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Wal-Mart to Sell $99 4GB iPhone?
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I fail to understand why a company such as Apple would allow the lowlife scum that shop at WalMart to touch their products 
.
Some of you are just too much...
.Some of you are just too much...
If that is the case then I think I would be a hard sell to people for last years technology.
That said Apple makes money with music & app sales, so every unit brings in money, so I can see them trying to sell the 4GB version at a reduced price in order to get more software customers, with or without ATT getting a cut.
I don't think this is going to happen. At Macworld, they are supposed to be increasing the capacity of the iPhone up to 32GB, like the current high-end iPod Touch. Why would Apple want to reintroduce a lower capacity device?
If anyone could buy an iPhone for $99, this would increase the percentage of jailbroken iPhone's. What would happen is someone would buy the phone at that low price (signing the 2-year service agreement), delete the AT&T account within 3 days (getting a full refund on the service agreement and getting to keep the iPhone), jailbreak it, and then use a different carrier with the iPhone (at a low price per month). What I am trying to say, is that you could have an iPhone with another carrier (like T-mobile) for the same price as any other phone, paying the same per month.
Another thing that could happen is anyone could purchase the phone at $99, cancel the service agreement with AT&T within 3 days, and use the phone as a WiFi-only device.
I am sure that Apple understands this and is not going to let this happen more often.
If anyone could buy an iPhone for $99, this would increase the percentage of jailbroken iPhone's. What would happen is someone would buy the phone at that low price (signing the 2-year service agreement), delete the AT&T account within 3 days (getting a full refund on the service agreement and getting to keep the iPhone), jailbreak it, and then use a different carrier with the iPhone (at a low price per month). What I am trying to say, is that you could have an iPhone with another carrier (like T-mobile) for the same price as any other phone, paying the same per month.
Another thing that could happen is anyone could purchase the phone at $99, cancel the service agreement with AT&T within 3 days, and use the phone as a WiFi-only device.
I am sure that Apple understands this and is not going to let this happen more often.
I guess the general assumption is that the iPhone will become what the razor is today, but there's no speculation as to what Apple might have in store for their high end model if this were to happen.
If a 4GB iPhone sells at Walmart in January for 99Bucks then Apple will surely have a high end model with features and a look that appeasl to those who want an elite phone.
In other words (aimed at those who are afraid the iPhone is becoming the next cheap razor ) relax, the iPhone isn't going to become a cheap thing that everyone can get... it's just the iPhone you currently own that's going to become that cheap thing . If you want the good phone your going to have to dish out more cash ... again 
Also... the iPhone is a smartphone by more than a long shot. Who would argue that the iPhone doesn't qualify as a smartphone because it lacks 5% of features that a blackberry does while a blackberry lacks 50% of the quality of software that the iPhone has.
The class of a phone is measured by it's features but more importantly the needs that it fulfills for the segment of consumers who are willing to purchase the product. Consumers that need a phone to talk on and not much more are not purchasing iPhones. Most consumers that are contemplating an iPhone purchase are weighing the differences and comparing features to blackberries and such. No consumer in their right mind is thinking , "should i get a 16GB white iphone or a $19 cheapo pay as you go Nokia. It's a smart phone market.
And yes they would be a price leader regardless of other smartphones already breaking the $99 threshold. By today's standards the current iPhone is competing aggressively with the absolute top of the line smartphones on the market. If you take all that value and provide that product at a price point of $99 then you become a price leader in that market.
If a 4GB iPhone sells at Walmart in January for 99Bucks then Apple will surely have a high end model with features and a look that appeasl to those who want an elite phone.
In other words (aimed at those who are afraid the iPhone is becoming the next cheap razor ) relax, the iPhone isn't going to become a cheap thing that everyone can get... it's just the iPhone you currently own that's going to become that cheap thing
. If you want the good phone your going to have to dish out more cash ... again Also... the iPhone is a smartphone by more than a long shot. Who would argue that the iPhone doesn't qualify as a smartphone because it lacks 5% of features that a blackberry does while a blackberry lacks 50% of the quality of software that the iPhone has.
The class of a phone is measured by it's features but more importantly the needs that it fulfills for the segment of consumers who are willing to purchase the product. Consumers that need a phone to talk on and not much more are not purchasing iPhones. Most consumers that are contemplating an iPhone purchase are weighing the differences and comparing features to blackberries and such. No consumer in their right mind is thinking , "should i get a 16GB white iphone or a $19 cheapo pay as you go Nokia. It's a smart phone market.
