iPhone 3G Hands On, Notes, and Questions

[gee-tee]

Isn't it an assumption that the new iPhone (before subsidies) costs $200 more than what AT&T's prices are? What if the phone actually costs $499 (8GB) and $599 (16GB)...so AT&T *would* be making it cheaper for everyone.

Maybe I missed where someone found out the real price of the phone, or where it was stated in writing officially that the subsidy is $200. Frankly, it's hard to keep up with the posts about how much people hate paying an extra $10-15 a month for a better product (as we're told) and better/faster service (also as we're told).

 

[RobTuck]

With regards to the enable/disable 3G option:

Does anyone know, or can anyone find out, if there is an option to enable 3G only for data. i.e. disable 3G for voice calls. I'd rather 'suffer' the apparently lower call quality of 2G in favour of a longer battery life. It seems to be all or nothing from what I can tell?

 

[jhoward82]

32GB iPhone????

Has anyone heard anything about the 32GB iPhone. I would hate to get a 16Gb on July 11 then two weeks later they release the 32GB. It cant be that far away they have the 32GB iPod Touch!

 

[slicecom]

With regards to the enable/disable 3G option:

Does anyone know, or can anyone find out, if there is an option to enable 3G only for data. i.e. disable 3G for voice calls. I'd rather 'suffer' the apparently lower call quality of 2G in favour of a longer battery life. It seems to be all or nothing from what I can tell?

Yes, from what I've you can turn 3G off completely if you'd like. Which is why Steve gave 2 distinct battery life ranges for both 2G mode and 3G mode.

 

[jrmafia17]

GPS/Maps

Does anyone know, for current iPhone users when they upgrade the software to 2.0 if it will include the GPS/maps new version if still running on edge network. I heard the software update will be released the same day the 3G phone is released. I don't care to get a new phone, i just want the new apps and features especially GPS.

 

[RobTuck]

Yes, from what I've you can turn 3G off completely if you'd like. Which is why Steve gave 2 distinct battery life ranges for both 2G mode and 3G mode.

Thats the problem though. I dont want to turn it off completely. I want to use 3G only for data.

Where I live and work, 3G is everywhere, which means that all my calls will go via 3G, reducing the battery life by 50%. I want to be able to use 2G for voice (always), and 3G for data (when available), without having to keep flipping it on and off.

 

[RobTuck]

Does anyone know, for current iPhone users when they upgrade the software to 2.0 if it will include the GPS/maps new version if still running on edge network. I heard the software update will be released the same day the 3G phone is released. I don't care to get a new phone, i just want the new apps and features especially GPS.

GPS is a hardware feature that your current iPhone doesnt have. If you want GPS, you need a new iPhone.

 

[hiimamac]

Yes, from what I've you can turn 3G off completely if you'd like. Which is why Steve gave 2 distinct battery life ranges for both 2G mode and 3G mode.

Someone said in the other thread (AT&T tightening...) that AT&T might charge for GPS, so I though I would post my findings here.....

Source?

If this is correct, then this is pretty bad. Maybe teaches Apple a lesson to just sell it everywhere.

Well this is NOT the source but this is what they call AT&T NAVIGATOR (GPS) which is a 30 day trial - if this turns out to be true, wow, there will be FOUL cried every where.

http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/popup/telenav-gps-important-info.jsp

Also, not sure how they are doing it but TOM TOM is releasing a software package for iphone 1 so it will somehow be better than what apple presently has.

If true, then I think Apple would be smart to re-release the FIRST iPhone at any price, maybe $299 as some would save even if they broke (jail) and used TOM TOM GPS, only thing they won't get is 3G which each day looks less appealing considering almost all of us are near a data system (WI FI) and can deal with EDGE, especially if over the long run it is going to save a lot of money and no contracts.

Its getting worse day by day.

Then again, if Apple can change the policy on the fly for phones, maybe they can do what they want...

This is what I saw at the apple stores when buying phones:
2 Per customer
3 Per customer
5 Per customer
no limit (only a few days)
Credit Card only
Cash, CC, Gift Card
Credit Card/Gift Card

Last phase was a 5 phone limit, Credit Card and no cash but you could buy a gift card (2252.52) and then turn around and buy five. The policy changed almost every day.


So who knows at this point. I think now that the press is starting to report the higher prices and how the phone is far from cheaper, if something like GPS is yet another CHARGE, Steve might tell AT&T to go blow (remember he wanted FREE WI FI at Star-bucks for example) and do whatever he wants and pay the fine. Might be more beneficial for him.

Also check this out....with all the complainers, I found this....

Verizon turned down APPLE as APPLE had VERIZON as its choice before AT&T..


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-01-28-verizon-iphone_x.htm
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/01/verizon_turned_.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/30/verizon_turned_down_iphone/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/29/verizon-passed-up-apple-iphone-deal/

Theory as to why...
http://www.iphonematters.com/article/why_did_verizon_turn_down_the_iphone/

Now I don't know about you, but I have been with Cingular (ATT) for a while but Verizon has always had streaming TV, so wonder where they are at now...?

