16g 3Gs will be offered at $99. It is already a tradition. It still sells really good. And you have to get potential customers used to new design, the best way to do so is to sow them both designs side by side and point out why new is better. Plus customers got used to the 99 option and point must be occupied.
I agree we probably won't see 32GB @ $199. Not because they couldn't do it at that price point but because 16GB is "good enough" for just the right number of people to ensure a healthy market for the higher margin 32GB version. How many folks will upgrade from 32GB to 64GB? Less than would go for 16GB->32GB. Additionally there's no competition at that price point. Most Android phones come with tiny SD cards and megabytes of built in storage.
I think Apple should just remove Carrier exclusivity using a back door approach. They should sell the phone unlocked with 5-bands - supporting T-Mobile's 3G network as well. However, you can only buy the phone on contract from AT&T, with a $325 ETF, or outright for $600+.
If someone wants to use it on T-Mobile, they are welcome to, just cancel the contract after 30 days and pay AT&T their ETF. If you want to use it overseas, same thing.
Basically, they are should stay within the Exclusivity contract, but give AT&T a clear choice. Get your act together, and give good service, or else, allow people to go where they want.
This will also give them the best way to stay clear of unwanted attention from the FCC/FTC, give the customers the ability to use the phone while travelling overseas, etc, allow customers to buy phone at full price and use it with prepaid plans or with no data plans, etc. 100% flexibility and choice about how to use the phone.
All in all, the best case solution for everyone, except maybe for AT&T. And even AT&T has a decent shot at the customer, as they get first chance to retain the customer for 30 days.
it's still available on orange and o2 on the uk website
I dropped my 16 GB 3G a few weeks ago and claimed on the O2 insurance - I got a 16 GB 3GS as a replacement. I was pretty impressed with that. It implies that they are running low on stock.
8 GB iPhone 3G is EOL, 16 GB iPhone 3GS drops to $99, new 4G iPhone starts at 32 GB, $199.
I think with the new styling and new in-house A4 CPU, Apple will move the entire line to the new style, internals, etc.
$99 16GB HD, $199 32GB HD, $299 64GB HD.
This update will be about the new styling, and cost reductions in the internal hardware.
High resolution display, and rear and front cameras and rear flash will be other main improvements. Maybe the high resolution display won't appear on the low-end model.
Maybe battery life improvements.
Maybe 512MB RAM, but that would differ from the iPad. Still, Apple might want to set a new baseline hardware spec for the next year or two.
Actually it shouldn't. they should change them all to the new 4th gen. even if they want to make a low end storage model at only 8gb.
why? because even the 3gs could have issues with things like multitasking. so those folks won't be able to upgrade their software and might not be able to keep their carrier updates going either.
The 3gs may/may not have a problem running os 4 but the 3gs multitasks just fine (unlocked using backgrounder).
Comments
16g 3Gs will be offered at $99. It is already a tradition. It still sells really good. And you have to get potential customers used to new design, the best way to do so is to sow them both designs side by side and point out why new is better. Plus customers got used to the 99 option and point must be occupied.
If someone wants to use it on T-Mobile, they are welcome to, just cancel the contract after 30 days and pay AT&T their ETF. If you want to use it overseas, same thing.
Basically, they are should stay within the Exclusivity contract, but give AT&T a clear choice. Get your act together, and give good service, or else, allow people to go where they want.
This will also give them the best way to stay clear of unwanted attention from the FCC/FTC, give the customers the ability to use the phone while travelling overseas, etc, allow customers to buy phone at full price and use it with prepaid plans or with no data plans, etc. 100% flexibility and choice about how to use the phone.
All in all, the best case solution for everyone, except maybe for AT&T. And even AT&T has a decent shot at the customer, as they get first chance to retain the customer for 30 days.
P.S. The joke of phone like 3G[S] deserves well being given out for free.
it's still available on orange and o2 on the uk website
I dropped my 16 GB 3G a few weeks ago and claimed on the O2 insurance - I got a 16 GB 3GS as a replacement. I was pretty impressed with that. It implies that they are running low on stock.
8 GB iPhone 3G is EOL, 16 GB iPhone 3GS drops to $99, new 4G iPhone starts at 32 GB, $199.
I think with the new styling and new in-house A4 CPU, Apple will move the entire line to the new style, internals, etc.
$99 16GB HD, $199 32GB HD, $299 64GB HD.
This update will be about the new styling, and cost reductions in the internal hardware.
High resolution display, and rear and front cameras and rear flash will be other main improvements. Maybe the high resolution display won't appear on the low-end model.
Maybe battery life improvements.
Maybe 512MB RAM, but that would differ from the iPad. Still, Apple might want to set a new baseline hardware spec for the next year or two.
Still, only a couple of weeks to go.
Actually it shouldn't. they should change them all to the new 4th gen. even if they want to make a low end storage model at only 8gb.
why? because even the 3gs could have issues with things like multitasking. so those folks won't be able to upgrade their software and might not be able to keep their carrier updates going either.
The 3gs may/may not have a problem running os 4 but the 3gs multitasks just fine (unlocked using backgrounder).