Cramer: Cingular to give away 18 months of service with iPhone

[SurfRat]

Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's "Mad Money, and director of "TheStreet.com," says AT&T is planning to steal away Verizon Wireless subscribers by an enticing offer to go along with the iPhone: Free AT&T Wireless subscription for a year and a half with the purchase of Apple's iPhone.

In essence, this would substantially lower the perceived price of the iPhone, providing a great incentive for early adopters.

I'm in!

http://www.thestreet.com/_mktw/funds/realmoneyradiowrap/10334546.html

[AppleInsider]

Thursday's hot iPhone rumor comes compliments of CNBC analyst Jim Cramer, who suggests Cingular/ATT will sidestep subsidization of the Apple handset by giving away lengthy service contracts.

"In its call, the company made it very clear that it's going to use Apple's iPhone to get customers from Verizon Wireless by giving away its service for a year and a half to those customers who buy the phone," Cramer explained in his blog posting at TheStreet.com.

The CNBC "Mad Money" host believes the strategy will help the wireless carrier court a flurry of new subscribers while maintaining requests from Apple not to discount the cost of the $499 and $599 mobile devices.

Take our poll: Would 1.5 years of complimentary cell service increase your likelihood of purchasing an iPhone?[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ] (http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2437)

[gordy]

I always considered the hidden costs for iPhone could easily kick the price up another 100-200 dollars. If this is true, I may be buying my first cell phone.

[Sublimity]

If this is true, this will absolutely be a major lift for Cingular as people will more readily fork over the hundreds for a phone that may end up saving them more in the long run!!!

The only caveat is this: The iPhone would have to be extremely compelling AND Cingular or ATT (horrible name) would make sure they don't jack up the service fees for iPhone users.

Great marketing strategy though!!!

[Splinemodel]

If you consider that $50 * 18 months = $900 . . .

That's literally a steal, and it's the only way I'd consider getting one. Cingular's 2.5G network with bad voice quality isn't worth paying for, but in this case, I wouldn't be paying for it so it's all good.

[addabox]

Substantially lower? At a minimum voice plan of say $40 month for 18 months this would actually mean Cingular would be paying you at least $120 to use the iPhone and their service, and a whopping $220 for the base model.

Could this possibly be true? Does Cingular have some kind of bare bones plan that they might be offering up with substantially lower monthly worth?

Other questions are:

--Does the 18 months count against the two year service plan? That is, is your contract up after the last paid six months?

--If so, will there be anywhere to go with your iPhone at that point, since two years coincides with the term of Apple's exclusive deal with Cingular?

--If the "free" service is just a basic voice plan, how much will (the probably required) data services be?

This looks to be a huge win for Apple, one that abruptly changes the "too expensive for normal folk" narrative, assuming the particulars aren't too horrible. Hope it's for real.

[mmmdoughnuts]

If true, this probably isn't for those people that are already with Cingular. This is clearly a market share grab from the other companies....

[Kolchak]

Except that 18 months of crap is still crap. I wouldn't deal with Cingular even if it were free.

[JeffDM]

I don't expect them to provide the phone service for free, that would be pretty dumb on their part, what is their incentive?

If the data part of the contract is no extra charge above a standard voice plan, then I might consider it.

I just checked their site and they claim to not support my area. Did ATT dump their own wireless network to get Cingular? I thought ATT supported my area.

[addabox]

Reposted from the other, soon to be orphaned thread:

Substantially lower? At a minimum voice plan of say $40 month for 18 months this would actually mean Cingular would be paying you at least $120 to use the iPhone and their service, and a whopping $220 for the base model.

Could this possibly be true? Does Cingular have some kind of bare bones plan that they might be offering up with substantially lower monthly worth?

Other questions are:

--Does the 18 months count against the two year service plan? That is, is your contract up after the last paid six months?

--If so, will there be anywhere to go with your iPhone at that point, since two years coincides with the term of Apple's exclusive deal with Cingular?

--If the "free" service is just a basic voice plan, how much will (the probably required) data services be?

This looks to be a huge win for Apple, one that abruptly changes the "too expensive for normal folk" narrative, assuming the particulars aren't too horrible. Hope it's for real.

