iPhone Acquisition Strategies, Data Plan Info Soon?

[ajhill]

It seems to me that if they were going to offer a GOOD plan or lower rate, they would announce it DURING the week to get the stock market buzzed and watch the stock climb. The only reason I can think of to announce something on a Friday would be in hopes that the groaning will have died down by the time the market opens on Monday or that the mainstream press will not cover it as much or even that Joe Consumer somehow misses the announcement altogether.

So it seems to me that they are not expecting their announced rates plans to be met with cheering and jubilation by iPhone adopters....

Sorry to be the fly in the ointment here, I was REALLY hoping for a sweet rate plan.

Just keep one thing in mind. Verizon had first shot at this phone and they passed. And they passed for one of two reasons. 1. Apple insisted on too large a chunk of the monthly subscriber fee. or 2. Apple insisted that the data/voice plan be too low for their tastes. $69/mo???

Or maybe a little of both. Just imagine how the tone of the discussions (of a yet unreleased product) would shift if the voice/data plan were $59/mo or $69/mo???

"One never knows..."

 

[offwidafairies]

I thought this was MacRumors, but when Apple changed from Apple to Computer to Apple Inc, I guess this changed to iPhoneRumors. If this gets any more out of hand I think we may need a completely separate site. Don't get me wrong I think the iPhone is great and sooner or later I will get one, but someone remind Apple that they still make computers.

i hear ya. bring on leopard. bring on ultralight portable

 

[japanime]

Don't worry, Apple knows very well that they still make computers; They just look like phones now.

I haven't laughed so hard at a one-liner since watching Borat.

 

[cmcconkey]

No iPhone for me

Well no iPhone for me, but I am ok with that. Here in this area AT&T/Cingular coverage is just horrible. I am a proud Verizon customer, yeah I hate the crippled phones but service is more important, and will be until things drastically change. I will be interested in seeing the Apple Bluetooth headset, I may have to get one if it is compatible with my Chocolate (which I figure it would be, but ya never know). I hope the iPhone does great and can't wait to see it on other networks giving the other phone manufacturers a run for their money.

Christopher

 

[xtbfx]

I still can't seriously believe they haven't released rate and data plans for this thing yet...it's launching in just over a week...this does not bode well for cheapskates who want to pay less than $100/mo.

EXACTLY!! Apple is being incredibly stupid for not releasing anything until the very last second. Why be secretive about your data/calling plans? Is it really that good/bad?

This is the only thing holding me back from waiting in line for one. I would hate to walk in the store after waiting in line, order one, then they tell me the cheapest call/data plan is $100/mo and I say "no thanks."

 

[retroboyjinny]

Buying a iphone to bring to the UK

So can I go to an apple store on the 29th and queue to buy an iphone for $599 as a non-us customer or will I need to sign a contract then and there with AT&T with a usa billing address?

 

[PCMacUser]

EXACTLY!! Apple is being incredibly stupid for not releasing anything until the very last second. Why be secretive about your data/calling plans? Is it really that good/bad?

This is the only thing holding me back from waiting in line for one. I would hate to walk in the store after waiting in line, order one, then they tell me the cheapest call/data plan is $100/mo and I say "no thanks."

Yep, they're exposing the fact that they know nothing about the telecommunications business. Ah well. People will buy it anyway, and that'll make the shareholders happy.

Your sig is a bit strange... were you involved in the making of that film? Or are you simply very enthusiast about it? Just curious...

 

[Digital Skunk]

You know why Apple hasn't released any info on the plan yet? Because it's going to be the worst plan ever and people with dumb cash are going to just drop it at Jobs' feet.

I heard that they won't sell the phone without a two year contract... either way... Cingular or not... you will need to sign up for a new contract. That means canceling your old one and pay the cancelation fee, and sign up for a new one or have two contracts. Take your pick.

And I am sure that the data plan will be over $100 before tax for what you're getting with Cingular.

 

[gleepskip]

And I am sure that the data plan will be over $100 before tax for what you're getting with Cingular.

I seriously doubt that. My guess is the iPhone plan will be very similar to the Blackberry data plan, which is $40-$50/mo. on top of your talk plan. Either AT&T will match this pricing or, due to an agreement with Apple, undercut it or even eliminiate it. Charge $0 for data. Crazy? There is no subsidy on the iPhone like the other phones they sell.

 

[lifeseeker]

Extra-Somatic Memory

Who cares what it costs?

 

[pagansoul]

If you look at the 'personel' calling plans for the Blackberry I think we can get a good idea of the charges. Since AT&T said they would not cripple the phone I would think their plans would be all inclusive for Talk, Data and WiFi. My guess would be $80 for the cheapest plan. The phone hours will be limited so if you go over you really pay for it. The most expensive plans $200 monthly will be unlimited everything. Just my guess. In this case they hope you get addicted to using the phone and always go over your time like late fees at Blockbuster. Blockbuster was existing on their late fees. Just think, I know plenty of people with $200 for their monthly phone bill, not me, but I see people living with that thing in their ears. I myself would rather spend money on DVDs but to some, their phone IS their life.

