I wish they would do something like that - a WIFI model. Something you could use like VOIP for calls (Vonage?), and hotspots for surfing. I also think that the number of places with free WIFI access is growing. My office phone is a Vonage phone, and it works great. In fact, I'm on the $14 a month plan, and I don't even come close to going over. One thing I do like, is that voicemail is sent to my .mac account.
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Pre-Paid iPhone Service to be Available?
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I wish they would do something like that - a WIFI model. Something you could use like VOIP for calls (Vonage?), and hotspots for surfing. I also think that the number of places with free WIFI access is growing. My office phone is a Vonage phone, and it works great. In fact, I'm on the $14 a month plan, and I don't even come close to going over. One thing I do like, is that voicemail is sent to my .mac account.
Well, I'm here in good old Europe so I won't be having an iPhone that soon. But I sure hope to be able to just stick any SIM card in there. I mad bad experiences with contracts. You can't cancel them right away, and even after 2 years, it's not as easy as "cancel my account"...
I don't use my cell phone that much. Actually I hate long phone calls in general... you have to hold the thing to your ear, sound sucks, it always rings when it shouldn't and you always end up counting the minutes when you're on a tight budget.
I'm so happy with my prepaid. It's actually uber cheap, I can refill the account by just sending a text message with a certain PIN number and they take the given amount from my bank account. If they start to suck or charge me with things I never ordered (believe it or not, I once had 5 of those ringtone subscribtion things that cost like 20 bucks a month and had to send in the lawyers to get rid of them), I can just stop using the SIM card and pop in another.
Damn waiting...
I don't use my cell phone that much. Actually I hate long phone calls in general... you have to hold the thing to your ear, sound sucks, it always rings when it shouldn't and you always end up counting the minutes when you're on a tight budget.
I'm so happy with my prepaid. It's actually uber cheap, I can refill the account by just sending a text message with a certain PIN number and they take the given amount from my bank account. If they start to suck or charge me with things I never ordered (believe it or not, I once had 5 of those ringtone subscribtion things that cost like 20 bucks a month and had to send in the lawyers to get rid of them), I can just stop using the SIM card and pop in another.
Damn waiting...
Just my thought.. the iPod used to be more exclusive than it is now, you guys think the nano is a "food stamp" item?? Let everyone get an iPhone, its not like you'll be unique anyway.. and if the iPhone as exclusive as you hoped, you'd probably get yours robbed the minute you walked out the store..
I agree. Thats why I always use pre paid services although usually usig high end phones. Also I work in a few countries an paying bills when not using service would be plain waste of money
The best part about this news is there finally is some new info on the iPhone.
Hopefully, rate plan info will follow.
I currently have a BlackBerry with 450min and and a $29.99 monthly unlimited data plan.
Including taxes, this runs me around $100 a month.
I'm hoping not to go over that amount.
Hopefully, rate plan info will follow.
I currently have a BlackBerry with 450min and and a $29.99 monthly unlimited data plan.
Including taxes, this runs me around $100 a month.
I'm hoping not to go over that amount.
life is not black and white......You americans are made to belive that most important thing in life is Credit Score!!!
seriously get real. Thats how you classifie people?? By a stupid credit score??Missing the point....
I dont care who has the phone. Color, Nationality, Creed, Religion - Who cares. I do care about at&t branding the
iPhone as some garbage run of the mill "Pay-As-You-Go" phone. Why? Well unless all of a sudden the Phone Companies have changed thier perception (not the consumers perception) of the "reasons" for having that type of service - It puts the
iPhone in the same catagory as a 7-11 Track Phone with Phone Cards sold at Walmart & Target.Sorry I just dont see people with a Smart Phone getting a "Card Refill" at the local Walgreens/CVS Pharmacy.
Having said that - Why arent any the New Smart Phones on the Market "Pay-As-You-Go"?
i think it would be nice to have pre-paid with the iphone, but i'd be surprised if it really happens
Missing the point....
I dont care who has the phone. Color, Nationality, Creed, Religion - Who cares. I do care about at&t branding the
Why? Well unless all of a sudden the Phone Companies have changed thier perception (not the consumers perception) of the "reasons" for having that type of service - It puts the
Sorry I just dont see people with a Smart Phone getting a "Card Refill" at the local Walgreens/CVS Pharmacy.
Having said that - Why arent any the New Smart Phones on the Market "Pay-As-You-Go"?
No I think YOU miss the point. I'm always buying Phone. Whatever SIM card I stick inside is my buisiness only. I can put SIM with contract or just PAYG. Its just that simple. I have 4 SIMS with 4 countries. 1 is on contract and 3 PAYG, so as you see I want Phone, not service coming with it. I can choose the servise which suits me most and also wanna have the choise of choosing the phone.
And lets stop talking credit etc here.
life is not black and white......You americans are made to belive that most important thing in life is Credit Score!!!
In the USA - Credit Scoring means EVERYTHING. It can determin if you can even get a job. Many corporations pull credit as a means to decide what "kind" of person you are in life. Credit is even looked at to open a simple Bank Account. Credit is also pulled by all Insurance companies. Credit Scores determin your APR on Credit Cards, Auto Loans, and Home Purchases.