[SurfRat]

.....

[backtomac]

I'm all for it but I think this may diminish the odds of a second, scaled down and cheaper, iPhone appearing later this year. Good news for me though as they had me after the keynote. Now they just made it cheaper.

[desarc]

since this is a rumor, let me add my GUESS:
if this is true, i'm guessing that it's 18 months of free unlimited DATA when you sign up for a VOICE plan.

[domerdel]

I'm curious to what Verizon's take is on the iPhone in general? I know there will be cool phones down the line, but I want one with Mac OS X on it... and I can't foresee that happening anytime soon with Verizon...

I honestly thing quality-wise Verizon is a better company/service... I'm torn (i want the iphone).

[SDW2001]

First, I do think this is accurate. Cingular will take a loss on the service for 18 months for the sole reason of nailing Verizon. I have Verizon now, and I can tell you that I will absolutely convert to Cingular if this true. My cell bill, with mobile web, comes to $52.00 a month. That's a savings of $900 over two years, all for the privledge of using an amazingly revolutionary phone.

However, there are some disadvantages to the phone that may hold me back or give me pause, at least. One is the lack of bluetooth support. That's kind of a deal killer as my Motorola E815 syncs perfectly with my 2007 Camry's system. It's really an amazing technology that I'm becoming addicted to. I also can sync the same phone with iCal and Address Book over bluetooth. So, I'm losing the Bluetooth feature and gaining full web...sort of. I can already use my E815 as a bluetooth modem, and so whenever I travel.

[filburt]

since this is a rumor, let me add my GUESS:
if this is true, i'm guessing that it's 18 months of free unlimited DATA when you sign up for a VOICE plan.

I agree. Free voice plan for 18 months seem implausible. Heck, if it's free voice plan, I am willing to sign up with Verizon Wireless now and pay the termination fee for Cingular + iPhone. Unlimited data and/or SMS for 18 months makes more sense.

However, there are some disadvantages to the phone that may hold me back or give me pause, at least. One is the lack of bluetooth support.

iPhone has Bluetooth 2.0. Apple has yet to publish the list of profiles, but it does have Blueooth.

[desarc]

everyone here who thinks cingular sux is just living in a spotty area. TOO BAD FOR YOU.
i live in central CT and always have perfect reception, plus on ski trips to VT i get perfect reception where Verizon has NONE. it works fine in NYC, boston, coastal Maine, every ski town in CO that i've been to, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. i've had full reception in the middle of nowhere nebraska.
i have NEVER had a problem w/ cingular... just ask people who live near you who have their service - that should tell you all you need to know.

[BRussell]

I'll believe it when (if) it's announced. I don't see why they wouldn't have announced that at the time it was introduced if it's true. And the first 18 months out of a 24-month contract free? That just makes no sense.

[JeffDM]

However, there are some disadvantages to the phone that may hold me back or give me pause, at least. One is the lack of bluetooth support. That's kind of a deal killer as my Motorola E815 syncs perfectly with my 2007 Camry's system. It's really an amazing technology that I'm becoming addicted to. I also can sync the same phone with iCal and Address Book over bluetooth. So, I'm losing the Bluetooth feature and gaining full web...sort of. I can already use my E815 as a bluetooth modem, and so whenever I travel.

Please tell me what part of Bluetooth you are losing. Apple's iPhone page says it supports Bluetooth 2.0/EDR. 2.0/EDR is not needed if you just wanted to use a Bluetooth headset.

[Porchland]

I'm curious to what Verizon's take is on the iPhone in general? I know there will be cool phones down the line, but I want one with Mac OS X on it... and I can't foresee that happening anytime soon with Verizon...

I honestly thing quality-wise Verizon is a better company/service... I'm torn (i want the iphone).

My guess: The Cingular/AT&T deal is exclusive for two years at most and Apple will eventually roll the the iPhone out to the other GSM carriers and bring out a CDMA iPhone for Verizon.

There's just no reason for Apple to have given Cingular/AT&T exclusivity beyond two years and limit availability to the 20 percent (or whatever) of American mobile users that are on Cingular/AT&T.

