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iPhone Rate Plans Revealed

apple.com — Apple has put up a page detailing the cost of the rate plans. They aren't as bad as people had thought: All plans with unlimited data - $60 for 450 minutes, $80 for 900 minutes and $100 for 1350 minutes. Existing customers can add unlimited data for $20 - $40 with a varying number of text messages.

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  • mk2ja, on 10/11/2007, -17/+278Yay! 4 diggs and the site is still up!

    They really *had* to have that kind of deal with the data/web. With the iPhone's features as they are, it would've been too Verizon-like to cripple it by not allowing unlimited web access. Way to go Apple+AT&T!
    • lieutenantmudd, on 10/11/2007, -6/+80I don't think Digg, or any traffic driving website, is big enough to take down Apple.com/Akami
      • neuropsychguy, on 10/11/2007, -2/+19The parent poster knows that, he/she was being facetious. But true, Digg will not take down Apple.com (it takes a Jobs prophecy/keynote to do that).
      • jjesusfreak01, on 10/11/2007, -0/+12You mean Akamai...I didnt know they hosted Apple.com
        I did know they host all of Microsofts downloads. When the Vista betas were first released, users downloaded thousands of copies of a 1.4GB file, and you could download them as fast as your connection was. They are pretty impressive.
        • Vestrit, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2While Akamai does have dedicated servers to handle specific loads... they also utilize clients servers & bandwidth to distribute loads. When we looked into using Akamai to help us handle large downloads or possible traffic surges, part of the deal was that they had access to utilize some of our servers to store & distribute content for other clients. (We didn't accept)

          Having said that, its kind of hard to "take down" a distributed network, its not even just Akamai's servers, it's many other companies machines serving out content too, depending on what is closest to your location (that's why the speeds are always so good).
      • sotopheavy, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1I thought Steve Jobs mind hosts apple.com. The only way to crash it is release the $199 google and zune phone simultaneously.
    • Spuy767, on 10/11/2007, -13/+11Good call mudd. Apple has always been one of the fastest sites on the internet. Hell, when i worked for that cable company, I used to use it to speed test residential lines. At any rate, that is an amazing rate plan for unlimited data, and I think now that the rate was in fact the first "Killer App" for the iPhone. We'll see where it goes from here.
    • KennMac, on 10/11/2007, -15/+5What's your point? The 25,000 digg iPhone announcement article had zero effect on apple.com
      • mobilitatis, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1There goes 10 bucks of all those plans! Apple bandwidth bill!
    • caffeinelover, on 10/11/2007, -13/+6What Verizon cripple are you talking about? I have unlimited data for Verizon for around $40/month for my Treo.

      BTW, the pricing on this is a little higher than VW's prices for the same service (minutes/data) but it is very close. Good deal.
      • jjesusfreak01, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Which Treo? A 650-680 should be $20 from ATT, and a Treo 700+ would be $40 because they are 3G.
      • ngmcs8203, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I can only assume that he was talking about the 700. I have the 700w and it costs $40. That's pretty expensive, IMHO, for slow broadband that is used over a crappy browser. Even deepfish has it's flaws that made purchasing PDANet the best thing I did since getting on the unlimited data plan.
      • anuttam, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4they cripple the phone so you cannot use certain features that undermine their services, e.g. Bluetooth transfers are usually limited because they dont want people sharing their music and stuff. In the UK, they've started crippling handsets because people were using VOIP on their phones unlimited data plans and not paying a penny for minutes.
      • SniperX, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1which plan, specifically, gives you minutes and unlimited data with a treo at verizon for "around" $40/month? I would be very interested to hear about this plan, I pay far more than that.
    • yourmightyruler, on 10/11/2007, -11/+6But you still don't have unlimited weekend/night. What the *****? Are we still living in 1997?

      And unlimited data access is never unlimited data access.
      • abhiroop, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8actually it is, perhaps if you use it to stream videos non-stop it will eventually block you, but unlimited does mean you will get a LOT of usage.
        • surfacewound, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4So you're basically saying that unlimited = "a lot" ...but NOT unlimited.

