cost.

 

[pavvento]

I would love it if you guys could give me what my various options will be when I get to the store. My situation:

I have a single iphone, pay the $59.99 for 450 minutes. I do not want to upgrade or change my situation at all. I want to get a second iphone for a child, the 3G, and get the $5.00 text plan for 200 messages. I use over 300 minutes a month consistantly, but have only had to go into my roll over minutes one time; Close occasionally, but only once did I dip. My son uses his cell phone a lot. He is on Verizon as is everyone else here so it does not use minutes for the most part. That, of course, will change. But he leaves for school soon in an AT & T dominated area so the billable minutes will drop back somewhat.

I have a couple of different scenarios written down. I would appreciate if anyone has the time, to offer their best solutions to my needs.

I would recommend porting his number over before the iPhone comes out, or waiting a few days after it comes out so that you don't get an overwhelmed rep who screws you because they don't know any better.

You can have a normal family plan http://www.wireless.att.com:80/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/family-cell-phone-plans.jsp

You would chose one of those plans, and then add $35 to it/month for the iPhone data and 200 text messages.

If you are using 300 minutes a month I would give it a shot on their lowest plan, $69.99/month. Before taxes you're looking at $105/month for 700 minutes, unlimited mobile to mobile, unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited data and 200 text on iPhone.

 

[ec51]

No way I am paying an extra $15/mo for the same service -- especially since 3G speeds aren't even guaranteed.

Why should I pay for text messages too? What does 3G have to do with that. Seriously AT&T, do you think it's worth $100 A MONTH, to the average consumer, to have a phone? Please...

The increase really has nothing to do with 3G. The data plan for a Blackberry on At&t is $30 for unlimited data and $20 for unlimited texts, WHICH IS THE SAME FOR THE NEW iPHONE. Everyone thinks that they increased the prices FOR the 3G service, but this is incorrect. They increased, thats it and it brings the iPhone up with the rest of At&t data plans. If you dont want to pay the increased price you have the option of sticking with the original iPhone....

SO STOP COMPLAINING, they could be forcing all of us original iPhone users to add the NEW $30 data plan. Except they are allowing those plans to remain...and even allow new users with old iPhones to still use that plan.

 

[pavvento]

No way I am paying an extra $15/mo for the same service -- especially since 3G speeds aren't even guaranteed.

Why should I pay for text messages too? What does 3G have to do with that. Seriously AT&T, do you think it's worth $100 A MONTH, to the average consumer, to have a phone? Please...

I can't imagine why you would be asked to pay for a service. If you don't want to use text mesages don't get a package.

 

[supmango]

This is absolutely correct.

The iPhone is just NOT receiving special treatment anymore.

The rate plans are the SAME as Blackberries with At&t as far as data and SMS.

The only thing I am still wondering is if you can remove the data plan, b/c I was able to do that with my BB. I have WiFi almost everywhere I am...

eR

I am in the same boat as you, ATT told me know on three seperate occasions. The data plan is required.

 

[supmango]

Don't you have to have the data plan to be able to make calls in a 3G area? Aside from losing visual voicemail. I also would wonder about how the phone turns off the WiFi radio when sleep so any notifications you get (email etc) tend to come over EDGE/UTMS until you actually open the application. Hmm...

You might think so, but no. The 3G data network is supplemental and other networks still exist for making calls (EDGE, TDMA, etc). So the data plan is not required for BB, I am sure there are many others out there who can back us up on this.

 

[natejohnstone@g]

I was really happy when they announced $199/$299 pricing. But then I found out that I wouldn't be eligible because I just upgraded in January and I would have to pay the full price at $399/$499. Now, I have 3 options:

1) don't buy the new iphone. wait till I'm upgrade eligible
2) suck it up and pay $399/$499
3) rage impotently on message boards

What exactly does option #3 get me? NOTHING. That's why I'll just suck it up and pay it -- You know why? Because when I upgraded my phone in January, I knew full well that AT&T was subsidizing my Sony Ericcson for 2 years in order for me to pay only $.01 on it. You never get anything for free. Why do the consumers on this board insist on getting the latest tech for peanuts?

Probably because of the $720 extra you promise to pay AT&T via data plan over 2 years when you sign up for the iPhone. Most people seem to think that a $720 contract is worth an extra $200 stipend, including me.

$200-$300 is probably a typical stipend amount. If you have the $40/month voice plan and get a $200-$300 stipend, it does not seem strange to me to want another $200 stipend when you add $30/month to your bill (data plan).

Double the bill = double the stipend. I don't think a consumer is crazy for wanting that.

AT&T should at least compromise something like "If your total bill (voice plus data) will be $99.99 or higher, you can receive the iPhone at the subsidized price."