[1984]

Who said this was based on a 2-year contract? They are undoubtedly going have many different ones.

[domerdel]

My guess: The Cingular/AT&T deal is exclusive for two years at most and Apple will eventually roll the the iPhone out to the other GSM carriers and bring out a CDMA iPhone for Verizon.

There's just no reason for Apple to have given Cingular/AT&T exclusivity beyond two years and limit availability to the 20 percent (or whatever) of American mobile users that are on Cingular/AT&T.

I think my question was more related to what approach did Verizon have (initially) with Apple? Did they try and work out a deal? or was it the other end (Apple) just picking a carrier with the biggest network?

When the RAZR came out, it was less than a year before Verizon adopted it's own version. The different story here is a smart phone with a very specific OS interface. I was hoping to find articles that Verizon made some sort of approach/proposal to try and get the iPhone with their network BEFORE it was decided by Apple and Cingular to keep it exclusive for 2 years. Verizon holds a very strong smart phone market, and it confuses me that it seems, from a consumer standpoint, that Verizon just let this slip under the radar...

[1984]

My guess: The Cingular/AT&T deal is exclusive for two years at most and Apple will eventually roll the the iPhone out to the other GSM carriers and bring out a CDMA iPhone for Verizon.

There's just no reason for Apple to have given Cingular/AT&T exclusivity beyond two years and limit availability to the 20 percent (or whatever) of American mobile users that are on Cingular/AT&T.

It runs out in 2009 at which point the iPhone will be available through other carriers.

[ecking]

I just don't want to HAVE to have a data plan with the friggin phone. These are incredibly expensive and gay in canada, I just want the plan I have now but my phone to be an iphone, if I want to use wifi I'll use where ever it's free, like my house or school or somewhere else.

If I'm forking over 499-599usd on a phone I should be able to use it with any damn plan I want.

[Splinemodel]

My guess: The Cingular/AT&T deal is exclusive for two years at most and Apple will eventually roll the the iPhone out to the other GSM carriers and bring out a CDMA iPhone for Verizon.

There's just no reason for Apple to have given Cingular/AT&T exclusivity beyond two years and limit availability to the 20 percent (or whatever) of American mobile users that are on Cingular/AT&T.

What you refer to as CDMA is actually a standard called IS-95, and it no longer exists aside from legacy support. All 3G standards use one form of CDMA or another, so saying "CDMA" basically is equivalent to saying "3G."

It's quite likely that Apple is working on a CDMA2000-based EVDO model, to run on Sprint and possibly Verizon networks, as well as the many other Asian and non-EU European EVDO networks.

It's quite likely that Apple is also working on a WCDMA-based HSDPA model for NTT and EU 3G networks, but EVDO is probably going to come first because it has a greater installed base and because many nations have existing spectrum allocation in the WCDMA range, the USA being one of them.

[BRussell]

It runs out in 2009 at which point the iPhone will be available through other carriers. Do we know that for sure? I know that Jobs said the phone will be sold for 499/599 with a 2-year contract for the consumer, but I haven't heard official word about how long Apple's exclusive deal with AT&T lasts.

[CosmoNut]

Yeah, it sounds like 18 months of free data with paid minutes.

[addabox]

I've said this before, but you have to figure the big deal breaker with Verizon is that are unwilling to relinquish control of content.

They, more than any US carrier, have been completely nuts about making sure you have to use their music, video and image services, as well as their "accessory kits" for various functionality.

CEO Ivan Seidenberg is kind of a dick about this stuff, and there is no way he's going to make nice with Jobs.

[BlackSummerNight]

THey must plan on crippling the wifi. why would anyone need a data plan when wifi if available damn near eveywhere. Shit, Mcdonalds and Krystals offer wifi. Fugg a data plan.

[digitalclips]

Except that 18 months of crap is still crap. I wouldn't deal with Cingular even if it were free.


Remember this is Bell South, Cingular and AT & T and new animal, or maybe the return of an old one:lol:

[Neruda]

Except that 18 months of crap is still crap. I wouldn't deal with Cingular even if it were free.

