Despite what many of you believe, 3GS is probably one of the most durable and well made in terms of quality and appearance iPhones ever (except the first iphone which was gorgeous). I own a 32GB model and I think Apple shouldn't sell only the 8GB model. 8 gigs are inadequate for such a device!
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AT&T Seeing "Tremendous Demand" for Free iPhone 3GS
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it is darn good, if apple cut some slack and get the iPhone 4 8GB to $0 for two year contract and $375 for unlocked iPhone 4. then that is something to talk about ...
it is all about money folks ... (for apple and of course for ATT, be careful how you spend your money!)
Elitist, $100-$200 dollars is a huge extra monthly expense for many. Saving is not always possible either. The 3gs is a great opportunity for those that have been wanting a Apple phone and couldn't afford one before. Be happy for them sheesh
Obviously those people havent realized that by the time they can get a new phone this thing will be 5 years old. Thats pretty terrible.
That's what happens when one can't watch a single TV show without being bombarded with Apple commercials.
People like my mother are perfect for a device like this. Facebook, text measaging, phone calls, and sudoku. There's definitely a market for the 3GS. Why would someone fork out $99 for stuff like FaceTime, more GBs, and faster processor if they DON'T need it??
Some of us without a smartphone and not bought into the contract system still want something more than just an iPod Touch. I remarked in an earlier post that I had to make a cellphone call from a parking lot or the value of GPS. The lack of a real update this time around is another kick to people looking to buy an iPod Touch. Keep in mind this is not taking into account the used or refurbished iPhone market.
While my income is not that high, my budgeting has allowed me to enjoy things like a multiple computers, e-IPS/IPS monitors, high speed internet, and a HDTV.
I still manage to put money into savings and the occasional outside of budget additional income does let me get luxuries like the smartphone I just purchased. (Frankly, I still strongly consider a cellphone a luxury.) I did not want to get locked into a contract so researching hardware and no-contract plans. I understood the outrageous costs hardware could reach upfront as well.
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Because it is an indictment on a macro level people's lack of comprehension of finances and that "free" is NOT free. Those people remain locked in contracts and have no opportunity to shop around for better service. And with people locked in, carriers like AT&T do not the incentive to invest in infrastructure. The vicious cycle continues and everyone collectively must suffer because of people not comprehending the implications of "free."
Yes! One person who gets it!
WRONG!
Many people are on tight budgets these days. These budgets may very well include enough money for a smart phone contract and if they can do that, that is great. That doesn't mean that they have extra money laying around when it is time to get a new smart phone.
I don't understand how you can tell people to get their priorities straight when you have no idea what these peoples situations are. They may very well have their budget perfect, paying for all the kids expenses, food, bills, etc, having all the important stuff covered.. and just enough for that smartphone contract.. but not the extra for the expensive phone.
Someone needs to knock you off your high horse.
Nothing is free. Its the low upfront cost thats attractive. I'm sure most assume they will have to sign a contract anyways. I don't like contracts either fwiw
What if these people are perfectly happy with at&t and a two year contract? Maybe people are not as stupid as you think.
Agreed many of us have it so to the wire $50 can wack your budget for months. Some people cant grasp that but its true.
'Free' stuff is a scourge on society
I also like the fact that everyone here is talking about how stupid it is to get the free phone because you have to pay for service. How about this. Every single person that has att and verizon for their iphone is an idiot because there is a ridiculous price difference between those two and sprint. Stupid isiots getting their 4s's and 4 and 3gs on the most expensive plans in the country...
I also like the fact that everyone here is talking about how stupid it is to get the free phone because you have to pay for service. How about this. Every single person that has att and verizon for their iphone is an idiot because there is a ridiculous price difference between those two and sprint. Stupid isiots getting their 4s's and 4 and 3gs on the most expensive plans in the country...
Free really is free in the present
Yes you sign a contract. Yes it costs above $1300 for two years but that is not really the idea is it. Free now is free now.
Future money is not worth as much as present money and a large committment broken up in small chunks has less impact than writing a check or handing someone a pile of cash. Its all about cash-flow
The model works
Yes you sign a contract. Yes it costs above $1300 for two years but that is not really the idea is it. Free now is free now.
Future money is not worth as much as present money and a large committment broken up in small chunks has less impact than writing a check or handing someone a pile of cash. Its all about cash-flow
The model works
AT&T said new customers are joining over this iphone than any other. That means we don't know what their previous situation was regarding contracts, so we must assume that free versus $49 or $99 was the only thing stopping them from getting a contract with AT&T. For all we know they are new cell phone users or were pre-paid before. This indicates a lack of understanding of the total cost of the phone over the life of the contract.
