AT&T Hurts iPhone 3G's Image

[Guest]

Some of you people are just stupid. From at&t view point its just a new phone and like any new phone that comes out new customers can buy it at the 2 year contract and current customers can upgrade it they qualified. Nothing new here. Two days before i found the new iphone was comming my phone broke and i had to get a new phone so i got a blackberry. I could have returned it but it was going to be more than 30 days for the iphone so i will have to wait for my upgrade. Now for the pricing for the second line being 40 bucks. Right now my line is a second line of my wife's account it cost 10 for the line and 30 for my blackberry package hello people that is 40 Bucks. The only difference is that i have a choice if i want to add the blackberry package and the iphone you must have a data package. Your just stupid if you dont, the pay per use of .01 per kb would cost you thosands of dollars each month. so an extra 30 fo the iphone is cheap. I know for a fact that people that use the iphone use an average more than 100x the use of data than other phones which have a data plan. And for the price of the phone Apple chooses how much to charge for the phone, so if att says the full price is 599 then that price is driven by apple not att. So when att prices the phone at 199 they are taking a 300 to 400 dollar hit on each phone for the 2 year contract. This is nothing new for any cell company. So my addvice is if you dont want to pay 500 or 600 bucks for it than dont!! free choice is a good thing

 

[Tomsguiderachel]

[citation][nom]ss[/nom]also like to add: as far as I can tell if you get the unlimited family talk text for $30 for up to 5 phones a month that counts for the iphone also. which seems better then paying $40 a month for each iphone to have unlimited text and data. [/citation]

ss--Rachel from Tom's Guide here. The fact that you have to say "As far as I can tell," shows that AT&T isn't making the plans clear enough. The truth is they have not answered questions about sharing texts and data with a mixed Family Talk plan (iPhone and other phones). We probably won't get answers til we get in line on the 11th. Apple should intervene and provide clarity to customers who expect it.

 

[Guest]

The omission of txt messaging on the default plan leaves a sour taste. I love my iPhone but am not likely to upgrade due to ATT's shameless gouging. Whats worse is there is no longer the choice unless you can buy an older iPhone on craigslist or ebay. I dont know about you guys but I'm now looking forward to Android powered phones. ATT has screwed both Apple and the consumer in one fell swoop.

 

[Guest]

Let me say it another way.
The iphone is not being treated like any other phone, that being said the data service is just like the blackberry and the added feature for the text is being treated the same way. I was tired last night when I first wrote this. But the biggest issue is that att has been trying to hold all the info they can and they are even telling their employees that they could lose there jobs if they speak out about the iphone.

 

[smlong]

Who cares if AT&T is lame? Apple sucks and should go away.

 

[Tomsguiderachel]

[citation][nom]Gumboot[/nom]First, about the quote:"Original iPhone (not 3G) owners have clout and status above regular people in AT&T?s world. If you bought the first-gen iPhone, you are privileged to buy the new iPhone at the discounted price."Original iPhone owners paid full price for their phones, which is why they are permitted to get a 3G for a subsidized price. Perhaps Ms. Rosmarin should have actually done some research before posting this article, I expect better from this site.\As for the rest of the article and some of the comments, total hogweash. Apple/AT&T cut the initial price significantly for almost all users, and people still moan and groan. Perhaps a few of you would have been happier if Apple had stayed with their $399/$499 pricing, but I'm fairly certain Apple will sell many more phones due to their lower initial price. As for plan pricing, I would like to see 200 text messages thrown in the iPhone plan but $30 for unlimited 3G data is not out of line in today's market.I do not have any Apple computer products at this time, but I will be getting an iPhone 3G. At $199 it is a screaming deal.[/citation]

Hi Gumboot,

Thanks for your comments. You bring up an interesting point: "Original iPhone owners paid full price for their phones, which is why they are permitted to get a 3G for a subsidized price." You are right in that they are permitted. My question is whether why the fact that they paid full price actually entitles them to a discount later on on the new iPhone. This business practice is a new one for Apple, who hasn't given iPod or MacBook discounts to previous full-price iPod or Mac owners. Perhaps we will see that soon? What do you think?