And yes they would be a price leader regardless of other smartphones already breaking the $99 threshold. By today's standards the current iPhone is competing aggressively with the absolute top of the line smartphones on the market. If you take all that value and provide that product at a price point of $99 then you become a price leader in that market.
Um, no. If you cancel within the first month, you need to return the device. If you wait until after 30 days, then you pay $175. Still $99 + $175 is still a good deal for an iPhone.
But, there is not a real 3g unlock yet, so you could still not use it on another network.
EVERYONE
i'm not sure if this been mention before but as i said before i work for walmart and i've received my training for the iphone.
walmart will be selling iphone 3g 8GB for 199.00 and 16GB for 299.00. plans starts at 69.99 for 450 anytime rollover minutes along with the unlimited data plans.
there are no 99.00 iphone or some 4GB iphone so enjoy!
i'm not sure if this been mention before but as i said before i work for walmart and i've received my training for the iphone.
walmart will be selling iphone 3g 8GB for 199.00 and 16GB for 299.00. plans starts at 69.99 for 450 anytime rollover minutes along with the unlimited data plans.
there are no 99.00 iphone or some 4GB iphone so enjoy!
Why do you think that you need to carry your entire music-collection with you? You don't.
Inexpensive 4GB iPhone makes a lot of sense IMO. Not everyone has lots and lots of music and videos. But they might still want a good, easy to use smartphone. My Nokia E71 comes with 2GB memorycard by default. So it has half the storage-space the 4GB iPhone would have. Yet that lack of storage has not prevented it from becoming a very successful phone, especially in businesses.
4GB iPhone would be perfect for businesses and the like. They are not really that interested in storage-space for music and movies, but they ARE interested in a functional and powerful phone. 4GB would be more than enough to install a host of useful apps. And yes, there would still be space left for bunch of users music and the like as well.
I have a 16GB touch, and it's practically full. But if I had less storage, I would still manage, I would just trim out the less used stuff. There are bunch of podcasts in there that I don't really listen to and so forth.
For te same reason they sell iPods with different capacities at different price-points?
Anyone noticed they've updated thier pic???
Since this thread boygenious have updated thierm pic to macke it look more genuine!
The Wal-Mart logo is now correct, included the star and the document has been bound!!
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/12/04/apple-to-sell-a-99-4gb-iphone-at-walmart/
Wow! the feedback from Mac Rumors didn't take long to get thorugh!!
Why would Apple need to9 introduce the 4Gb again anyhow? International sale are 50% higher so far than they predicted!
Since this thread boygenious have updated thierm pic to macke it look more genuine!
The Wal-Mart logo is now correct, included the star and the document has been bound!!
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/12/04/apple-to-sell-a-99-4gb-iphone-at-walmart/
Wow! the feedback from Mac Rumors didn't take long to get thorugh!!
Why would Apple need to9 introduce the 4Gb again anyhow? International sale are 50% higher so far than they predicted!
Because iPhone IS quite expensive phone. For some people, iPhone is simply too expensive, so they buy something else. Driving the iPhone to new price-points would expand their target-market quite a bit.
Why is Apple selling iPod nanos, when they could just sell iPod touches?
I fail to understand why a company such as Apple would allow the lowlife scum that shop at WalMart to touch their products
Some of you are just too much...
To sell their prodcuts? Take a look at the graphics I posted a few pages back. Not everyone who shops at Walmart is a lowlife scum. "They are people too!"
I've started to trim stuff out, like Comedy CDs that I've listened to. I'm not going to carry them around anymore.
But if I'm paying $100/month for the privilege to own a device, I want to carry all the music on own on it.
What if I get in the mood to hear, "I've got friends in low places" while shopping at WallyWorld (WalMart.) Surely that would have been a trim song.
Let me ask you the same thing, do you think?
Decreased in quality, ha, because you said so or are you going to give a bunch of anecdotes, just because a product is popular and selling more, it has decreased in quality. Who are the smarter people, I guess people buying the iphone are dumb and you are smart, isn't it? No wonder people harp on some of you Apple fans, look at the way you talk.
Right you have no defintion of what a smartphone is, you just make up a list with features the iphone doesn't have so that to you the iphone isn't defined as a smartphone. Funny think most of the world doesn't think like this.
