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iPhone Monthly Fee's?
- Thread starter M.Capz
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Good deal is likely
I think it's pretty likely that Cingular will introduce an exclusive plan for the iPhone and I don't doubt that it could fall around the $50 per month mark.
Think about it: Apple has agreed to let Cingular have the phone exclusively. Why? I'm sure a reasonably priced service plan was part of the deal. Otherwise, Apple could have issued it exclusively to another network or opened it up to all of the networks. Not to mention that Apple has already put another monster industry in its place when nobody thought it was ever going to be possible (think iTunes music store). Apple is the kind of company that would push for something like this and it's in Cingular's best interest to play ball. Picture Steve at a meeting with Cingular: "Everyone, and I mean everyone, will want this phone. Do you want to lose half of 'everyone' before you even get them because you only have $80 per month service plans or would you rather tie everyone to $50 plans for two years with a phone they can't take anywhere else even if they wanted to?"
And yes, people will buy a phone they can't use elsewhere and sign a contract for two years if they can get the iPhone for $50 per month. How many people have plunked down hundreds for an iPod and downloaded their share of the two billion tracks downloaded from iTunes when those songs can't be played anywhere else? ...And they've done it because the "service plan" i.e. feeding it with songs, is so cheap and easy.
If the plans are too much per month, they'll have more people paying to get out of their contract than they will those keeping it once the 'ooh and ahh' wears off. That will leave Apple looking stupid because nobody will want their phone strictly because of Cingular's service plans. Apple won't let that happen. They'll want a premium product and service that's affordable to the masses at a profit to them. It's what they've always done.
I think it's pretty likely that Cingular will introduce an exclusive plan for the iPhone and I don't doubt that it could fall around the $50 per month mark.
Think about it: Apple has agreed to let Cingular have the phone exclusively. Why? I'm sure a reasonably priced service plan was part of the deal. Otherwise, Apple could have issued it exclusively to another network or opened it up to all of the networks. Not to mention that Apple has already put another monster industry in its place when nobody thought it was ever going to be possible (think iTunes music store). Apple is the kind of company that would push for something like this and it's in Cingular's best interest to play ball. Picture Steve at a meeting with Cingular: "Everyone, and I mean everyone, will want this phone. Do you want to lose half of 'everyone' before you even get them because you only have $80 per month service plans or would you rather tie everyone to $50 plans for two years with a phone they can't take anywhere else even if they wanted to?"
And yes, people will buy a phone they can't use elsewhere and sign a contract for two years if they can get the iPhone for $50 per month. How many people have plunked down hundreds for an iPod and downloaded their share of the two billion tracks downloaded from iTunes when those songs can't be played anywhere else? ...And they've done it because the "service plan" i.e. feeding it with songs, is so cheap and easy.
If the plans are too much per month, they'll have more people paying to get out of their contract than they will those keeping it once the 'ooh and ahh' wears off. That will leave Apple looking stupid because nobody will want their phone strictly because of Cingular's service plans. Apple won't let that happen. They'll want a premium product and service that's affordable to the masses at a profit to them. It's what they've always done.
Sorry but that's the way it is with most carriers now. I think it is a bit on the pricey side, I think they should have bundled plans of data and voice for $65 or so. That puts the data around $25. $40-50 a month is steep. However remember the people that really use and need those data plans for business reasons don't have a problem paying those prices for phones or data plans or their business does. People who think the iPhone is overpriced should remember that the Treos usually run $499 without upgrade or activation when they come out, even the RAZR was $500 when it was first introduced. Anyone who wants an iPhone needs to realize this is a high-end luxury item for the cellphone market with a price tag to match and the data plans will most likely follow. In europe and asia, cellphones are status symbols and people will pay more than an iPod $300-700 for a really nice phone whereas in the US we treat them as throwaway tech and usually get the for free with rebate or very cheap, usually with the 2yr upgrade committment string attached and they are most often crappy low grade products.
T-Mobile also allows (although with a few restrictions, port 80 proxy access only) full net access through their $5.99 T-Zones package. You really can't get any cheaper than $6 full EDGE internet.
What does this part mean, exactly? Is there an easy way to controvert T-Mo's system so that port 80 is usable? I had that package until they made this change and it became unusable as a cellular modem service (this was in the GPRS days without EDGE, but still). Then I lost interest.
Most people text A LOT in the U.S. as well- I text, on average, about 400 times a month.
I HIGHLY doubt you will see a plan under $80 per month. Hell I pay more than $49 per month for just my minutes and texting!
It means that you are only allowed to access data through port 80, or basic HTTP. Anything that requires data through another port (mostly only important when tethering) will be blocked. For example, you won't be able to play games or download large files when tethering to your laptop. But you can access 99% of the net through port 80 as long as its just HTTP pages. This is all done through the T-zones proxy.
The 29.99 or 19.99 plan does not have this limitation, and allows access to all ports. Still, for $6 a month, its a heck of a deal.
Seconded; and it is odd to think Cingular might offer something less for such a must-have phone.
I am really hoping I can get in @ $80 a month, I currently pay $56.00 a month just for my voice/text plan with Cingular. I'm hoping the package will only be $30, but I can easily see spending $100 a month for this phone.
Typing that out didn't even feel right. $100 a month?!!
I'll pretty much bet money that Steve will make Cingular have an exclusive plan just for the iPhone. It would most likely cover everything for a reasonable cost. Obviously not extremely cheap though
Think about it...Cingular will do anything to please Steve. He just did them a GIANT favor by choosing Cingular as the carrier of the iPhone. I'm sure an iPhone plan will be emerging soon enough...I can't wait to see the figures though.