          Very insightful.
        • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2That's the same way it works with broadband services... unlimited is never actually without a limit, just very high
        • SniperX, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1WHY are people supporting the fact that "unlimited" does not equal unlimited? People are down-digging people who point out this fact when it is in fact true and very important to fight against.
      • anuttam, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3which means it is not unlimited. that's exactly his point
        • abhiroop, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1although thats true, its like saying the number of bacteria in the world is unlimited, when in fact it is not the case. Although there is a large number, it does not mean it is unlimited. Similarly, there is no point having UNLIMITED storage, so that 1% of the population use the iPhone for something ridiculous, like file sharing, and the other 99% suffer, from what would be otherwise essentially unlimited. The premise is that if we use it for basic purposes it will be unlimited, i.e. if we check our mail 50 times a day we won't be stopped from doing it. of course AT & T advertise unlimited instead of 1000mb (or whatever) because they want to appeal to the public.
          • missilesilo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1the theoritical limit would be the maximum speed per second times the number of seconds in a month
            for example, if the speed is 120 kbps thats 15 kilobytes per second = 15*60*60*24*30 = about 37 gigabytes / month
            i consider that to be practiaclly speaking, "unlimited"
    • l33tsauce, on 10/11/2007, -9/+3T-mobile 1000 minutes unlimited data plan is $60, The same Helio 3G network plan is $85. So imo the AT&T plan is a little below average. This is by no mean a knock on the iphone, i think the phone is wonderful and i would love to get it. But the price is simply isn't that great.
      • dextroz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1With T-mobile you can add unlimited data for $6.99 to ANY plan! Now how do you beat that?
    • Spuy767, on 10/11/2007, -5/+9My friend chris had his verizon service cut off, and was told that he had to pay an early termination fee for breaking their terms of service because they alleged he used so much data that he could only be file sharing. With verizon at least, there is no such thing as unlimited data.
    • MikeCerm, on 10/11/2007, -13/+15This is a bunch of BS. AT&T is going to get a lot of flack once existing customers figure out that they're charging iPhone users half as much for their data plans as they're charging the iPhone-less. Call me crazy, I figured AT&T would gouge the iPhone users as much possible, because Apple fanatics would pay no matter what the cost. The fact that they now implicitly concede that they're gouging everyone else is a little surprising.
      • Spuy767, on 10/11/2007, -2/+16They're not gouging everyone else, they just don't have to subsidize the cost of a 300$ razr that they're giving away for free.
        • sincewednesday, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9What are you two talking about? The iPhone prices are exactly the same as the MEdia Max 200, 1500, and Unlimited bundles, available to existing AT&T customers.
          • locojones, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Yeah except, according to AT&Ts terms of service, Media Max plans are NOT supposed to be used with Smartphones or PDAs which are to be accompanied by the more expensive Smartphone or PDA Connect plans.
    • iPhrankie, on 10/11/2007, -0/+29@caffeinelover

      This AT&T plan includes voice AND data for $60.00.

      I have a smartphone with VW and their basic phone plan is around $40 plus $40 for unlimited data. Thats $80.00 for VW and only $60.00 for AT&T.

