Prices for i-phones?

[TimeforMe]

Does anyone know if there are any kind of discounts on these or the plan? Perhaps for students? Does the price vary at all? In other words, is it any cheaper if you buy it at a dept. store rather than directly through Apple or vice versa? My DD22 really, really wants one and I am considering it as a birthday present.

 

[ead79]

To my knowledge, the only "discount" you get on the iPhone is by signing a 2-year contract with AT&T. This makes the iPhone 3G cost $100 and the 3GS cost $200. That's just the cost for the phone, not the monthly bill.

 

[dcentity2000]

I'd urge you to wait just a little while longer: iPhone 4 is due out real soon and is rumoured to have a second, front facing camera (for iChat video conferences), an A4 system-on-a-chip and multitasking.



Rich::

 

[TimeforMe]

I'd urge you to wait just a little while longer: iPhone 4 is due out real soon and is rumoured to have a second, front facing camera (for iChat video conferences), an A4 system-on-a-chip and multitasking.



Rich::

Thanks for the tip. Do you have any idea how soon it will be? I was talking to my boss (he has one) and he mentioned that the only thing he didn't like was that you couldn't really multitask. What does an A4 system-on-a-chip mean?

 

[dcentity2000]

Thanks for the tip. Do you have any idea how soon it will be? I was talking to my boss (he has one) and he mentioned that the only thing he didn't like was that you couldn't really multitask. What does an A4 system-on-a-chip mean?

I have no idea when exactly it will be released, aside from "soon".

An A4 System on a Chip is an advanced processor, meaning that things will be faster than the current iPhone in booting, playing etc; it is custom built by Apple and not sourced from Intel.

Update: Engadget reports that it is hearing that the next-generation iPhone may be called "iPhone HD" and be released on June 22nd.



Rich::

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Does anyone know if there are any kind of discounts on these or the plan? Perhaps for students? Does the price vary at all? In other words, is it any cheaper if you buy it at a dept. store rather than directly through Apple or vice versa? My DD22 really, really wants one and I am considering it as a birthday present.

I would urge you to also wait, but for another reason.

Apple's exclusive contract is up with ATT this summer. It is strongly rumored (and my Sprint representative "sort of" confirmed it ) that both Verizon and Sprint were going to be carrying the Iphone.

With three carriers offering the same phone and plan, you will have more choices in data plans. And with competition, you never know where the prices of the phones will go.

If it is anything like past competition, prices will be slashed to draw more people to Verizon and Sprint.

 

[imtheproof]

prices range from 500 to 900 i think, but there are LOADS of discounts right now. If i were a student though, i would get a laptop. They are more open to everyday needs.

 

[robinb]

I just want to warn you that the price of the phone is peanuts compared to the cost of the service.

 

[fupresti]

I would urge you to also wait, but for another reason.

Apple's exclusive contract is up with ATT this summer. It is strongly rumored (and my Sprint representative "sort of" confirmed it ) that both Verizon and Sprint were going to be carrying the Iphone.

With three carriers offering the same phone and plan, you will have more choices in data plans. And with competition, you never know where the prices of the phones will go.

If it is anything like past competition, prices will be slashed to draw more people to Verizon and Sprint.

First, Apple controls the pricing. Even IF the iPhone comes to Verizon, I will guarantee you that pricing remains the same.

Secondly, Apple is not going to manufacture a phone for a CDMA based carrier. The entire world is on a GSM standard so they can control costs by manufacturing one type of handset. MAYBE that will change when they launch wider area 4g networks, but neither are near wide adoption.

I would go with the 3GS for now and when the contract is up the second revision of the Iphone HD will be available on multiple carriers with 4G capability.

 

[mking624]

prices range from 500 to 900 i think, but there are LOADS of discounts right now. If i were a student though, i would get a laptop. They are more open to everyday needs.

$500-900 for the iPhone? DH and I both have one (just the 8gig 3G). We paid $100 each for ours. We're on the family plan (700 shared minutes) and we both have unlimited text. We pay less than $200 a month total. Of course this price goes up if you have more minutes and have more lines than just two. But for one person, I'm not sure how it would be upwards of $900.

Unless I missed something and you're referring to the cost of something else.

 

[wenrob]

I just want to warn you that the price of the phone is peanuts compared to the cost of the service.

