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iPhone Voice and Data Plan Rates to Come

imwoblin said:
Are there THAT many people out there with so much disposable income that they would wait in line, break their existing contracts with other carriers and pay the termination fee, just beacause Apple and ATT says that this device is the greatest thing since toilet paper?
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Yes.
 
I don't think it really matters what Apple and At&t say about it. This thing truly markets itself. All you need is to know a little about current available technology, and to watch a demo of the phones known capabilities (let alone still unknown / still to come over months of software updates)...

...and its immediately worth every dollar they are asking. Its just a matter of how much its worth to you.

I hear what you're saying, but I am well versed in what the iPhone has to offer in regards to it's cutting edge technology. Hell, I was the first in line at the Apple store when the Apple TV was released (just as I was for the Powerbooks, Powermacs, Macbook Pro) and I have purchased all of them over the years. My question really is " How many people have $600 for the phone, $175 to break you're contract with you're current carrier, $90-100 bucks a month for service? I expect many do, but the way you hear it from ATT & Apple, people are going to call in sick, camp out at the store, the store's will have to call in the National Guard for crowd control, etc. I just dont see it.
 
so annoying

What's the big freaking problem with letting people know what the monthly costs are going to be?

I find it ridiculous that the "new" AT&T feels the need to be secretive about this. Makes me think people are going to be raped on pricing.

I would have pre-bought the phone if not for this...
 
jk8311 said:
Looking at Cingular's current plans, unlimited data goes for $20/month and 450 minutes of voice goes for $40/month. Even at 900 minutes, the most you'll be paying for is $80/month.
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Hmmmm, with pricing in this range, I just might be able to get one after all. I have Sprint right now and their service is horrible. Living in the boonies of Mid-Michigan makes it all the worse, not to mention I need to have more connectivity than I do right now ... only dial-up is available where I live :(

I won't be getting one on the 29th, but a birthday present to myself (November) might be in order. My contract with EvilSprint will be expiring in Dec. after all :cool:
 
Other Thoughts.

jk8311 said:
Why do so many people think these plans will be so expensive? Looking at Cingular's current plans, unlimited data goes for $20/month and 450 minutes of voice goes for $40/month. Even at 900 minutes, the most you'll be paying for is $80/month.

In terms of web browsing, the iPhone doesn't use more data, it simply displays it in its true form. In turn, I guess that could lead to more demand for bandwidth since using the web on the phone will be so much easier, but for all intents and purposes, it's no different than a smart phone.

For those of you who say we need it for tethering purposes (i.e. using the phone as a modem...much more expensive), I think that will be pretty rare. You can already get email, calendar, contacts, and internet on the iPhone...using the iPhone as a modem for your laptop will be pretty rare to start, I think.

Other thoughts?
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I can guarantee that you'll pay about $80 a month with a plan that is 39.99 for 450 voice, with 19.99 unlimited smartphone data and 5.99 for 100 texts.

For 900 min, you'll definitely pay $100 or more.

Taxes and regulatory fees are usually about 15 bucks, and have been on my ATT bill for the last four years.

I never used my pda or my smartphone to tether. It was pointless, exactly as you say. And without high speed, you won't use it unless you're desperate.

By "exotic", they mean plans won't be anything out of the norm. Voice will be the same, and data may go down to as low as 15.99 for unlimited, but that's no guarantee it won't be at least 19.99. I've just seen it go down that low before with new promotions.
 
macidiot said:
What's the big freaking problem with letting people know what the monthly costs are going to be?

I find it ridiculous that the "new" AT&T feels the need to be secretive about this. Makes me think people are going to be raped on pricing.

I would have pre-bought the phone if not for this...
Click to expand...

Since there are no pre-sales of the iPhone, your point is moot.
 
Rooskibar03 said:
Blackberry connect through Cing right now is $39.99 per month. I'm guessing iPhone will be the same.
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That's the question... Smartphone Connect is $19.99 for Unlimited Data, and the Blackberry Plan is $34.99, but which one will the iPhone fall under?

Not to mention, how can AT&T/Cingular get away with not including text messages as unlimited in an unlimited data plan... isn't a text message just a tiny burst of data?!?!
 
I Think we will be suprised in a Nice way

In return for a non-discounted iPhone and a lock with AT&T we will see a highly discounted data rate with a reasonable voice plan using rollover minutes. I predict unlimited data and 900 min./mo. for $60 plus usual fees and taxes.
 
KindredMAC said:
My prediction is that the data plans are going to be ridiculous and everyone is going to scream ... Why else would AT&T be keeping the rates a secret until right before the launch.
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That is my gut feeling too.