      Verizon is more.
      • Braxo, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2I have a Blackberry for AT&T and the unlimited data is 19.99 a month
        • takamalak, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Oh wow, and how much is voice?
          • Braxo, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1I'm on a grandfathered plan through AT&T that is 23 dollars a month for unlimited text, picture messaging, 2000 anytime minutes and unlimited push to talk.
      • chimaera2005, on 10/11/2007, -4/+9You realize that with the new and improved (albeit horrendous) comment system, you no longer have to use @ to reply to people, right?
      • CatalystDM, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Vee Dub in tha houssse
    • jjesusfreak01, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8Darn, I just did the math...the current family plan I am on costs $185 a month considering there are 4 phones, two 2G data plans, one 3G, and one basic text package. Having the same number of minutes with 4 iPhones and unlimited data would be $170 a month, and that comes with the same amount of text messages. Now thats annoying...
      • CompIsMyRx, on 10/11/2007, -6/+7Let's not forget the mandatory 2 year contract and $499 pricetag on those phones.
      • SniperX, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I swear Apple, AT&T, and maybe Verizon have people monitoring these digg comments down digging all anti-phone company comments
    • Daveecee, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8I watched the activation/sync video too. Did anybody else notice that the bottom of the iTunes window showed a 74.4GB capacity of the iPhone after sync? WTF?
      • michaelb1, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3more like 7.44GB
        • Daveecee, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1AFTER the sync. Look at the capacity when the sync is complete and he has audio, a TV clip, and Cars on there. What I'm guessing is they just had to switch to an iPod video quick to fit everything, but still very noticeable.
      • RomulusX86, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1next rumor: iPhone 2 in the wild! 80 GB!
    • TeatimeGrommit, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6I'm happy, since I'm on AT&T and considering the iPhone. I didn't want to pay $500 or $600 and then have to pay extra to use it. This is a test of a new strategy. Allow the customer to buy a phone for full price and then no need to recover the subsidy on crazy per-month charges. It's more choice for us. If it works out, other carriers / manufacturers (Verizon + Motorola?) will follow so that we all benefit.
      • DubbedOver, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I agree with what you said about method in which they are setting up the plans. I am personally not ready to shell out 500 or 600 dollars for a cell phone (it still is called a phone despite its multiple uses).

        Maybe someday when I'm important enough at work to make money, until then I'm another corporate drone.
    • bemenaker, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6I'm actually impressed w/ the rates, or I have been on Verizon too long.
      • locojones, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2"his is a test of a new strategy. Allow the customer to buy a phone for full price and then no need to recover the subsidy on crazy per-month charges"

        Where's the subsidy in the charges? Just using the lowest priced plan at $59.99, there's no deal built in. AT&T NORMALLY charges 39.99 for 450 minutes without unlimited night and weekends, and NORMALLY charges 19.99 for the Media Max bundle.

        So you're paying full price for the phone and full price for the plans. I don't know where you're seeing a deal. This is AT&T afterall.
    • SirBotchness, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Maybe they actually took into account that the phones cost 600 dollars.
  • rek2005, on 10/11/2007, -16/+227I don't think thats bad at all. It sure isn't as bad as some people predicted. As usual.
    • hightower77, on 10/11/2007, -11/+8No joke, I love how people have been screaming doom and gloom about the $47,000/mo rate plan they were going to charge. Hell, what they've got here is cheaper than my BlackBerry Connect deal with AT&T/Cingular.
      • tape250, on 10/11/2007, -3/+12Compare these prices with T-Mobile's Blackberry rates:

        $79.99 -- Unlimited Data, Unlimited Email, 1500 Anytime Minutes
        $59.99 -- Unlimited Data, Unlimited Email, 1000 Anytime Minutes
        • rek2005, on 10/11/2007, -4/+8Aha! But do they have rollover? No, but seriously...

          I have a blackberry and I personally wouldn't pay that for a data plan on the thing. Browsing internet on a blackberry sucks.

          Also, the plan you listed, unless I looked at the wrong one, doesn't have weekend or nights minutes.
          • locojones, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1First, nobody uses their rollover minutes. If they did, rollover would cease to exist. Second, the lowest price AT&T plan doesn't have unlimited night or weekend minutes either. So shut it.
          • rek2005, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I don't recall stating in my message that the AT&T plan had unlimited minutes on nights and weekends. But you do get extra minutes, meaning as whole you get more minutes with the AT&T plan. And, I'm sure the rollover minutes come in handy for some. There are surely periods when people talk more than other times. So you shut it.
    • dopke, on 10/11/2007, -4/+12Agreed, way impressed by their pricing. I am seriously considering getting one now as previously the only thing holding me back was the $$$ I'd have to pay for the data part of the plan. As a college student, can't get much better than this.
      • GoatMonkey2112, on 10/11/2007, -2/+13A damn lucky college student. I couldn't afford food in college. Ramen!
        • michaelb1, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1all college kids these days are richer (read have richer parents)


        • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1...or have well paid internships

          aka me
        • dopke, on 10/11/2007, -4/+0or they are doing well in the stock market. You're doing something wrong if you aren't making money in a bull market :)
      • IEatHamburgers, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Yeah. I can't imagine spending $1220 this year on a cellphone (cheapest possible), not when I can feed myself for a year or buy textbooks for less than that.
        • dreamstorm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1To me it's amazing that almost everyone is saying $60/month is cheap. (Perhaps that's nothing to people who buy $600 phones.) I have a PDA type phone now, and I certainly don't get $60/month worth of use out of it. Not when it has WiFi built in. I'd rather pay for what I actually use than be forced to buy unlimited data and subsidize everyone else's YouTube bandwidth.
    • flag564, on 10/11/2007, -36/+10600.00 phone + 60.00 to 100.00 + Tax + 2 year contract = "way to go Apple"?

      By all means go out and blow your savings on it if you think this is a "great" plan.

      While you are doing that, be sure to buy some ocean front property in Nevada too.
      • totallyAMAZING, on 10/11/2007, -17/+5Don't forget that $300 of that phone is in Apple's pocket. So you're buying a $300 phone for $600 using technology no better than a $30 phone. Wow, sign me up.
      • Decimit, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12When California falls into the ocean, Nevada will have ocean front property. It's always good to plan ahead.
      • Ireland, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2@ flag564?
        Go ***** yourself.
    • hightower77, on 10/11/2007, -15/+11@flag564

      Let me guess, you use the ***** free phone your service provider gave you for signing up for a contract then you bitch about the signal dropping or you can't hear people on it. Cell phone quality is generally better the more you pay. Some people don't see them as interchangeable parts of everyday life.

      Am I right?

      People like you are the reason that we here in the US get the best phones from the manufactures 2-3 years after they are out in Europe.
      • flag564, on 10/11/2007, -12/+2I use a free phone to make calls, which for the price, it does very well. I have enough free minutes to call Jesus for 4 months straight. No it also doest drop calls no more or less than Im sure this thing will too. 600.00 wont prevent that.

        Funny how I have no problems with my "***** free phone" despite the fact that you Apple astroturfers are making it seem like society is just grinding to a halt because we dont have the precious iPhone in our hands.
        • hightower77, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7First, I don't think Jesus would accept your calls, but that's neither here nor there. Second, I'm not an Apple astroturfer. I like new technologies. In all honesty, the iPhone isn't for me. I've got a BlackBerry that does what I need fine and a 60g iPod. Don't get me wrong, the tech in the iPhone is cool as hell and I hope it pushes other phone makers to push the boundaries as well. Better phones for all then. Third, as far as the free phone. Some folks get lucky. I can count 6 people off the top of my head that I know that once they went to a "non-free", mind you, not $600 phone, that the quality of their calls increased as the number of dropped calls decreased. BNoth of my parents are perfect examples of this. Quite a bit of that has to do with the network also, but the phone does play a big part, more than most people think.
    • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -10/+23Get the hell over yourself, Flag. Go price a Blackberry with 450 minutes and unlimited data, and compare it to this. This phone pays how much more expensive it is in, what, 10 months? After 10 months, the iPhone and the Blackberry will have cost you the same amount. In two years, the iPhone will have cost you less. Care to troll more?
      • tape250, on 10/11/2007, -10/+1I would like to compare it to this. Here are T-Mobile's Blackberry Rates:
        $79.99 -- Unlimited Data, Unlimited Email, 1500 Anytime Minutes
        $59.99 -- Unlimited Data, Unlimited Email, 1000 Anytime Minutes