Stupid or not - A Credit Score says ALOT about a person. Like it or not - Thats what is used here in the USA. - Period.
Bad score = High Interest rates/Big Deposit (pay as you go plans
) Great score = Lower Interest Rates/Lower Risk for default on paying back creditors.
Missing the point....
I dont care who has the phone. Color, Nationality, Creed, Religion - Who cares. I do care about at&t branding the
Why? Well unless all of a sudden the Phone Companies have changed thier perception (not the consumers perception) of the "reasons" for having that type of service - It puts the
Sorry I just dont see people with a Smart Phone getting a "Card Refill" at the local Walgreens/CVS Pharmacy.
Having said that - Why arent any the New Smart Phones on the Market "Pay-As-You-Go"?
Well, you've fallen pray to the cell service industry's brainwashing. Of course they want you to think of pay as you go as "low class" or "undesirable" because contracts make them lots of MONEY.
Pay-as-you go is not "low class." It's flexible: You only pay for what you use. You don't pay extra for using more minutes than your contract entitles you to. You have the option of switching carriers if you're not satisfied. You don't have to pay a HUGE fee for breaking your contract. Pay as you go is remarkably fair and easy and it's really good for customers. That's why cell phone providers don't like it. Their profits would shrink if people only paid for what they used.
Wake up. When you sign a contract, you're letting a corporation step all over you. You're saying to them "I pledge my fealty to you, O mighty company, no matter what you do." If that's "high class" I want nothing to do with it.
In the USA - Credit Scoring means EVERYTHING. It can determin if you can even get a job. Many corporations pull credit as a means to decide what "kind" of person you are in life. Credit is even looked at to open a simple Bank Account. Credit is also pulled by all Insurance companies. Credit Scores determin your APR on Credit Cards, Auto Loans, and Home Purchases.
Stupid or not - A Credit Score says ALOT about a person. Like it or not - Thats what is used here in the USA. - Period.
Bad score = High Interest rates/Big Deposit (pay as you go plans
Great score = Lower Interest Rates/Lower Risk for default on paying back creditors.
I know. I work 5 months a year in US. My score is high but I still use PAYG. But banks should NOT tell how to live your life. I dont think credit score says ANYTHING about the person.
Oh and noone ever ask me about the credit score on job application. And i dont mind deposit. You will get it back.
Some people need to open there eyes here.
if it wasnt for pay and go the uk and the rest of europe wouldnt be were it is now,
pay and go changed the whole mobile industry alowing ANYONE to buy a phone.
you would have to be stupid to think that apple wants as few people as possible to have the iphone how do you think little timmy who has his mac book and ipod is going to get a iphone?
apple no doubt will go pay and go and i bet you will be able to top your iphone up right from itunes. this isnt about credit scoring.
Lets get real. apple will want every ipod user to have a iphone at some point making them sign a contact isnt going to do this,
if it wasnt for pay and go the uk and the rest of europe wouldnt be were it is now,
pay and go changed the whole mobile industry alowing ANYONE to buy a phone.
you would have to be stupid to think that apple wants as few people as possible to have the iphone how do you think little timmy who has his mac book and ipod is going to get a iphone?
apple no doubt will go pay and go and i bet you will be able to top your iphone up right from itunes. this isnt about credit scoring.
Lets get real. apple will want every ipod user to have a iphone at some point making them sign a contact isnt going to do this,
I agree with your statement: "When you sign a contract, you're letting a corporation step all over you."
I disagree with: "Pay as you go is remarkably fair and easy and it's really good for customers. That's why cell phone providers don't like it. Their profits would shrink if people only paid for what they used."
As far as I have always seen it - Pay As you Go Plans ALWAYS cost more money in the long run. You pay more "per minute" than those in a contract. Having said that, those plans are great for "limted" situations - For the Average Consumer or Business user (as myself) with regular usage of at least 1500 mins per month - Pay As You Go is way too expensive.
In the USA - Credit Scoring means EVERYTHING. It can determin if you can even get a job. Many corporations pull credit as a means to decide what "kind" of person you are in life. Credit is even looked at to open a simple Bank Account. Credit is also pulled by all Insurance companies. Credit Scores determin your APR on Credit Cards, Auto Loans, and Home Purchases.
Stupid or not - A Credit Score says ALOT about a person. Like it or not - Thats what is used here in the USA. - Period.
Bad score = High Interest rates/Big Deposit (pay as you go plans
Great score = Lower Interest Rates/Lower Risk for default on paying back creditors.
Credit scores say a lot about America. They say that we're a nation that's willing to dole out loans to people who can't afford to pay. They say that we are willing to let people go without health care so when they get sick, they go into debt. They say that we are willing to let market forces artificially drive housing prices sky high to turn profits and exclude working-class families from owning property. They say that we accept inadequate unemployment and job placement programs to help people through transition periods in their careers. They say all this and much, much more.