1. Yes, except that free crap (service) is better than the crap you have to pay for. If this is true, then I will definitely consider ditching Verizon since my contract with them ends in another year, therefore, I will only have to pay for one plan. This would be genius and would make the choice for those with existing plans a lot easier.

2. All this bitching about 3G. For those in the US: a. This is not Europe of Japan where the technology is more widely in use. b. Jobs has stated that 3G support will be implemented when it makes more sense.

3. The consensus seems to be that Cingular is crap, but this company will no longer exist in 6 months. What about AT&T's reputation? Cingular is dead.

[BlackSummerNight]

1) I wonder what type of deal would existing customers who's contract is up will get.

2) I would rather use wifi over the 3g features. Those data plans are tricky.

3) I've had Cingular service for almost 2 years, and it's been nothing short of great.

People on these threads like to bitch and moan, no matter what the news is.
1. Yes, except that free crap (service) is better than the crap you have to pay for. If this is true, then I will definitely consider ditching Verizon since my contract with them ends in another year, therefore, I will only have to pay for one plan. This would be genius and would make the choice for those with existing plans a lot easier.

2. All this bitching about 3G. For those in the US: a. This is not Europe of Japan where the technology is more widely in use. b. Jobs has stated that 3G support will be implemented when it makes more sense.

3. The consensus seems to be that Cingular is crap, but this company will no longer exist in 6 months. What about AT&T's reputation? Cingular is dead.

[JeffDM]

3. The consensus seems to be that Cingular is crap, but this company will no longer exist in 6 months. What about AT&T's reputation? Cingular is dead.

How often does a merger improve the products and services that new company offers over the old ones? Usually, there's a short term dump, followed by a long term dump if the merger doesn't work.

[csi95]

In its call, the company made it very clear that it's going to use Apple's iPhone to get customers from Verizon Wireless by giving away its service for a year and a half to those customers who buy the phone
I am currently a Verizon customer, and 18 months of ABSOLUTELY FREE service would persuade me to spend $600 on an iPhone.

I pay about $45 per month now with Verizon, and I spent $50 on the LG phone. That's $860 over an 18 month period with Verizon. Jumping to an iPhone would actually save me over $200. How can you pass that deal up???

Of course, the catch is what the price for service will be after that initial 18 months. If I have to pay $100 per month to get their phone, and web, and text messaging and enhanced voice mail, blah blah blah, then forget it.

[Neruda]

How often does a merger improve the products and services that new company offers over the old ones?

IMO, this is the relevant question and answering it involves analysing AT&T's service, not Cingular's. IE, quit bitching about Cingular people! Let the bitching about AT&T begin :)

[irasiegel]

1) I wonder what type of deal would existing customers who's contract is up will get.

2) I would rather use wifi over the 3g features. Those data plans are tricky.

3) I've had Cingular service for almost 2 years, and it's been nothing short of great.

People on these threads like to bitch and moan, no matter what the news is.

Yes, what about those of us already using Cingular?

[vinea]

Yes, what about those of us already using Cingular?

It would be silly of them to not give us this deal. I came from AT&T (and my phone is still badged AT&T even with the Cingular SIM inside) and Cingular had no problems giving us another set of phones to stay even through the contract wasn't up.

Phone service has been good. Customer service has been fine...which given Cingular's not so hot reputation was more than was expected. All in all just as satisfied with Cingular as my brother in law is with Verizon.

I also doubt they will mess with WiFi if they are offering free service of some kind...especially for data services. Why would they want folks to tie up their bandwidth if you aren't paying or paying a flat rate for data services?

Vinea

[Johnny Mozzarella]

I think AT&T's plan here is to get people to buy an iPhone locked to AT&T's network.
Supposedly the iPhone is going to be nearly impossible to unlock.(We'll see)
If you buy an AT&T iPhone what are you going to do after your 2 year contract is up?
Buy a Verizon iPhone or renew your contract with AT&T?

AT&T will give away 18 months of a 24 month contract and then get you back for another 24 months.

[BlackSummerNight]

And what type of upgrade policy will they have. Let's say Apple bumps the storeage up to 18g in a year, and I want the extra storeage.

