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

[KaiMac]

iPhone 3G will Never Be Sold Online

Check this.....it will never be available for pre-order or sale online. Talk about a major step back for ATTpple.

http://iphone.foxnews.com/story/0/365347-That-Cheaper-iPhone-Will-Cost-You-More.html

Way to get worked over by ATT Steve!

 

[Shannighan]

Sorry if this has been asked, but is there any chance of getting a 3G iPhone, but only with a voice plan & 200 texts? I don't need data badly enough to pay $30 a month.

that would be stupid, you could only use phone, iPod, sms

 

[Axl Rose]

Currently i use helio and i have unlimited texts voice data,basically everything for 100 bucks,how much would that cost on att

 

[jones14]

that would be stupid, you could only use phone, iPod, sms

How is that stupid? I would still have wi-fi, I live in a hotspot-dense area and it would be an unnecessary cost to have data, especially considering there is no 3G coverage. I currently have a Blackberry Pearl with wi-fi and no data and I have no complaints.

Think before you speak.

 

[Tankgunk]

I don't know about you, but I've made my battle plan (cheapest option):

Option A:

• Purchase iPhone as a "gift" or something as to not sign upon purchase ($199).
• Suffer "penalty" for not signing a contract (???).
• Purchase GoPhone ($10).
• Unlock iPhone and swap SIM.

(Total Cost: $209 + penalty)

Option B:

• Purchase iPhone with a contract ($199).
• Keep service for one month ($70).
• Terminate contract and pay fee ($175).
• Purchase GoPhone ($10).
• Unlock iPhone and swap SIM.

(Total Cost: $454)

Resulting plan:
$20/month for data + $0.25/minute prepaid

Which works, because I would normally use only a few minutes of voice a week, but will love having data. And yes, I'm willing to pay $454 for my iPhone 3G, but here's hoping the penalty option turns out cheaper. As to why unlock the phone just to use AT&T, it's because their plan for data is crazy expensive.

 

[Yr Blues]

How is that stupid? I would still have wi-fi, I live in a hotspot-dense area and it would be an unnecessary cost to have data, especially considering there is no 3G coverage. I currently have a Blackberry Pearl with wi-fi and no data and I have no complaints.

Think before you speak.

Booyah! Say it, brother. Jobs came on stage to lie about making the iPhone cheaper. That's how we get so many people living outside their means. It's almost like usury on lending. Anyway, Apple is getting bad press on Yahoo! News now, and I'm sure AT&T will change their rates amidst bad publicity.

 

[behrmon]

How is that stupid? I would still have wi-fi, I live in a hotspot-dense area and it would be an unnecessary cost to have data, especially considering there is no 3G coverage. I currently have a Blackberry Pearl with wi-fi and no data and I have no complaints.

Think before you speak.

Ditto, I would like to purchase now and most likely add the data later. What is wrong with having it for what it is w/o data?

 

[Tankgunk]

This works the same as any other US cell phone plan. Plans are higher in the US than some other countries because phones are subsidized. It's the way that us idiots (or US idiots) do lots of things. Buy a boat for $2000! What a great price! Then pay the rest back with huge interest over the rest of your life! Apple tried to change the system for us by selling us the phone and giving us cheaper plans, but people didn't buy the phone because it was too expensive out front. So now they're doing what the majority of people without an iPhone wanted, selling it cheaper. If you look at it, the rates are pretty much the same as normal smartphone rates from AT&T, because that's what they are. Normal rates. And when it's all over, wouldn't you pay $40 more for the new features? I'd pay that much for the GPS alone.

The only thing I have to gripe about is the fact that the iPhone isn't put with the other smartphones in AT&T's rates. I'd love to see options like GoPhone and data only. That's where it isn't fair, they left these options out to get more money from us.

 

[iRonn]

Apple tried to change the system for us by selling us the phone and giving us cheaper plans, but people didn't buy the phone because it was too expensive out front.

Who said people never bought it because the phone was too expensive. I bought my iPod when it was $400 and millions of other people did too. I wouldn't blink twice about buying the iPhone if it wasn't so expensive to have the plan with a reasonable amount of texts. Now it just went up $10-$20. F**k ATT.