I agree with your statement: "When you sign a contract, you're letting a corporation step all over you."
I disagree with: "Pay as you go is remarkably fair and easy and it's really good for customers. That's why cell phone providers don't like it. Their profits would shrink if people only paid for what they used."
As far as I have always seen it - Pay As you Go Plans ALWAYS cost more money in the long run. You pay more "per minute" than those in a contract. Having said that, those plans are great for "limted" situations - For the Average Consumer or Business user (as myself) with regular usage of at least 1500 mins per month - Pay As You Go is way too expensive.
Excellent! You're right, pay as you go does cost more per minute. That's why we need legislation to regulate cell phone service provider (and communication) companies. Cell phone minutes aren't like kernels of corn or nickel washers or something. Higher quantities shouldn't be sold at discount rates. It just doesn't make sense. Call me idealist, but I think all plans should be PAYG at a reasonable rate. And heck, since communication is so vital to society, maybe some of that cost should be offset with tax money!
This is quickly turning into a political debate. . . .
Bottom line: It would be nice if you could pick up an iPhone without a contract!
Not to put a dampner on things guys...
but nowhere posted on the screenshots does it mention that the codes are purely for the voice minutes.
I work for a telco in the uk whereby when ordering a given tariff, firstly the code for the voice minutes is checked, followed by another code for special discounts given, followed by data plan etc.
Although it's been kinda mentioned already, has no-one considered that this could just be data plan codes, as the iphone is designed for multimedia useage?
I'm probably way off base, i'd like to think i am, but this may be a possibilty of thinking PAYG relates to voice aswell!
but nowhere posted on the screenshots does it mention that the codes are purely for the voice minutes.
I work for a telco in the uk whereby when ordering a given tariff, firstly the code for the voice minutes is checked, followed by another code for special discounts given, followed by data plan etc.
Although it's been kinda mentioned already, has no-one considered that this could just be data plan codes, as the iphone is designed for multimedia useage?
I'm probably way off base, i'd like to think i am, but this may be a possibilty of thinking PAYG relates to voice aswell!
Don't buy it.
If it's an internal shot, they probably have those three sections for all phones and sometimes the pre-paid sections are just not used.
No data phone has ever been used for pre-paid. Pre-paid phones are usually cheaper versions of phones so people with bad or no credit can have a cell phone.
If it's an internal shot, they probably have those three sections for all phones and sometimes the pre-paid sections are just not used.
No data phone has ever been used for pre-paid. Pre-paid phones are usually cheaper versions of phones so people with bad or no credit can have a cell phone.
When will you grow up and realise that 'big' contract and 'fat' bill do not translate to your penis.
What a load of trash. The goal of any commercial organisation is to make its shareholders rich. How do they do this? By having everyone in the whole goddamn would carrying their products. If apple had this snobby attitude about the iPod it would be in history museums at the moment. The flexibility of mobile phone contracts is the main reason why phones have become so ubiquitous in European society. Take a leaf from our book and drop this fascination with 'good credit' and contracts. You are virtually paid to take phones from certain carriers, in the hope from their point of view that they will keep you on the network to make money. No obligation however. No contract. Nothing.
Customer is King!
Missing the point....
I dont care who has the phone. Color, Nationality, Creed, Religion - Who cares. I do care about at&t branding the
How foolish you sound. In the near term, this will be -the- phone to own, and if they do decide to offer pay-as-you-go (still doubtful), that alone will be enough to change some of these misguided attitudes.
Certainly there are many who fall into the category you are talking about, but you're so full of c**p to generalize like you have been. Then again, I guess that's what trolls do to attract attention to themselves.
Your attitude about FICO only shows that you've bought into the bull***t that the industry wants you to buy into. I consider that feeble. I have a higher FICO than you. Likely -much- higher. How's that for a brash statement? I would be willing to bet a fairly large sum on it. And I will never sign up for a "plan" where you're not only forced to make a long-term commitment to one fricken' service provider, but where you need to give all sorts of personal information like you were taking out a loan for a new car. Which I don't do either. Why take a loan when you can pay cash and strip the middlemen from ridiculous fees, restrictions and invasive policies?
If they don't offer PAYG, then I don't mind waiting until they do, or until a version comes out with everything but the phone, which I really don't care that much about. Then I can walk into a store and buy it without hassle, just like any other toy.
Sorry I just dont see people with a Smart Phone getting a "Card Refill" at the local Walgreens/CVS Pharmacy.
Too bad, because that's exactly what I'll be doing if they end up with a pay-as-you-go. Maybe you'll see me there and roll your eyes. Meanwhile I'll be doing the same to you....
life is not black and white......You americans are made to belive that most important thing in life is Credit Score!!!
Honestly, it's probably a decent predictor of a whole host of things that you could use to classify people.
A bit dramatic aren't you? Every time you buy a product you are engaging in a contract. Pre-paid phones ARE used primarily by those that can't afford any other means. That's not up for debate. That doesn't mean that switching to a non-contract model wouldn't be a good idea, or that it isn't a viable option for some people.