Think about it...Cingular will do anything to please Steve. He just did them a GIANT favor by choosing Cingular as the carrier of the iPhone. I'm sure an iPhone plan will be emerging soon enough...I can't wait to see the figures though.
I don't see anything as good as $50/mo happening either, and that's why I won't be getting an iPhone anytime soon (unless I strike it rich ).
If it were unlocked, I'd definitely consider paying TMO $20/mo for unlimited data + $30/mo for Basic 300 calling plan (I don't talk much ). I don't give a **** if I couldn't use the Cingular exclusive random-acess voice mail if it was an affordable plan like that.
).If it were unlocked, I'd definitely consider paying TMO $20/mo for unlimited data + $30/mo for Basic 300 calling plan (I don't talk much
). I don't give a **** if I couldn't use the Cingular exclusive random-acess voice mail if it was an affordable plan like that.
Let's have a little vision here folks. To say "Cingular will treat the iPhone as any other smartphone" is ridiculous. Cingular signed a deal with nothing concrete. They made changes to their network to accomodate a new feature with more on the way. I am sure there is something about pricing in that deal. More on that later.
The market Apple is going for is sorta the person who has an iPod and a cellphone and wants a little more. And likes to be cool.
That equals a whole bunch of new data customers. These people arent going to want to spend $100/month. You know that. I know that. Apple knows that too.
Plus, this isn't going to be the tech crowd. These aren't the current Treo and BB owners. They want people new to this sector and typically that means people not up on tech. If they see that the iPhone can do all this stuff, but they buy it without a data plan. And don't know about the WiFi they are going to feel screwed.
Think like Apple here. They are going to want people to be able to do everything on the phone. They will most likely buy it for the rich media experiences. So, here is my prediction/hope:
Unlimited Data and Text starting at $49.99 w/ tierd minutes. Say 500, 1000, 1250 or 1500 etc. This also keep with Apple's simplicity model. 1 phone, 3 plan choices. Not a bajillion options. Quicker and easier decisions make for more sales.
That would be ideal and that would sell the most phones. People arent going to buy if they have to pay $100 a month to use the phone properly.
Also, Apple wants how many sold by the end of fiscal 08? 10 million. If they hit that, that brings Cingular 10 million new customers.
At $50 a month on a 2 yr contract that brings Cingular 12 BILLION DOLLARS over the life of those contracts. That number is of course gross dollars. But come one. Cingular can afford to offer better plans.
I have faith in this, and I think custom iPhone plans will be the way to go. Just think these will be available in Apple stores. Do you think they are going to want you to build a plan from the trillion options in store? Do you think they want to train their employees all this stuff? I think not.
$49.99 may be a dream, but if it is more than $59.99 with those things included (unl. data and txt, 500 minutes. ) count me out. And I am sure many more will be singing that tune as well. The iPhone will die without reasonable pricing.
The market Apple is going for is sorta the person who has an iPod and a cellphone and wants a little more. And likes to be cool.
That equals a whole bunch of new data customers. These people arent going to want to spend $100/month. You know that. I know that. Apple knows that too.
Plus, this isn't going to be the tech crowd. These aren't the current Treo and BB owners. They want people new to this sector and typically that means people not up on tech. If they see that the iPhone can do all this stuff, but they buy it without a data plan. And don't know about the WiFi they are going to feel screwed.
Think like Apple here. They are going to want people to be able to do everything on the phone. They will most likely buy it for the rich media experiences. So, here is my prediction/hope:
Unlimited Data and Text starting at $49.99 w/ tierd minutes. Say 500, 1000, 1250 or 1500 etc. This also keep with Apple's simplicity model. 1 phone, 3 plan choices. Not a bajillion options. Quicker and easier decisions make for more sales.
That would be ideal and that would sell the most phones. People arent going to buy if they have to pay $100 a month to use the phone properly.
Also, Apple wants how many sold by the end of fiscal 08? 10 million. If they hit that, that brings Cingular 10 million new customers.
At $50 a month on a 2 yr contract that brings Cingular 12 BILLION DOLLARS over the life of those contracts. That number is of course gross dollars. But come one. Cingular can afford to offer better plans.
I have faith in this, and I think custom iPhone plans will be the way to go. Just think these will be available in Apple stores. Do you think they are going to want you to build a plan from the trillion options in store? Do you think they want to train their employees all this stuff? I think not.
$49.99 may be a dream, but if it is more than $59.99 with those things included (unl. data and txt, 500 minutes. ) count me out. And I am sure many more will be singing that tune as well. The iPhone will die without reasonable pricing.
Not quite -- people already have Cingular and would may be updating their phone, as I am doing.
And while 10 million customers does seem a lot, how many new customers do these phone companies get a year? 10 million isn't a huge deal for Cingular. I'm sure it will be more than 10 million though, which will be a big deal.
Hah, I pay $30/month on sprint for 500 minutes and unlimited in-phone data, nights/weekends free, free mobile to mobile in-network. Sprint Employee Referral plan, SERO.
http://www.sprint.com/sero/
My bill after taxes, fees and $5/mo 300 txt charge is under $40/month, usually $36-$38. Screw Cingular.
http://www.sprint.com/sero/
My bill after taxes, fees and $5/mo 300 txt charge is under $40/month, usually $36-$38. Screw Cingular.