I'm not sure which I am getting more tired of. The posters complaining they are getting screwed (I am guilty of that yesterday) or the "its the contract" dummies, that's how business works.
Yes it does, I thought I passed a few people holding "I will work for food" signs,. Yes all these business models really work.
But lets get back to reality.
Myth 1 - Att out of the kindness of heart gave us a freebie last year.
Not so, if you had the 1st gen Iphone , you paid full price, your 3g WAS your first subsidized phone.
Myth 2 -All this posting is going help because att and apple will work something out. Doubt it, heard that before. Troops will be home because a deal is being worked out. Same thing different context.
Myth 3 - Att is going to lose on this - doubt it, new customers get the discounted price, 3g owners are still locked into a contract.
Myth 4 - Apple will do something about it.
This may not be a myth because Apple tends to lose the most, but remember they must of knew what was coming and maybe figured that into sales figures.
Iphone sales may not be as big as the last launch.
There may also be few apps taking into account the new features except from larger software providers.
This is actually a unique situation, the sdk came out about the time the 3g was announced, and the open developer program shortly thereafter, so except for maybe those in one of the closed betas all developers purchased their 3g about the same time. Meaning the vast majority of developers in the developers program are ineligible for the discounted price.
Larger software firms, which I have to think are a small piece of the 5000+ developers will most likely upgrade.
Corporate developers who are testing the waters may or may not, but probably arn't going to contribute to the app store anyway.
So that leaves the rest. The app Store is much like a self publishing book firm, staring cost can be as low as 0 to some artbitrary number, many are part time and have families and may not upgrade.
Breaks down as follows.
1) some will pay the premium.
2) some like me will add an additional line, something I've been considering for a while .
3) and many won't upgrade, meaning few (at least cheaper priced) apps to take adavantage of video, voice and the other new feature not avalable on the 3g. Couple that with the fact in additon to the 399 price the renewal period on the developer contract comes up soon which is another 99.00 , and Apple could have problems.
Couple that with fallout if 3gs sales fall below market expectations.
It is possible Apple may do something, like the "solution" after the first 3g price cut, when early adopter weren't too happy paying full price. Or maybe more likely nothing will be done. But as I see it the ball is in apple's court not ATT.
Just one girls opinion.