 

[Solkar]

3g Plan - $10 cheaper than what I'm paying now

I think this is something a lot of people are going to have to realize. The first generation iPhone was something special in the fact that AT&T adjusted their pricing to give us a better deal -- the iPhone was expensive, and the plans were not.

But with iPhone 3G, we're looking at getting an affordable phone with better service. While yes, the pricing won't come out even, we're getting as good a deal as Blackberry users get. So with a great phone by Apple, and the usual service by AT&T, this seems perfectly reasonable. If the minimum $75/month (voice + data + text) doesn't work for you, look into other options.

This is the point where the iPhone, while incredibly amazing, is realized to be a phone first.

Right now, I'm paying AT&T $40 for the data plan for my Samsung Blackjack, so the iPhone plan will actually save me $10 a month, and $120/year, which will almost pay for the iPhone I'm going to buy my wife.

I loved my Blackjack when I paid $200 for it in Dec. 2006, but I hate it now. Just this morning (for the third time so far this year) I had to do a hard reset because it encountered an unrecoverable syncing error. Windows Mobile blows. The web browser works only occasionally, and I honestly can't tell the difference when the phone is on Edge or 3G, in terms of the data rate. And now that 3G has come to my area, my battery can barely last sitting idle during the workday. God forbid I have to actually make a call.

I can't wait until July 11.

 

[j518bear]

It's not advertising, what was said at the WWDC, so it can't be false advertising.

Fine, but "Twice as fast. Half the price.", as plastered over Apple's website, is definitely an advertisement. I'm just saying that it is technically illegal for Apple to advertise "Half the price" but then simultaneously charge more than $199 to customers who are ineligible for an upgrade, as per AT&T's stated requirement. It's a simple case of false price advertising.

Below the * it says that customers need to purchase a 2-year plan. But they need to add a ** saying that customers need to be upgrade eligible. Otherwise they are risking legal trouble.

 

[Solkar]

With regards to the enable/disable 3G option:

Does anyone know, or can anyone find out, if there is an option to enable 3G only for data. i.e. disable 3G for voice calls. I'd rather 'suffer' the apparently lower call quality of 2G in favour of a longer battery life. It seems to be all or nothing from what I can tell?

I have a 3G phone - I can't tell the difference in call quality between Edge and 3G. The only "perk" of 3G is that you can receive data while you're on a call. Whoopee. And congratulations, your one 3G call just drained your battery.

I'm hoping the iPhone won't be as bad as my current phone (after all, my current phone is at least 2-year-old tech), but I'm not a real fan of 3G.

 

[kiteskiutah]

pissed off

What is this garbage that I have to be eligible for an upgrade to get the pricing or even buy the 3G? I currently have the blackberry pearl and have been waiting for months for the release of the 3G to get the iphone. Now AT&T tells me that I can't even buy the phone since I am not eligible for the upgrade. WTF? I WANT to spend my money and I can't?

What can I do?
1. can I add a line for $9.99 with and iphone and cancel my own line?
2. Cancel and resign? It would be cheaper to pay the termination fee then resign then buy an unsubsidized phone (if they allowed me to).

Way to go Apple for your free market philosophy. Go blow yourself!!!

 

[JMP]

I don't think your gonna see that!--)))

I know... :-(

However, It would be real interesting to see a poll on how many people would by the iPhone if it was unlocked here in the US? Bet there would be a dramatic increase in iPhone sales! But then again all the different methods employed, 3G and all those other specs would mean a new version of the iPhone for the different carriers I think? You can tell IM not up on cell phone tech stuff!

I my self would buy one if I could get it here on Verizon. AT&T is not an option here.

I'm very pissed at Apple with this policy. It's not because they chose AT&T or other specific carriers around the world, but just because I like to have the choice to choose whatever carrier I want.
To me this is some kind of dictatorship.

 

[HD303]

I'm sticking with my 1st gen iPhone. Thank you Apple for saving me $300!

 

[imwoblin]

What is this garbage that I have to be eligible for an upgrade to get the pricing or even buy the 3G? I currently have the blackberry pearl and have been waiting for months for the release of the 3G to get the iphone. Now AT&T tells me that I can't even buy the phone since I am not eligible for the upgrade. WTF? I WANT to spend my money and I can't?

What can I do?
1. can I add a line for $9.99 with and iphone and cancel my own line?
2. Cancel and resign? It would be cheaper to pay the termination fee then resign then buy an unsubsidized phone (if they allowed me to).

Way to go Apple for your free market philosophy. Go blow yourself!!!

I spoke with someone at both Apple and ATT and they told me as long as you are under contract with ATT, you can purchase a new iphone. You can take this with a grain of salt.....

 

[KaiMac]

I'm sticking with my 1st gen iPhone. Thank you Apple for saving me $300!