However, AT&T may be holding off to guage demand, and then price the service accordingly. Of course, with so many people about to have an iGasm over the iPhone at any minute (by the way, it does have a vibrate mode), I think AT&T will set the price fairly high.
 
Tampa Tom said:
In return for a non-discounted iPhone and a lock with AT&T we will see a highly discounted data rate with a reasonable voice plan using rollover minutes. I predict unlimited data and 900 min./mo. for $60 plus usual fees and taxes.
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I really hope you're right! I was looking at the DataConnect plan and the Smart Phone plans on the at&t website and trying to figure how on earth they are so different in pricing ($20 vs. $40). The only thing I can really see is that with DataConnect you can access a corporate intranet. Since the iPhone doesn't do this maybe it will fall more under the Smart Phone plan and be closer to $20. Here's hoping.....
 
What really makes virtually no sense is that you have to pay for a crazy $45 unlimited plan that is set up to work 1st and foremost via wifi and only switch to edge when it can't connect. Which will probably be the greater % of time. Whereby helping Cingular out! This is F'ed up is you ask me...

And really there is just not enough wifi open spots to make this a real plus... go figure.
 
Tampa Tom said:
In return for a non-discounted iPhone and a lock with AT&T we will see a highly discounted data rate with a reasonable voice plan using rollover minutes. I predict unlimited data and 900 min./mo. for $60 plus usual fees and taxes.
Click to expand...

This announcement will then spark the event that will come to be known to an incredulous future as the "iPhone riots of '07," as demand far exceeds the supply.
 
sbrownla said:
I can guarantee that you'll pay about $80 a month with a plan that is 39.99 for 450 voice, with 19.99 unlimited smartphone data and 5.99 for 100 texts.

For 900 min, you'll definitely pay $100 or more.

Taxes and regulatory fees are usually about 15 bucks, and have been on my ATT bill for the last four years.

I never used my pda or my smartphone to tether. It was pointless, exactly as you say. And without high speed, you won't use it unless you're desperate.

By "exotic", they mean plans won't be anything out of the norm. Voice will be the same, and data may go down to as low as 15.99 for unlimited, but that's no guarantee it won't be at least 19.99. I've just seen it go down that low before with new promotions.
Click to expand...

That's precisely my point - the pricing won't be any more than it already is for plans. Hell, for voice, texts, and a Get It Now program that gives me my email, I pay about $65-$70/month. At that point, if I'm already paying $500 for a phone, what's another $30/month?
 
Tampa Tom said:
In return for a non-discounted iPhone and a lock with AT&T we will see a highly discounted data rate with a reasonable voice plan using rollover minutes. I predict unlimited data and 900 min./mo. for $60 plus usual fees and taxes.
Click to expand...

Wow! Sign me up :)
 
You cannot buy iPhone if you are NOT eligible for an Upgrade Unless you Add A line

Folks,

Check this out... I confirmed it with two stores.

You can only purchase an iPhone IF you are eligible for an upgrade OR you purchase a new line.

So if you currently have a Cingular/at&t plan and you are not eligible for an upgrade you cannot purchase an iPhone... Unless you add a line for an extra 9.99 a month. Which also means you will need a separate data plan for the iPhone as well.

If you dont believe this call your local store... they have this info.
 
Goooood Luck!!!

Tampa Tom said:
In return for a non-discounted iPhone and a lock with AT&T we will see a highly discounted data rate with a reasonable voice plan using rollover minutes. I predict unlimited data and 900 min./mo. for $60 plus usual fees and taxes.
Click to expand...

You're kidding right? 900 minutes already cost 59.99, and so that would mean data would be free. The original article says there will be separate plans.

Voice plans are voice plans, no matter what the phone, so a voice plan that special would definitely be considered "exotic". My guess for a REALLY good deal will be voice as usual, and unlimited data at 15.99/month.

On the other hand, the way the difference between PDA and Smartphone Connect (not tether plans) was explained to me was that when you can use phone to view full internet, and not use their portal and WAP pages, the phone requires a PDA plan.

Oh, and guys and gals, how much will we be charged for visual voicemail??? It's an "enhanced" service, so expect an additional fee for that, maybe 4.99.

So we're here:

39.99 450 anytime minutes
15.99 Unlimited data (if we're lucky)
5.99 100 txts
4.99 Enhanced vmail
----------------------------------
66.96 subtotal
9.00 taxes/fees
----------------------------------
75.96

Discuss.
 
And for those for those of you too cheap to pay for "Visual Voicemail"...just get CallWave. It's free and does essentially the same thing.
 
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