FoxNews says Iphone "Bait & Switch" !!!!

[ThunderSkunk]

Holy crap in a pita. Some of you are unable to see beyond your own wallet.

Phone. WAS subsidized. ISN'T any longer.

The PHONE, which is being introduced to the ENTIRE WORLD as CHEAPER, IS.

If you live in the US, you are roped into playing AT&Ts game, which does not send money back to Apple for your phone. AT&T has not only cut off Apple from its subsidy of ten of your data dollars a month, but they're charging you another ten on top of that, for a grand total of $30 a month in data, which they keep 100% of. Got it?

Again, the iphone is not subsidized by the money you pay AT&T any longer. It's over.

Here's another way to say it. Two things happened. One, the phone got cheaper. 2. The service got more expensive. If you're an american, and you're crabbing about how the service is going to cost more, you're crabbing about the service costing more, not the phone. This is 100% down to AT&T, now that Apples period of having their way is over.

If you lived in such a place as to be on the O2 network instead of AT&T, you'd have a subsidized iPhone. It would be free up front, and you'd pay that back in subsidies. Apple is only getting $200 or $300 respectively for that phone either way. Not more. Your service provider is taking the rest of your money.

Comprende now? I don't know how many more times or ways it can be said. Just because more money leaves your wallet does not mean Apple is the culprit. Crab to AT&T. Apple has said themselves they're not exactly in love with their particular provider here in the states either. When Jobs was up there pitching it, he wasn't just talking to the Americans. There are 16 other countries that get that phone. He's not going to get into which country charges more for their service and which charge less. It was about the hardware and software, which is cheaper. You're on your own with the service, unfortunately for us. Still, it's no worse than any other phone...

 

[macintosh tech]

There is some serious abuse of logic going on in this thread.

"Surely" is right. It is a shame that they are advertising the phone as being half the price, knowing full well that compared to the current iphone rate plan you will be paying $15 more per month for the exact same service. The phone and the service should be considered as a package deal, since one is useless without the other.

Also, the argument that it's okay they are charging more because of the increased capabilities of the phone does not hold water.

Currently, if I own a Nokia 6085 (non-3g flip phone) on ATT, I will be paying $15/month for data, and if I upgrade to a Nokia 6555 (3g phone), I will still be paying $15/month for data. In this case they don't charge you more because your phone has a more advanced cellular radio in it and a better camera, etc.

On your last point, you inability to do simple research is mind blowing. On your little Nokia phones you get MediaNet, and from the sounds of it you are getting MediaNet unlimited which is indeed the same for any little flip/cheap phone. You can view that right on ATTs website.

Now, I throw a Moto Q 3G in my cart and guess what, I get the option for PDA personal which is $30 a month unlimited data usage. Heck, I get the same option when I put a Palm Centro in my cart, which is an EDGE phone. Same price, $30.

The fact is that the iPhone was not subsidized before. AT&T did some stuff with the plan and offered a good deal on EDGE, something between MediaNet and PDA Personal. Now, the phone is subsidized so that more people will buy (and the "it's too expensive whiners too.) In addition the new iPhone is 3G so they put it up there on the PDA personal plan. You are getting special treatment in the initial pricing of the phone and you are not getting it on the plan. This is a flip, namely because people didn't want to pay the money.

No one is baiting and switching, no one is ripping you off. It is business as usual with the cellphone companies. Nothing new here.

 

[Phil A.]

The simple fact is that the iPhone no longer has a "special" rate on AT&T: They've moved it onto their standard rates hence the $30.00 data plan (which is exactly the same as any other 3G smartphone on AT&T).
AT&T are now treating the iPhone as any other Smartphone as far as rates are concerned. Therefore, if Apple had left the price at $400.00 you'd still be paying $30.00 a month for data because of the removal of "special" iPhone rates.

In the UK, O2 haven't altered their rates and are subsidizing the iPhone down to zero on some plans. Other countries are presumably doing their own thing. The big thing with the iPhone 3G launch was it's worldwide availability. Surely people didn't want Steve to have to go through all the rates available in every country: That would have really brightened up the Keynote

 

[Blue Velvet]

This thread has strayed into politicking and flamebaiting. There are plenty of other places to do both.

Please use another thread to discuss plans and subsidies; it's not like there aren't enough to choose from. Fox News is now reporting that this thread is closed. Thank you.