Anyone not sticking with the iPhone 1 and letting this all shake out after the uproar on July 11th is crazy. I have no doubt Apple will be flooded with complaints after the first cell bills start coming in at 25$ more than the iPhone 1 plans. Apple is going to have to respond or their goal of selling 18 Million of these iPhones will come up way short, especially with the hardcore users staying home.

 

[KaiMac]

What is this garbage that I have to be eligible for an upgrade to get the pricing or even buy the 3G? I currently have the blackberry pearl and have been waiting for months for the release of the 3G to get the iphone. Now AT&T tells me that I can't even buy the phone since I am not eligible for the upgrade. WTF? I WANT to spend my money and I can't?

What can I do?
1. can I add a line for $9.99 with and iphone and cancel my own line?
2. Cancel and resign? It would be cheaper to pay the termination fee then resign then buy an unsubsidized phone (if they allowed me to).

Way to go Apple for your free market philosophy. Go blow yourself!!!

Get used to this. It will be this way with all iPhone purchases from now on. ATT controls when you buy a new iPhone, not the customer. This is going to really hurt Apple in the long run. Like I said, Steve got owned by ATT...owned!

 

[slicecom]

Get used to this. It will be this way with all iPhone purchases from now on. ATT controls when you buy a new iPhone, not the customer. This is going to really hurt Apple in the long run. Like I said, Steve got owned by ATT...owned!

That's horrible considering that many Apple fans make it a priority to buy the newest Apple product on its release date!

 

[dant19]

Having read through the forum, O2 in the UK SEEMS (important word!) to be much simpler.

I have a £45 a month contract, and because of that I can simply pick up an 8gb iphone 3g for free, and keep my current contract, just extend it another 6 months, or pay £69 for the 16gb iphone 3g (and keep contract, same with 8gb). As far as I can tell, gps is bundled into that price and so is 3g (fair usage obviously).

As I said, this is only if I have understood all the information properly. If it is all correct, its strange that AT&T have made it so complicated, have to pay this and that for the various features.

-Dan

 

[gugy]

Has anyone heard anything about the 32GB iPhone. I would hate to get a 16Gb on July 11 then two weeks later they release the 32GB. It cant be that far away they have the 32GB iPod Touch!

I would expect the 32gig version only in January. Just like the 16gig was introduced. For some reason Apple holds off. Not sure why. But I doubt it will have it earlier than 3 months from July 11.

 

[goodtimes5]

I need a solid answer - will I be able to use the iPhone 3G on the T-mobile network in the US?

 

[Rocketman]

That was a lot of pages of whining!

Now that the iPhone 2 is about to be released ALL the phones that were available before still are. Buy one of those if the iPhone and its wierd features and cost sets do not suit you.

Apple is selling no fewer computers due to iPhone. If anything they are selling substantially more. All the OS's and hardwaqre they shipped before are still available all the way back to 4.2 and before. Use whichever one suits you.

Not sure about Snow Leopard? Pisses you off it is Intel only? You are not in the target market, and the OS on your G4/G5 (recently updated too) has the most modern and recent features available on any computer AND you can run ANY other OS on it as well.

Stop whining.

Decide what is best for you and buy it (or steal it).

Stop whining.

I bet you do not stop whining.

Rocketman

 

[TheFatWookie]

Incorrect

I just spoke with an AT&T rep who told me I'd have to pay an additional $10 for the unlimited data plan (old news) but also mentioned that the unlimited GPS routing plan is another $9.99 and the 200 SMS text messages I get for free with the iPhone 2.5G plan will be an additional $4.99 on the iPhone 3G plan. The total is almost $25, or $600 over the term of the contract!

The ATT person you spoke to is wrong. The 200 SMS included in the original iPone Data plan is also included in the new data plan, and so is GPS. AppleInsider has already reported this, and MY ATT store and the Apple store I was in today confirmed this.

 

[kiteskiutah]

not as pissed

Just talked with Apple rep who said that the pricing structure is $199 and $299 respectively, period!!!! I am not sure what AT&T means that I cannot buy the phone at this price (must be upgrade eligible or new activation, I am not upgrade eligible and already a AT&T customer).

Apple rep said I could walk into their store, buy the phone at that price and walk into AT&T to activate it, no hassle. Knowing AT&T it is always a hassle.

 

[mikeytrend]

can't renew contract alone?

In store activation is a fine idea, do what you have to do to keep your product safe and under your control, but this worries me.

All the hype and the lower price than last time are going to mean even bigger lines and demand for the product. As of right now, some of the people waiting in line are going to be under 18 and on their parents cell phone contract. Are we going to need them there to renew the contract? I had this worry last year about waiting for the phone, but it didn't turn out to be a big deal because there was no in store anything except selling at the apple store.

Why don't they just inform consumers that if they fail to activate the phone within thirty days via phone or iTunes they will be charged an additional $200 or something?