I keep hearing this but when I look at the prices of family plans for smart phones on Verizon (Verizon customers seem to be the ones who voice this) they are almost exactly the same as AT&T. Actually AT&T as far as I can tell is about $10 cheaper and has roll over/friends and family/mobile to mobile on their cheapest plan Verizon doesn't. Maybe I'm reading something wrong?

The service isn't cheap no but the service for smart phones never has been. (I don't think of it as smart phone more a media phone but that's what it's classed as.)

A price war would be awesome, I'd switch in a heart beat if the discount was good enough.

edited to add: OP the only discount is by signing a contract.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

yep the phones are pricey! but I love mine, and I get 19% off my plan with my employer!

 

[dcentity2000]

I'd like to amend my previous post.

The new features I mentioned are largely going to be available on the current iPhones (and iTouches) by means of a software update quite soon irrespective of whether you wait for an iPhone 4 or not. This includes multitasking (doing lots of stuff at the same time) and iBooks (electronic books, very cool )

The two kingpin features for iPhone 4 are the upgraded processor and rumoured front facing webcam.



Rich::

 

[robinb]

I keep hearing this but when I look at the prices of family plans for smart phones on Verizon (Verizon customers seem to be the ones who voice this) they are almost exactly the same as AT&T. Actually AT&T as far as I can tell is about $10 cheaper and has roll over/friends and family/mobile to mobile on their cheapest plan Verizon doesn't. Maybe I'm reading something wrong?

The service isn't cheap no but the service for smart phones never has been. (I don't think of it as smart phone more a media phone but that's what it's classed as.)

A price war would be awesome, I'd switch in a heart beat if the discount was good enough.

edited to add: OP the only discount is by signing a contract.

You're right. Any smart phone service is expensive. BUT the other carriers give you the phone for free and a lot of people go with them because of the "free" phone. My point is that for less than $10 per month over the course of the contract you can have an iphone instead. I love my iphone.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

First, Apple controls the pricing. Even IF the iPhone comes to Verizon, I will guarantee you that pricing remains the same.

Secondly, Apple is not going to manufacture a phone for a CDMA based carrier. The entire world is on a GSM standard so they can control costs by manufacturing one type of handset. MAYBE that will change when they launch wider area 4g networks, but neither are near wide adoption.

I would go with the 3GS for now and when the contract is up the second revision of the Iphone HD will be available on multiple carriers with 4G capability.

Verizon has already confirmed they are testing a cdma version of the Iphone 4g and is currently making changes to their network to make the phone available.

Sprint is 4g

 

[TimeforMe]

OP here....lots of good information from you guys. Now I'm thinking I should go ahead and get it for her now and just do the upgrades later. I think we're going to take a ride to the Apple store and see what they say. (which means we'll probably be coming home with an i-phone). Thanks for all the replies.

 

[fupresti]

Verizon has already confirmed they are testing a cdma version of the Iphone 4g and is currently making changes to their network to make the phone available.

Sprint is 4g

I follow most every electronics blog there is and they state Verizon has displayed interest, nothing about testing. I would love to see any article you may have read.

Edit:

http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-47553120100409

iPhone on Verizon isn't happening until after 2010, maybe 2011 until they build out their LTE network.

 

[TimeforMe]

Just an update.....We ended up getting DD the i-phone and of course all Apple personnel were very tight-lipped about any upcoming generations. They did, however, confirm that there would be an upgrade available this summer. We did buy her the i-phone, but bought it through AT&T who were able to sweeten the deal considerable because we transferred over 4 phones and signed up for U-Verse. It definitely worked to our benefit. DD LOVES it so far and I got a new phone out of the deal, too, which I LOVE.

 

[J3nn78]

I just want to warn you that the price of the phone is peanuts compared to the cost of the service.

I think everyone missed the point of this post:

The physical phone costs $100 for the 3G and $200 for the 3Gs currently.

The cost of the service with ATT is for the basic cell minutes and data without any texting: $70/month X 24 months: $1680 My wife and I both have 3G Iphones, unlimited text for mine and 200 txt for hers, our bill is $169/mo x 24 months: $4056

Next to the 4 grand for service, the hundred bucks paid for the phone is really peanuts. Hence why they can sell you a super advanced phone for only a hundred dollars, in very fancy packaging because they now have you under contract for a few thousand dollars. $100 entry price for the physical phone is BAIT for the hook.

 

[TimeforMe]

We were also able to get a 25% discount because DH works for the govt.