Blame Apple More Than AT&T

[maflynn]

Blame,
we're not talking about about an accident, fire or other tragedy. We're talking about the pricing of a phone. If you don't like the pricing don't upgrade or buy an iPhone.

Nobody is forcing you to get the 3Gs, if the price particularly the upgrade price is an issue, then the more people who don't upgrade will send the message that the price point is incorrect. I however don't think that will happen, given the number of threads of people who are upgrading from the 3G to the 3Gs (for the record I shelled out boku bucks to get a 32gb model) I don't like the price but I wanted the functionality and so I took the plunge

 

[nick9191]

How about we don't blame anyone? If you don't like the price, don't buy the phone.

 

[mak10]

Yikes, one tough crowd.

All I am saying is that two year contracts, while the norm, are to long when the hardware improves so frequently. One year contracts would be great.

Cell phones (especially the iPhone), in general are over priced. Consumers can control the pricing via supply and demand but apparently we won't.

AT&T is muzzling the iPhone's capability in the U.S. market. It's sad that other countries get the new features that we here in the U.S. can't.

Apple released small improvements, when they could wait and give us large improvements. I sure would love to see a flash for the camera and a front facing camera. A matte finish sure would be nice, so I wouldn't have to keep a case on my iPhone to prevent noticeable scratches.

Don't get me wrong, my iPhone 3G has changed my life for the better, the monthly AT&T bill....not so much.

if contracts were only a year, you'd end up having to pay more for the phone upfront because AT&T wouldn't subsidize it as much as they do for a 2 year contract. The unsubsidized price would still be the same so AT&T would now only have a year to make back their money on the phone, which in turn wouldn't allow them to price it as cheap. And this is actually what they are doing for current 3G customers, if you're the primary account holder, after a year you get the middle of the road pricing. Sure you don't get the 199/299 price, but AT&T needs to recoup some of the cost they would be losing from selling you the original 3G at the lower price, since you've only had it a year. Legally they don't even have to offer the early-upgrade price to anyone since you signed a legally binding contract locking you in for 2 years, now of course they give you the option to get out of that contract for $175, but that's up to you.

and as far as Apple releasing small improvements, I think that's kind of a ridiculous statement. Sure the original iPhone to the 3G was a small step, it only added 3G and GPS, but the 3G to the 3G S is a huge improvement when you look at it. Overall improved computing power (600mhz 256 ram), upgraded 3G capabilities, camera upgrade, video capabilities, magnetometer, bigger capacity, voice control.... that's quite a big upgrade if you ask me...

 

[Resist]

of course they give you the option to get out of that contract for $175, but that's up to you.

If I pay the early termination fee to get out of my current contract, then could I buy the iPhone 3Gs 32GB at the $299 subsidized price with a new 2 year contract?

A huge improvement to the iPhone for me would have been a removable battery, memory slot, camera flash and front facing camera. As far as the compass, voice control and recorder, well there are already apps for those. A video camera on the iPhone is great but old news for other cell phones.

 

[hefeglass]

no, actually they are NOT.

did they hold a gun to your head and say "UPGRADE NOW!"


im so over this crap...i honestly cant believe the stupidity on here...especially after these things have been explained OVer and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER....

and OVER...



i want to see all these people throw hissy fits when they realize that by signing a TERMINATION FEE...you are not allowed to open a new account with ATT for several months...

 

[TheSpaz]

Sometimes I wish I could lower the call plan on my iPhone to save some money. Why are we forced to have a minimum of 450 minutes? Also, why can't we remove our data plan if we don't need it. I wish the plans were more customizable like other phones. I hardly ever talk on the phone so it's like I'm wasting money.

 

[buccsmf1]

Yikes, one tough crowd.

All I am saying is that two year contracts, while the norm, are to long when the hardware improves so frequently. One year contracts would be great.

Cell phones (especially the iPhone), in general are over priced. Consumers can control the pricing via supply and demand but apparently we won't.

AT&T is muzzling the iPhone's capability in the U.S. market. It's sad that other countries get the new features that we here in the U.S. can't.

Apple released small improvements, when they could wait and give us large improvements. I sure would love to see a flash for the camera and a front facing camera. A matte finish sure would be nice, so I wouldn't have to keep a case on my iPhone to prevent noticeable scratches.

Don't get me wrong, my iPhone 3G has changed my life for the better, the monthly AT&T bill....not so much.

"too" long...... what a tool..... wow i love irony

Are we going to do this every summer? Listen here, there is going to be a new iphone EVERY SUMMER. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UPGRADE EVERY YEAR AND STILL GET A SUBSIDIZED PRICE.

 

[mak10]

If I pay the early termination fee to get out of my current contract, then could I buy the iPhone 3Gs 32GB at the $299 subsidized price with a new 2 year contract?

A huge improvement to the iPhone for me would have been a removable battery, memory slot, camera flash and front facing camera. As far as the compass, voice control and recorder, well there are already apps for those. A video camera on the iPhone is great but old news for other cell phones.

That's what people were saying you could do initially, but then I heard reports that you'd have to wait 6 months to open another account in your name so I'm not entirely sure. Either way you'd lose your phone number in the process.

You could always add another line to your account, get the subsidized price for that line and wait out the contract of the other phone (maybe put that sim in a different phone and tell AT&T your iPhone broke and get rid of your data plan for the remainder of the contract, not sure if that would work)... or find someone that needs a phone... not sure how the numbers would work out in that situation though, I guess it depends on how much time is left on your contract.

 

[DHarrisDBS34]

Yikes, one tough crowd.

All I am saying is that two year contracts, while the norm, are to long when the hardware improves so frequently. One year contracts would be great.

Cell phones (especially the iPhone), in general are over priced. Consumers can control the pricing via supply and demand but apparently we won't.

AT&T is muzzling the iPhone's capability in the U.S. market. It's sad that other countries get the new features that we here in the U.S. can't.

Apple released small improvements, when they could wait and give us large improvements. I sure would love to see a flash for the camera and a front facing camera. A matte finish sure would be nice, so I wouldn't have to keep a case on my iPhone to prevent noticeable scratches.

Don't get me wrong, my iPhone 3G has changed my life for the better, the monthly AT&T bill....not so much.

Well if you're mad about the contract, talk to AT&T, not Apple. The way it goes down, Apple provides AT&T with the devices, AT&T pays for them at the unsubsidized price. After that AT&T can do whatever they want with them. As for as buying/selling the phone and length of contract, Apple doesn't make those decisions. They've already made all they can from selling you the phone or providing you with mobile service.

And also, you have to pay the whole price of the phone one way or another. Buy paying the termination fee to cancel the contract a year early, you pretty much are paying off the rest of the phone. Apple puts loads of money into developing and producing the phone, they should get paid for their work. If you think it's overpriced, DON'T BUY IT.