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iPhone Subsidies, Production Ramp Up?

So this is Apple being predicted to be having on sale a product that isn't announced later than predicted from the previous rumours, that didn't take into account the newer rumors of delays that could affect when Apple would be anticipated to ship, but seemingly taken into account by Apple, in the true or untrue rumor of staff leave at AT&T stores?

The power of keeping schtum! (That and mysterious boxes, in boxes in locked safes...) I guess we await to see how Hon Hai, and Infineon have affected Apple's plans.
 
a different slant

I'm going out on a limb, but I think that the subsidized iPhones thing could mean that there will be full-price unlocked iPhones.

I say this because iPhone is expanding into territory where phones *have* to be unlocked, either by law, or in order to compete (Belgium, for example).

I live in China where virtually all phones are unlocked, and Apple will be opening two Apple Stores in Beijing in time for the Olympics. Are they going to not sell iPhones there? I highly doubt it, which means that they will have to be unlocked; otherwise they couldn't compete in this market.

I suppose they can't do it in the USA yet because of the exclusive with AT&T, but maybe in the rest of the world we'll just be able to buy an iPhone at full price and use it anywhere.
 
edesignuk said:
Well you've already bought and paid for yours, so what do you want?
Click to expand...

DON'T YOU KNOW? U.S.A.-people demand rebates on an item for the rest of the life of the brand. If in 2015 Iphone 7 will get a rebate, the Iphone 1 users will still ask for a rebate because they acquired this right buying the first iphone.
 
I cant believe how excited I am now.

I'm a little gutted though. the Keynote starts at 6pm, and the Italy V Netherlands at 7:45... I'm meant to be in the pub with a friend for 8pm! I will miss the end! noooooo.

Ah well, I will end up watching the keynote anyway :eek:
 
Eidorian said:
Hopefully the current iPhone users won't mind us (me) plebeians having them as well. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Ha ha, they seem to think everyone and their unborn child having an iPod is cool, why not an iPhone?

powermac_daddy said:
wait outside for a phone? dude... get a life. i'll take it as a joke. wait outside to get a phone... did u go to college?
Click to expand...

I seem to recall a few lines gathering before the first iPhone shipped. It's an Apple product, it gets the buzz. I'm sure there are some college educations there. Except for that guy first in line at the 5th Ave NYC store. I saw him first hand. Wasn't pretty, he had been there about a week I think...

ebrunn said:
as long as current iPhone owners like myself dont get screwed
Click to expand...

Wow, you're dumb. Get over yourself.
 
That are great NEWS !!!! .... I was going to get an JB 16 GB for 600 Euros in Spain .... I´ll guess I was right waiting some months .

Can´t wait to throw my Razr into the waste basket .:D

Saludos
 
suzerain said:
I'm going out on a limb, but I think that the subsidized iPhones thing could mean that there will be full-price unlocked iPhones.

I say this because iPhone is expanding into territory where phones *have* to be unlocked, either by law, or in order to compete (Belgium, for example).

I live in China where virtually all phones are unlocked, and Apple will be opening two Apple Stores in Beijing in time for the Olympics. Are they going to not sell iPhones there? I highly doubt it, which means that they will have to be unlocked; otherwise they couldn't compete in this market.

I suppose they can't do it in the USA yet because of the exclusive with AT&T, but maybe in the rest of the world we'll just be able to buy an iPhone at full price and use it anywhere.
Click to expand...

well that's what I've been hoping too; similar to you I'm in Singapore, there's no such thing as a locked phone, you can buy them full price if you want (or lose one) or you can get it from the telco who'll discount it if you sign up for a number of years.

The fact however that apple's been announcing partnerships with new telcos around the world rather suggests that, even if they have given up the revenue sharing model, they're still going to be carrier locked, which means waiting yet longer until they get here officially, I really don't want a cracked phone.
 
Full priced unlocked phones with a $200 rebate on sign up to the contract to AT&T would be perfect.

I know you all saw the new rebate site for the back to school promo? That could be used to make the experience seamless and quick.
 
bsimmons7 said:
it won't be possible if they're selling a 400 dollar phone for 199 and hoping they activate. Activating the phones at the store would also boost sales many Sales employees don't want to sell the iPhone because they don't trust that they will get the commission for the sales
Normal people who buy the iPhone have trouble activating the phone on itunes

I work for AT&T and I personally know I would have sold many more iPhones if the device was comparably priced to blackberry and windows mobile phones
Click to expand...