--Rachel Rosmarin, Editor, Tom's Guide

 

[Guest]

Think little more research should of been done. I found this while looking for info on the new iphone.

http/www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iphone-info.jsp
scroll down a bit and see that it has all the info for the data and text services

 

[resonance451]

It would be nice to get a discount having bought previous products from apple. I take very good care of my iPods but use them heavily, so most of them don't last more than a year.

And the "nobody's holding a gun to your head" approach seems ridiculous to me. This is a new product they're trying to shove down our throats and manipulate people to buy, and some of us just want fair prices, given that we want access to the new technology without giving up our unborn children. That's like saying "If you don't like the smog-polluted air, stop breathing. Nobody's forcing you to breathe." For those of us who happen to be business owners, a smart phone is indeed an essential part of our daily lives. And somehow I think it isn't a bad thing to expect fair pricing for a product. Or a service, which AT&T's service is god-awful. I'd switch, but I'm mired in contract extensions I didn't know I was getting into since it wasn't made clear to me.

 

[Tomsguiderachel]

[citation][nom]moonlight[/nom]Think little more research should of been done. I found this while looking for info on the new iphone. http/www.wireless.att.com/cell-p [...] e-info.jspscroll down a bit and see that it has all the info for the data and text services[/citation]
Moonlight: Actually, the link you've provided does not answer questions about sharing text messages in an existing family talk plan that adds a new iPhone 3G to the plan. There are many details and situations which the AT&T site does not delve into.

Thanks for your comment,
Rachel Rosmarin

 

[Guest]

it shows clearly that the family text message will work and all the individuals. those are the same plan rates as what other phones use. you can see the only change is that the iphone now acts just like the blackberries and the pda phones. they use the same text service.

 

[joebob2000]

Company with quasi-monopoly realizes that demand is sufficient to allow for a little extra tightening of prices and features Film at 11.

Seriously, is anyone shocked by this? Apple is not a cell service carrier! This is like insisting that Samsung (whom makes fine, easy to use products) should be held to the fire because of the trouble Verizon imposes on their customers who choose Samsung handsets. Uh, no, complain to the service provider! The incredible demand for the Iphone and the complete lack of competition from other carriers left AT&T in a position far far FAR too tempting for any duly self-interested cell carrier (which is all of them) to pass up. Thank the fanboys (and girls) who fall all over themselves for this crap for the fun you now all get to enjoy.

Me? Love the Iphone, great innovation as usual. But... Sticking to my new phone every 2 years for a $35 a month plan I have on Verizon. I will read my email from home, thank you very much. AT&T can keep their crappy cell service and even crappier customer service.

 

[kansur0]

Monopoly. Greed. What allows Apple and AT&T to rake people over the coals is simple. They have something you want. They don't care about being fair or equitable. There is no shame in raising prices. They are selling a technological drug to the people. They know no matter how much all of this costs someone is going to buy it. They got us hooked with the first version of iPhone and even had us cracking the device which even made it more popular because this raised the price in the private market. They saw this and knew that if people were willing to pay 6-800 for an unlocked phone with no capabilities except for making phone calls they knew the sky was the limit. What they didn't count on was the fact that it is creating even more hate towards Apple and AT&T.

I am trying with all of my might to resist buying one of these things. It is finally in Canada and our price plans are just are rediculous (no unlimited access...minimum 3 year plan...very high price plans for a reasonable usage plan) but I may have to just admit to myself that I am a hopeless technology addict and will be a prisoner of Ted Rogers for the next 3 years paying unfair prices for something that isn't necessary. I am sure if the devil does exist he will be blushing on July 11th.

 

[kansur0]

Monopoly. Greed. What allows Apple and AT&T to rake people over the coals is simple. They have something you want. They don't care about being fair or equitable. There is no shame in raising prices. They are selling a technological drug to the people. They know no matter how much all of this costs someone is going to buy it. They got us hooked with the first version of iPhone and even had us cracking the device which even made it more popular because this raised the price in the private market. They saw this and knew that if people were willing to pay 6-800 for an unlocked phone with no capabilities except for making phone calls they knew the sky was the limit. What they didn't count on was the fact that it is creating even more hate towards Apple and AT&T.