 

[samab]

This works the same as any other US cell phone plan. Plans are higher in the US than some other countries because phones are subsidized. It's the way that us idiots (or US idiots) do lots of things.

Apple tried to change the system for us by selling us the phone and giving us cheaper plans, but people didn't buy the phone because it was too expensive out front.

That's the most absurd thing I ever heard.

Look at the European launch of the first generation iphone --- people were laughing at the price because they were used to seeing zero euro N-series phones.

Look at the European iphone plans --- much higher price than the US iphone plans.

 

[GreylagGoose]

compromise AT&T?

I agree with the previous posts. More options, customizability would be an awesome compromise on AT&T's part since the major complaint is this $80 (after taxes) slap-in-the face plan that you either have to live with or go home. I like many others, am not interested, nor prepared to pay $30 on top of the voice plan fee for 24/7 internet access just so i can surf (the entire 15 minutes) i'm between wi-fi spots. My current phone plan is about to expire and i was really looking forward to just having this great device (internet ready, ipod etc). Best option for all (except maybe a slight change in the financial plans of AT&T as far as investment and return timing) would be for AT&T to offer the options of voice plan only $40, data plan only - $30, or both $70. Is there anything that can be done about this you think? complaints? calls? rioting in the streets?

Seriously though, this is not more affordable, not with the options we're being given. Have a heart AT&T, how about taking 1 for the consumers?

G-Goose

 

[Axl Rose]

Currently i use helio and i have unlimited texts voice data,basically everything for 100 bucks,how much would that cost on att

anyone

 

[Tankgunk]

That's the most absurd thing I ever heard.

Look at the European launch of the first generation iphone --- people were laughing at the price because they were used to seeing zero euro N-series phones.

Look at the European iphone plans --- much higher price than the US iphone plans.

Exactly. Their carriers completely subsidize phones, but usually have higher rates. And taking a glance at Google, Europe will probably see iPhones around $150 USD.

And when I said some countries, I was thinking Asian, where they have phones with crazy (and complicated) features, but they buy them outright and have plans that are a little cheaper. In fact I'm willing to bet that the reason we're missing some Asian countries in the big list is the fact that carriers over there don't want to subsidize at all.

 

[ThePDAJunkie]

This is what I want to know?

What happens when someone goes into the apple store to purchase
the phone and is force to sign on the dott'ed line. But, then they
find out the persons credit is too bad for the phone? Why not give
someone who has horrible credit money to purchase the phone for you.
You know ATT will probably not allow them to use the service via the
bad credit. But, you still have the phone in your hand?

Or does apple run credit checks now too?

ThePDAJunkie
Ipaq 211 owner

 

[Tankgunk]

Currently i use helio and i have unlimited texts voice data,basically everything for 100 bucks,how much would that cost on att

At a glance, it looks like it falls like this for AT&T:

$100 - Unlimited Voice
$30 - Unlimited Data
$20 - Unlimited SMS

So it comes out to $150 for AT&T, but I did do this too fast, maybe a 90% chance of correctness is all.

 

[Tankgunk]

This is what I want to know?

What happens when someone goes into the apple store to purchase
the phone and is force to sign on the dott'ed line. But, then they
find out the persons credit is too bad for the phone? Why not give
someone who has horrible credit money to purchase the phone for you.
You know ATT will probably not allow them to use the service via the
bad credit. But, you still have the phone in your hand?

Or does apple run credit checks now too?

ThePDAJunkie
Ipaq 211 owner

Technically Apple (or AT&T through Apple) was running the credit check before in iTunes anyway. It's not like they can't check in the snap of a finger, regardless of them being AT&T or Apple, in or out of the store.

 

[samab]

Exactly. Their carriers completely subsidize phones, but usually have higher rates. And taking a glance at Google, Europe will probably see iPhones around $150 USD.

And when I said some countries, I was thinking Asian, where they have phones with crazy (and complicated) features, but they buy them outright and have plans that are a little cheaper. In fact I'm willing to bet that the reason we're missing some Asian countries in the big list is the fact that carriers over there don't want to subsidize at all.

Korea and Japan also have these absurd high prices.

