Here's what I've been trying to find out: If we're moving to a standard subsidized phone model, then
1) will you be able to purchase a 3G iPhone if you're already under contract with any other mobile phone (iPhone included)? I think the answer to this one is 'yes' but it's always from a 3rd party I've read this. Maybe someone has an AT&T/Apple link about this.
2) once you purchase the 3G iPhone are you stuck with it for 2 years? I.E. If they release another model with more storage like they did with the first iPhone or even another major release, will current 3G iPhone owners have the option w/ the obligatory new contract? I kind of sense that this 3G iPhone contract is going to be a little more firm than the current one. Otherwise what's to stop one from a) buying one, b) waiting a month or so, c) oops, I "lost" it, buy a replacement complete with new contract, d) 30day return policy booyah. Maybe there's no return policy for iPhones, but unless that contract is firm or they have non-subsidized pricing that seems like a way out. Not that I'm looking for one, I don't care about that. But I am concerned with hardware updates and the ability to take advantage of those as I was hoping for the 32GB version.
Wow. This is starting to look like a series of stunningly stupid moves from Apple.
I have been drooling over the iPhone for close to two years, just waiting and waiting for it to be available in my area. I was so set to buy one I almost went downtown to the Apple store in case it went on sale today, but now I am not sure I will even buy one at all.
I went from "mildly disappointed" just after the keynote, to WTF?, to "probably won't buy one now."
Aside from the disappointing, "hardly-changed-at-all" hardware feature set and the "not much in it for non corporate users" software update, now I *won't* be able to buy it online and I *won't* be able to use it at all without selling my soul to the local Telecom monopoly?
This whole scenario is so "un-Apple," so greedy, and so totally, totally lame I am speechless.
My last ace-in-the hole position was that I could buy the thing and not use the phone part and still be happy, now I don't even have that? WTF is Apple thinking here? I feel cheated.
I didn't know that the Bush Administration mandated purchases of 3G iPhones. Maybe if they just wrapped it in a bacon cheeseburger and served it at your local deli for $2 you would buy it.
To expound on what JeffDM said, there are also more CDMA users than GSM users INSIDE the US too.
Also Sprint and Verizon turned down the iphone before Apple turned to ATT. Not everyone wants Apple dictating how they run their businesses.
There are 2 billion ( yes, billion) GSM users worldwide. Enough said. Pack your Verizon phone for a trip around the world and see how many places it's going to work seamlessly.
You missed his point. If Apple continued to allow activation outside of an AT&T or Apple Store, if you are at all tech savvy, you could have the functional equivalent of a $299 iPod Touch for $199 by purchasing the $199 iPhone and jail-breaking it. The original poster's theory is that Apple is requiring in store activation, at least in part, to prevent people from buying $199 iPhones and going home and unlocking them thereby having an iPod Touch for a third of the price as they are currently priced.
I think there is something to that. I, however, think it has more to do with the fact that at $199 Apple probably would be selling the device at a loss or break even. It makes it's profit when people sign up for a contract with AT&T since AT&T is now subsidizing the cost (CNN has confirmed this). If people where to buy the iPhone at $199 and either jailbreak it to use as an iPod Touch or unlock it to use on another network, Apple would likely be taking a loss on each sale.
I for one will never use AT&T. The company is criminal. I will keep using my first generation unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile. If I want the next generation phone I will buy it at a Store and cancel the contract during the first month whereby I will probably get hit with a couple hundred dollar early cancellation fee. In the end that comes out to what the current cost of the iPhone is. I will then continue to use it on T-Mobile.
Quote:
Originally Posted by djames42
No. The $199 subsidized price is had with a two-year contract. You either get the privilege of paying $60/month (which turns your "iPod Touch" into a $919 device), or you break the contract (which then means you've paid about $400-500). The other two alternatives are paying the non-contract price of $399 and jailbreaking it, or simply buying the touch
There are 2 billion ( yes, billion) GSM users worldwide. Enough said. Pack your Verizon phone for a trip around the world and see how many places it's going to work seamlessly.
You do realize only 25% of US citizens have a passport right? That means 75% need their phone in the US only.
Also I don't have a Verizon phone so thats impossible.