        Not only that, but if you sign up for a plan with T-Mobile you can buy the Blackberry Pearl for $150. That means that in two years, a 1500 minute plan with T-Mobile and a Blackberry Pearl will cost you $2,070, whereas buying an iPhone and getting the 1350 minute plan will cost you $3,000.
        So sounds to me like you're pulling numbers out of your ass and are full of crap.
      • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -4/+10...who said anything about T-Mobile? We're comparing the iPhone from AT&T with other offers from AT&T. When T-Mobile starts carrying the iPhone, then you can bitch about AT&T's prices.
        • brundlefly76, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I dont think he was trolling - you asked him to price Blackberry pricing and he did - we are evaluating the value of the iPhone data plan against other data plans so who cares if its a different provider (especially since tmobile is also a gps/edge provider)? I actually pay only about $50 for unlimited BB data and 700 minutes on T-Mobile - EDGE isnt worth much more than that! I dont know what all the excitement is about the iPhone plan - its good for AT&T's sucky data speeds and priciing, but barely competitive with the other EDGE provider (you cant compare EDGE pricing to EVDO because its an entirely higher level of service)

      • Ireland, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3"Get the hell over yourself, Flag."
        LOL, not in this lifetime.
    • noreturn, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7These are, I kid you not, the exact same prices I'm paying for my voice and data with Cingular/AT&T. I honestly don't know why anyone thought it was going to be different.

      However, I should say that my unlimited data plan is actually very limited. Files over a certain size are blocked, as is just about anything that isn't HTTP or mail traffic. If the iPhone's plan is different in that it allows completely unfettered access to the internet, then this plan will be better than the norm. Otherwise, it's just the same.
      • TeatimeGrommit, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4It allows unlimited YouTube. And I'm sure they'll keep the file size limits for iPhone to something appropriate for the Xcel and Word files that the business customers will need. I mean, does anyone really want to download WoW patches to their iPhone for later transfer to PC?
    • onlyclave, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1You realize that the "privilege" of owning the iPhone is going to cost you at the least $2300. Your mileage may vary based on your local tax rates. The cost of ownership is much higher than the $499 for the hardware.

      I'll stick with my Razr which out of the 25 phones I've owned is the best so far.
      • rek2005, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3I'm not sure where you got your numbers, but, um, yea...they're wrong. After figuring in my local tax rate, it should cost me around $1652 for a total year..give or take like fifty bucks. Agreed, that is a lot of money as well. But its my money. So why should you give a damn?

        And if a Razr is the best phone you've had, the other twenty-four phones must have been total pieces of *****.
    • TheCount, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2It isn't exactly as good as some people predicted either. That 200 text message limit is BS, as far as I'm concerned, any plan (on any carrier) that includes unlimited data, should by default include unlimited text messages.
      • renfield33, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1yeah i don't know... limited text messages, but unlimited email. personally, i would just email.
      • locojones, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Once you figure you can't type out any text messages on that ridiculous keyboard, you'll be glad you're not paying for unlimited ones.
    • theHuman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0It's not terrible but it certainly isn't great. I just wish other carriers had it too. Hopefully we'll see a cdma one with EVDO sometime in the future. Sprint SERO(30/month unlimited EVDO + txt + 500 minutes) would be pretty sweet with the iPhone.
  • Josephtech, on 10/11/2007, -9/+107I live up in Canada and they screw you with data plans. Theres not even an unlimited option. 59.99 seems like a great price plan.
    • yeahright, on 10/11/2007, -0/+21It's true. I pay $45 (CAD) /mo for 100 mins, unlimited incoming/nights/weekends, and 4 MB of data.

      And, unfortunately, it's the best reasonably priced plan in Canada (with Telus)
      • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Telus... baahahhaa

