AT&T's iPhone 3G Data Plan and No Longer Revenue Sharing

[ziggyonice]

...$39.99/month for voice (450 anytime minutes/5000 night and weekends)

Are there any voice plans that I can get that have less than 450 minutes? I don't talk that much...

 

[jrbdmb]

do you wind your phone up, too?

Only when needed ...

 

[cWeems]

Read the press release- ATT's 3G speeds are quoted as up to 1.4mbps! Mobile broadband my ars*

Here in the UK 3Mobile's HSDPA is up to 3.6mbps

o2, T-Mobile and Orange offer similar speed on their networks

And Vodafone is available up to 7.2mbps in London and selected cities/airports

we have phones that are capable of those speeds, lol we arent THAT far behind.... at&t tilt (HTC kaiser)

 

[bioshocker]

Don't forget you are getting a full GPS that people can do original funky apps with, and turn the camera into a video camera with the SDK, and apps to give you MMS. The reality is, if you can't step back and say this is the best phone deal on the market, with indeterminate upside functionality with the SDK, you are missing the picture.

...again $30 is a 3G STEAL. That is the tradeoff that Apple and ATT made...Apple gets no revs, ATT gives it you to entice you into 3G.

Has it occurred to people who need to save that they will be able to AIM, Yahoo IM, GTalk, Jabber, Gadu-gadu, or whatever for free? So give up SMS if the $5 to $20 will kill you.

yeah, the new iphone is no doubt impressive and the SDK will be a huge deal for both the original and new version. I'm just saying I don't use the data on mines such that I would get the most benefit out of 3G vs. EDGE (despite having to pay more for it). that's the cool this about all of this hype.. at the end it's a personal decision. you don't have to put down $$$ for the latest thing if you don't want to.

man... this would all be so easy if the iphone wasn't the hottest device out there

 

[Sweetbike40]

...that of the several, many posts I have seen here, few if any have bothered to look at what 3G data costs from ATT for any other device. ATT has even made a statement about how significantly negatively it will affect their margins and earnings for 2008 and 2009, but that they perceive it as an investment to gain subscribers.

This is about the best possible news from my perspective. I already pay for unlimited SMS for 3 ATT phones (2 of which are 1st gen iPhones) and a $10 increase for data is positively exciting. I was worriedly anticipating $50 to $60 for unlimited 3G. Look around to see what other providers as well as ATT charge for 3G before you whine.

Further, this seems to be about the best possible 3G radio configuration of any current handset, further improving the data rates.

Honestly, i never looked into another data plan for a 3G phone. I'm flipping over something i don't know much about. I just wasn't prepared to add an additional $15 a month + $20 a month for an iPhone. $20 was enough for me and that included text messages. 10 + another 5 for 200 messages... i can't justify. I just took my Touch off of ebay. I'm happy with what i can get with that without a monthly fee of close to $100 a month.

 

[cWeems]

Are there any voice plans that I can get that have less than 450 minutes? I don't talk that much...

not unless you're a senior citizen... $29.99 for 250mins

 

[sananda]

I can live with the extra $10 a month for the 3G data plan. Assuming you have 3G coverage in your area, you are actually getting something tangible for the extra money - faster data service. The $5 premium on top of that for basic SMS service is utterly tacky on AT&T's part, though. You are paying extra for something that was bundled with the previous data plan. Total bush league on AT&T's part.

are you paying $10 extra for 3G? or are you just no longer getting special iphone plans which reflected that you were paying full price for the phone? these new plans are just the normal plans all other at&t users pay, aren't they?

 

[compuguy1088]

Yes, he did. I'm sure he intended to transform the phone market just like Apple did with the music market. With the phone market, Apple wanted to emphasize the hardware and minimize the service (i.e. carriers). I think AT&T went a long with it figuring they earn a lot of subscribers out of the deal. While the iPhone was certainly innovative and will change the market on that front. I don't think they are moving as many units as Apple had hoped.

iPhones are still a very small segment of the mobile phone industry and I think Apple was forced to give in on quite a few points to try to maintain traction in the market. I think most other markets that Apple is trying to grow into have learned a lot from how Apple dominated the music market and are much more cautious. It seems the carriers have won this round - standard activation practices, standard plans and rates, no portion of the service fees going to Apple. AT&T was definitely able to exert much more influence in this round of their deal.

My guess would be that Apple is shifting gears in the mobile phone market, no longer focusing on hardware profits, as they have always done in the computer market and extended into the music market. This time they seem to be focusing on creating the largest install/user-base that they can with the iPhone and they seem to be leveraging the new AppStore to provide additional revenue - 30% of all iPhone software sales isn't all that bad, especially if you can get a huge user-base on the iPhone. They want to own the platform - sounds reminiscent of a company Apple fans typically dislike.