[Splinemodel]

2. All this bitching about 3G. For those in the US: a. This is not Europe of Japan where the technology is more widely in use. b. Jobs has stated that 3G support will be implemented when it makes more sense.

European 3G is shit. Sprint has arguably the biggest and best 3G network in the world.

[gugy]

I am the customer Cingular (ATT) is after. I have Verizon for 4 years and I love the iPhone. BUT:
• I had Cingular (PacBell) prior to my Verizon and it was sucks, no reception at home and office.
• I have friends that complain to this day about Cingular reception and they live near to where I live.

So, I am willing to test the iPhone and see if the Ciingular service is any better now. The plan is very exciting and it would make me buy 2 iPhones. So I hope it's true. The current model just doesn't work. iPhones are expensive and on top of that 2 years contract to a possible suck service is a deal breaker IMHO.
My Verizon plan expires in March and I'll be paying month by month until the iPhone comes out. Let's see, maybe I'll be a switcher.

[iJay]

everyone here who thinks cingular sux is just living in a spotty area. TOO BAD FOR YOU.

i would not consider downtown boston a "spotty area"...

sometimes my phone works there sometimes it doesn't. copley square, same thing. hynnes convention center, i have to walk around to find signal.

cingular is not good. it sux. the 2-year contract might prevent me from buying an iPhone as i don't want to get locked in with them again now that my 2 year is amost done (it expires in september)

plus, i can't see the darn "cool" features of the iPhone being so cool with a crappy service... it would be like experiencing safari with dial up. :no:

[anantksundaram]

I am beginning to get REALLY concerned by all the chatter and speculation on the part of the Pogues and the Cramers of the world about a product that practically no one will touch/see/feel for another five months.

The reason for my worry? By the time the 'iPhone' actually comes around (if it will be called that), we are going to be six months into commiserating, salivating, debating, venting, praising, loving, hating the darn thing, that it will seem like old hat -- and something of a let-down -- when we actually get it in our hands.

Contrary to my initial reaction, I now think that Apple and Jobs made a terrible mistake with their decision to splashily introduce the product six months before it was made available.

:\

[JeffDM]

Contrary to my initial reaction, I now think that Apple and Jobs made a terrible mistake with their decision to splashily introduce the product six months before it was made available.

It's hard to know, but what would have happened if Apple didn't announce the phone? It was probably the most anticipated unannounced product I remember. The stock might have taken a pretty big dump.

[anantksundaram]

It's hard to know, but what would have happened if Apple didn't announce the phone? It was probably the most anticipated unannounced product I remember. The stock might have taken a pretty big dump.

Maybe..... that it why I said "splashily introduced"..... :D

[gsteeno]

This deal sounds great....get an iPhone + reduced/free wireless service of some sort. But what happens after the 18 months? Joe Consumer's common practice might be to upgrade to a phone with newer technology, either with the same carrier or a new one, and chuck (recycle) the old phone. But who would ditch a $600 phone to upgrade?

I love this phone, and all things Apple, and am dying to buy it with the rumored deal. But one problem with having a multi-functional device is that one of the functions could become antiquated while the others are just fine. The iPod portion of the iPhone will still be amazing at the end of this 18-24 month contract. Hell, my wife's iPod mini is still chugging along perfectly. But the phone portion is already a bit behind the latest technology. In 18-months, it'll be a dinosaur.

Many questions, some of which will be answered as Apple has six months to tune this thing before launch. And I'm sure I'll still plop down the $$. But with caution.

Thoughts anyone?

[SDW2001]

Please tell me what part of Bluetooth you are losing. Apple's iPhone page says it supports Bluetooth 2.0/EDR. 2.0/EDR is not needed if you just wanted to use a Bluetooth headset.

Whoops. My bad.

[SDW2001]

I've said this before, but you have to figure the big deal breaker with Verizon is that are unwilling to relinquish control of content.

They, more than any US carrier, have been completely nuts about making sure you have to use their music, video and image services, as well as their "accessory kits" for various functionality.

CEO Ivan Seidenberg is kind of a dick about this stuff, and there is no way he's going to make nice with Jobs.

Holy shit...we agree on TWO things! This is getting scary.