Don't buy that for a minute. Apple always intended to go with AT&T. It just wanted the most favorable terms it could get. How do you do that? By playing each competing company off one another. Apple never really intended to going with Sprint or Verizon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by YTV
Also Sprint and Verizon turned down the iphone before Apple turned to ATT. Not everyone wants Apple dictating how they run their businesses.
There are 2 billion ( yes, billion) GSM users worldwide. Enough said. Pack your Verizon phone for a trip around the world and see how many places it's going to work seamlessly.
That fact isn't so helpful with the US iPhone unless you want to shell out thousands of dollars in international access fees for a single trip, or void your warranty, Apple won't fix an iphone if they can tell it's been hacked. You're far better off leaving it behind and buying a cheapie.
I don't contest that there are many more GSM subscribers, CDMA subscribers is not a trifling number either.
You do realize only 25% of US citizens have a passport right? That means 75% need their phone in the US only.
Also I don't have a Verizon phone so thats impossible.
Granted, if you'll also realize that Apple is a global company that will soon be making 60% of its revenue and profits outside the United States just like HP, Google, Microsoft, IBM and Cisco. Only 6% of the world's population lives here in the US and Apple has a relationship with the largest GSM carrier. That's a good start. It's too early to seek out Verizon when the whole value proposition is to reduce AT&T churn and encourage switching. iPhone is succeeding in doing that for AT&T.
There are 2 billion ( yes, billion) GSM users worldwide. Enough said. Pack your Verizon phone for a trip around the world and see how many places it's going to work seamlessly.
Actually there are about 3.1 billion (don't feel so bad, you were only off by 1 billion) and about 400 million CDMA users, so CDMA is about 12% of the market, that is, a trifle.
We've been over this many times. Apple were never going to release a CDMA phone. Already one of the big US CDMA phone companies are going to GSM (LTE in particular).
Actually there are about 3.1 billion (don't feel so bad, you were only off by 1 billion) and about 400 million CDMA users, so CDMA is about 12% of the market, that is, a trifle.
We've been over this many times. Apple were never going to release a CDMA phone. Already one of the big US CDMA phone companies are going to GSM (LTE in particular).
CDMA is dead. Deal with it.
So by your logic, with Mac's marketshare less than 12%, then Mac's are dead too then?
Also the fact that there are MORE CDMA users than GSM users in the US means CDMA is dead in the US too?
Granted, if you'll also realize that Apple is a global company that will soon be making 60% of its revenue and profits outside the United States just like HP, Google, Microsoft, IBM and Cisco. Only 6% of the world's population lives here in the US and Apple has a relationship with the largest GSM carrier. That's a good start. It's too early to seek out Verizon when the whole value proposition is to reduce AT&T churn and encourage switching. iPhone is succeeding in doing that for AT&T.
LOL everyone is talking soon, next year, in a few years, etc.... Why don;t some of you focus on what is actually known? How much of Apple's revenue comes from outside the US today? What is Apples marketshare outside the US today?
Don't buy that for a minute. Apple always intended to go with AT&T. It just wanted the most favorable terms it could get. How do you do that? By playing each competing company off one another. Apple never really intended to going with Sprint or Verizon.
The companies were never pitted against one another. Apple moved on the the next after they were shut down.
Apple in the US will attempt to stifle the proliferation of unlocked iPhones by requiring that all of the new handsets be activated at the time of purchase. Meanwhile, first-gen iPhones purchased after May 27 will reportedly be eligible for a free
"When announcing the App Store, Apple established a 10MB cap on downloads available through the online service and limits larger downloads to Wi-Fi; AT&T isn't specifically responsible for this threshhold but has "worked with Apple" on the iPhone 3G's development, Lurie says."
I don't mean to get this thread back on track or anything, but I just talked to someone on the apple store online chat, and he said that you will only be able to buy the phone in local stores...I of course follow that up with "why?" and he says, "well, I don't know because if I told you you wouldn't like me anymore"
he didn't really say that, but its the truth. hooking up the iphone at home was the coolest part.
also, does this mean that we will not ever be able to reformat the iphone to its factory default through itunes, in a another attempt to fight jalibraking?
I don't mean to get this thread back on track or anything, but I just talked to someone on the apple store online chat, and he said that you will only be able to buy the phone in local stores...I of course follow that up with "why?" and he says, "well, I don't know because if I told you you wouldn't like me anymore"
he didn't really say that, but its the truth.
That's quite a story!
Quote:
hooking up the iphone at home was the coolest part.
Comments
1) will you be able to purchase a 3G iPhone if you're already under contract with any other mobile phone (iPhone included)? I think the answer to this one is 'yes' but it's always from a 3rd party I've read this. Maybe someone has an AT&T/Apple link about this.
2) once you purchase the 3G iPhone are you stuck with it for 2 years? I.E. If they release another model with more storage like they did with the first iPhone or even another major release, will current 3G iPhone owners have the option w/ the obligatory new contract? I kind of sense that this 3G iPhone contract is going to be a little more firm than the current one. Otherwise what's to stop one from a) buying one, b) waiting a month or so, c) oops, I "lost" it, buy a replacement complete with new contract, d) 30day return policy booyah. Maybe there's no return policy for iPhones, but unless that contract is firm or they have non-subsidized pricing that seems like a way out. Not that I'm looking for one, I don't care about that. But I am concerned with hardware updates and the ability to take advantage of those as I was hoping for the 32GB version.
Wow. This is starting to look like a series of stunningly stupid moves from Apple.
I have been drooling over the iPhone for close to two years, just waiting and waiting for it to be available in my area. I was so set to buy one I almost went downtown to the Apple store in case it went on sale today, but now I am not sure I will even buy one at all.
I went from "mildly disappointed" just after the keynote, to WTF?, to "probably won't buy one now."
Aside from the disappointing, "hardly-changed-at-all" hardware feature set and the "not much in it for non corporate users" software update, now I *won't* be able to buy it online and I *won't* be able to use it at all without selling my soul to the local Telecom monopoly?
This whole scenario is so "un-Apple," so greedy, and so totally, totally lame I am speechless.
My last ace-in-the hole position was that I could buy the thing and not use the phone part and still be happy, now I don't even have that? WTF is Apple thinking here? I feel cheated.
I didn't know that the Bush Administration mandated purchases of 3G iPhones. Maybe if they just wrapped it in a bacon cheeseburger and served it at your local deli for $2 you would buy it.
To expound on what JeffDM said, there are also more CDMA users than GSM users INSIDE the US too.
Also Sprint and Verizon turned down the iphone before Apple turned to ATT. Not everyone wants Apple dictating how they run their businesses.
There are 2 billion ( yes, billion) GSM users worldwide. Enough said. Pack your Verizon phone for a trip around the world and see how many places it's going to work seamlessly.
I think there is something to that. I, however, think it has more to do with the fact that at $199 Apple probably would be selling the device at a loss or break even. It makes it's profit when people sign up for a contract with AT&T since AT&T is now subsidizing the cost (CNN has confirmed this). If people where to buy the iPhone at $199 and either jailbreak it to use as an iPod Touch or unlock it to use on another network, Apple would likely be taking a loss on each sale.
I for one will never use AT&T. The company is criminal. I will keep using my first generation unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile. If I want the next generation phone I will buy it at a Store and cancel the contract during the first month whereby I will probably get hit with a couple hundred dollar early cancellation fee. In the end that comes out to what the current cost of the iPhone is. I will then continue to use it on T-Mobile.
No. The $199 subsidized price is had with a two-year contract. You either get the privilege of paying $60/month (which turns your "iPod Touch" into a $919 device), or you break the contract (which then means you've paid about $400-500). The other two alternatives are paying the non-contract price of $399 and jailbreaking it, or simply buying the touch
There are 2 billion ( yes, billion) GSM users worldwide. Enough said. Pack your Verizon phone for a trip around the world and see how many places it's going to work seamlessly.
You do realize only 25% of US citizens have a passport right? That means 75% need their phone in the US only.
Also I don't have a Verizon phone so thats impossible.
Also Sprint and Verizon turned down the iphone before Apple turned to ATT. Not everyone wants Apple dictating how they run their businesses.
There are 2 billion ( yes, billion) GSM users worldwide. Enough said. Pack your Verizon phone for a trip around the world and see how many places it's going to work seamlessly.
That fact isn't so helpful with the US iPhone unless you want to shell out thousands of dollars in international access fees for a single trip, or void your warranty, Apple won't fix an iphone if they can tell it's been hacked. You're far better off leaving it behind and buying a cheapie.
I don't contest that there are many more GSM subscribers, CDMA subscribers is not a trifling number either.
You do realize only 25% of US citizens have a passport right? That means 75% need their phone in the US only.
Also I don't have a Verizon phone so thats impossible.
Granted, if you'll also realize that Apple is a global company that will soon be making 60% of its revenue and profits outside the United States just like HP, Google, Microsoft, IBM and Cisco. Only 6% of the world's population lives here in the US and Apple has a relationship with the largest GSM carrier. That's a good start. It's too early to seek out Verizon when the whole value proposition is to reduce AT&T churn and encourage switching. iPhone is succeeding in doing that for AT&T.
If it has to be activated in the store then how do you buy a 3G iPhone from the apple ONLINE store ????
Maybe they will send it pre-activated for you and you sign up for the contract online.
Maybe they will send it pre-activated for you and you sign up for the contract online.
Preactivated? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
There are 2 billion ( yes, billion) GSM users worldwide. Enough said. Pack your Verizon phone for a trip around the world and see how many places it's going to work seamlessly.
Actually there are about 3.1 billion (don't feel so bad, you were only off by 1 billion) and about 400 million CDMA users, so CDMA is about 12% of the market, that is, a trifle.
We've been over this many times. Apple were never going to release a CDMA phone. Already one of the big US CDMA phone companies are going to GSM (LTE in particular).
CDMA is dead. Deal with it.
Preactivated? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Uh, have you got a point or have you just forgotten your medication today?
Actually there are about 3.1 billion (don't feel so bad, you were only off by 1 billion) and about 400 million CDMA users, so CDMA is about 12% of the market, that is, a trifle.
We've been over this many times. Apple were never going to release a CDMA phone. Already one of the big US CDMA phone companies are going to GSM (LTE in particular).
CDMA is dead. Deal with it.
So by your logic, with Mac's marketshare less than 12%, then Mac's are dead too then?
Also the fact that there are MORE CDMA users than GSM users in the US means CDMA is dead in the US too?
Granted, if you'll also realize that Apple is a global company that will soon be making 60% of its revenue and profits outside the United States just like HP, Google, Microsoft, IBM and Cisco. Only 6% of the world's population lives here in the US and Apple has a relationship with the largest GSM carrier. That's a good start. It's too early to seek out Verizon when the whole value proposition is to reduce AT&T churn and encourage switching. iPhone is succeeding in doing that for AT&T.
LOL everyone is talking soon, next year, in a few years, etc.... Why don;t some of you focus on what is actually known? How much of Apple's revenue comes from outside the US today? What is Apples marketshare outside the US today?
Don't buy that for a minute. Apple always intended to go with AT&T. It just wanted the most favorable terms it could get. How do you do that? By playing each competing company off one another. Apple never really intended to going with Sprint or Verizon.
The companies were never pitted against one another. Apple moved on the the next after they were shut down.
Apple in the US will attempt to stifle the proliferation of unlocked iPhones by requiring that all of the new handsets be activated at the time of purchase. Meanwhile, first-gen iPhones purchased after May 27 will reportedly be eligible for a free
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
Why doesnt Apple just sell the iphone with both carriers and then they wouldnt have that problem?!
Why doesnt Apple just sell the iphone with both carriers and then they wouldnt have that problem?!
I mean both GSM carriers.
"When announcing the App Store, Apple established a 10MB cap on downloads available through the online service and limits larger downloads to Wi-Fi; AT&T isn't specifically responsible for this threshhold but has "worked with Apple" on the iPhone 3G's development, Lurie says."
http://www.electronista.com/articles...hone.3g.plans/
Also I guess it's clear now that Jobs failed to persuade labels to sell music via 3G at the same price.
Maybe this is why he looked like he was dying today
But. They did just secure the consumer smartphone market.
he didn't really say that, but its the truth. hooking up the iphone at home was the coolest part.
also, does this mean that we will not ever be able to reformat the iphone to its factory default through itunes, in a another attempt to fight jalibraking?
I don't mean to get this thread back on track or anything, but I just talked to someone on the apple store online chat, and he said that you will only be able to buy the phone in local stores...I of course follow that up with "why?" and he says, "well, I don't know because if I told you you wouldn't like me anymore"
he didn't really say that, but its the truth.
That's quite a story!
hooking up the iphone at home was the coolest part.
The "coolest part" of what?