You should take you own advice.
By green I assume you mean money. While I think it makes financial sense for Apple, having worked for them for college I have no illusion who they are. Those low prices are achieved by complete Micromanagement by corporate and cutting staffing to the bone by having floor associates both check (without making what the cashers make) and unload trucks. There is also very little training of new associates beyond the legalize to save their own rear ends. Turnover is also extremely high. So, if the people you see there seem like they don't know anything, its probably because they don't. If you can't find someone to help you, look at the name tag on the person at the register because that's probably where they are.
Yes, I do. And since you never answered I guess you do not.
Decreased in quality, ha, because you said so or are you going to give a bunch of anecdotes, just because a product is popular and selling more, it has decreased in quality. Who are the smarter people, I guess people buying the iphone are dumb and you are smart, isn't it? No wonder people harp on some of you Apple fans, look at the way you talk.
So you're gonna toss that copout term, why not call me an Apple fanboy? Either way, you won't touch on any point I made save for just saying I am wrong, and taking things to the extreme. Much like many of the poor conversationists on these forums.
Read my post again. I never said this and that make a smartphone, I said that the rest of world knows smartphones have these features, which the iPhone does not.
No, I don't have too. I am not flaming anyone for no reason like yourself. At least you know my stance on the actual issue. You just started your membership here and your first post is nothing but ignorant bashing comments.
How about this. Let me know what your position is about the topic at hand, then tell me how you don't agree with what I said. This is how grown ups talk. For instance, some like Walmart, some don't. NO one is blasting someone for either without stating their position.
Some people like the idea of having a $99 iPhone, some don't. I personally, think the phone's monthly plan is too high end, and the phone itself too fragile (like the newer iPods) to have such an expensive plan with no insurance. And no matter how you try to rationalize it in your own mind, the iPhone is not a smartphone by the WORLD'S definition of a smartphone, or by what the WORLD has gotten use to in terms of the smartphone that have been in the market since 2000 and their features then.
You cannot argue a point with someone who has already made up their mind. There are no other companies the size and scope of Walmart that is doing what I mentioned...period. Take a look at Starbucks - they buy the cheapest coffee they can - reducing the cost to the growers (except for SOME of their fair-trade coffee - but that is rare) and because they offered their employees full medical benefits to anyone working 20-hours or more - they had to close several hundred stores! It looks like Walmart has a good business model. I do not like Walmart - but I shop their from time to time. What about Nike? They still use child labor and sweat shops to make a $5 shoe and sell it to the idiot masses for $150...yet Nike is a more likable company because...?
I give-up - sometimes you just cannot win, regardless of the facts.
D
Why is being price competitive and innovative mutually exclusive with Apple? They can do both - be reasonably priced yet maintain their innovation buy selling more products.
As far as Walmart - have you talked to former and even current Apple employees? What about the Apple retail stores? They have been compared on other forums to Walmart in terms of employee treatment and lack of benefits. I just do not get it...
Apple wields a LARGE SWORD and as a result - gets the lowest price possible - the same as Walmart. Do you think Steve Jobs goes around saying 'Gee, I know we can get this item manufactured at a more environmentally friendly plant that pays better wages and keep 4-year old children from assembling the computer - but that costs - so lets do it?' No - he only did that after the HUGE outcry from their customers (myself included). Now - Walmart is following in the footsteps of other, smaller companies - yet they are lauded for that.
What a double-standard, hey?
D
How have the Unions worked out for the auto business? I was in the Broadcaster union and I HATED it! I had no choice as it was a CLOSED shop. They took my money - went on strike (I had no choice as I was in the union) and negotiated contracts that were better for the union and not me.
I will not argue the fact that unions serve a place in America and did wonders for this country at its inception - but those days are gone.
If you check the facts - a Union job is almost as likely to pay the same or LESS than a non-union job of the same ilk. You can check the government wages and benefits page from the Department of Labor to verify this.
A union has benefits to the consumer with often times better training and more complete services - but why not leave that to the consumer to chose? Instead - union workers with no current job stand outside a shop down my street picketing - wouldn't they rather be working that making $2/hr standing outside a shop being built-out by arguably the same quality of employee?
I cannot stand unions - does that make me un-American? I hope not!