You definitely hit the nail on the head!

 

[MattSeven]

Is there anyone out there like me who WILL buy the new iPhone but WON'T buy the data plan?

I live in an area that doesn't have 3G (and won't ever), but I have numerous wi-fi opportunities. I'm looking forward to the applications. To give you an idea how much I like the iphone for its apps -- my home doesn't even get any cell phone signal at all. I'd be wifi only at home.

I'm certain personal organization software has a LOT of potential on the iPhone and I don't need it to sync everywhere instantaneously all day. Several times a day (when connecting to wifi) is all I need.

 

[cWeems]

are you paying $10 extra for 3G? or are you just no longer getting special iphone plans which reflected that you were paying full price for the phone? these new plans are just the normal plans all other at&t users pay, aren't they?

yes all the plans are standard accross the board for all PDA devices, 3G or not, the fact that the iPhone in the first place was only $20 was a surprise.

 

[sananda]

Read the press release- ATT's 3G speeds are quoted as up to 1.4mbps! Mobile broadband my ars*

Here in the UK 3Mobile's HSDPA is up to 3.6mbps

o2, T-Mobile and Orange offer similar speed on their networks

And Vodafone is available up to 7.2mbps in London and selected cities/airports

yeah, well o2 have been capping at 128kbps until recently.

 

[D4F]

LOL I'm laughing like crazy reading all the whiners here.
They are same as those that go to McDonalds and order two BigMacs and... a Diet Coke.
What a bunch of spoiled and retarded kids.
Beyond any logical explanation.
USA you have a major problem.

 

[Garissimo]

[...]
Now we have 199.00 3G iPhone and 69.99 voice and unlimited 3G data plan for 24 month contract, so... 69.99 x 24 = 1,679.76 plus 199.00 = $1,878.76 for 8GB 3G iPhone and 24 month voice unlimited 3G data plan from AT&T.

OR A DIFFERENCE OF.... $40.00 (over the life of the 24 month contract about $1.67 increase per month! And it's for 3G capabilities! Ooh, that's going to break the bank!).

Add in $5 a month for the basic SMS package (previously included in the 2G data plan for no fee) That makes for a difference of $160 over the life of the contract.

The only thing... this is what the iPhone first Generation specs should have been. Wheres are the rumors about a front facing camera for video conferencing or iChat and an upgraded camera and whatever else was on peoples wish list since this phone first came out.

Carrying over the camera from the first gen. phone was a big disappointment for me. I would have paid extra for a higher end iPhone with a better camera.

Does anyone think a mid year update of this iPhone will come out as a second phone for the market before the Christmas holiday buying season? Or will we have to wait until mid June 2009 to get the improvements and additions?

Good questions. I could maybe see a 32Gig model, but wouldn't expect any other hardware changes until WWDC 2009 or later.

 

[cWeems]

LOL I'm laughing like crazy reading all the whiners here.
They are same as those that go to McDonalds and order two BigMacs and... a Diet Coke.
What a bunch of spoiled and retarded kids.
Beyond any logical explanation.
USA you have a major problem.

couldnt agree more.

 

[kkachurak]

I read 'till page 10 and gave up.

Would you bitch at your ISP provider for charging more for hi-speed internet over dial-up?

Seriously. Would you expect an ISP to give away hi-speed internet at the same price as dial-up?

I'm not thrilled about the price increase, the implied subsidization (or lack thereof, I truly don't care) or the lack of activation at home, but gosh... $10 more a month for a faster connection kind of makes sense to me. However unfortunate.

 

[ziggyonice]

Is there anyone out there like me who WILL buy the new iPhone but WON'T buy the data plan?

So you're using the iPhone for just the phone and iPod features? It'd be cheaper to get a free phone from the carrier of your choice. In addition, if you accidently open up Safari, and connect to the web, you'll be getting charged 10¢ a kilobyte.

 

[mrtune]

yes all the plans are standard accross the board for all PDA devices, 3G or not, the fact that the iPhone in the first place was only $20 was a surprise.

Yup, absolutely. Apparently nobody went on att's site to check out the pricing on the other available smartphones before they started their whining session.

The iphone is no longer special. It is now subsidized with standard voice and data fees, just like every other att phone.

 

[cWeems]

So you're using the iPhone for just the phone and iPod features? It'd be cheaper to get a free phone from the carrier of your choice. In addition, if you accidently open up Safari, and connect to the web, you'll be getting charged 10¢ a kilobyte.