 

[pavvento]

With the first iPhone there were a lot of people who had never had data plans before gladly forking over at least $20/month AFTER throwing down $600 for a phone. People who have it now will see the $10-$15 addition as a cost to having better technology. Some won't, and they won't buy it, and that is how consumerism works. Not everyone is going to buy everything. If it makes financial sense they'll do it. My bet is a lot of people will find a way for it to make sense.

 

[closenough]

Why do the consumers on this board insist on getting the latest tech for peanuts?

I have a bag of peanuts. Quick, before I eat them, where do I go to trade it for a new iPhone?

 

[pavvento]

"Why do the consumers on this board insist on getting the latest tech for peanuts?"

Because most people have this sense of entitlement. They feel that either because they have been an Apple fanboy for years or with ATT for years that they somehow should be placed in a special pricing category.

 

[latestmonkey]

Probably because of the $720 extra you promise to pay AT&T via data plan over 2 years when you sign up for the iPhone. Most people seem to think that a $720 contract is worth an extra $200 stipend, including me.

$200-$300 is probably a typical stipend amount. If you have the $40/month voice plan and get a $200-$300 stipend, it does not seem strange to me to want another $200 stipend when you add $30/month to your bill (data plan).

what low margin world do you live in?

 

[IOIIOOO]

You can have a normal family plan http://www.wireless.att.com:80/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/family-cell-phone-plans.jsp

You would chose one of those plans, and then add $35 to it/month for the iPhone data and 200 text messages.

Why are people taking it as a given that you can add a single iPhone 3G data plan ($30) and 200 text message plan ($5) a la carte to the base Family Talk plan? Nowhere in the info that AT&T released today did they indicate anything other than a Family Plan with unlimited data and two phones and pricing starting at $129.99 for 700 minutes and an unlimited text option for the Family Plan at $30.

As much as I'd like to believe that AT&T would be altruistic here, I can easily imagine them saying "sorry, on a Family Plan, your options are only this rate and that text message" rather than mixing and matching.

 

[pavvento]

Why are people taking it as a given that you can add a single iPhone 3G data plan ($30) and 200 text message plan ($5) a la carte to the base Family Talk plan? Nowhere in the info that AT&T released today did they indicate anything other than a Family Plan with unlimited data and two phones and pricing starting at $129.99 for 700 minutes and an unlimited text option for the Family Plan at $30.

As much as I'd like to believe that AT&T would be altruistic here, I can easily imagine them saying "sorry, on a Family Plan, your options are only this rate and that text message" rather than mixing and matching.

Because if you are an existing customer, as long as you have an applicable voice plan you only need to add the iPhone data plan. That's how it was with the first one and that's how it is with this one. When I get a chance I'll find it on their site.

 

[ceuyan]

when is the last day to activate an old iphone to be eligible for the iphone 3G at $199?

 

[IOIIOOO]

"Why do the consumers on this board insist on getting the latest tech for peanuts?"

Because most people have this sense of entitlement. They feel that either because they have been an Apple fanboy for years or with ATT for years that they somehow should be placed in a special pricing category.

I think it has more to do with the fact that while yes, this pricing is in line with AT&Ts other phones, it seems apparent that AT&T overcharges for data across the board. Look at Sprint where you can get unlimited calls, texts, and data for $99. And it's not like AT&T was dominating on their traditional phones before the iPhone came out - their exclusivity has given them the reign to not compete in pricing with the other carriers.

Oh, and the reason why the original iPhone could justify cheaper pricing than the other phones AT&T offers, at least from a consumer perspective, is that the iPhone was not subsidized in any way by AT&T. Every other phone was discounted, sometimes up to a few hundred dollars, in exchange for the two year contract. With the original iPhone, we had no subsidy, but still had the two year contract. From my perspective, that lack of subsidy is offset somewhat by the "cheaper" data plan compared to the other AT&T phones.

What I REALLY don't get, though, are the people on this board who seem to be AT&T justifiers. It's natural for people to want competition and better pricing.

 

[IOIIOOO]

Because if you are an existing customer, as long as you have an applicable voice plan you only need to add the iPhone data plan. That's how it was with the first one and that's how it is with this one. When I get a chance I'll find it on their site.

Please do, because I'm not seeing that anywhere. I see absolutely no reason to assume that just because that's how they did it before, that's how they'll do it again. It doesn't always work that way.

 

[latestmonkey]

What I REALLY don't get, though, are the people on this board who seem to be AT&T justifiers. It's natural for people to want competition and better pricing.

I get that. But some people are acting like AT&T came into their house and stole their wife and raped their tv. Either that or At&T somehow turned into a non-profit overnight and we didn't know about it: "how dare they ask me to pay more!!!"

Look, it's business. And the iphone is also something that is a luxury item. If you don't want it, don't get it. But don't act like AT&T/Apple is all evil for doing something that corporations are set up to do.

