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After reading this thread, it seems the main reason people want an iPhone (or other smart phone) and pay the ridiculously high monthly fee is because: people find the convenience of the data plan, and the features of the iPhone worth it.

I pay £25 ($40) per month for my iPhone plan and don't feel that it's "ridiculously high".

Before I had my first smartphone I was paying around £15 per month, so an extra £10 for all the added benefits I'm getting is a bargain. :)
 
It's about the whole experience not just the ios gimmic you get from an ipod. Don't get me wrong i love the ipod touch but it just can't be compared to the iphone.
 
Are you kidding? I had a 3 year old flip phone before I bought the iP4 and I'm paying the same amount now. I have unlimited data on my iP4. I never had any sort of data plan on my previous ol' school phone. No one really had (good) smart phones back then.
 
I like it because I'll never know if I need data. It's so easy to look up directions or a phone number near me when I am out or lost.

What if you had no idea where you were and had NOTHING??
 
I like it because I'll never know if I need data. It's so easy to look up directions or a phone number near me when I am out or lost.

What if you had no idea where you were and had NOTHING??

Ask around, or do what people did 7 years ago before smart phones were around - call someone on you "dumb" phone!
 
AFAIK it is only in the US that the iPhone is significantly 'more' expensive than other phones.

here in the UK sim free the iphone is either the same price or only about £20-£50 more expensive than its main rivals, you then pair the phone with a PAYG or sim only 30day contract (which is the same nomatter what phone you have) simples

yes you can buy the phone from a network on contract (and yes it then does work out far more expensive than other phones then) but most people only do that because they think that is the only way to get a phone or because they cannot do the maths to work out which options works out better value for money.

(it also helps that every network run the same frequancy bands and all are GSM based here)
 
yes you can buy the phone from a network on contract (and yes it then does work out far more expensive than other phones then) but most people only do that because they think that is the only way to get a phone or because they cannot do the maths to work out which options works out better value for money.

If you do your maths you'll find there's not a lot of difference in the total cost of buying it outright or subsidised on contract when you take your monthly tariff into account. ;)
 
In fact, I have my cell phone off almost all the time, and use my Xfinity Voice line to make all of my calls (when I'm out, I find it sort of inconvenient to be checking emails while walking in a mall, etc.).

You buy an iPad 3g but don't use the 3g and a cheap cell phone but don't use it either and you complain about monthly fees? Did you know you are getting ripped off by your internet provider at home and that you can still use a pencil, paper, envelope and stamps to communicate with your friends and family? Think about it one stamp vs. the $45 or so each month that the internet provider is ripping you off each and every month. Why do you put up with that?
 
After reading this thread, it seems the main reason people want an iPhone (or other smart phone) and pay the ridiculously high monthly fee is because: people find the convenience of the data plan, and the features of the iPhone worth it.

It's like paying the ridiculous price for room service at a hotel, when you could just go to the lobby and get something to eat for a lot less.

What ever happened to "waiting until you get home" to check emails? Carrying the internet around with me all the time would seem like overkill, and would be sort of annoying.

In fact, I have my cell phone off almost all the time, and use my Xfinity Voice line to make all of my calls (when I'm out, I find it sort of inconvenient to be checking emails while walking in a mall, etc.).

Again, its not just the iphone that have data plans theres several smart phones on the market that have data plans. if you can't afford a data plan each month why even buy an iphone or other smartphone? why complain?
 
You buy an iPad 3g but don't use the 3g and a cheap cell phone but don't use it either and you complain about monthly fees? Did you know you are getting ripped off by your internet provider at home and that you can still use a pencil, paper, envelope and stamps to communicate with your friends and family? Think about it one stamp vs. the $45 or so each month that the internet provider is ripping you off each and every month. Why do you put up with that?

I put up with that because home internet for me (and for most people) is a necessity.

I happen to find 'mobile' 3G internet ridiculously overpriced and overkill. Again, I bought the 3G iPad in case of emergency, not because I was going to use the 3G on a regular basis, or at all.

Again, its not just the iphone that have data plans theres several smart phones on the market that have data plans. if you can't afford a data plan each month why even buy an iphone or other smartphone? why complain?

I can definitely afford it, I just see no value in it and I think the price is crazy, especially compared to what I'm paying for my 'dumb' phone. I've never been interested in 3G/4G service, I think local networks with real internet are better.
 
So, what makes it worth paying the high monthly price for a (smartphone)?

It's all about anytime-access to the internet. Which in turn gives you access to mail, maps, news, weather, info, searches, reviews, you name it... wherever and whenever you need.