The folks at Verizon are content NAZIS. The predecessor to the E815 was crippled "beyond reason" according to reports of users. They still have disabled OBX and using it as a bluetooth modem is not officially supported, even with a mobile web account. I have enabled mine and it works well with the small flaw of disconnecting with no activity after 3-5 minutes.

I can't see Verizon hooking up with Apple unless they start getting totally killed by the iPhone (could happen, but with their millions of customers it would take a long time, no matter how successful the iPhone is). You're right...I can't see them allowing iTunes store integration or what not. Right now they control the VCAST video (a laughable piece of shit service for...wait for it....$15 a month more), the music, all software, etc.

[techdisciple]

Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's "Mad Money, and director of "TheStreet.com," says AT&T is planning to steal away Verizon Wireless subscribers by an enticing offer to go along with the iPhone: Free AT&T Wireless subscription for a year and a half with the purchase of Apple's iPhone.

In essence, this would substantially lower the perceived price of the iPhone, providing a great incentive for early adopters.

I'm in!

http://www.thestreet.com/_mktw/funds/realmoneyradiowrap/10334546.html

Hmm...if the iPhone is what it's suppose to be and Cingular (leading the wireless world with subscribers) having the exclusive why do need anything else to entice the masses. Could it be that Cingular is getting nervous that Apple's iPhone will not deliver what it's suppose to, the domination of wireless phone market ala the mp3 market. I think so, Cingular is almost crapping in its corporate pants right about now. There are much much better cellphones out there and coming out by Samsung, LG, Palm and Motorola that surpass the capability and functionality of the iPhone. iPhone takes the cake in asthetics but it's no Verizon nor Sprint together with Nextel nor T-Mobile killer hence the gimick by Cingular...

www.yaketyyaker.com

[vinea]

Hmm...if the iPhone is what it's suppose to be and Cingular (leading the wireless world with subscribers) having the exclusive why do need anything else to entice the masses. Could it be that Cingular is getting nervous that Apple's iPhone will not deliver what it's suppose to, the domination of wireless phone market ala the mp3 market. I think so, Cingular is almost crapping in its corporate pants right about now. There are much much better cellphones out there and coming out by Samsung, LG, Palm and Motorola that surpass the capability and functionality of the iPhone. iPhone takes the cake in asthetics but it's no Verizon nor Sprint together with Nextel nor T-Mobile killer hence the gimick by Cingular...


Um...if they think the iPhone is a loser I'm pretty sure they could just shrug their shoulders and move on rather than offer such an enticing deal. What do they get out of it?

I'm guessing this is corporate kicking someone when they are down if true. An iPhone with free 18month anything (data or voice) is a no brainer for any smart phone user.

At the end of 2 years, even if the iPhone is obsolete who cares? The end cost is the same as a subsidized smart phone. Toss it, keep it, whatever.

The only thing that can burn Cingular is limited availability. Then its just a few subs...old or new.

Vinea

[DCQ]

1. On the subject at hand, if this is true, my wife and I will get two iPhones.

2. On the Cingular quality issue: I and my family and friends have all used a combination of Sprint/Nextel, Cingular/AT&T, and Verizon. All of us complain or have complained about something. I currently have Cingular, and call quality is sometimes iffy. But usually its fine. Most of the people I know who have Verizon can't stop using swear words whenever the subject comes up--sometimes for their dropped calls, and more often for their customer service. (Cingular reps can be pretty dense too.) And this includes my father-in-law who worked for AT&T/Nynex/Verizon his whole life. On both networks, sometimes reception is good, sometimes great, and often crappy. Sprint was my baby. Perfect voice quality, and never a dropped call. But their reception area was frustratingly small. I had to switch when I realized I was never going to get reception at my parents' house or my wife's mother's house, or whenever I was on the road between certain cities (which was often when I needed it most).

3. Did I mention that if this is true, my wife and I will get two iPhones?

[Johnny Mozzarella]

This deal sounds great....get an iPhone + reduced/free wireless service of some sort. But what happens after the 18 months? Joe Consumer's common practice might be to upgrade to a phone with newer technology, either with the same carrier or a new one, and chuck (recycle) the old phone. But who would ditch a $600 phone to upgrade?

