The things 90% of you are missing about the $30/mo

[wako]

If you have a BlackBerry Curve, there is no 3G for you because it is an EDGE only device. Guess what, $30/mo data plan, no texts included.

If you have the 3G capable At&t Tilt, there is 3G for if you live in a 3G area. Guess what, $30/mo data plan, no texts included.

If you have that same 3G capable Tilt and live in an EDGE only area, you can only use it over EDGE. Guess what, $30/mo data plan, no texts included.

THE PRICE IS NOT JUST TIED TO THE 3G!!!

LOL!!!


Blackberries costs $30 dollars a month BECAUSE of the blackberry service. NOT because of the data plan. If you only wanted data on your phone to only use EDGE, you can pay for a service that costs 15-20 bucks. Its called MediaNet. It is also offered to phones that arent 3G capable.

And stop spreading FUD about the Tilt's data plan. You pay $30 a month because of the 3G service. PERIOD. If you arent in a 3G capable area you still are paying the SAME exact data plan which is for 3G. stop trying to make it sound like it is a different data plan when it isnt.

When AT&T hiked their data plans, from $20 bucks to $30 bucks it right when they launched their 3G service.

 

[CrazEtooN]

Well, it's a nice idea, but you get the same thing over the fact that there's no front-facing camera. Now, I thought it was obvious that that rumor wasn't true, but apparently it wasn't obvious.

My point is, when you have people complaining about stuff like that I don't think there's any hope of diffusing them with long, logical posts.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying you're preaching to the choir.

Very, sadly, true... I guess I am just a wide eyed optimist, lol.

 

[admanimal]

LOL!!!

And stop spreading FUD about the Tilt's data plan. You pay $30 a month because of the 3G service. PERIOD. If you arent in a 3G capable area you still are paying the SAME exact data plan which is for 3G. stop trying to make it sound like it is a different data plan when it isnt.
.

Umm this is exactly what the OP was saying.

 

[skwoytek]

That's not what he was saying. Every other phone that you can get a subsidized discount on can also be purchased at full price without a new contract. This does not appear to be the case with the iPhone.

I don't think the iPhone is going to be a traditional case for subsidizing. $199 is the full price. The iPhone will be subsidized pre-retail and will simply appear in AT&T's stores as:

iPhone Retail Price   $199.99

Total Due Today       $199.99

In other words, in the U.S. AT&T will help offset some of the cost of the device to Apple through an initial payment per device, not to the customer. The iPhone's U.S. MSRP is $199. However, AT&T is the only authorized carrier so you have to go with them, it's listed as a requirement to using the U.S. iPhone on Apple's website.

Typical subsidizing is done to the consumer. And in AT&T's store it looks like:

Blackberry Retail Price    $349.99
2-yr Contract Price        $199.99

Total Due Today            $199.99

If on July 11th AT&T actually lists the price as below then I think Apple is looking for some trouble.

iPhone Retail Price   $399.99
2-yr Contract Price   $199.99

Total Due Today       $199.99

In Apple's retail store I think you'll see the same as their website: $199*
*Requires new 2-year AT&T rate plan, sold separately.

You will only pay $199 to Apple and won't sign a contract. But will be required to use AT&T's service. I don't know how they plan to enforce it, but the fact that AT&T says penalties will be charged to people who don't activate their iPhones within 30 days indicates that the out-the-door price will be $199.

Further proof of this negotiating, is that in the UK O2 is offering the 8GB iPhone for free. The £99 8GB iPhone is free with a tariff > £45. Therefore the iPhone is US$193 retail but subsidized to free. So for them it would appear as:

iPhone Retail Price   £99  (US$193)
2-yr Contract Price   free

Total Due Today       free

In other words, Apple still worked some carrier deals to get the retail price to $199, anything below that is subsidized by the carrier to the customer...

_

 

[wako]

Umm this is exactly what the OP was saying.

he didnt state that the plans for the Tilt are the same despite if you are using 3G or not.

 

[admanimal]

Yeah I agree with everything you are saying, I was just sympathizing with the other guy who said that it is unfortunate that someone who is willing to pay more to add an iPhone to an existing AT&T account can't do so.

 

[CrazEtooN]

he didnt state that the plans for the Tilt are the same despite if you are using 3G or not.

Actually, that is exactly what I said...

 

[admanimal]

he didnt state that the plans for the Tilt are the same despite if you are using 3G or not.

