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iPhone: rumors and consumer rebellion
Apple's 3G iPhone continues to drum up controversy and incite rumors. Here's a roundup of some of the latest tantalizing iPhone tidbits that are circulating:
* Will the 3G iPhone be distributed at retailers such as Best Buy and RadioShack? When the original iPhone was launched last year, consumers could only purchase it online or at AT&T company-owned stores or Apple stores. But rumors are circulating that the 3G iPhone may be available at both Best Buy and RadioShack stores. Story
* Canadians are outraged over the Rogers Wireless 3G iPhone rate structure and are petitioning Apple CEO Steve Jobs over the deal. On Friday, Rogers said that customers who purchase the 3G iPhone would have to sign a mandatory three-year contract and the company will cap data usage at 750 MB with high fees for users who go over their monthly limit. Story
* RBC Analyst Mike Abramsky says that there is "unprecedented demand" for the 3G iPhone. RBC's research indicates that 55 percent of those planning to buy a smartphone in the next 90 days will purchase an iPhone, up from 35 percent in March. Story
Related stories:
Report: 3G iPhone costs $173 to make
AT&T will subsidize 3G iPhone
Comments (4) | Post a comment
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | June 30, 2008 - 2:26pm
I heard T-Mobile asked for 300,000+ new numbers for assignment. Could they be planning to sell iPhone here in the U.S. through a loophole in their German agreement?
AT&T had an exclusive for 1 years, but called it "multi-year" because of customers' 2-year contracts, but also heard AT&T has a 4-year deal with Apple.
Posted by PooPsTech | June 30, 2008 - 8:13pm
Rogers has done it again! No UNLIMITED Data plan for iPhone
Well Rogers has done it again, showing it's yellow monopolistic teeth! 2GB of Data per month with the $115 Package? This is highway robbery! Are these corporate bloodsuckers for real?
All this is stemming from he fact that there are no competition for Rogers in Canada! No other GSM Service Provider! I was planning to at least buy 3 iPhone 3Gs, but I changed my mind! No iPhone till Rogers stops this draconian pricing for their data plan! What is hard to understand is this: Why Rogers has such a problem with DATA? Why? At least can they stop issuing decrees and actually explain to their clients why they are so stingy with their data bandwidth? May be also explain to us why the majority of Service Providers selling iPhone can sell their phones with an unlimited data plan?
Only 2GB a Month? This is a disgrace and it shows what Rogers really thinks about their Canadian Customers! They truly think that we are stupid & ignorant and that we neither know - nor are we capable of learning anything! Well I have news for you, Rogers: WE ARE NOT! I am canceling my plans for purchasing 3 iPhone 3G, until they offer UNLIMITED Data Plan! I am sure that most people, after finding out what Rogers is really doing, will cancel their plans as well. So I guess it was all for nothing to wait a full year for the arrival of iPhone to Canada! :(
Knowing about Rogers underhanded decision not to offer UNLIMITED data plan, Apple should have NEVER given iPhone sells rights to Rogers in the first place! Unlimited Data has been the cornerstone of Apple's agreement for allowing a Service Provider to sell iPhone. Rogers held out for a full year, knowing that they have the monopoly on GSM market, and Apple gave up, which is very uncharacteristic of Apple. I guess Apple doesn't care about their it's Canadian Clients either!
Posted by Anonymous | July 4, 2008 - 9:41am
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ITS TOO LATE.............
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Now that all the Steve Job's groupies have paid thru the nose for the iPhone "cool" factor..... AT&T/Apple has decided to drop the price. Talk about adding insult to the (financial) injury.....
But ITS TOO LATE......
Here is the comparison between Sprint Instinct and the "CHEAPER" 3G iPhone.
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SPRINT INSTINCT
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Price: $29.99
$129.99 with a two-year service contract and a $100 mail-in rebate. U.S. launch date: June 20
Creator: Samsung Mobile
Wireless carrier: Sprint Nextel Corp.
Download speed: As much as 3.1 Mbps
Size: 4.57 inches tall, 2.17 inches wide, 0.49 inches thick
Capacity: 2 GB, expandable to 8 GB
Features: Touch screen, Web browsing, e-mail access, multitasking capabilities, 2.0-megapixel camera with camcorder, multimedia capabilities, visual voice mail, music store, GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, advanced stereo Bluetooth, live and on-demand TV programming, voice activation, commercial-free radio
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The "CHEAPER" iPhone 3G
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Price: $199 with a two-year service contract
U.S. launch date: July 11
Creator: Apple Inc.
Wireless carrier: AT&T Inc.
Download speed: As much as 1.4 Mbps on AT&T 3G mobile broadband networkSize: 4.5 inches tall, 2.4 inches wide, 0.48 inches thick
Capacity: 8 GB; 16 GB version available for $299
Features: Touch screen, Web browsing, e-mail access, multitasking capabilities, 2.0-megapixel camera, multimedia capabilities, visual voice mail, music store, GPS technology and real-time mapping, Wi-Fi support, Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, wireless App Store to download applications, YouTube
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BOTTOMLINE
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"Cheaper" iPhone = $199 with slower (1.4Mbps) downloads and less features. (no realtime TV, BlueTooth)
"Regular" Instinct = $29.99 (w/ $100 rebate) with faster (3.1 Mbps) downloads and more features than iPhone. (realtime TV, Bluetooth and more)
Posted by Blinky | July 8, 2008 - 2:07pm
Rogers can charge as much as they want, as long as they have paying customers. All respect for Ted Rogers! Very good business man. He found a fools market...why not exploit it?
Well done Ted. Shame on the customers that put up with him...