I am trying with all of my might to resist buying one of these things. It is finally in Canada and our price plans are just are rediculous (no unlimited access...minimum 3 year plan...very high price plans for a reasonable usage plan) but I may have to just admit to myself that I am a hopeless technology addict and will be a prisoner of Ted Rogers for the next 3 years paying unfair prices for something that isn't necessary. I am sure if the devil does exist he will be blushing on July 11th.

 

[Guest]

It looks like the angry mob is starting to gather... www.Not199.com

It will be interesting to see if Apple tries to remedy this pricing mess in anyway. I can tell you right now that I have changed my plans regarding an iPhone3G purchase, after seeing AT&T and Apple pull a Marketing101 two-step on the masses. What a sham!

 

[Guest]

What a joke, take a look at the Rogers plans for the iPhone in Canada. I would kill to get a plan like ATT is offering. Stop complaining and try living in the "great" white north. Tom's should cover a story on the Rogers debackle, we need more support for change on it.

 

[resonance451]

@ MRC: Just because you have no arms and legs doesn't mean I should take joy in being a quadriplegic.

 

[Guest]

So... what is new? I have always had to pay for text messaging from Cingular and now AT&T.

 

[Guest]

I have had Cingular(now ATT which is really SBC(the real scum bags)) for about the past 4 years and have had very good service until I moved to central FL. I currently have a 700 minute family plan with two razors that costs me about $90 (includes data on one) a month taxes and all. I held off on the 1st IPHONE and was pretty much set to upgrade this time around. I'm certainly not going to pay $40+ more a month for the same plan PLUS $30 each phone for data (texts I can do without/pay as I go). ATT has been overly deceptive... I have seen the prices broken down several ways. As I understand it the DATA and the texts are not included in any of the plans as they have stated here and of course they have not said what will happen if I upgrade just one phone to IPHONE. The way I get it now it would cost me $299 x 2 (phones) + 2 x 15 (upgrade fees) + 140 a month for minutes, 2 x 30 a month for data and 5->$30 x 2 a month for texts if I added them. Plus I have seen the prices listed 30-40 for each additional Iphone added to a family plan vs the current $10. In the end its really straight forward... I'm just not going to buy and IPHONE and wait and see what the competition comes up with. I've been a software developer for 25 years and never bought an Apple product. Why start now... although I'm sure their will be droves of mindless lemmings lined up to get one and get stuck in the worst possible two year contract in the history of cell phones. BTW with my original plan and the original IPHONE my rates would only have gone up $10 per month.

 

[Guest]

Just so that miss information is cleared up here. The iphone $40 a month is $10 for the add a line + $30 for the data plan for the iphone which = $40. It is not going to be $40 a month for the iphone + $30 for the data. The plan rates they show try to make it easier for people to know what they are going to pay. Not sure how people are getting the $40+$30 idea.

To sum it up it will only be $40 for an iphone each month on the family talk not including text.

 

[radguy]

The problem I have is I feel like I'm being lied to about this whole thing. Apple comes out and says the phone is 199/299 but doesn't say anything about the serivce contract or upgrade policey. The first Iphone didn't have these conditions and now I'm stuck paying 399 for the phone plus 74.99 or ~80 bucks with tax and fees unless I pay 175 to cancel my contract. Which saves me 25 bucks buy I lose my 4 year history with the company.
I have found cingular/at&t coverage and phone service to be very good compared to the other companies I have tried at least since they redid the cell phone industry a while back. (used to have 4 towers in the state of South Carolina with cell sites and you got service everywhere) Now SC has hundreds and plenty of dead spots.
The problem I have had is phones breaking on me and not being able to get them fixed and having to pay 3-4 hundred bucks for a new phone instead of 50-200. I'm just fustrated about finding this information and how secret it is. on AT&T website the pricing has a star next to it now but why isn't that on apples website. You really think people will be happy walking into an apple store and finding out they have to pay 399 or 499. Jobs has got something coming for him. I don't know yet if I will buy one of these or not. I didn't get the first one b/c of edge but the price jump fair but stil pretty steep. I just think its funny price is the number one reason people didn't buy the first iphone. Wonder how this is going to go all boil over.