I love this phone, and all things Apple, and am dying to buy it with the rumored deal. But one problem with having a multi-functional device is that one of the functions could become antiquated while the others are just fine. The iPod portion of the iPhone will still be amazing at the end of this 18-24 month contract. Hell, my wife's iPod mini is still chugging along perfectly. But the phone portion is already a bit behind the latest technology. In 18-months, it'll be a dinosaur.

Many questions, some of which will be answered as Apple has six months to tune this thing before launch. And I'm sure I'll still plop down the $$. But with caution.

Thoughts anyone?
Congratulations on your first post!
Now, time for a beat down. :lol:
...But one problem with having a multi-functional device is that one of the functions could become antiquated while the others are just fine...
The iPhone is as much a computer as it is a cell phone.
So in two years you will be running iPhone OS X 10.6.1 and the phone will be much better than when you bought it, not antiquated.
...But the phone portion is already a bit behind the latest technology. In 18-months, it'll be a dinosaur...
What you saw in the keynote was a beta of an unfinished product.
In 18-months, it will be far more advanced with every point upgrade Apple releases.

[SurfRat]

One point a lot of the analysts seem to be missing is that "features" or "capabilities" are not necessarily what makes a product popular.

I think the whole "iPod v. the World" scenario is a prime example.

Countless companies are trying to beat out the iPod by having an extensive feature list, and it isn't working.

I suspect we'll see a similar scenario with the iPhone. Apple's goal? All the features you need, and nothing you don't. I'm all for it.

Sure it won't be what everyone wants right off the bat, but down the road there'll be something for everyone. Just as there is with iPods right now.

[Kickaha]

That's one thing I think most analysts are missing... this thing is endlessly upgradeable on the OS and software side. No hardwired interface, just keep adding apps. The trick will be getting the hardware solid enough to be usable for the next few years. But the phone functionality will only get better.

[sunilraman]

since this is a rumor, let me add my GUESS:
if this is true, i'm guessing that it's 18 months of free unlimited DATA when you sign up for a VOICE plan.

Yeah, sounds too good to be true... :err: :err: :err:

[mugwump]

Yeah, it sounds like free a free data plan. I imagine by June that the EDGE data system would cost $15 per month for unlimited data. Giving that away free for 18 months would be a $270 savings for iPhone users, which is what a subsidized phone would cost AT&T.

Sprint offers free GRPS data plans for it's business users, so this would not be too much of a stretch for AT&T to offer to the few million US iPhone users.

[gordy]

I see a lot of Cingular hate, but, it's AT&T now. With the networks combined, can it really be that bad? Or, are we just a little miffed that we're already under contract with another carrier? :grumble:

[SDW2001]

I see a lot of Cingular hate, but, it's AT&T now. With the networks combined, can it really be that bad? Or, are we just a little miffed that we're already under contract with another carrier? :grumble:

My feeling is that Cingular and Verizon are about the same. Personally, I have Verizon. I often get crappy quality (echo and delay are my biggest complaints). Their service reps are totally incompetent. When my wife and I split, the totally botched separating our family share plan. First they wanted us to go to a store. Then they wanted us to call together. Then they messed that up. It finally got solved. One thing I like though...I can pay my bill SUPER late and they don't seem to care or charge me a late fee. After two months or whatever, they just direct you to their customer service line when you try and make a call....no credit report or anything.

Now...Sprint sucked when I had it about 6 years ago. I don't know how it is now. T-Mobile blows from what I hear. AT+T was terrible on its own, according to a family member.

I don't know for sure, but Cingular and Verizon seem to come close to the same level of suckitude.

[backtomac]

My feeling is that Cingular and Verizon are about the same. Personally, I have Verizon. I often get crappy quality (echo and delay are my biggest complaints). Their service reps are totally incompetent. When my wife and I split, the totally botched separating our family share plan. First they wanted us to go to a store. Then they wanted us to call together. Then they messed that up. It finally got solved. One thing I like though...I can pay my bill SUPER late and they don't seem to care or charge me a late fee. After two months or whatever, they just direct you to their customer service line when you try and make a call....no credit report or anything.