Yes, he did:

If you have the 3G capable At&t Tilt, there is 3G for if you live in a 3G area. Guess what, $30/mo data plan, no texts included.

If you have that same 3G capable Tilt and live in an EDGE only area, you can only use it over EDGE. Guess what, $30/mo data plan, no texts included.

 

[NAG]

Makes sense. AT&T gets to claim their not subsidizing the phone by not paying for any of it but also not making any money off it outside of the monthly payments.

Apple profits off the phone, AT&T profits off the service plan.

Kind of a stupid loophole to claim it isn't subsidized.

 

[skwoytek]

Makes sense. AT&T gets to claim their not subsidizing the phone by not paying for any of it but also not making any money off it outside of the monthly payments.

Apple profits off the phone, AT&T profits off the service plan.

Kind of a stupid loophole to claim it isn't subsidized.

Exactly.

But just like in the UK, it's still possible that AT&T can subsidize the phone even lower, even free (doubtful in both cases) but Apple clearly isn't forbidding it based on what O2 is offering.

 

[wako]

Yes, he did:

he is saying if you have the same AT&T Tilt... thats a phone not a plan...


regardless, the point i am making is that the price changes has been universal throughout every carrier that the price hike is due to 3G.

 

[admanimal]

he is saying if you have the same AT&T Tilt... thats a phone not a plan...


regardless, the point i am making is that the price changes has been universal throughout every carrier that the price hike is due to 3G.

Well the good news is that you and the OP agree, whether you think so or not.

 

[Schmoe0013]

he is saying if you have the same AT&T Tilt... thats a phone not a plan...


regardless, the point i am making is that the price changes has been universal throughout every carrier that the price hike is due to 3G.

Do you like Rubber Cement? Because I know I love the fumes when I post!!

WAKA WAKA WAKA!

 

[CrazEtooN]

he is saying if you have the same AT&T Tilt... thats a phone not a plan...


regardless, the point i am making is that the price changes has been universal throughout every carrier that the price hike is due to 3G.

I was referring to the plan, not the phone. I wasn't insinuating that there are 2 different plans for the Tilt. Don't read things so literally man. Anyway, I made a special change to it just for you.

We essentially agree, I am just trying to keep things simple for the already confused masses. Relax, I am just trying to help...

 

[Michael CM1]

To the OP (I didn't want to copy the whole post, you know what you wrote!):

Your points are all good. I figured it was going to cost more for 3G. In fact, some guy wrote in a column that AT&T would probably charge $10 more for it many months ago.

I think it's just a lot of the playing around that's getting to some of us. "Oh, it's more afforadable!" I think those were Jobs' exact words, not "cheaper." The price is now spread out more. OK, it's a little bit more over 2 years. You get a faster speed (but WTF is up with no texts???). So that's not really the biggest gripe.

I think it's kind of hogwash to charge anybody the same price for EDGE as 3G. AT&T has tiered pricing for DSL speeds, so why not an EDGE plan and 3G plan? I live very near the edge (no pun intended) of the 3G area here. All the carriers may charge the same, but that doesn't make it right. A lot of it is a big, bright spotlight being shone upon a part of the wireless biz that wasn't popular until the past few years.

I also just wish that Steve would've had a little more candor about how the phone was getting cheaper. One thing that is now sticking out is the lack of a dock. I think I saw it will be $49 from now on. It's the whole premise of "it's easier to give people more stuff later than take it away once they have it."

Yanking away the iTunes activation has me a little perturbed as well. I don't really blame either Apple or AT&T as much as I do the unlocking crowd. They're the ones who forced that upon us. I REALLY don't like going to AT&T stores. They're a little like going to the airport and seeing people charge $15 for a hot dog. Their prices are almost never competitive with other stores, and their salespeople are great at referring you to wireless.att.com, but not much else.

I will probably end up buying on of these in the future, but not the near future. I have a GPS in my car that can't get updated, and the place I'm moving isn't even on maps.google.com (but is on the Maps app on iPhone). I like the 3G speed, but I'm not sold on that cost when the coverage area may not cover me. I also want a darn colored phone if I gotta have plastic. I understand the signal thing, but just black and white? Hopefully that'll be changed. They obviously had to hustle to get this stuff out this soon.

I think the keynote also annoyed some of us. Yeah, it's for people at the WWDC (developers!). It just felt like there was so little information that I gave a poot about. When Gen. Nerd (whoever the younger guy that hosted all the apps part) went on about APIs, I fast-forwarded through about an hour of software developers speaking another language. I was like "show me a frickin' Mac or something!"

