Pre-Paid iPhone Service to be Available?

[gauchogolfer]

Uhh... a 300 minute contract is €7,95/month how the fsck is that more than $15-$20 ?

Please show me where in the USA I can get a 300 minute/month plan for $15. I'd sign in a heartbeat. Fact is, plans in the States cost more than Europe, or most places in the world.

 

[Tattoo]

As nasty, vile, and elitist an attitude as the above comment may be, I have to agree with you. I have started to make my way back from "FICO-hell" as you describe it, I would hate to see someone who wasn't as qualified as myself or any other with a respectable credit score, get one of these phones for "pay-as-you-go" pricing. Apple would be sending the wrong message (in my opinion) out to all those little teenie-boppers out there, that it's OK to get keep bad credit.

HI 5 to you bro!!!! 🙂
Finally someone on here actually "understanding" what I was saying.
Gratz on being truthful and Double Gratz 😀 😀 for getting your FICO Scores up. 😎
I may not have come across in my words the best "PC" way - but many times the truth hurts! 😀

I think you said it best! Please lets not lower the Apple (BMW) Standard to a "Rent to own Furniture Store". 🙄

 

[Aaargh!]

(1) Not sure about where you live - but here in the USA - thats a great price for unlimitted.

Netherlands

(2) Some people work for a living and will use the iPhone for Business. 1000 minutes isnt Jack Sh&%t buddy. 🙄

Sure, but we're talking about consumer contracts, the iPhone is primarily targetted at consumers.

btw, I just did a quick check, and you can get an unlimited voice plan for €18,-/month (unlimited to land lines and cell phones on the same provider, you still pay to call a cellphone on another providers network).

 

[nagromme]

As nasty, vile, and elitist an attitude as the above comment may be, I have to agree with you. I have started to make my way back from "FICO-hell" as you describe it, I would hate to see someone who wasn't as qualified as myself or any other with a respectable credit score, get one of these phones for "pay-as-you-go" pricing. Apple would be sending the wrong message (in my opinion) out to all those little teenie-boppers out there, that it's OK to get keep bad credit.

This isn't about buying Apple's phone (talk to the credit card companies about that issue) but about the plans from AT&T. You won't "get keep bad credit" from a pay-as-you-go plan. Credit cards are the enemy here--and I do think encouraging people to get bad credit is a real societal problem--not pay-as-you-go.

I know your trying to be "PC" and all of your reasons are valid BUT please dont act as if those are the reasons for having "Pay-as-you-go plans". You know damn well its people with Bad Credit - period. 😉 People of that caliper should NOT be looking at ANY smart phone - let alone an iPhone.

So... all our reasons why pay-as-you-go is a useful option are valid reasons, you say... but at the same time ONLY your "people of that caliper" reason is a valid reason, period? 😕

 

[hcopp]

As nasty, vile, and elitist an attitude as the above comment may be, I have to agree with you. I have started to make my way back from "FICO-hell" as you describe it, I would hate to see someone who wasn't as qualified as myself or any other with a respectable credit score, get one of these phones for "pay-as-you-go" pricing. Apple would be sending the wrong message (in my opinion) out to all those little teenie-boppers out there, that it's OK to get keep bad credit.

How in gods name does a conversation about a cell phone turn into what apple wants to convey to their customers about keeping credit scores. Apple couldn't give two ***** about the credit score of customer a, b, or c. as long as they are buying their products.

 

[hcopp]

HI 5 to you bro!!!! 🙂
Finally someone on here actually "understanding" what I was saying.
Gratz on being truthful and Doible Gratz 😀 😀 for getting your FICO Scores up. 😎
I may not have come across in my words the best "PC" way - but many times the truth hurts! 😀

I think you said it best! Please lets not lower the Apple (BMW) Standard to a "Rent to own Furniture Store". 🙄

apple is lowering the standard of their products THEMSELVES. The build quality of their machines have suffered serious setbacks over the past few years. Who buys their products is a non issue, the quality of their products is what will soon bring them down to a "rent to own furniture store"

by the way, im sure that 95% of these "bad credit, food stamp using, welfare exploiting, low lifes" that you are referencing, would have killed the have the opportunities you clearly were subjected to. But you know what, a vast majority of them didn't even have a chance.

 

[Aaargh!]

Please show me where in the USA I can get a 300 minute/month plan for $15. I'd sign in a heartbeat. Fact is, plans in the States cost more than Europe, or most places in the world.

Can't you get a cheap SIM-only deal somewhere ? I admit I don't know **** about the US cellphone industry but 300 minute/month shouldn't be too expensive ? Over here there are literally hundreds of different plans available in that price range.

It's actually quite annoying to get a new plan because it's almost impossible or at least impractical to compare all the different options.

 

[hcopp]

This isn't about buying Apple's phone (talk to the credit card companies about that issue) but about the plans from AT&T. You won't "get keep bad credit" from a pay-as-you-go plan. Credit cards are the enemy here--and I do think encouraging people to get bad credit is a real societal problem--not pay-as-you-go.



