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Fresh Claims of 3G-Capable iPod Touch in Development
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...and this is why this rumor cannot be true. Why would Apple cannibalize iPhone sales? If I could use a voip plan, third party sms, and do everything an iPhone can do (and with even more storage), why on earth would I (an admittedly tech-savvy person) buy an iPhone? Why not bypass carrier minutes and those contracts altogether?
Long Overdue!
A 3G (and someday 4G) iPod Touch would be awsome! This is what I wanted a year ago when I bought my iPhone 4. I don't use voice much but data is essential, so I could have done with the iPod Touch and not had to sign up for a two year contract and pay for the voice plan which I rarely use.
Come on Apple! Give us what we want! Not what AT&T wants us to have!
A 3G (and someday 4G) iPod Touch would be awsome! This is what I wanted a year ago when I bought my iPhone 4. I don't use voice much but data is essential, so I could have done with the iPod Touch and not had to sign up for a two year contract and pay for the voice plan which I rarely use.
Come on Apple! Give us what we want! Not what AT&T wants us to have!
I know a lot of people who would be interested at the idea of a 3G iPod Touch. I'm surprised they haven't done it already.
I have an iPhone and I use BiteSMS. I don't need any fake texting app. I use ATT unlimited text.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Because not everyone is a tech-savvy person like you. As a result, Apple will still sell tons of iPhones while iPod 3Gs could see a pop in sales for those who really want an iPhone but don't want to pay so much for an AT&T or Verizon contract. That would be those who occasionally need 3G but not continously as well as a whole massive pool of tweens+ who mostly want 3G for texting and not much phone (yet face the AT&T & Verizon requirement to own a voice plan to get a texting plan).
Apple just wants to sell lots of hardware. A cheaper data-only option for some still moves the hardware unit. Better than losing that customer to Android or other options.
I've ALWAYS wanted an iPhone, but I can't see the justification of paying $70-80 a month for one. I would so buy an iPod Touch with 3G support, that way I can make VoIP calls using Google Voice!
An iPod Touch with 3G is pretty much the iPhone Nano.
An iPod Touch with 3G is pretty much the iPhone Nano.
The phone part he is talking about is the actual call someone and talk to them.
In all reality, with iMessage and things like Facetime, actual phone calls happen less and less each day.
I barely call people besides my folks. Most of the time we just text and meet up or we Skype or Facetime.
With iMessage coming, I can text to most of my friends because they have iPhones.
Phone companies are going to screw us over because when they start losing Voice Plans, they will up the data plan rates.
The only difference in the iPhone and iPod Touch is literally the ability to make calls.
Voice Plans type calling is going the way of extinction also. Texts are the #1 way of communicating now.
EXACTLY.
I can't believe people don't add up their cost of their iPhone over 2 years with contract and new iPhone. On average it's something like $2000-$3000. That is absolutely RIDICULOUS.
Voice plans and data plans are raping everyone.
I'd jump all over an iPod Touch with 3G and the ability to turn it on whenever. Then I can just have my PAYGO phone that costs me $20 a month for emergencies.
I know some need these plans for work, but for most, they don't need them. They are totally throwing their money away over 2 years. The MAJORITY would be better served with a iPodTouch 3G with the ability to turn it on and off like an iPad contract. Then you can usually just WiFi most of the time anyway.
Huge savings over the iPhone.
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Exactly! i am not paying $70-80 a month for iPhone/smartphone and I work in IT.
I have never in my life seen you make an intelligent post. Reference; the numerous run-ins we've had.
Surely the majority of people carry a mobile phone right? So why would you want a iPhone without voice and txt capabilities? That just means carrying about two devices which to me seems crazy.... I can't see a big market for this, but I have been proved wrong before
For some, like myself, it is much more worth it to carry a second device. I would get a Virgin Mobile phone for $20, and a $20 phone card every 3 months in addition to a 3G iPod Touch. The iPhones total cost of ownership is disgusting, even while I love the device.
It would be like the iPad: Contract-less. Pay for a month, and that's it if you choose.
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But a lot of iPhone users are tech-savvy, and if they weren't before, they became more so after getting one and seeing what's in the app store. First time iOS-ers will likely opt for the iPhone as you suggest, but upgraders such as myself surely make up a sizable component of their sales as well.
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iMessage will reduce your texting costs (if you have no plan or are able to switch to a lower volume plan), it will not reduce them to zero, there is no chance that ALL your texting will be with iOS 5 devices.
Try Skype over a two-bar EDGE connection. Good luck. Pure GSM voice likely covers ten times the area of VoIP-quality EDGE (or up).
This would be great for people like me who rarely talk on the phone.