Moreover, the likelihood that someone is ready/able to pay a $60+ month cell phone bill but unable to pay $49 at point of purchase seems very thin.
I don't see anyone being elitist. If anything I wish EVERYONE had access to an iPhone! I just don't understand why someone couldn't stomach buying a $99 iPhone4 but has no problem paying AT&T $80+ a month, month after month. If $99 is that big of a purchase, why not get a $30 a month prepaid plan instead?
...
I own an HTC desire HD...bought it about 5 months ago and it was $500 off contract but I pay $12 a month for service since my unlimited data in canada is $10 a month and I pay like $2 for texts since I don't use many and incoming are free. I used to pay $65 a month on Rogers for the same service since my plan was way better but that was all I used anyway (I use petro canada mobility which uses the rogers network anyway). At this rate of savings I will have paid for my phone in savings in 10 months, and if you take into account the phone would have been $99 even on a three year term I will pay it off in 8 months (at which time I can resell and get a new phone if I want)
I own an HTC desire HD...bought it about 5 months ago and it was $500 off contract but I pay $12 a month for service since my unlimited data in canada is $10 a month and I pay like $2 for texts since I don't use many and incoming are free. I used to pay $65 a month on Rogers for the same service since my plan was way better but that was all I used anyway (I use petro canada mobility which uses the rogers network anyway). At this rate of savings I will have paid for my phone in savings in 10 months, and if you take into account the phone would have been $99 even on a three year term I will pay it off in 8 months (at which time I can resell and get a new phone if I want)
I am getting a 4s on Sprint, and I don't want to defend AT&T, but:
$1320 - $375 = $945
$945 / 24 = $39.375 per month
So really, out of the $55 you are paying $15.625 to 'pay off' for the phone (assuming a 0 percent interest), and service is $39.375. Again, not to defend them, but 400 minutes + nights and weekends + 200 MB of data is not too bad for that.
You can't say that. Different people different priorities. Some prefer to stick with generation old technology, I know someone at work went out of their way to get a 3Gs as he didn't feel like 'beta testing' the iPhone 4. To each his own.
And btw, I don't know where you live, but have you heard of 'sign and drive'? same concept... so yes, people can get 'free' car from a dealer, provided they sign a contract...
I don't understand all this subsidized/unsubsidized business.
My plan costs the same whether I paid $649 for an unlocked phone, or $199 for a 16GB 4S, or $0 for a 3GS.
Does everyone else live in America, or just me?
A great point. Yes the plan costs the same regardless of getting a subsidized phone or not and THAT IS A CRIME. So yes, you may as well get a phone subsidy. But alot of people (myself included) would pay $649 upfront if it meant their AT&T plan was $30 a month less. But nooooo.... as long as people here in the US keep buying into the contracts the carriers have no incentive to offer this.
I could have chosen a number of comments to reply to but I chose this one because it's one of the most insulting and ignorant comments in the thread.
You fail to consider a couple of things. One, some people simply can't afford a shiny new 4s or even 4 like maybe you and I. Their primary goal is to have a decent device that they can use as a PHONE first and foremost. Some of these people may not even have a house phone and rely on the mobile phone to stay in touch with family work and friends.
Apple has always had a great name and reputation when it comes to iPhones. Regardless of whether it's a 3, 4, 4S. The fact of the matter is that while a bit older the 3GS was and still is a great phone. What better phone to get when you truly can't afford to buy a new one.
Secondly, I would be willing to bet that there are a number of parents buying the 3GS for their young teenagers. Would you buy a $200, $300, or $400 for a thirteen year old? We live in a time when a phone is fundamentally a necessity and I know if my daughter or son were young teens today I would want them to have a phone so I can get in touch with them any time I wanted, or for them to be able to reach home if they needed to. What better to get than the 3GS?
And I don't understand all the comments about the cost of the service having any correlation to what phone someone chooses. Would it be any different or better to purchase a $50 Android phone? You're still paying the same amount of money for service regardless of what phone to get.
Lastly, there are people who truly don't care about the latest greatest. I have a friend who gets whatever is free when it's time to get a new phone. And usually he keeps his phones from three to four years. Not everyone who chooses the free iPhone cares a lick about apps or the ecosystem or any of the things that I do or a lot of you do. Stop being so damn critical when you can't see the faces of those who are buying this phone, or any phone for that matter.