1 cent/kb, but still gets expensive at a few hundred kb per page

 

[Qubits]

If there is anyone with an intuition for speculation on this thread, could they tell me what this means for G2 iPhones via Ebay, and associated plans available?

 

[autrefois]

Is it currently possible to get just a voice plan and use the Internet features of the iPhone at home/Wifi spots? If so, hopefully this will be possible under the new plans, also.

If the $39.99 voice plan is only 450 mins, then I think I'd want the next step up for minutes more than being able to use 3G anywhere (since nearly everywhere I go there's Wifi anyway). The next voice plan up will likely be $59.99, so with a data plan and tax that would be $100+ a month, which is a little steep...

EDIT: Finally found a site that indicates that you at least used to be able to do voice only. Good to know it may be an option. It wouldn't be my top choice to have an iPhone without the data plan, but then again paying $100 a month for phone service isn't my top choice, either.

 

[MattSeven]

So you're using the iPhone for just the phone and iPod features? It'd be cheaper to get a free phone from the carrier of your choice. In addition, if you accidently open up Safari, and connect to the web, you'll be getting charged 10¢ a kilobyte.

Over my own in-home wireless connection?

You sure?


Really?

 

[Cougarcat]

So you're using the iPhone for just the phone and iPod features? It'd be cheaper to get a free phone from the carrier of your choice. In addition, if you accidently open up Safari, and connect to the web, you'll be getting charged 10¢ a kilobyte.

I want to do the same thing as MattSeven because:

1. I want an iPod and phone in 1 device
2. You can install an app that will block data
3. I wouldn't use 3G/Edge to justify the $30

 

[Mr Maui]

Let me see if I got this straight...

Old iPhone 599.00, wait 200.00 price drop...

so old iPhone 399.00 plus 59.99 voice and unlimited 2.5g EDGE data plan for 24 month contract, so... 59.99 x 24 = 1,439.76 (not taking taxes into any consideration in my calculations) so, 1,439.76 plus 399.00 = $1,838.76 for 8GB iPhone and 24 month voice unlimited data plan from AT&T.

Now we have 199.00 3G iPhone and 69.99 voice and unlimited 3G data plan for 24 month contract, so... 69.99 x 24 = 1,679.76 plus 199.00 = $1,878.76 for 8GB 3G iPhone and 24 month voice unlimited 3G data plan from AT&T.

OR A DIFFERENCE OF.... $40.00 (over the life of the 24 month contract about $1.67 increase per month! And it's for 3G capabilities! Ooh, that's going to break the bank!).

The only thing... this is what the iPhone first Generation specs should have been. Wheres are the rumors about a front facing camera for video conferencing or iChat and an upgraded camera and whatever else was on peoples wish list since this phone first came out.

Does anyone think a mid year update of this iPhone will come out as a second phone for the market before the Christmas holiday buying season? Or will we have to wait until mid June 2009 to get the improvements and additions?

And that black case that those said was the back of the "iPhone" and was fake because it was all black and glossy and too plastic looking and tapered with a bulge.... Well now that the iPhone 3G is here, it's back sure does look a lot like that pic of the glossy plastic back all in black and tapered with a bulge that people said "Can't be!" But I could be wrong...

Already posted similar not with these calculations (albeit shorter) concerning the $1.67 per month. Anyone who can't afford that, CAN'T afford an iPhone in the first place. It's like the person who buys a Hummer or a Lamborghini and then complains about $4 gas.

 

[jayray]

you guys are seriously gonna get all hyped up over $10 a month extra... The blackberry unlimited data plan is $35 a month. you get a $200 cheaper phone, with 3G, and over the time of the contract pay $40 more for a 3G iPhone, big deal

I'm 'hyped up' over $10 a month . . . that is $240 over the life of the contract. Regardless of who pays for this (SS, Daddy), this hurts. Apple is trying to pull one over on us. Low blow. Cheaper my behind.

 

[czachorski]

I never complained about it not having 3G in the first place but since we don't have 3G at my house anyway why should I have to pay for it?

Do you have wifi at your house? I suspect most will not use 3G at their house, but will use their home wifi. Your points seems rather thin......

Stop saying $10 - this is now a $15 increase since we have learned that our 200 free text messages are gone. $360 in AT&T's pocket for nothing - add that to the price of a $199 iPhone and you'll see that I'd rather have just paid 399 for it up front!

Nothing - except for access to a faster network. This word - nothing - I do not think it means what you think it means.....