I also thought the "Mobile Me" thing sounded a little Microsoftian (the name at least) and just didn't appeal to me personally. I think the rumors built up something that was more useful to me and would cost less. It sounds better than .Mac, but it's another $100 a year that I can easily avoid.

A lot of us just want to vent. I love to hate phone companies, and the AT&T plan stuff just kinda made me irate. They're not the only people that seem to not be interested in low-balling (why do plans start at $40???), but they're the devil I dance with.

 

[wako]

I was referring to the plan, not the phone. I wasn't insinuating that there are 2 different plans for the Tilt. Don't read things so literally man. Anyway, I made a special change to it just for you.

We essentially agree, I am just trying to keep things simple for the already confused masses. Relax, I am just trying to help...

*grabs his dunce hat*



sooo... i just found out we pretty much were arguing the same thing just that I didnt read the important lines because I was skimming


your post was long, dont hate

 

[CrazEtooN]

*grabs his dunce hat*



sooo... i just found out we pretty much were arguing the same thing just that I didnt read the important lines because I was skimming


your post was long, dont hate

Its all good, no worries.

 

[bloosqr]

sort of true sort of not true

I have the 8525 3G phone with ATT .. cingular had a 3G service that worked for that phone w/ 200 messages for $20 a month. I am still on that plan. When I added that contract (about a year or so ago) you basically had to go through hoops to get this to work. The blackberry plan was more at the time but now the PDA and blackberry plan are the same and they finally got rid of the "medianet" plan that allowed you to have 3G for $20. That said a lot of people (including me) currently have 3G/200 messages at $20 a month. An exroommate of mine has this on the tilt. We'll see what happens but for me basically it amounts to an almost doubling (35 versus 20) of the dataplan cost just to switch phones (instead of just swapping my sim out to a tilt as an upgrade instead) . I have a feeling it will be impossible to get att to let me keep my plan w/ the iphone, but I know I can just swap phones w/ non iphone phones. As much as I love my macs and as much as I really dislike WM, the phones monthlies are way too much to do the random surfing while waiting in line ... (which is all i use it for now)

 

[Mason1]

I only started wanting to get an iphone like a month before this announcment. So I waited to see what would happen with this...

since Ive never had one I could care less about this lack of features everyones wants, or the extra $10 a month bill. I am just as excited for this one as everybody was for the first one

 

[jjholly]

...

In other words, Apple still worked some carrier deals to get the retail price to $199, anything below that is subsidized by the carrier to the customer...

_

This is what I was thinking. Apple might be even making a loss and hoping to make that back with the app store or cheap components.

I hope this is true as ill be paying £99 for my pay as you go iPhone.

 

[samiwas]

If this only gets through to a handful of the hundreds of complainers, I will be happy... Someone needs to try, and I haven't seen this thread done yet, so here goes nothing....

Can a mod ban this user? Please? He makes too much sense.

 

[CrazEtooN]

Can a mod ban this user? Please? He makes too much sense.

LOL... Thanks

 

[arnette]

Boo to ATT for their stupidly high prices.

Boo to Apple and Jobs for making everyone think that the cost of ownership of an iPhone is decreasing.

Yea to iPhone for having GPS.

I really really want to come up with a great reason to get 3G iPhone but I can't think of one. There are too many near-misses and most of the blame lies with ATT's stupidly high tariffs.

Gonna wait for BB Thunder release and Google Android on TMobile for a comparison and THEN I'll decide.

In America, you vote with your dollar.

 

[billyripkin]

What I don't like is that with the iPhone you get no corporate discounts and you HAVE to get the data plan it looks like with the 3G phone. I hope both of these are found to be false in the weeks ahead.

 

[skwoytek]

Boo to ATT for their stupidly high prices.

Boo to Apple and Jobs for making everyone think that the cost of ownership of an iPhone is decreasing.

Yea to iPhone for having GPS.

I really really want to come up with a great reason to get 3G iPhone but I can't think of one. There are too many near-misses and most of the blame lies with ATT's stupidly high tariffs.

Gonna wait for BB Thunder release and Google Android on TMobile for a comparison and THEN I'll decide.

In America, you vote with your dollar.

All data plans for all carriers in the U.S. are the same as the iPhones or higher, look at each carriers sites. The original iPhones rates were below normal, now they're just standard.

So the only differences now are how much you pay for the phone and the phone itself because you'll pay the same monthly rates across the board (more on Verizon).