If the lowest plan (limited everything) is $50 I'll buy it in a heartbeat. I never use my cell phone. Its just for emergencies. I always use my ipod. I only speak to the tri-state area (NY/NJ/Conn) and Georgia, all EDGE covered. Also the minutes are rollover so I can't go wrong. I will have to reduce my movies to 1gb because of the low HD (spoiled by my 80gb ipod which I have 20 movies on) but I can live with that, for now.

 

[mixgrafix]

Uhh....

I thought this was MacRumors, but when Apple changed from Apple to Computer to Apple Inc, I guess this changed to iPhoneRumors. If this gets any more out of hand I think we may need a completely separate site. Don't get me wrong I think the iPhone is great and sooner or later I will get one, but someone remind Apple that they still make computers.

The iPhone is a computer. Not a traditional computer, but a computer nonetheless. And with Apple set to sell 3 million of them out of the gate, you should be happy everyone is talking Apple, no matter what the product. It is way better than the dark days of when I was geeked about OS 9 coming out. No fanfare, no wait, hell it was not even on display at Compusa. They had to go to the back and take it out of the box to sell me one.

Anyways.. the new Macbooks came out about two weeks ago, abd the new-imac is coming out soon, so be happy that everyone is hyping this up. That means Apple will have more revenue for R&D in the future, and the new Macs will kick major booty.

 

[Raidersmojo]

I pray apple does first come first serve

thankfully in twelve oaks our apple store is in the mall and they open to mall walkers at 7 or 8 O clock (I'll be there standing at the door at 6 am waiting to get in sleeping in my car the night before)

please apple first come first serve

none of this raffel crap like the PS3!!!!!

 

[QCassidy352]

It seems to me that if they were going to offer a GOOD plan or lower rate, they would announce it DURING the week to get the stock market buzzed and watch the stock climb. The only reason I can think of to announce something on a Friday would be in hopes that the groaning will have died down by the time the market opens on Monday or that the mainstream press will not cover it as much or even that Joe Consumer somehow misses the announcement altogether.

So it seems to me that they are not expecting their announced rates plans to be met with cheering and jubilation by iPhone adopters....

Sorry to be the fly in the ointment here, I was REALLY hoping for a sweet rate plan.

Those are my thoughts exactly. I seriously hope it's not true, because I'm getting very excited for the iphone, but if they're gonna charge $600 up front and $100+ per month, then I'm going to seriously reconsider buying one. I can understand apple not wanting the phone discounted because it would devalue it in the public's eyes, but in that case they need to give us some kind of break on the plan. The iphone is revolutionary, no doubt about it, but to be gouged on the phone and the plan would just be too much. Right now my *hope* is $40 for 450 minutes + $40 for unlimited data. $80 a month will be a painful increase over what I pay now, but I think I could do it for an iphone. Upwards of $100/month, and I think I'm out.

 

[e-coli]

One AT&T Wireless employee told me that the phone would be between $100 and $150 more expensive if you were an existing customer and not yet eligible for a phone upgrade. He said the prices listed were for new customers only.

Yet another AT&T Wireless employee told me the phone prices would remain as advertised regardless of whether you are an existing customer or a new customer.

An AT&T Wireless customer service rep. told me: "I'll let you in on a big secret. AT&T stores won't be selling the iPhone. Only the Apple Store will be selling the phone, AT&T is just providing the service."

Clearly nobody has a CLUE what's going on. This seems like the most ill-coordinated and least customer-friendly product launch in history.

Yeah, so I'm going to stand in line for 5 hours to get a phone for which I have virtually no service details. RIIIIIIIGHT.

 

[dagrouch]

Online or no?

The original press release said available in store and online... then I read an article that says it's only in-store:

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8PQO0LO0.htm

Then in the press release for the glass surface and longer battery life, they continue to say in-store and online...

So which one is it? I can't take off work to stand in line so my only chance is online.

 

[jjd]

There is no subsidy on the iPhone like the other phones they sell.

I don't think thats true. I think the "off-contract" price (assuming you can even buy it off contract) will be more like $900. And I can imagine that unlocking an iPhone is going to be tougher than doing so with a Razr...

 

[sananda]

So can I go to an apple store on the 29th and queue to buy an iphone for $599 as a non-us customer or will I need to sign a contract then and there with AT&T with a usa billing address?

well, we don't know if you can buy it without a contract. but if you can, will it work for data in the UK since there's only orange with a little EDGE?

 

[mfacey]

Not that this is relevant for me as I'm across the pond, but I'm wondering how long they're going to be keeping the stores open? Signing everybody up with contracts/plans whilst selling each phone is going to be a pretty slow process compared to the regular Nintendo/Playstation releases we've seen.
I don't know what its like over there but if you go into a cell phone store here on a busy day you spend a lot of time waiting for the clerks to finish signing the customers ahead of you... just a thought.

 

[bytethese]

Clueless

I also live in NYC and I have been to two different AT&T stores, one Apple store and called Customer Service. I'm pretty much being told I am SOL because I am an existing customer. I broke my contract at Sprint to come to CingulAT&T over ayear ago because of the cool phones, the ability to load things via Bluetooth and the coverage being better. Now I am going to be locked out from buying the phone? Terrible.

I was told to ask if they will extend my contract from 2yrs beyond when it is supposed to expire,t hen I was told that if they even did that, they will not honor an 'exceptions' on launch day, only new customers. Then the guy had the gall to recommend that I don't even buy the iPhone. first gen products suck. I told him my MBP with the switch to Intel chips was the single best investment I have ever made to which I was told "Yeah, Apple is good with computers, but this is A PHONE." They developed the thing WITh AT&T, not on their own. I would think with Apple's genius and AT&T there to help with phone related matters that this is going to be one hell of a device.

I just hope I can get one when I get out of work at 3pm next week...

 

[CoreWeb]

Not that this is relevant for me as I'm across the pond, but I'm wondering how long they're going to be keeping the stores open? Signing everybody up with contracts/plans whilst selling each phone is going to be a pretty slow process compared to the regular Nintendo/Playstation releases we've seen.
I don't know what its like over there but if you go into a cell phone store here on a busy day you spend a lot of time waiting for the clerks to finish signing the customers ahead of you... just a thought.

Which is why some people think that there will be a new kind of registration which uses iTunes, thus allowing people to simply buy iPhones at the store without signing any contract.

 

[Sir]

tired

Aren't you all gettin' sick and tired of all these iPhone threads???????

 

[Lyle]

If they release info ahead of time, you have all week to compare and figure them out. But if you don't know the plan until you're in the store and have an iPhone in hand, you're much more likely to buy in and go for it. Make it an impluse buy and get people signing contracts that maybe they really shouldn't.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. It's the reality distortion field at its finest.

As much fun as I think it would be to have one of the first iPhones, I'm going to wait a bit to see how it looks after the dust settles (not only in terms of the rate plan questions, but its functionality in general).

 

[Kenn Marks]

Stick it to the Man

It seems to me that if they were going to offer a GOOD plan or lower rate, they would announce it DURING the week to get the stock market buzzed and watch the stock climb. The only reason I can think of to announce something on a Friday would be in hopes that the groaning will have died down by the time the market opens on Monday or that the mainstream press will not cover it as much or even that Joe Consumer somehow misses the announcement altogether.

So it seems to me that they are not expecting their announced rates plans to be met with cheering and jubilation by iPhone adopters....

Sorry to be the fly in the ointment here, I was REALLY hoping for a sweet rate plan.

Found this post on LoopRumors.com and whole heartedly agree with MacMedic's suggestion. MacMedic also suggests that the only way to be out of the store in less than an hour is to be the very first in line. Otherwise if your number is greater than 10 you'll be there past closing at 10:30 PM. Bring back that 60's culture and "Stick it to the Man".

LoopRumors Post subject: AT&T stores bracing for massive traffic.

timaging wrote:
well, my local AT&T can't handle the traffic it already has, and the sales people are complete jerks... should be interesting.

MacMedic responds:
Ditto, I went and got a Sierra Wireless card and Data Plan yesterday for my G4 Laptop and am hoping this same plan can be ported to my iPhone on July 2 (Moving revenue to next quarter - stick it to them for not giving us plan info in advance). But it took those experienced sales people 30 minutes to activate my data account. I already had a voice account and with having to activate iTunes as well on purchase day (can you say Watts riots). I've been trying for over a week to get details of what plans will work or be necessary for the iPhone Apple says it's AT&T's call and AT&T managers haven't a clue as of 6/18. Another little piece of information on Monday 6/11 I went to the AT&T site and found 5 data plans that might work with the iPhone ranging from $15.99 for a 5MB usage to an unlimited Family plan for $74.99 by Friday 6/15, my bookmark to that page was replaced and only three plans were available the lowest being the 5MB plan for $19.99. My current suggestion is that if None of the companies have released usage plan details by Monday June 25th we all wait two more days (we've waited 6 months) and buy our phones on July 2 and make the accountants **** themselves when all that expected revenue moves to the next quarter

 

[SiliconAddict]

My plan is to work, come home, browse the internet a bit, watch a little TV, finish off reading a Short History of the World, and go to bed....Wait. You wanted to know how I was going to get an iPhone? Never mind then.