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Wal-Mart to Sell $99 4GB iPhone?
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But buying it elsewhere is fine?
Walmart isn't getting a cut of the money, elsewhere.
This kind of all-knowning attitude always makes me chuckle.
Please show me official figures of people buying a Shuffle and having that as their only iPod/MP3 player. THEN you can call it a "fact".
I'd wager that the kind of people who have only a shuffle are young children who buy it out of pocket money or have it given to them for christmas. As my two cousins have. But then again, I wouldn't call this a fact.
I do agree, if they do re-introduce a 4GB version - which I think is a ridiculous idea, then it should at least be free on the binding contract you'd have to take out. And/or a lower tariff to boot.
wow. though i'd rather see the 8GB version for $99 though, but i'd like to see the 4GB one also.
I am sure I am in a small minority. I know plenty of people who have cell phones who use it to talk to people, that's it, and they have no interest in an iPhone. But it would be nice to be able to decline the data service - even if it meant no free wi-fi. But if I do get one, I am sure I would use the internet
It occurs to me that the cost of this phone is the same as my monthly bill. Everyday low prices indeed.
Do we have a reason to think it'll be 4gb? Other than a lower price and some website says so.
Holy!
Ok... I'd rather have it free, no I'd rather they pay me for it... no logic here.
I can't believe how many people are bashing this concept.
Like some people have already pointed out, how many MP3 playesrs (512MB to 2GB) have been sold world-wide?
I read one post that says, once it fills up with their music they'll regret their purchase.... ummm the idea is that it doesn't get filled up because every time you connect it to your computer (I do this almost daily) a random playlist is synced. In fact, because I connect every day, I don't ever see myself needing a higher storage iPhone. Maybe when the apps get larger and larger, but those can be synced as well.
The price point is ridiculously attractive and I know tons of people who'd buy it for $100.
(And if you're traveling and claim you're tired of listening to the same music, why not take the white headphones off and be social! There is a world full of great people out there!!)
Ok... I'd rather have it free, no I'd rather they pay me for it... no logic here.
I can't believe how many people are bashing this concept.
Like some people have already pointed out, how many MP3 playesrs (512MB to 2GB) have been sold world-wide?
I read one post that says, once it fills up with their music they'll regret their purchase.... ummm the idea is that it doesn't get filled up because every time you connect it to your computer (I do this almost daily) a random playlist is synced. In fact, because I connect every day, I don't ever see myself needing a higher storage iPhone. Maybe when the apps get larger and larger, but those can be synced as well.
The price point is ridiculously attractive and I know tons of people who'd buy it for $100.
(And if you're traveling and claim you're tired of listening to the same music, why not take the white headphones off and be social! There is a world full of great people out there!!)
I've pretty much tried all of the other touchscreen phones that are out or will soon be out -- and I can pretty much tell you good luck on finding another phone on eBay that duplicates the "iPhone experience". Nobody has figured out touch interfaces on phones like Apple has -- nobody.
And I would also argue that the web part of the iPhone experience is a big piece. It's not just browsing the web -- it's email, 3rd party apps/appstore and much much more. If you are fine without that, then more power to you. But to say that you can get an iPhone experience without the web is pretty short sighted.
You have no idea what you're talking about.
Their success is based on an "efficient distribution model"?
What about Apple's partnerships with other scum-bag companies like Nike and McDonalds -- forget about them?
Really? I don't know what you're talking about about RAM, but considering the iPhone costs $160-180 per unit to make, I don't think they'd do very well.
Good near future goal.
In the farther future I'd like:
We'd only have to get the price down by another $99 to get to zero. As soon as they cost zero why bother selling them. Apple could distribute them in buckets placed outdoors as you wak into the mall. Just stop and pick up one or more it you want a phone. I'm serious the long term trendline for the price of hardware is headed to zero. If you think I'm nuts remember when digital watches and calculators were brand new novelties and cost $600 for a basic function device. These can now behad for nothing inside cereal boxes.
Why own or even keep your own phone? Just punch in your PIN to any phone you pickup from those buckets and the phone is yours until you clear the PIN andtoss it back in a bucket.
Same for notebook computers. Would you carry one if your desktop and files were available on any "public terminal" and these terminal were always available at any office, library, school or where ever. Not free, you pay for the high speed data communications with a yearly contract.