Just get "Whistle Phone" (free app w/ free U.S. phone service [light adds]).
I don't have a cell phone cause I never would use it. So Whistle Phone is what I have now on my iPad, only the 3G iPT would fit in my pocket. I think there is potential for the carriers to gain more data customers than lose cell+data customers.
Just get "Whistle Phone" (free app w/ free U.S. phone service [light adds]).
I don't have a cell phone cause I never would use it. So Whistle Phone is what I have now on my iPad, only the 3G iPT would fit in my pocket. I think there is potential for the carriers to gain more data customers than lose cell+data customers.
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IMO it's the same exact thing as an iPhone...just without the unlimited data. The ONLY reason I would get one is so the touch could be for music and games only while the phone is for more important things and has more available space.
mmmm...ok, but then get ready for the 90% of users that accidentally leave the 3G enabled, surf and suck data for 30 days, then get a $500 bill that month.
Apple better make it extremely clear on the device that they are using 3G.
So either $15/month for 250MB or $25/month for 2GB using ATT's ipad prices. Not very attractive considering all this Cloud mumbo jumbo and the latest iTunes stream/sync stuff.
Personally I think all this Apple iCloud/iTunes/data services/3G/carrier stuff is way too complex and nickel-and-dime.
You're close; Data sharing with rogers STARTS at $10/mo per extra device, depending on your data plan.
I for instance have the 6gb/$30 plan.
In order to share that particular plan costs: $30.
Meaning I would then have 2 devices for which I'm effectively paying $30 EACH for 3GB.
Robbers strikes again.
I so agree, that's what I don't have one and I work in IT. Now and iPod Touch with 3G would be the best! Just use VoIP to makes and your set.
An iPod Touch with 3G is pretty much the iPhone Nano!
I can only assume people are getting mixed up with the supposed low cost iPhone 4. I don't know how they'd market it, but putting a cellular radio in the iPod touch makes it identical to an iPhone. It requires a complete redesign (of the iPod).
If they're making a cheapo iPhone 4 for the pre-paid market, and get it down to ~$300 without a subsidy, people could just buy one off the shelf and use it as an iPod, and then go to a provider for a data plan (i.e. no voice) if they want.
If they're making a cheapo iPhone 4 for the pre-paid market, and get it down to ~$300 without a subsidy, people could just buy one off the shelf and use it as an iPod, and then go to a provider for a data plan (i.e. no voice) if they want.
A kick in the rear for me if its out soon enough. I just picked up a cheap Samsung Android phone and the no-contract rates are pretty good on T-Mobile.
iPod =/= iPhone, no matter what.
I hear all these people who dream about VoIP. Dream on, in my opinion. Apple knows that VoIP is not lockable but one thing is working so you have to buy an iPhone (or iPad for the ones who like a giant tablet for phone calls) to talk to others with an apple device: You just leave out the microphone. Okay, for face time, it is required so that is unlikely. But if they want to avoid having a hybrid, quasi iPhone in iPod shoes, they will dumb it down with no camera in the front (ergo: no face time compatibility) and leave out the mic. Otherwise, the carriers will not give anyone affordable rates and the whole idea collapses. Think about it: There are other messaging services such as ICQ, Twitter, Facebook, Skype. They will loose already on SMS then. They certainly don't want to loose their bread giver: Overpriced talk plans. Everything else will result in price lines beyond affordable or a limited service for downloading purchases for which the App Store gives a percentage of the charge to the carrier and no plan and other use of 3G is included/permitted.
I hear all these people who dream about VoIP. Dream on, in my opinion. Apple knows that VoIP is not lockable but one thing is working so you have to buy an iPhone (or iPad for the ones who like a giant tablet for phone calls) to talk to others with an apple device: You just leave out the microphone. Okay, for face time, it is required so that is unlikely. But if they want to avoid having a hybrid, quasi iPhone in iPod shoes, they will dumb it down with no camera in the front (ergo: no face time compatibility) and leave out the mic. Otherwise, the carriers will not give anyone affordable rates and the whole idea collapses. Think about it: There are other messaging services such as ICQ, Twitter, Facebook, Skype. They will loose already on SMS then. They certainly don't want to loose their bread giver: Overpriced talk plans. Everything else will result in price lines beyond affordable or a limited service for downloading purchases for which the App Store gives a percentage of the charge to the carrier and no plan and other use of 3G is included/permitted.
Agreed. Smart Phones are such a rip off. People don't know how much they are getting screwed.
US has the worse $$$ costs associated. Best thing that can happen is TMobile and Sprint get the iPhone and they put out serious plans that compete.
I want my option of picking how much usage I need and how much data I need.