        *reminded of midget artist from 1800s or 1900s
        • zang74, on 10/11/2007, -1/+21) That's Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Pronounced "too-loose low-trek". Telus is pronounced as "tell us".
          2) He was not a midget; he broke both his legs in his youth and they failed to grow properly.
          3) Jokes are only funny if you actually know what you're talking about.
    • yabos, on 10/11/2007, -1/+19Bell and Rogers have a whole 100MB for $100 CAD, what a deal!!!
      • BossX, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Rogers used to have Unlimited Data for $100 - assholes
        • penneyisok, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yabos, forgot to mention that the $100 is JUST for data. You need to tack on at least another $30 to get any phone services. God, I hate our cellphone providers...
    • KennMac, on 10/11/2007, -6/+12Blame Canada...
    • Raian, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10I wonder if you will be able to use the iPhone as a modem... then 59.99 usd is worth it.
      • id000001, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3that would be killer.
      • MikeCerm, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1I'm thinking not. Judging by the fact that it's never been mentioned as a feature (and just about everything else has), it's probably not something that the iPhone can do. Also, AT&T's normal basic voice plan is $40, and their unlimited data plan is usually another $40. Part of their decision to lower their rates must have had to do with the non-3G connection, and partly that if you can't use it as a modem, you're really not going to use that much bandwidth anyway. Think about it, the iPhone won't really be able to download files, and the connection is too slow for YouTube. To that extent, the unlimited data plan is a ruse.
        • DummyO, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3It's probably not something that they want to advertise, but you might be able to get it going via bluetooth. On your PC you can usually setup a bluetooth device as a "connection", then you can use your iPhone to get to the internets?
      • ajgv, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2at 2g speeds, have fun with that.
    • goldentoque, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Will be interesting to see if unlimited Data is part of the requirements that apple has for its wireless partners. Perhaps they will require it, and that will set Rogers apart from the competition on their new HSDPA network, and they will gain significant market share and finally rates will fall. Perhaps Telus buying BCE will also force Rogers hand at this, and make unlimited data a reality!
    • DevinOlsen, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1... I have Bell, and I have the 'Fuel Me 20' bundle...
      For twenty dollars I get
      -Unlimited Text
      -Voice mail
      -Unlimited Data Transfer
      -Free Streaming TV

      The streaming TV is terrible, but for twenty dollars that 'package' is an amazing deal... And as far as I can tell, the Fuel me bundle isn't something you can add to your plan anymore.. They seem to have 'gotten rid of it'... Though they didn't 'kick me off' the plan... The did tell me though, if I were to cancel the fuel me bundle, I would not be aloud to add it back to my plan...

      Hmmm
    • TeatimeGrommit, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Yeah, well that's what happens when 30 million people occupy a country roughly the size of China. It's expensive to cover even the populated fraction of that with wireless. 'tis the reason the AT&T / iPhone deals aren't offered in Alaska. It's just business, nothing against Canadians. Prices will come more in line with USA pricing when the infrastructure is built (though it may need prodding from the Canadian gov'ment).
      • xrenjrvt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5There's nothing wrong with the infrastructure in Canada. The problem is the CRTC (the somewhat equivalent of your FCC) they regulate the ***** out of everything, protect the profits of the TWO cell providers (virgin doesn't count yet) and limit other cellular companies entering our markets. An absolute waste of government money.
      • ElectroBot, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Over 80% of the Canadian population lives within 200KM driving distance to the US and most of those are centered around the 2 of the great lakes, the atlantic and the pacific coast.

        Infrastructure isn't a problem here in Canada (for telephone, internet or "local" cell phone access). The problem lies in corporate monopoly (Bell and Rogers), corporate greed and lack of government action. Paying $100 CDN ($94 USD) for 250MB of dial-up through cell phone is just ridiculous.
    • simplenation, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7at least you guys have national health care!!
      • xrenjrvt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1If you think we're not getting ***** over in health care, think again. Much of it is free but by no means is all health care free. The average Canadian pays about 48% tax, if you make more you pay much more. Also the speed and quality are often far superior in the US. Because hospitals don't have to be profitable here there is no incentive to run things efficiently.
    • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Your complaint could have ended right about here....