With a fast enough network there is absolutly no need for perminent storage inside the phone. All you need is a kind of cache to hold a working memory. With no memory you really can pick a phone out of a public bucket of phones, us it for a few days then toss it back in the bucket.
the thing is that we are already very close to this model. Already we are paying $1000 a year for the service and $99 for the phone. I'm sure Apple hardly even cares about the $99 they get. Why NOT drop it to zero and sell twice as may $1000/year contracts?
I really do think the cost of hardware is heading to "near zero"
I find it hard to believe that 4GB of Flash is worth $99, especially when you get 8GB more from a 16GB iPhone for the same amount when spending $299 instead of $199.
Don't forget that Apple isn't buying one or two sticks either. We're talking about a hundred thousand or two.
see: hard drive prices. as density increases, cost/GB increases. That $99 4GB is not just for the flash, there's a phone in there too.
I love walmart. I get what I need and it's cheap. So they get their crap from China, Apple builds its stuff in China too lol
Imagine the savings on shipping. Instead of going from China to Apple to Walmart. iPhone's go straight from China to Walmart.
Imagine the savings on shipping. Instead of going from China to Apple to Walmart. iPhone's go straight from China to Walmart.
Fortunately I slipped by the Apple Elitist police when I got my iPhone, whew.
product dilution?
Unlike other phones the iPhone is far more advanced than say the razr. To me the razr was the typical cell phone simply in a slightly different form factor.
Yeah I think an income verification and the review of the previous years tax filing should be a requirement. Heaven forbid THOSE people that shop THAT store should be allowed to have an iPhone.
Heck isn't enough we let them have a cell phone in the first place.
By the way we make far more than 70k and still shop at Walmart.
Why in the world would I want to pay $3 at another store when I can get the EXACT same thing at Walmart for $1.75?
How do you expect me to pay for my monthly cell phone bill.
product dilution?
Unlike other phones the iPhone is far more advanced than say the razr. To me the razr was the typical cell phone simply in a slightly different form factor.
Yeah I think an income verification and the review of the previous years tax filing should be a requirement. Heaven forbid THOSE people that shop THAT store should be allowed to have an iPhone.
Heck isn't enough we let them have a cell phone in the first place.
By the way we make far more than 70k and still shop at Walmart.
Why in the world would I want to pay $3 at another store when I can get the EXACT same thing at Walmart for $1.75?
How do you expect me to pay for my monthly cell phone bill.
Let's see I have 913 song my phone, 11 videos (mostly music videos) 155 Photos and more apps then I care to count (7 1/2 pages are full) and i still have 8.1Gb's left. I could add the thousands of more songs I have, but I don't even listen to all the one's on there now, so what's the point? Most of the apps on there I hardly ever use. My wife has been wanting to get an iPhone when her contract if up and a 4gb would fit her perfectly. Hell I think I could have gotten away with the 8 (even though I wouldn't have) instead of paying $500+ for the one I have.
WHAT? You have to be joking! Not worth it!? Very much worth it. The 4GB phone retailed for $499 a mere 18 months ago and you want it to be FREE now!? Give me a single FREEBIE phone that even gets close to what a 4GB iPhone 3G and I'll eat dog turds.
I am constantly amazed at the "I deserve it -- Just give it to me" mentality that's running amuck these days.
If this is true, it's still the same phone as you'd get for $200, but simply half the storage. One could probably put on a 700MB movie, 1000 songs (at least), 500 photos and lots of apps. I'm basing this on what I've got on my 16GB iPhone. That's more than enough stuff to justify a mere hundred dollars. Plus it's arguably the best phone in the world.
i don't make much money but I refuse to step foot at Wal-mart. It is an awful company that has damaged this country Tremendously directly and indirectly. I will do my part and have been doing for many many years by not shopping there and hope jobs stay here.
First -- Love your avatar. Second, Apple only didn't sell them because of CHOICE + it cost $500. Most people spent the extra C-note because the 8GB was right there and only was a little more. If this is true and W*M starts selling it, it will be the ONLY choice in the store. Plus it's a fraction of it's original high price + much more evolved (iTunes Store/App Store+10,000 apps/3G/GPS) -- it will sell.