So it's like asking, what makes it worth having broadband at home?

The answer is, to millions of people it's worth paying about $1 a day for mobile access.
 
I put up with that because home internet for me (and for most people) is a necessity.

I happen to find 'mobile' 3G internet ridiculously overpriced and overkill. Again, I bought the 3G iPad in case of emergency, not because I was going to use the 3G on a regular basis, or at all.

You make purchasing decisions that meet your own particular needs. Why do you find it so surprising other people also do the same thing?
 
So it's like asking, what makes it worth having broadband at home?

I think for most people, mobile internet data plans are a luxury, on top of having broadband at home.

All the people I know have some form of internet at home, which is standard.

You make purchasing decisions that meet your own particular needs. Why do you find it so surprising other people also do the same thing?

Yeah, I make purchasing decisions based on my needs, but if you ask most people, they have multiple gadgets and computers, broadband internet, etc.

Yet, other people who have what I mentioned also find it worth paying through their teeth for data plans, and I can't understand why (I guess most people just find it worth it). I don't see a need for it.
 
Just slightly off the exact topic...

I've found the iPhone to be a lot more expensive in the UK. I'm very happy to be corrected, but think there's quite a difference.

For example, 24 months on T-Mobile with the HTC Desire HD... The phone is free and I get 900 Mins Any Network Anytime + 500 Texts + Unlimited web browsing.

The iPhone on a similar T-Mobile 24 month plan gets me 300 mins Any Network Anytime + Unlimited texts + 500MB Data + Free Wi-Fi Access. I then have to pay £179.99 for the iPhone.

I can pick up an HTC Desire off ebay for £300. The iPhone 4 is £420 minimum for something comparable. Then both would have the same deal via say O2 sim only.
 
I think for most people, mobile internet data plans are a luxury, on top of having broadband at home.

Umm. I would say that home broadband is also a luxury, as it often costs even more. Not everyone has it, or even desires it. At least, not until someone gives them an internet-device :)

In fact, you could easily argue that having mobile broadband makes more sense than having just home broadband, if the costs and speed were equivalent. Just as many people no longer have landline phones, so could most people drop wired broadband in the future.

One thing I agree with: the amount of money that we spend nowadays on communications is insane. Thousands of dollars a year for home and mobile broadband, cable, and phone. On the other hand, what we can do with it nowadays is also incredible.
 
I pay $67 a month (total after all taxes and fees) for my iPhone 4 on AT&T with unlimited 3G data, and I couldn't be more happy/pleased with my low monthly cost :cool:
 
You've just answered your question. :D

I think I did!! Now we can just put this to rest.

The summary:

NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE'S NEEDS ARE, WHAT THEY HAVE, WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT IS LUXURY, WHAT FITS THEIR LIFESTYLE, ETC. -

THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN IPHONE FIND ITS FEATURES AND SERVICE WORTH IT.

The end.
 
AFAIK it is only in the US that the iPhone is significantly 'more' expensive than other phones.

here in the UK sim free the iphone is either the same price or only about £20-£50 more expensive than its main rivals, you then pair the phone with a PAYG or sim only 30day contract (which is the same nomatter what phone you have) simples

yes you can buy the phone from a network on contract (and yes it then does work out far more expensive than other phones then) but most people only do that because they think that is the only way to get a phone or because they cannot do the maths to work out which options works out better value for money.

(it also helps that every network run the same frequancy bands and all are GSM based here)

Exactly you pay next to nothing for iphones in the UK, even on like 30-40 pound plans. In Singapore I pay $60SG /1.2 for USD for a iphone4 on a 2 year term, you can probably recontract at 1 year for $300+60. The lower your plan the more you pay for your phone, could be as much as like $620 or $0. You can also buy it contract free for like 1200+ SGD which is about 1K USD.

Back home in Canada they are freaking NUTS.. they lock you in for 3 YEARS !!!!! And regardless of your plan you pay $259 for a 32GB. How does that even make sense.. so yeah...

Plus US and Canada usually only bundle 1GB to 2GB for their reasonably priced plans.... here its 12GB for all plans.

I find Asia, UK, EU are so much more down to earth when it comes to iPhone prices and plans.
 
Last weekend while out shopping I scanned a barcode of an item my wife wanted to buy. I found a much cheaper price elsewhere and we saved a few bucks. The store didn't have wifi. But I was able to use my phones 3G connection with the barcode app.

Just one example. The gps has helped me a few times. Maps. Email on the go. Internet wherever I need it. I dunno, it seems to work for me.
 
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