 

[ec51]

Please do, because I'm not seeing that anywhere. I see absolutely no reason to assume that just because that's how they did it before, that's how they'll do it again. It doesn't always work that way.

I spoke to at least five or six different reps and they indicated that the new iPhone data can be just added to an existing family plan. Take it for what its worth but, this is how At&t has been working phone upgrades for a long time.

 

[pavvento]

Please do, because I'm not seeing that anywhere. I see absolutely no reason to assume that just because that's how they did it before, that's how they'll do it again. It doesn't always work that way.

ATT is doing one hell of a job confusing people here, and I think that's wrong. A confused customer is a less informed customer which means they are more apt to taking whatever ATT is selling them.

If you go to the iPhone business page (http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/iPhone3G/index.jsp) and click on rate plans, they show you the data add on plans and say "iPhone 3G requires qualified voice and data plans."

Then, scroll to the bottom and click on "View Voice Plans for iPhone 3G" It brings you to a page and on the left it shows business plans, on the right it shows you the regular ATT nation plans.

This is proof (to me at least) that as long as you have one of those qualifying voice plans, you just need to add a data plan.

I don't know if it's written any more clearly on other pages or explanations, but this one looks good enough to me.

 

[macenforcer]

.20¢ is 20 pennies, not 1/5 of a penny. .20c, .20¢, $0.20 is all the same thing.

Wrong!

20¢ is the same as $.20

.20¢ is the same as 1/5th of a penny

so 5 * .20¢ = 1¢ or $.01 or one cent


Make cents?

 

[jayducharme]

It's natural for people to want competition and better pricing.

Hmmm...I wonder if AT&T's plans will be like the price of gas: we're asked to pay what to us seems like outrageously high prices, and then the company backs off on the price just a bit so we feel like we're getting more of a bargain. In the end, we've been pacified and the company still gets to charge more.

I mean, just a few days ago many owners of the 2G iPhone were upset that they would have to pay the same rates as 3G owners. Now it appears AT&T is being a bit more gracious.

 

[goodfellaNW]

So, anyone else confused by this? Under my account > upgrade it states:

"This line is eligible for reduced equipment pricing when you sign up for a new 2-year service agreement. All iPhone purchases require a 2-year service commitment." ... "Upgrade Today"

The screenshot on the homepage states:

"This line is eligible for equipment discount pricing when you sin up for a 2-year service agreement. You can take advantage of our no-commitment pricing option, with the exception of iPhone which requires a 2-year commitment." .... "Upgrade Today"

I have 2 iPhones. One bought the day of launch (6/29/07), and the other a week or so after.

So, seems there are two terms, "equipment discount pricing" and "Reduced equipment pricing". I wonder which is which? equipment discount = $199? reduced equipment = $199? same thing?

To clarify, I emailed AT&T and received a form response, but amazingly, there was an answer in there somewhere. Nothing new, but clarifies that ALL exisiting iPhone users can upgrade for $199/$299, even though the upgrade policy in your account may say otherwise (there are three options it may give you 1- NO, 2-YES, reduced, 3 - YES)

Quote from AT&T
"All existing Apple iPhone customers will be able to upgrade to the new
3G iPhones at the discounted rate of $199 for the 8GB or $299 for the
16GB models. The iPhone will be available in AT&T Company Owned Retail
Stores and Apple stores. We are not taking pre-orders for the phone."

 

[brn2ski00]

Wrong!

20¢ is the same as $.20

.20¢ is the same as 1/5th of a penny

so 5 * .20¢ = 1¢ or $.01 or one cent


Make cents?

Not at all. WTF?

 

[vanwas]

Why are people taking it as a given that you can add a single iPhone 3G data plan ($30) and 200 text message plan ($5) a la carte to the base Family Talk plan? Nowhere in the info that AT&T released today did they indicate anything other than a Family Plan with unlimited data and two phones and pricing starting at $129.99 for 700 minutes and an unlimited text option for the Family Plan at $30.

As much as I'd like to believe that AT&T would be altruistic here, I can easily imagine them saying "sorry, on a Family Plan, your options are only this rate and that text message" rather than mixing and matching.

2nd bullet from the bottom
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iPhone.jsp

"Add a Consumer Data Plan for iPhone 3G to a qualified voice plan for $30 per month"

I also signed up for a family plan two days ago (will be "exchanging" my phone on the 11th, or whenever they get phones in). I was able to get either sms per line. you can do under that FAMILY plans if you sign up and then add options like insurance, SMS, etc., or get the unlimited for the family plan. The family share plans are considered "qualified voice plans"

 

[macenforcer]

Not at all. WTF?

Its amazing how many people don't know how to understand the dollar.

Pay attention to the dollar sign, the cent sign (they are different) and the period. If you got paid $1000 then you are fine but if one week you got a paycheck that looked like this $.1000 you could be in trouble because that is the same as $.1 or $0.1 or 10¢ which means one dime.