All the other Asian countries (like Hong Kong) that you talk about --- the carriers have to compete with streets full of grey market goods store.

These are places where the grey market goods got into the country without paying import duties, these are places where counterfeit goods are mixed with real ones.

You can't use those countries as example of a sane world.

 

[Tankgunk]

Who said people never bought it because the phone was too expensive. I bought my iPod when it was $400 and millions of other people did too. I wouldn't blink twice about buying the iPhone if it wasn't so expensive to have the plan with a reasonable amount of texts. Now it just went up $10-$20. F**k ATT.

I have an uncle and a friend that didn't buy it just because of the price of the phone, that already had comparable data plans. That constitutes people. And they never bought it. So I said that people never bought it because the phone was too expensive. Millions of people went and got a 1st gen iPhone, and there are more than 300 million people in the US alone.

(And if it makes you happier, it can be "some people never bought", just for the record.)

 

[SFStateStudent]

Korea and Japan also have these absurd high prices. All the other Asian countries (like Hong Kong) that you talk about --- the carriers have to compete with streets full of grey market goods store. These are places where the grey market goods got into the country without paying import duties, these are places where counterfeit goods are mixed with real ones. You can't use those countries as example of a sane world.

I wouldn't be surprised to see "iPhonies" coming from that area of the world.

 

[Tankgunk]

Korea and Japan also have these absurd high prices.

All the other Asian countries (like Hong Kong) that you talk about --- the carriers have to compete with streets full of grey market goods store.

These are places where the grey market goods got into the country without paying import duties, these are places where counterfeit goods are mixed with real ones.

You can't use those countries as example of a sane world.

You assume this world is sane.

Anyway, this is getting crazy. Both the time of night and this discussion. Keep debating without me.

 

[Tankgunk]

I wouldn't be surprised to see "iPhonies" coming from that area of the world.

I've seen them: example.

EDIT: Dang, that thing looks just real enough in the unboxing video to make me want an iPhone really bad, much more real looking than the "Neo DoubleGames" (Nintendo DS).

And a question, has your "naked" iPhone received any battle scars yet? You should see my DS...

 

[iRonn]

I have an uncle and a friend that didn't buy it just because of the price of the phone, that already had comparable data plans. That constitutes people. And they never bought it. So I said that people never bought it because the phone was too expensive. Millions of people went and got a 1st gen iPhone, and there are more than 300 million people in the US alone.

(And if it makes you happier, it can be "some people never bought", just for the record.)

I never said some people didn't buy it because of the price of the phone, many of those people probably don't buy macs either because macs are at the high end of computers. Your uncle probably has a $300 acer pc and your friend has a commodore 64, just for the fabulous games. Read the posts,not many are bitching about the old price they are bitching about the service prices.

 

[cWeems]

anyone

150

 

[Tankgunk]

I never said some people didn't buy it because of the price of the phone, many of those people probably don't buy macs either because macs are at the high end of computers. Your uncle probably has a $300 acer pc and your friend has a commodore 64, just for the fabulous games. Read the posts,not many are biting about the old price they are biting about the service prices.

I've read almost every page of this thread, and I was explaining the price of the service, it's because they subsidized the phone, and the $$$ they shave off don't go away, you pay them back with interest.

And, just something ironic, my uncle did have at one point in time a commodore 64...

Just curious, why can't this be a debate and not an argument?

 

[cWeems]

This is what I want to know?

What happens when someone goes into the apple store to purchase
the phone and is force to sign on the dott'ed line. But, then they
find out the persons credit is too bad for the phone? Why not give
someone who has horrible credit money to purchase the phone for you.
You know ATT will probably not allow them to use the service via the
bad credit. But, you still have the phone in your hand?

Or does apple run credit checks now too?

ThePDAJunkie
Ipaq 211 owner

they have not disclosed the non-2yr-agreement price... so we dont know what it will cost for the prepaid option if someone fails the credit check.

Even IF what u said works and u have the phone in your hand, what does that do?? its jus a brick till its activated and opened off the "slide for emergency" screen like the first ones im assuming.

EDIT: unless u were just wanting it unlocked in the first place