So... all our reasons why pay-as-you-go is a useful option are valid reasons, you say... but at the same time ONLY your "people of that caliper" reason is a valid reason, period? 😕

Im with this guy.

if apple was "concerned about the credit standing of their customers" they wouldn't plaster apple credit card ads over their EDU website, enticing college students with no funds to buy a new macbook.

 

[pale9]

More Unconfirmed Plans


In stores only: Wheel of Fortune. Spin the while and wind up with 1,2 or 3 year contract. In return you only pay $5 a month for data.

Pay as you blow: Charge your phone using a special breath strength meter. best blowers get 10% off.

You' Mama: Get you moma to buy you an iphone and she gets a dozen roses.

Scratch n' Sniff top-off card: Sold in Best Buy and other fine stores. $5, $10 and $25 value cards. The $25 card is said to smell like Paris Hilton after a night out.

 

[scrambledwonder]

I know your trying to be "PC" and all of your reasons are valid BUT please dont act as if those are the reasons for having "Pay-as-you-go plans". You know damn well its people with Bad Credit - period. 😉 People of that caliper should NOT be looking at ANY smart phone - let alone an iPhone.

Leave the "7-11 Track Phone Metro PCS - No Credit Check - Pay As You Go Food Stamp Plans" to the phone that derserve that Badge.😎

Oh, and just to rub it in:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliper

 

[nagromme]

apple is lowering the standard of their products THEMSELVES. The build quality of their machines have suffered serious setbacks over the past few years. Who buys their products is a non issue, the quality of their products is what will soon bring them down to a "rent to own furniture store"

Just to clarify: Apple's laptop reliability has dropped even with the rest of the pack, sadly--but no worse. Apple's desktop reliability remains far ahead of any other company in the industry. Their service, in the event of a problem, also remains the most effective in the industry. (See stats from Consumer Reports.)

 

[hcopp]

Just to clarify: Apple's laptop reliability has dropped even with the rest of the pack, sadly--but no worse. Apple's desktop reliability remains far ahead of any other company in the industry. (See stats from Consumer Reports.)

well that makes sense, as my comment was related directly to my experience with laptop sales over the past 3 years. I have not noticed any problems with the desktops. Or nearly to the multitude that the portables have.

Regardless, i think that is a moot point in the larger argument that tattoo is prolonging with his unabashed stupidity.

 

[Rocketman]

Im my opinion at&t needs to cut the Bull S*&% and just offer a unlimited Cell/Data plan for like $99.99 and call it a day. No minutes to worry about - everything unlimted - Hell, I would pay $149.99 for that service.

Please dont let every Tom, Dick and Harry off the street with a FICO score of 350 get an iPhone with a "Pay-as-you-go Food Stamp Plan" 😡

Drug dealers, pimps and smugglers need phones too and they pay cash 🙂

I believe the emphasis WILL be on pre-paid as a technique to encourage switchers who DO have 2 year contracts with other carriers.

The way that works is the usage cost per minute is higher on pre-paid vs. a contract plan (the incentive for the plan). BUT as someone pointed out, folks with low incomes, not just bad credit, but even "dinged" credit, typically have to pay large deposits. This could easily be solved by carriers setting a fixed credit limit instead, and more services bundled as unlimited (ala Cingular's announcement for unlimited text and messaging for $5 a month), but it seems to me phone companies live for the upside revenues of phone abuse.

Rocketman

 

[Tattoo]

How in gods name does a conversation about a cell phone turn into what apple wants to convey to their customers about keeping credit scores. Apple couldn't give two ***** about the credit score of customer a, b, or c. as long as they are buying their products.

I think many have missed the point.

The main reason - MAIN REASON - for Cell Phone Providers here in the USA to offer "Pay-as-you-go plans" are 95% because those very people can NOT get a "Standard" Cell Phone plan.

Yes, I agree that there are situations where "Pay-as-you-go" works great. For example: Young children to control phone use or Elderly people that seldom use a phone, or a phone used only for emergency.

Now lets get real here folks! Come on! We all know those plans are for people that have HORRIBLE Credit. Its so bad that the phone company would rather have the money UP FRONT than trust you to pay them later.

Simply put - Most people on those plans have NO choice. Those phones are branded as such. PERIOD.

Now lets talk about the iPhone. Do you seriously think this device should be branded as such? 😕

 

[arn]

Sounds great, but then for me this begs the question: what then is the incentive to get people to sign a 2-year contract with AT&T if you can just use the Pay-go or Pay-Go hybrid plans?
Your thoughts?

There was some talk about AT&T/Cingular discounting the rate-plans instead of discounting the phone itself. So perhaps monthly charges for pre-paid are more than monthly charges with 2 year commitment.

arn

 

[KingofAwesome]

$299,- for a $499,- phone with a 2 year contract seems a bit expensive. $0 to $150 (depending on the contract) seems more on par with other phones in the same price range.

Yes, but Apple is still positioning this as a premium product, and they want to sell almost as fast as they can produce. They'll charge as much as they think they can get away with, and they don't have any need to get the price down to $150 - people would buy as fast as possible at $300/$400.

