Quote:Originally Posted by
merdhead 
Its not aggressive, its just a change to how phones are normally sold: low or no upfront payment with a carrier subsidy.
A 50% price cut, while major new features are being intro'd, is not aggressive? Mmm... okay.
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Comments
Thicker is not better. It's a negative. You like having your phone bigger?
They increased the thickness from 0.46" up to 0.48"... a 0.02" difference. No one will ever notice it, or be able to tell the diff.
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In the US the new iPhone 3G will be priced at just $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model when it goes on sale July 11. The new touch-screen handset will also be available in more than 70 countries later this year, beginning with customer availability in 22 countries -- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US -- also on July 11.
"Just one year after launching the iPhone, we're launching the new iPhone 3G that is twice as fast at half the price," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "iPhone 3G supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync right out of the box, runs the incredible third party apps created with the iPhone SDK, and will be available in more than 70 countries around the world this year."
iPhone 3G gives users ever faster access to the Internet and email over their cellular network with quad-band GSM and tri-band HSDPA for voice and data connectivity around the world. It supports Wi-Fi, 3G and EDGE networks and automatically switches between them to ensure the fastest possible download speeds. The new iPhone 3G also makes it easier to multi-task with simultaneous voice and data communications, so with iPhone 3G you can browse the web, get map directions, or check your email while you are on a call.
Each iPhone 3G will include iPhone 2.0 software which includes the new App Store, providing users with native applications in a variety of categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The App Store on iPhone works over cellular networks and Wi-Fi, which means it is accessible from just about anywhere, so you can purchase and download applications wirelessly and start using them instantly. Some applications are even free and the App Store notifies you when application updates are available. The App Store will be available in 62 countries at launch, Apple said.
The 8GB iPhone 3G will retail for $199 and come only in black.
Additional features available with the iPhone 2.0 software include the ability to do real-time mapping and track your progress with GPS technology, mass move and delete multiple email messages, search for contacts, access a new scientific calculator, turn on parental control restrictions for specified content, save images directly from a web page or email them to your iPhone and easily transfer them back to your photo library on your Mac or PC.
In terms of battery life, iPhone 3G delivers 10 hours of talk time on 2G networks and 5 hours using 3G, with up to 5 to 6 hours of web browsing, up to 7 hours for video playback and up to 24 hours for audio playback.
A 16GB iPhone 3G will retail for $299 and also come in white.
iPhone 3G will also leverage MobileMe, a re-branded version of Apple's .Mac Internet service that pushes email, contacts, and calendars from an online "cloud" to native applications on iPhone, iPod touch, Macs and PCs. With MobileMe email, messages are pushed instantly to iPhone, removing the need to manually check email and wait for downloads, and push keeps contacts and calendars continuously up-to-date so changes made on one device are automatically updated on other devices. With iPhone, you can even snap a photo and post it directly to a MobileMe Gallery to share with friends and family.
iPhone 3G will go on sale in the US on July 11 for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model in both Apple and AT&T's retail stores. Prices factor in a new two year contract with AT&T for qualifying customers. The 8GB model is available only with a glossy black back while the 16GB model will available with a glossy white back (in addition to a black back).
iPhone 2.0 software will also be available on July 11 as a free software update via iTunes 7.7 or later for all existing iPhone customers. The update will cost $9.95 for existing iPod touch owners.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
Oh well.
With the new pricing, what's going to happen to the iTouch, which is still priced at $299 for 8 Gb, $399 for 16 GB, and $499 for 32 GB?
Also what about the 8 GB $199 Nano?
Maybe the Nano can make it on size, though I don't know, but the iTouch is now really out of touch.
Is Apple trying to get people off those products?
With the way the iTouch users have been treated ($20 for January software update, $10 for v2.0), I wouldn't buy one for love or money. Of course, iTouch users don't have to have a cell plan to use their device, but they probably won't get embedded GPS either.
Oh man!
We've discussed this payment for so long, it's completely dead.
Right now, it's the same iTouch. Same price. Nothing's changed.
Either they'll discontinue it shortly, or come out with another one at some "special event".
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/new...t-connections/
Apple will know where I am. Not a fan of this. Of course I can simply not use the application but I do not buy the complete battery life argument. There will be hits but to report to Apple is a bit disconcerting.
Just my 2 cents.
Evidence: Apple Store, iPhone site, and Apple press release make no mention of future online sales. They only mention the Apple retail store and AT&T retail store as "where to buy". The original 2007 press release of the iPhone mentioned the online stores (Apple and AT&T), but the new press release does not and mentions only the brick-and-mortar stores. This is not an accidental omission.
Theory: the iPhone's price drop is possible because cost is now subsidized by the $10 increase in the service plan. To get an iPhone you will now be required to show up in person and sign up for a plan on the spot, to promote lock-in.
You'd think this would be news but Apple didn't announce this change and we're left to connect the dots.
No online sales of the new iPhone?
Evidence: Apple Store, iPhone site, and Apple press release make no mention of future online sales. They only mention the Apple retail store and AT&T retail store as "where to buy". The original 2007 press release of the iPhone mentioned the online stores (Apple and AT&T), but the new press release does not and mentions only the brick-and-mortar stores. This is not an accidental omission.
Theory: the iPhone's price drop is possible because cost is now subsidized by the $10 increase in the service plan. To get an iPhone you will now be required to show up in person and sign up for a plan on the spot, to promote lock-in.
You'd think this would be news but Apple didn't announce this change and we're left to connect the dots.
Yep, there's no way they would lower the price that much and not do much more to force you to sign the contract.
No online sales of the new iPhone?
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Interesting. When I bought my wife's iPhone I didn't like the pushy sales pitch of the AT&T people. I just wanted to get the phone and activate at home. They wanted to switch every service in my house to AT&T
Plastic back?? man what are we doing there.....
I am not really a fan of Apple having a persistent connection with my iPhone. Stated in this article:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/new...t-connections/
Apple will know where I am. Not a fan of this. Of course I can simply not use the application but I do not buy the complete battery life argument. There will be hits but to report to Apple is a bit disconcerting.
Just my 2 cents.
That's assuming that Apple tracks this data, rather that just letting it through. It's not likely that they are saving it either.
I really couldn't care less, as it can be done with any phone.
And the bombshell that the price is being lowered to $199. WOW. SUPER-aggressive.
Gotta hand to Apple/Steve... this has totally exceeded my expectations/hopes. I'm amazed that the stock isn't going through the roof (yet).
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Question of the week: If you buy your new Mac during the back to school promotion can you apply the iPod discount to the new iPhone?
Another surprise is the lack of more memory. Maybe that's also in the cards for an iChat version hopefully arriving later.
Overall an impressive presentation. Hopefully someone will be there for the session on Snow Leopard scheduled for after lunch.
No online sales of the new iPhone?
Evidence: Apple Store, iPhone site, and Apple press release make no mention of future online sales. They only mention the Apple retail store and AT&T retail store as "where to buy". The original 2007 press release of the iPhone mentioned the online stores (Apple and AT&T), but the new press release does not and mentions only the brick-and-mortar stores. This is not an accidental omission.
Theory: the iPhone's price drop is possible because cost is now subsidized by the $10 increase in the service plan. To get an iPhone you will now be required to show up in person and sign up for a plan on the spot, to promote lock-in.
You'd think this would be news but Apple didn't announce this change and we're left to connect the dots.
With the price of gas so volatile, I doubt that Apple or any other company can afford to chance what FedEx will be charging in a month or so. At $199, there is not much room anymore.
Anyway, it is still a month away. Give it a chance.
- it's thicker
- still with the 2Mpx camera
The significant changes besides software are:
- 3G HSDPA
- GPS
- slightly better talk time
- carrier subsidies
- case refresh
Still, it ticks the boxes for me
That's assuming that Apple tracks this data, rather that just letting it through. It's not likely that they are saving it either.
I really couldn't care less, as it can be done with any phone.
I agree with you 100%. Like you said, I just hope they are not tracking with this data. In fact, did you read about this "study" where mobile users were tracked without their permission? It was either on CNN (online) or on The BBC (online).
O' well, maybe something interesting later this year.