Now...Sprint sucked when I had it about 6 years ago. I don't know how it is now. T-Mobile blows from what I hear. AT+T was terrible on its own, according to a family member.

I don't know for sure, but Cingular and Verizon seem to come close to the same level of suckitude.

That's what i've experienced as well. All carriers have a some major negatives. Tell me who you like and I'm sure someone will post some thing negative about them. Pick your poison.

[BlackSummerNight]

They announced the iPhone because they didn't have shit else to announce at "Macworld". If it wasn't for the iPhone, what was the purpose of Macworld. No tiger news, no iLife news, no iWork news, no new hardware,...
It's hard to know, but what would have happened if Apple didn't announce the phone? It was probably the most anticipated unannounced product I remember. The stock might have taken a pretty big dump.

[anantksundaram]

That's one thing I think most analysts are missing... this thing is endlessly upgradeable on the OS and software side. No hardwired interface, just keep adding apps. The trick will be getting the hardware solid enough to be usable for the next few years. But the phone functionality will only get better.

At $1.99 per upgrade/app. We can thank SOP 97-2 (that acronym is for the accounting folks in the audience).

[Flounder]

They announced the iPhone because they didn't have shit else to announce at "Macworld". If it wasn't for the iPhone, what was the purpose of Macworld. No tiger news, no iLife news, no iWork news, no new hardware,...


I'd say it's more likely the other way around. They needed to announce the iPhone (for a lot of different reasons) so other things were pushed to the background. I'm expecting several mac related announcements/release in February.

[willrob]

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/rumor-smashed-iphone-will-not-come-with-15-years-of-free-service-231636.php

[Shadow Slayer 26]

Damn...mayabe they are wrong? I probably won't be able to get it unless it has a very good deal with it.

[archurban]

well, it turns out wrong information. jsut take a look this article. Cingular will never this service for customers. of course, they could drop the price of iphone. but 18 months for what? I don't believe.

http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/12436/

[ebaydan777]

wow a year and a half free service...definitly going to be on my purchase list if this happens, im curious to what exactly they are going to give away (type of plan)

and ya 3G in europe is horrible, i recently brought my gf's blackjack and ran it over vodafone i beleive, and wow worse than my GSM sidekick 3 on their networks...sucked sorry but 3G is a waiste for now...and europe isnt any different

[Aquatic]

These are incredibly expensive and gay in canada

I thought you were all gay up there? That's what I heard when I was watching FOX News I think...

Anyway...if this is true I may switch...of course all my family and my fiancée got Verizon to be "in". Ugh I think it would be kind of selfish to make everyone else switch...do I get to pick a list of 5 people to be "in" or am I thinking of another company?

I however don't believe this rumor. It sounds WAY too good to be true. If it's true I may have to do it--but it's just way too good to be true.

[Kickaha]

Agreed. I was hopeful at first, but the most I can see happening is 18mon free *data* on top of a simple voice plan. (Then, after you've found it indispensible, they charge you the full bend-over-buddy data rates for the last 6 months of the plan.)

[GracieNote]

What you refer to as CDMA is actually a standard called IS-95, and it no longer exists aside from legacy support. All 3G standards use one form of CDMA or another, so saying "CDMA" basically is equivalent to saying "3G."

It's quite likely that Apple is working on a CDMA2000-based EVDO model, to run on Sprint and possibly Verizon networks, as well as the many other Asian and non-EU European EVDO networks.

It's quite likely that Apple is also working on a WCDMA-based HSDPA model for NTT and EU 3G networks, but EVDO is probably going to come first because it has a greater installed base and because many nations have existing spectrum allocation in the WCDMA range, the USA being one of them.

I beg your pardon? CDMA is all that is available where I live. No 3G. "The middle of nowhere" is probably about right.

Cingular and Verizon can duke it out somewhere else. Neither is available here.

[iJay]

I see a lot of Cingular hate, but, it's AT&T now. With the networks combined, can it really be that bad?


actually cingular was very good BEFORE the merger. after they merged with AT&T the signal became sh!t and customer service got worst (than it used to be) :???: