AT&T Reveals iPhone Pricing Details
7:45 am, July 1st, 2008, Lonnie Lazar
Apple’s chosen wireless carrier for the United States revealed pricing details for the iPhone 3G models, set to debut on July 11, according to information posted to the company’s website. New customers signing a two year service contract with the Dallas-based phone company can purchase the new phones for $199 and $299 for the 8GB and 16GB models respectively. Current AT&T customers who are eligible for an upgrade will also be able to purchase at the fully subsidized pricing while those not eligible for an upgrade will pay $399 and $499 for the two models. In typically cryptic AT&T style, the company’s upgrade eligibility requirements are not made public but only to logged in users requesting information specific to their account. The company’s generic message on upgrades reads “Device offers are made available from time to time based on a number of factors: service tenure, spending levels, payment history, usage practices and other factors,” though existing customers nearing the end of a two-year service contract cycle will presumably be able to purchase a new iPhone at the fully subsidized pricing with a commitment to a new two year contract.
In a somewhat puzzling development, AT&T issued a statement today saying it will sell the new phones “in the future” without a service contract for $599 for the 8GB phone and $699 for the 16GB model. Previously, neither Apple nor AT&T had indicated any intention to make the phones available without a service contract. Customers seeking to purchase phones on and near the July 11 launch date will be required to activate AT&T service at either an Apple store or an AT&T outlet, unlike the original iPhones released one year ago, which users could activate for service from their home computers. Existing AT&T customers will pay an $18 activation fee to get service on new iPhones; new customers will pay $36 for service activation.
Posted by Lonnie Lazar in Apple, News, iPhone | Comment on this article
MacTalk had an awesome international iPhone price comparison:
http://forums.mactalk.com.au/47/52002-international-iphone-price-rundown.html
Sun, on July 1st, 2008 at 9:04 am
I was planning on getting an iPhone to use with T-Mobile, my mobile carrier for over 10 years, but 600 bucks?!?!
Dan, on July 1st, 2008 at 9:20 am
Well, even for $600 you wouldn’t be able to use it with T-Mobile unless you jailbreak it. When AT&T says they will sell the phones “without a contract” it just means you can cancel service at any time w/o an early-term fee. All iPhones sold in the US will still be sold “locked” to AT&T’s service.
Lonnie Lazar, on July 1st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
what I hate is the way they worded it. they make it sound like the phone would be $399. it is not. it is $199 but they are handling it like you broke your old contract so you pay a $200 termination fee to get out of that. I suspect that there will be action on that issue by those current customers. because they aren’t choosing to break contract by choice.
charli, on July 1st, 2008 at 7:49 pm
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kylemosebyDOTcommie » links for 2008-07-02, on July 1st, 2008 at 11:33 pm
So if I live in an area without a 3G network, do I still have to pay the $30/month for the data or the $20/month for the Edge plan? Anyone know?
Grant Hamilton, on July 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
The pricing plans are tied to the phones, not to the service. If you have a first-gen phone you can get EDGE pricing; if you have a 3G phone, you’ll pay for a 3G data plan even if you live in an area without 3G coverage.
Lonnie Lazar, on July 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 am
Any idea about first gen iPhone users who didn’t sign up for a contract but have the phone with the pay as you go option? I’m talking about myself of course. I’m wondering if I will be able to continue to use the same option with the new phone…
Jarvis, on July 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am