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January 2008
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iPhone 3G - In-Store Activation Only
Posted 06/10/2008 at 12:55:21am | by
Roberto Baldwin
Gizmodo talked to AT&T President of National Distribution, Glen Lurie about the iPhone 3G. What he told them might make you think twice about camping out to get an iPhone 3G on launch day.
Gone are the days of at-home iPhone activation. Instead, all iPhones will be activated at the Apple or AT&T stores at time of purchase. Each activation will take approximately 10-12 minutes.
In case you missed it, 10-12 minutes for each iPhone sold. So, instead of the quick, take your money, hand you an iPhone, you leave happy. You'll now have to wait for a sales associate to activate your iPhone while you stand there jonesing for 3G action.
The new procedure has allegedly been put into place to curb the unlocking of iPhones. What the procedure may unlock is the patience of early adopters.
Gizmodo also learned that the iPhone $20 unlimited data plan will be thing of the past. All iPhones will now require the standard $30 AT&T 3G unlimited data plan.
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3g actually costs more! Do the math!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 06:34
So, my original iPhone will now need a $30 a month plan? They are going to up my rate? Paying the extra $10 a month was reason enough to stay with version 1. The "subsidized" 3g actually costs $199 + the $240 ( $10 extra a month for 24 months) = $439!! for a $399 phone! Wow. They managed to lower the cost by raising it! I guess Jobs can check "screwing the customers" off the list too. I just know I'm staying with the original and they better not try to up my rate!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 09:11
the $30 is for the 3g data plan edge data plan is still $20 i believe
Submitted by Numbuh One (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 11:50
Actually, you can add another $5 per month if you want the 200 text messages per month that came with the EDGE plan. So, the equivalent 3G plan is an extra $360 for 2 years.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 12:07
In case you haven't noticed, Gas is over 4 bucks a gallon, milk is over 3 bucks a gallon, and it costs about twice as much as it did a couple of years ago to heat and cool your house; did you actually think that ATT wouldn't jump on the opportunity to nail all the people who will jump off a roof to get this new phone?
Don't be naivel ATT and Apple really only care about how much profit they can derive from this next round of this ludicrous "I Phone Mania"...And the funny thing is, the lemmings who drool over the opportunity to buy anything Apple can't WAIT to throw their $$$ their way!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 20:22
Uhh.. the lower priced iPhone and the data rate plans were At&T's idea, not Apple's, nor Steve Jobs. I mean, Apple almost never subsidizes its things, but AT&T forced its hand.
Submitted by Eric Stirpe (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 07:14
Hey! That's the Apple Store I work at!
.....
oh crap.... this does not bode well for us Apple Store employees...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 07:15
well glad to hear that the new rate is $30.00 for 3G. I had a 3G card for my laptop from Death Star (att) and returned it after one week works great in some spots but others slower than a snail..... I will just hold on to my old iphone. Just maybe some other carriers will get a chance to sell iphones? The price hike does not justify the new phone....
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 09:54
I really don't feel like making a trip out to germany to pick one up? I do not like how AT&T does business.
http://www.t-mobile.de/iphone/
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 11:54
And that extra monthly cost of $10 more is going to equal $240 over the next two years. That $199 price tag seems not that great anymore...
Submitted by Stop crying... (not verified) on Tue, 2008-06-10 13:59
my unlimited data plan cost $65 usd...
and the Iphone will be sold 4.. $300 usd + my calling plan... $60... do the math!Only in Mexico...
Submitted by acuraboytl (not verified) on Wed, 2008-06-11 11:45
Has anyone noticed the asterisks following the $199 and $299 price on everything Apple and AT&T has released? The “fine print” states that the price is subject to a NEW two year rate plan. So, for current iPhone owners who are one year into a two year contract, what does this mean? I think it means anyone purchasing a 3G iPhone in or without a new AT&T 2 year agreement will have to pay “full retail” price. If this is were not true, Apple would have already lowered the price of the iPod Touch. Any guesses as to the actual price of the iPhone?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2008-07-06 08:27
The cost to make the new iPhone is only about $170 U.S.D.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=5240040
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008-06-12 13:14
On att.com at
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iPhone.jsp
it says
"Add a Consumer Data Plan for iPhone 3G to a qualified voice plan for $30 per month." which makes it sound optional. I'm not sure what that means but hopefully the $30 data plan isn't required.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2008-06-15 13:50
I've not seen this much speculation since we were all wondering how long it would take for Hiliary to drop out of the race. Why not just wait and find out? Use that brain of yours to figure out why it's so xy!@# important that you have an iPhone at all!
Submitted by Joemeister (not verified) on Wed, 2008-06-18 17:25
If you Americans only knew.. i have a blackberry pearl right now and I'm paying 55$ plus tax per month for 1 gig of internet and caller id.. WOW 30$ a month for unlimited! id be running to my car thinking they did a mistake if they charged me this for a plan. Also in Canada, plans go for 36 months not 24 months.. aye aye aye, I am getting ripped off!
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