iPhone Data Plan $30?

[MacRumors]

Gizmodo's Brian Lam believes that AT&T's iPhone Data Plan will be $30. The report is somewhat suspicious, as the information comes from a sales agent who also quotes a release date of June 11th. Meanwhile, other reports have pointed to a June 20th release date.

The report comes on the heels of information regarding possible iPhone calling plans, including pre-paid options.

 

[Daveway]

I wouldn't doubt the fact that at&t is trying to give more value to the user offering a decreased rate plan. On th other hand, a person willing to pay $600 for a phone will probably have no problem paying a full priced rate plan.

And Brian, well, we know he's pulled some duzzies before.

He also makes it sound as if at&t will block WiFi access on the phone until you buy the EDGE data plan. That has got to be total BS.

 

[zapp]

I don't find this hard to believe. I bought a blackberry on woot and it costs me an additional $29 for the unlimited data plan.

 

[DMann]

Data Plan

I wouldn't doubt the fact that at&t is trying to give more value to the user offering a decreased rate plan. On th other hand, a person willing to pay $600 for a phone will probably have no problem paying a full priced rate plan.

And Brian, well, we know he's pulled some duzzies before.

Although $30 is reasonable, it is the EDGE network. One could easily opt out, and use the plethora of 'hot spots' for Wi-Fi access instead. An extra $300/year savings is good even for the person willing to spend $600 on a computer/iPod/movieplayer/smartphone with Wi-Fi.

 

[nagromme]

No news is no news.

AT&T stores have been spilling all kinds of guesses, and I take them all with piles of salt.

But that's what p.2 is for, after all.

 

[longofest]

No news is no news.

AT&T stores have been spilling all kinds of guesses, and I take them all with piles of salt.

But that's what p.2 is for, after all.

touche

 

[MacBoobsPro]

Either way I bet in the UK it will be more than double what the US will be paying.

 

[SilentPanda]

Either way I bet in the UK it will be more than double what the US will be paying.

Well your money is worth twice as much isn't it?

 

[bdj21ya]

I think the data plan is pretty lame, though I suppose I should reserve judgment til I see what EDGE speeds can do. For me, I'm in range of wireless networks for so much of my day that I doubt the data plan would make any sense for me. Now if we could just get skype for calls over wifi, I could cut cingular out of the equation altogether. (Cutting Cingular = )

 

[Cooknn]

I wouldn't doubt the fact that at&t is trying to give more value to the user offering a decreased rate plan.

Are you saying that you would expect them to charge less than $30? Because last time I checked that was the going rate for unlimited data on Cingular/AT&T. T-Mobile only charges $19.99 for the same plan...

[EDIT] Whoa. Just rechecked the AT&T website. $44.99 for unlimited data?! What a joke.

 

[izzysanime]

iphone only edge?

The iPhone is only EDGE? not 3G? o come on, thats really sad,

 

[izzysanime]

I think the data plan is pretty lame, though I suppose I should reserve judgment til I see what EDGE speeds can do. For me, I'm in range of wireless networks for so much of my day that I doubt the data plan would make any sense for me. Now if we could just get skype for calls over wifi, I could cut cingular out of the equation altogether. (Cutting Cingular = )

EDGE speeds for me where ok, 5 KBS (about 56k) It was useful because it works out in the middle of no where, which is great. But I was hoping it would support both EDGE and 3g

 

[DMann]

3g

The iPhone is only EDGE? not 3G? o come on, thats really sad,

As soon as AT&T gets their 3G up and running (well), Apple will implement 3G in the iPhone.

 

[Turkish]

I'm starting to think that hooking up with AT&T is going to be the Achilles Heel of this whole deal...

 

[mkrishnan]

As soon as AT&T gets their 3G up and running (well), Apple will implement 3G in the iPhone.

When is 4G planned to be out again?

 

[TheChillPill]

Either way I bet in the UK it will be more than double what the US will be paying.

I would actually expect the UK to be much more competitive in terms of price. Remember, the UK mobile industry is several years ahead of the US - I just hope Apple understand the marketplace properly here.

 

[Timpdude]

The 44.95 plan is for Blackberry phones..

I have a treo and the unlimited data plan for it is $39.99. I would imagine that the iPhone data plan will be one of those.. Chances are it will be the $39.99 one as the Blackberry one is more expensive because you are having to pay for the RIM service. I don't really see iPhone's data plan being $30 at all. everyone is getting all jacked out of shape for nothing.. The Wi-Fi will work no matter if you get the EDGE plan or not. People are going to buy this phone without phone plans/data plans because they want a widescreen video iPod with Wi-Fi Access. I wasn't a huge fan of this to begin with, but the more I read about it the more I realize that people are really going to scap these up and fast.

Michael

 

[SilvorX]

If this were to be released in Canada and required a data plan, a $30 plan would only give you 3-4 megabytes of data tops, if it required a "near" unlimited plan, would probably require a $60-$100 plan... yikes..

 

[twoodcc]

i hope i get an iPhone, but i won't be paying $30 a month for a data plan

 

[-hh]

The 44.95 plan is for Blackberry phones..

Which we should remember is typically paid for by the user's business, so it is effectively an "invisible" expense.

Generally speaking, when people are spending 'funny money', they're a bit less price sensitive then when they're pulling a credit card out of their own wallet.

People are going to buy this phone without phone plans/data plans because they want a widescreen video iPod with Wi-Fi Access. I wasn't a huge fan of this to begin with, but the more I read about it the more I realize that people are really going to scap these up and fast.

This is an interesting point too - - and one that would be more inclined to keep price pressure on AT&T to keep the monthly price lower than otherwise.

Similarly, if Apple really does want to go 'big' with this product *and* make sure to keep most of them on the network, they can't afford to have the monthly fee be out of reach of the consumer market.


Overall, I see the sum of these factors as indicators that suggest that the iPhone may not necessarily have its minimum monthly subscription fee to be particularly outrageous.


-hh

 

[macUser2007]

Hmm, I pay $20 for an unlimited data plan now, and I get 3G on my HTC Trinity in most of the West side of LA now.

The lack of 3G is what is stopping from getting an iPhone for my wife.

Edge is not really usable IMO for most anything Internet (like a phone modem,) while 3G gets me about 500-700k, and it makes the data plan worth it. Hey, I listen to the BBC news streaming on my way to work in the car

Apple blew it with settling for Edge, me thinks.

(Oh, and I get GPS in the Trinity too..., but then virtually all upcomming pricey phones are getting GPS chips.) Apple needs to keep up better. Maybe the next generation.

 

[ClimbingTheLog]

I'm starting to think that hooking up with AT&T is going to be the Achilles Heel of this whole deal...

Starting? Hey, better late than never.

I routinely travel to areas with only Verizon/CDMA coverage, so the 5-year AT&T deal means this will be the first product (category) of Apple product I won't own.

I believe I would have one on launch day if Verizon hadn't said 'no'.

 

[JNB]

When is 4G planned to be out again?

Um, it's heeerre...

Sprint plans to launch 4G services in trial markets by the end of 2007 with plans to deploy a network that reaches as many as 100 million people in 2008. The German WiMAX operator Deutsche Breitband Dienste (DBD) has launched WiMAX services in Magdeburg and Dessau. The subscribers are offered two tariff plans. The first costing $12.99 per month offering 1 Mbit/s connection speed and 1 GB monthly traffic. The second plan has unlimited traffic, the speed increased to 2 Mbit/s for a $25.99 monthly fee. The subscribers are also charged $90.99 for the equipment and installation.[10] DBD received additional national licenses for WiMAX in December 2006 and have already launched the services in Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G)

 

[yg17]

$20/month for unlimited data at T-Mobile for the win!

 

[slffl]

$20/month for unlimited data at T-Mobile for the win!

$10 unlimited from Sprint for the win!!!!

Seriously though. I just looked at the latest Cingular prices. If I want the lowest voice plan it's $40 + $30 = $70. That's just way too much for the bare minimum. I hope they come out with iPhone specific plans that at least start at $60, better yet $50.

I pay $40/mnth for 450min and unlimited 3G data on Sprint now.