iPhone Subsidies, Production Ramp Up?

[eqinespecter]

I'm exactly where you are on that one. I'd imagine that Apple will convince them to do it since AT&T will, I'm guessing on this one, charge $25 a month for unlimited 3G vs $20 for unlimited EDGE. That and Apple wants you to get the new one because you'll be able to use iTunes and the App Store wherever you want and that'll get Apple some more money...

excuse my denseness! Are you both suggesting that ATT MIGHT offer a $200 subsidy for current iPhone owners if the owners extend their contract another 2 years (but keeping their current iPhones)?

Buying a new 3G iPhone w/ subsidy is then another matter altogether.

"immaculate irrelevance"

 

[Hawk.]

 

[swarmster]

Here's a thought:

There were rumours recently about the iPhone's new firmware mentioning multiple operating bands, right? Could Apple be allowing AT&T to subsidize the iPhone because Apple's going to be selling an unlocked version out of their own stores?

That would be ideal for me, anyway. Pay full price for the iPhone, but still use my cheap Sprint plan.

 

[bigmc6000]

excuse my denseness! Are you both suggesting that ATT MIGHT offer a $200 subsidy for current iPhone owners if the owners extend their contract another 2 years (but keeping their current iPhones)?

Buying a new 3G iPhone w/ subsidy is then another matter altogether.

"immaculate irrelevance"

Noooo - I mean if you own a current iPhone and you upgrade to the 3G they'll still give you the $200 off. No way they are going to do anything for those that want to keep their iPhone 1.0.

 

[bigmc6000]

Here's a thought:

There were rumours recently about the iPhone's new firmware mentioning multiple operating bands, right? Could Apple be allowing AT&T to subsidize the iPhone because Apple's going to be selling an unlocked version out of their own stores?

That would be ideal for me, anyway. Pay full price for the iPhone, but still use my cheap Sprint plan.

Sprint (and Verizon) don't use GSM so it wouldn't work with those anyway. Only thing it'll work with (here in the States) is TMobile.

 

[swarmster]

Sprint (and Verizon) don't use GSM so it wouldn't work with those anyway. Only thing it'll work with (here in the States) is TMobile.

Yes but are we sure the new phone's going to be GSM-only? They're throwing in a GPS antenna, right, so what's one more? (I'm sure that's a vast and ignorant over-simplification.) Are there any phones that do that?

 

[bigmc6000]

Yes but are we sure the new phone's going to be GSM-only? They're throwing in a GPS antenna, right, so what's one more? (I'm sure that's a vast and ignorant over-simplification.) Are there any phones that do that?

I know of no phone that just throws an extra chip in there "just in case" and all of Apple's other partners (someone correct me if I'm wrong on this one) are GSM only. CDMA is mainly a US thing as the rest of the world almost exclusively goes with GSM. Asking Foxconn or whoever to make two different chip sets just isn't feasible. And, come on, you know Apple better than that - you think they'd put ANYTHING in there that might not be used?

 

[MacinDoc]

Yes but are we sure the new phone's going to be GSM-only? They're throwing in a GPS antenna, right, so what's one more? (I'm sure that's a vast and ignorant over-simplification.) Are there any phones that do that?

I agree with bigmc, it will be GSM-only.

It Apple sells enough of them, in a few years, when the exclusivity contract with AT&T expires, Apple may make both a GSM model and a CDMA model, but there will be no model that does both.

 

[Riemann Zeta]

I know that I will be at least tempted to upgrade. I just wish that they had left out the GPS tracking module. I don't have much desire to waste my battery just so Google can know exactly where I am 24 hours a day. I assume it will be easy to deactivate via software, though.

 

[bigmc6000]

I know that I will be at least tempted to upgrade. I just wish that they had left out the GPS tracking module. I don't have much desire to waste my battery just so Google can know exactly where I am 24 hours a day. I assume it will be easy to deactivate via software, though.

I'd imagine - if Apple is smart - they'll be an option that says "Enable GPS when Maps is opened" yes/no. That would leave it off until you open Maps - also, I'd like to see an auto-3G enabling feature like others were talking about where when opening YouTube, Safari, and Mail it automatically turns on 3G. Now THAT would be smart

 

[Quillz]

I know that I will be at least tempted to upgrade. I just wish that they had left out the GPS tracking module. I don't have much desire to waste my battery just so Google can know exactly where I am 24 hours a day. I assume it will be easy to deactivate via software, though.

GPS hasn't been confirmed. For all we know, the iPhone may not even be released today.

 

[Plutonius]

Subsidies are great, don't get me wrong, but it won't win over as many people as it would if they lowered the minimum plan below $60/month. I'd get one in a second if they left the price at $400 but allowed me to get the plan down to $45/month or less.

I pay about $30/month with Sprint for voice and data, through a special offer and a discount through my employer. I can't even get my employer's discount (we also have one with AT&T) on the iPhone because Apple and AT&T have it locked up so tight. Any rumours about that changing?

As much as I'm dying to have one, it's really hard to justify paying twice as much every month, no matter what the phone itself costs.

With subsidies -> You pay less for the iPhone but get higher monthly prices.
Without subsidies -> You pay more for the iPhone but get lower monthly prices.

In the end, you probably end up paying close to the same with subsidies and without subsidies.

For those that want subsidies and lower monthly cost, perhaps you should consider something other than an iPhone.

 

[bigmc6000]

With subsidies -> You pay less for the iPhone but get higher monthly prices.
Without subsidies -> You pay more for the iPhone but get lower monthly prices.

In the end, you probably end up paying close to the same with subsidies and without subsidies.

For those that want subsidies and lower monthly cost, perhaps you should consider something other than an iPhone.

I don't really agree with that logic. It only applies if you weren't going to upgrade your phone/plan in the first place.

If you have an older phone, turn it in, get a brand new one for free and keep the exact same plan how does that = higher monthly charges?

It's all about if you were going to upgrade anyway. Also, we didn't get some magical discount on the monthly fees since we paid full price for the iPhone.

 

[swarmster]

With subsidies -> You pay less for the iPhone but get higher monthly prices.
Without subsidies -> You pay more for the iPhone but get lower monthly prices.

In the end, you probably end up paying close to the same with subsidies and without subsidies.

For those that want subsidies and lower monthly cost, perhaps you should consider something other than an iPhone.

Okay, assuming I buy a new phone every two years (the only way subsidies can even be "applied" to monthly rate), $200 over two years is a "discount" of about $8/month. And you're paying "full price" for the phone.

Forget about dropping the actual monthly rate. If AT&T just made the iPhone plan a standard plan that is subject to all of the usual promotions and employer-based discounts, I would save far more than $8/month.

It's as bad as all the carriers charging a bonus $40/month for the privilege of using a Blackberry branded phone. The price of the phone isn't the problem.

 

[radiogod69]

Yup that was the first thing I checked before going to macrumors wwdc coverage, any body else feeling giddy?

 

[harveypooka]

i think you guys should check out these kinda new regarding Apple in China.

http://www.chinatechnews.com/2006/06/25/3874-foxconn-admits-breaking-labor-laws-in-china/

before you buy their product.

I am a mac user for years. so, i know i am part of these "paying very little to the workers" community. The rich stays rich, who is serving the rich? the poor.

but.. anyway. good Foxconn China.

Good luck buying an iPhone in the morning.

I agree mate. Think before you buy.

These luxury items come at expensive of slavery.

 

[womoma]

http://www.macrumorslive.com/

****ING FAIL