Also, if you (not you Aaargh!, this is just a side point) have to get angry about poor people buying the same toys as you, then you probably flaunt your wealth to compensate for some other less desirable characteristics. I certainly wouldn't want to be in your shoes, no matter how many diamonds are on the soles.

 

[mrplow]

I might be wrong in saying this but from what I can see - Mobile Phone Carriers have the "Prepaid" option for the typical "Low Income & Bad Credit" Crowd. Although some of those uses can be "younger folks" the majority of the cases is that a person going for a "Pre Paid" service has horrible credit and cant control thier finances. They would need a HUGE deposit after a credit check and run a very high risk of running up a $600.00 phone bill and not being able to pay it back.

I would hate to see Apple iPhone be branded as a "Pre Paid 7-11 Track Phone" for the Low Income/Bad Credit Folks. 😱

I dont see the Motorolla "Q" smart phone or the "Blackjack" smart phone branded as "Pay-as-you-go Food Stamp Plans". 🙄

Im my opinion at&t needs to cut the Bull S*&% and just offer a unlimited Cell/Data plan for like $99.99 and call it a day. No minutes to worry about - everything unlimted - Hell, I would pay $149.99 for that service.

Please dont let every Tom, Dick and Harry off the street with a FICO score of 350 get an iPhone with a "Pay-as-you-go Food Stamp Plan" 😡

Next we will have special rates for anyone on Welfare to buy a New BMW.🙄

This is the most snobbish post I think I've ever read on these forums.

 

[pale9]

BUT as someone pointed out, folks with low incomes, not just bad credit, but even "dinged" credit, typically have to pay large deposits. This could easily be solved by carriers setting a fixed credit limit instead, and more services bundled as unlimited (ala Cingular's announcement for unlimited text and messaging for $5 a month), but it seems to me phone companies live for the upside revenues of phone abuse.

do you really think that the iphone, with its $500+ price tag, is a phone that low income, dinged-credit people will buy...? but if they really do the pay as you go plan, that might get well-heeled consumers stuck in some other carriers plan to get the iphone anyway.

 

[Aaargh!]

Simply put - Most people on those plans have NO choice. Those phones are branded as such. PERIOD.

Could be that's the case in the US, in europe (at least in the Netherlands) not so much. It's quite acceptable to get a prepaid phone. A big reason is that people don't want to be locked into a 1 or 2 year contract. E.g. some people like to get a new phone every few months. (avg. time between new phones is 1 year)

 

[arn]

Admin Warning: even if you strongly disagree with another poster, please avoid personal insults and that will get your account banned.

 

[notsofatjames]

I know your trying to be "PC" and all of your reasons are valid BUT please dont act as if those are the reasons for having "Pay-as-you-go plans". You know damn well its people with Bad Credit - period. 😉 People of that caliper should NOT be looking at ANY smart phone - let alone an iPhone.

Leave the "7-11 Track Phone Metro PCS - No Credit Check - Pay As You Go Food Stamp Plans" to the phone that derserve that Badge.😎

what about those of us who are 16, working full time, enough to affford an iPhone, but not legally allowed credit... or to those who only use a mobile phone once in a blue moon, and spend like £10 a month on prepay. contract is just not needed!!

Just because you can have a iPhone with a contract, you feel more superior!!?! Accept that some people have just dont have any need for a contract!

I think giving consumers a choice is a good thing. If you just wanted an iPhone purely for the iPod and WiFi features, you would be happy for an PAYG option.

 

[Tattoo]

Yes, but Apple is still positioning this as a premium product, and they want to sell almost as fast as they can produce. They'll charge as much as they think they can get away with, and they don't have any need to get the price down to $150 - people would buy as fast as possible at $300/$400.

Also, if you (not you Aaargh!, this is just a side point) have to get angry about poor people buying the same toys as you, then you probably flaunt your wealth to compensate for some other less desirable characteristics. I certainly wouldn't want to be in your shoes, no matter how many diamonds are on the soles.

Im sorry to see that you contradict yourself. You say: Apple is still positioning this as a premium product😱 "Premuim Anything" in this World is never intended for the "Pay-as-you-go" Crowd. 😉

 

[Tattoo]

Im with this guy.

if apple was "concerned about the credit standing of their customers" they wouldn't plaster apple credit card ads over their EDU website, enticing college students with no funds to buy a new macbook.

Its NOT the same thing. I would venture to say Apple would have the:
"Lay Away Plan" for those who can not get approved for the Apple Credit Card.😀

But then you will have those who say: Ahhhh thats better than paying interest! Lay Away cost nothing.

True, but the point still remains: Who HAS to use a Lay away plan? 🙄

Exactly my point! 🙂

 

[miketcool]

An iPhone and my T-mobile plan would be ideal...

 

[scrambledwonder]

Admin Warning: even if you strongly disagree with another poster, please avoid personal insults and that will get your account banned.

Fair enough, but you have to admit that his post was superbly snobbish and nauseating. It could have been written in a much less gut-wrenching manner.

And that's not a personal attack, that's constructive criticism of his post.

And I don't think a warning was warranted in this case.