RSSAT&T Announces iPhone Plans
By Ed Oswald | Published June 26, 2007, 11:46 AM
AT&T said Tuesday that calling plans for the iPhone will start at $59.99 USD per month and include unlimited data, 200 text messages, rollover, mobile-to-mobile, and Apple's "visual voicemail."
The basic plan will give the user 450 minutes, while the $79.99 USD plan includes 900 minutes and the $99.99 USD monthly plans 1,350 minutes. Family plans will also be available, and all lines will include a $36 activation fee.
With unlimited data included in all iPhone plans, compared with other providers the plans could be seen as quite competitive. "We think these three plans give customers the flexibility to experience all of iPhone's revolutionary features at affordable and competitive prices," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said.
For example, on T-Mobile a similarly featured plan would run $39.99 USD for the voice plan plus a $19.99 USD monthly charge for data, and then an additional $4.99 for messaging. Altogether, basic service would cost about $65 per month.
(BetaNews notes that T-Mobile is currently offering 1000 minutes with this plan as part of a promotion, however typically this plan comes with 600 minutes of service.)
"While there are fewer choices than AT&T standard offerings, the simplified process to figure out what to purchase is likely to resonate well with consumers who often face a dizzying array of plans and service offerings from many US carriers," Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg said.
AT&T charges $50 per month currently for unlimited 3G data (although its smartphone plans with EDGE retail for $20 per month), and voice plans with similar features run for $39.99 per month. Essentially, the plan is nothing new: just two services packaged together that were already available.
In related news, AT&T and Apple also announced that activations of the iPhone would be performed through iTunes. This way, AT&T would not need to activate phones in store, and the consumers would be able to do it themselves once they returned home.
"The whole method of activation at home using iTunes will be familiar to consumers, greatly reduces the time consumers need to spend waiting in the store for their phones to be processed," Gartenberg added.
The one bright spot here is that they may just have kick-started video mail-- by making it easily accessible to the masses... IF they can deliver decently on the performance end....
Score: 0
|I am a tech wh*** I admit. I love toys. Yet here we are in 2007 and still...not one...NOT one mobile device either PDA, Smartphone, music player or video player has ever offered it's services or functionality in a way I'd like to use.
My friends are always amazed I've gone so long without ANY kind of mobile device. Other than my laptop and crappy cell phone that is.
I have a crappy FREE and cheap a** T-Mobile phone that's 4 years old, with a half busted case. It costs me $55 a month and I barely use 250 of the 500 mins I get.
I continue to use it because no device I've ever seen does anything well except as acting as a phone! All these PDAs and media players have crappy interfaces and are too clunky to use. So a phone is all I get.
This iPhone intrigues me but I am not convinced that ANYONE has made a mobile device that really works like it should. I will play with the ones my friends will surely get. I will see if some one has finally made a power house mobile media device that works like it should.
Score: 0
|$60 is very generous considering Verizon's data plan and txt plan itself costs over $80. The phone is sleek and new but its appeal will die down in 2 years :)
Score: 0
|This phone will sell because there are plenty of sheep out there lined up for it.
A girl I work with plans on buying one simply because she loves her ipod and wants a cell phone.
Not saying the phone is crap I will wait till it's out for a bit before deciding.
Score: 0
|Doesn't surprise me that the iPhone is cheaper - T-Mobile really is the biggest rip-off ever (and for really poor, shoddy quality and service, too).
Score: 0
|I'm really getting tired of hearing about how expensive the iPhone is. Outside of the memory difference (the 8GB model), you're getting way better video features than the $349 iPod. At that point, figure you're paying the additional $250 for a "smart" phone that blows the doors off anything else on the market. The AT&T phone plans include unlimited data and are very competitive in price. Looking objectively at its features, the iPhone is actually a pretty good deal.
WOW indeed!
Score: 0
|figure you're paying the additional $250 for a "smart" phone that blows the doors off anything else on the market.
Really??
Please do explain. I must have missed the part where it syncs with my Exchange server, allows me to create documents, presentations, or anything of that nature.
Score: 0
|...Please do explain. I must have missed the part where it syncs with my Exchange server, allows me to create documents, presentations, or anything of that nature.
As far a syncing with your Exchange server, talk to your IT department. If you have a pressing need to create documents or presentations while sitting at a table in Starbucks, great for you -- don't buy an iPhone. (I won't lose any sleep!). But its Safari browser will easily (and impressively) display any pdf or html docs I prepare for my client meeting 2 tables away from you. I know... the iPhone isn't for everybody. If it isn't your "cup of tea" or doesn't fit your style, don't buy one. Just don't drool on mine as you're leaving Starbucks!
Score: 0
|So, it doesn't "blow the doors" off "anything" else on the market then, does it?
Score: 0
|Your Iphone?
Its not even out yet how you can you be so sure its going to do everything as advertised?
Score: 0
|I've personally talked to people who have actually tried one, and besides, Steve Jobs said it will. ; )
Score: 0
|It "blows the doors off" the features of other smart phones that I would have need of. And according to MY needs, my statement stands. If it doesn't work for you, again, don't buy one!
Like I said before, it's not "one size fits all." If it doesn't fit... don't buy it.
Score: 0
|http://www.engadget.com/...e-direct-push-to-iphone/
Score: 0
|it's not "one size fits all." If it doesn't fit... don't buy it.
A mature and well-thought out statement.
..which pales in comparison to your initial post.
At least it didn't take too long to get you posting rationally. Others have been here for years and are still unable to accomplish that simple act.
Score: 0
|Don't forget the Cingular 8525 has 3G and this one does not. BIG DEAL BREAKER.
Score: 0
|iPhone has Wi-Fi
Score: 0
|any this is any different from every other TRUE smart phone out there why ?
my blackjack even comes with XM radio ...
and the ability to run 3rd party apps
INCLUDING java and flash (for way more than 5 seconds)
Score: 0
|OK... wi-fi with a true full browser, not a mini version for alternate scaled-down pages. The apps will follow.
Score: 0
|I don't see how the IPhone will be able to make a huge mark as currently most people who buy a phone that costs more than $300 are business people running Palm or Windows mobile. The IPhone won't be able to run any business software so companies will not be willing to spend $600 on a phone that will not be able to run their needed applications.
Score: 0
|This is the dumbest move I have ever seen in my life. The mintues plans and make sense but the 200 txt messages is a totally unfair to Iphone users. How are you going to keep tract of them, iphone has the continous conversations. So basically people will be running that up at least they should make it 1000 for basic and upgrade to unlimited for a few dollars extra.
Score: 0
|so thats aprox. $640 out the door
(with the cheapest plan and phone)
WOW ....
Score: 0
|thats just the BASE price too, it doesn't include all the misc taxes, fees, and donations to At&t
Score: 0
|I'm waiting for the next-generation iphone. I'm sure it'll have bigger drive with improved features for less...lol
Score: 0
|Not to mention if you're currently stuck in another carrier's contract/plan. Now you're paying them 200 bones to move over to AT&T.
Do I hear $840? Going once, going...
Score: 0
|It doesn't have a drive, it's flash memory.
It won't go down in price. Apple traditionally adds more features to a new model for the same money, then lowers the price on the old model.
Score: 0
|