D
Wait - did Apple do this regarding its product line? Heck no! Only after public outcry did Apple do this! The same is true with Starbucks. The ignorance of people never ceases to amaze me. Starbucks ONLY started buying fair trade coffee after a large grass-roots campaign forced their hand. Do you honestly think Starbucks would have done that without the grass-roots effort to force them into a corner? NO - as they DID NOT DO IT ON THEIR OWN - or they would have been doing it from the get go.
Amazing...
D
Wal-Mart can SUCK IT!!!!!!
I'd rather pay $500 dollars for an iPhone than go to Wal-Mart and spend time with all my favorite, toothless hillbilly friends.
And if you think I'm overreacting cuz you love Wal-Mart, too bad!!!
No, I do not think you are overreacting - I think you are just as ignorant as you feel Walmart customers are. I am glad you have the extra $400 in disposable income to waste on your new iPhone. See, capitalism must be working for you or you would not have that extra income to pay MORE for a product that it commands.
Well played.
D
This thread makes me sick.
This thread is a prime example of why people think Mac users are elitist douche bags.
Many of you need to get a grip on reality. Who cares if the sell it at Walmart?
I wish I could get a 4GB iPhone. I have a 160 GB classic that has my media on it. There is not one song on my iPhone. I would have loved to save $100 when I bought it.
This thread is a prime example of why people think Mac users are elitist douche bags.
Many of you need to get a grip on reality. Who cares if the sell it at Walmart?
I wish I could get a 4GB iPhone. I have a 160 GB classic that has my media on it. There is not one song on my iPhone. I would have loved to save $100 when I bought it.
In response to a previous post, I do agree that the unions are not as relevant today. The US Auto industry has been operated much differently than in other countries. In a global market, we have to get in line with the other companies and there isn't much of a need for the union in that type of environment.
In regards to this post, I don't think the "average" American could tell you the differences or similarities of Walmart's and Starbucks's business operations. I wish there was a poll on what kind of "common knowlege" is out there about this. I doubt that too many would know the complaints about Walmart, regardless of whether or not they shop there.
I base this statement on polls on other random topics that have surprised me. Three examples that I can think of are that for a couple years after 9/11, 40% of those polled still thought Iraq had something to do with the attacks. Another more recent example is that about 25% of those polled thought Barack Hussein was a practicing Muslim. My 3rd example is that about 60% of those polled do not think the Big 3 should get a loan from the government because if they go under, there would not be a major impact on the United States. While this last example is based on opinion, not fact like the first two, the basis of their decision is based on something I don't think is fully understood in that the collapse of the Big 3 would affect far more than just the Big 3's employees. (Here are some state-by-state numbers ) This does not take into consideration the corner stores, bars, staffing, cleaning and food vendors whose clients are the Big 3 and the like whose businesses would suffer major setbacks. So if someone does not think the government should loan them money, that's their opinion. But if that opinion is based on the overall affect on the country, I think there is a lack of understanding there.
I didn't mean to go off point, but I think only a small percentage of people are going to be able to actually discuss the points brought up in this entire thread. I don't think too many people are going to dwell on iPhones being sold at Walmart. If Apple does re-release the 4gb model, I can see it being exclusive to Walmart. If Apple just drops the price of the 8gb model, I think it will be across the board. So if the rumor is true and iPhones show up at Walmarts, it boils down to Apple trying to a product in the largest retailer in the country. If they re-release the 4gb model or reduce the 8gb to $99, it boils to Apple acknowledging the economy and the need for a lower price and/or it's acknowledging Walmart's business model of having cheaper prices.
I bet they do end up selling the iphone...but not a 4gig version.
They'll probably carry the same one's that everyone else has.
Why would Walmart be so special as to get the opportunity to singlehandedly debut a new iphone, all on their own?
Seriously?
I think not.
However, having them as a retailer, would be in Apple's favor.
There is practically a Walmart in every small town in the US.
Apple would be increasing their sales odds by offering the iphone where there might not be an Apple store or a Best Buy.
They'll probably carry the same one's that everyone else has.
Why would Walmart be so special as to get the opportunity to singlehandedly debut a new iphone, all on their own?
Seriously?
I think not.
However, having them as a retailer, would be in Apple's favor.
There is practically a Walmart in every small town in the US.
Apple would be increasing their sales odds by offering the iphone where there might not be an Apple store or a Best Buy.