I don't doubt that last part one bit. Although most of us on here would pay the extra $300 or whatever for an iPhone, there are people who for some reason think like "I just need a phone with e-mail." These are often the same people that buy a $400 laptop and call 30 tech support places weekly.

I will say a if there's a 16GB model at $199 and 32GB model at $299, I'm on that like $#@% on velcro when I can get the discount in a few months. I can probably find someone to sell this first-gen phone to for $100 and then end up with a 32GB 3G iPhone for a total of $450, which is about what I was hoping to spend in the first place. :)
 
I wonder how much of this is them reporting on a rumor on this site or a site similar and then this site reporting it as a new rumor.
 
AlphaAnt said:
I wonder how much of this is them reporting on a rumor on this site or a site similar and then this site reporting it as a new rumor.
Click to expand...

Highly likely.. :rolleyes:

But I've got a trip booked to :apple: NY for the 25th so I hope at least the launch date is correct :D

Beside, the US Peso is so low right now that 400 bucks are like 250 euros ;) I personally rather save money on the plan and forgo the subsidy.... :D
 
edesignuk said:
Well you've already bought and paid for yours, so what do you want?
Click to expand...

To be able to get all the same features that the new phone would have (sans 3G and GPS) since it is likely the existing hardware can do pretty much everything else. In other words to not have to upgrade to get things like the rumored MMS and other fixes. Especially since everyone and their cousin was touting how the iPhone would be (is) software upgradable unlike every other phone.

Sadly I fully expect Apple to get (me at least) us to upgrade just for like one or two features that probably could be put on the V1 product.
 
But the real question is...

Will current iPhone users be able to upgrade their current one to the 3g version? Perhaps a $50 fee?
 
backdraft said:
Will current iPhone users be able to upgrade their current one to the 3g version? Perhaps a $50 fee?
Click to expand...

I highly doubt there will be an upgrade program, at least here in the States. Over in the Europe, it seems the iPhone wasn't selling so well, so it might be a possibility there.

As for the "delay", my guess is that Jobs will announce the new iPhone today, and it will be available for purchase on 6/16 from the AT&T store. There is some part of me that hopes the Apple stores will be get first dibs. Then I can go there after work today and purchase one.
 
Confirmed also in Uk Times

Hi, my first post lol

Just saw in today's Times (UK) that they are also mentioning both the announcement, and subsidisation of, a 3G and GPS enabled iphone.

They say this in a tone that is indicative of certainty.

Thats my bit for adding to the rumour mill

I sure hope they do subsidise it in the UK (non- subsidisation is one of the reasons it didn't fare too well out here) and move away from the useless 02.

here's to hoping that it gets released pronto as well :)
 
My local news is reporting the subsidy as a matter of fact. In fact, they are just calling it a "price drop." That's good journalism, huh?
 
A subsidised iPhone will sell a lot better in the UK, however the carriers will demand activation as they - not Apple - will be doing the subsidising. I guess that it'll be in the form of a cash back or voucher on activation - they get your bank details (for monthly DDM payments) and credit your account with the rebate, for example. Not sure how this affects Apple store sales - they might offer unlocked and unsubsidised units.

If we're talking $199 in the US then we're probably talking £149 in the UK which would make it extremely competitive. Of course, all this still depends on the feature set of the new model - most people won't cough up £149 for a feature poor phone.
 
As much as I'd like one at that price point I will wait a bit for

1. To see if there are any hardware issues, the screen problem on the touch has taught me that.

2. What are the prices of the Plan? What will it cost me monthly for two years.

So I'll sit back and wait a bit and maybe pick one up later in the summer.
 
well add subsidies to the upset list. i hope i'm wrong, but GPS and a $199 price point may be the two rumors that will upset the fan base if they aren't announced today.

why would Apple lower the price of the iPhone if they are adding features? its very uncharacteristic for Apple to have a product on the market that costs less than a competing product. the iPod Classic still costs more than competing mp3 players (not counting the zune). but like i said, i hope i'm wrong and i don't have to spend my entire $500 gift certificate on the 2nd Gen iPhone ;)
 
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