      "I live up in Canada and they screw you"
    • angers, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1seriously, let's hope this will make Canadian carriers probe about their current data plans' prices.
    • BuckyDent, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Then someone should stop complaining and move to a country where they don't ████ you up the ███ over data plans on a regular basis, and get ████ed over other stuff like heath care.
      • MatttK, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yes, I'm going to move to a new country because cell phones are too expensive in Canada. That makes a ton of sense.
    • GeorgeCostanza, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Personally, i'd rather be screwed by having a crappy data plan for a phone I barely even use, rather than a crappy President and government that i'd probably need every day. And we have polar bears too! Any country with polar bears roaming the street has to be pretty hardcore.
  • UnseenLlama, on 10/11/2007, -7/+140I just watched the Activation and Sync video also. Basically, any existing AT&T customer can get an iPhone and activate it through iTunes. No messing with store reps saying I can't upgrade because I'm not in the "upgrade period". Wooohoooo!
    • AppleLuva, on 10/11/2007, -9/+3That's a BIG assumption. They still may hit you with the "early cancellation" fee. I'm waiting to see if that's the case. May even call AT&T today as well to find out.
      • turpenine, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1they don't charge you unless you are dropping features from your plan more than 3 months (for me) after you get it and less than 2 years.
    • UnseenLlama, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11How can they hit me with a cancellation fee when I'm just extending my contract by 2 years?
      • dvddesign, on 10/11/2007, -6/+3Because they lose money with the manufacturers by discounting the price of your old handset. Keeping you inside a contract pays for the cost of the phone and allows them to keep the prices down.

        If contracts are a problem, start buying unlocked handsets from here on out. There are plenty of people importing them from China, Korea, and Europe who are quite happy with their current "contract" operating in this manner.
      • angers, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1because in order for someone to get the iPhone, you must be either elligible for an upgrade, or signing up as a new activation. so, unless you happen to have found a way to purchase the iPhone at full price, you will have to either wait until your contract is over, or terminate your contract with a termination fee. I do suggest calling customer service and trying to get an early renewal if you happen to have a bit of time left on your contract.
        • Braxo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The full price is 499 for the 4gb or 599 for the 8gb. All you need to do is add the dataplan. I have a blackberry and previously it said my account through AT&T was eligible for an upgrade in 2 more months. Now it doesn't say that anymore and the upgrades are based on different factors now then by time.
    • pattherat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8Did you see the mistake they made in the video?

      When they zoom in on the distribution graph of what is on your iPhone, they show the capacity to be 74GB! Wouldn't that be sweet...
      • fofusion, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yeah I noticed that too.

        Probably a mistake but man it would be sweet if v2 had an actual hard drive, that and improve the battery life oh and be available in the UK sometime soon!
      • jp3550, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I would much rather stick with flash memory. More space is good, but wearable parts are bad.
      • 98acura, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3it was proabbly 7.4gb and you just didnt see the decimal
    • FierceGrape, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7I called AT&T yesterday. They told me you have to be eligible to sign a 2 year agreement. I just switched to AT&T 2 months ago. The rep told me that I would be eligible to sign a new 2 year agreement in another 16 months. I have a feeling in about 6 months or so they will drop the iPhone to maybe $300-$400 with contract and then let us heathen existing customers have the privilege of spending $600 on a phone. Just a guess though.

      iPhone 2009 woot WOOT!!!!!
      • Bootes, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Call them back when they actually know what they're talking about. Meaning on Friday. I could be wrong.
      • rblancarte, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yea, they have something about an upgrade period that you are eligible to get in. As an 8 year customer, I had to just upgrade my phone in Feb when I broke my old flip phone. I think my upgrade period will start around 20 months into my new contract. I could be wrong.

        I am kind of curious, since the iPhone is $500-$600 either way, I wonder if I could get it for the same price under "no-commitment pricing" where I keep my current deal. Hmmm....
    • samssf, on 10/11/2007, -0/+25The rep is wrong. I searched for several hours last night to find an answer to this same question. Supposedly someone was told by 6 different reps that the iPhone is a special case, and that you can in fact buy it at any time, and that your contract with will just be extended by two years. Apple wouldn't allow AT&T to turn you down for this reason. I hate it when reps don't know what they are talking about...
    • smarusich, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2@FierceGrape
      Apple rarely drops their prices.
      • FierceGrape, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I don't think Apple will drop the price I think AT&T will start to subsidize the phones. This is of course assuming that there is no subsidizing going on now. Also remember the 1st iPod was $500 so there is some precedent with the prices being reduced when they release the iPhone nano or whatever they are going to do to make this one obsolete in 6 months.
      • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@ FierceGrape

        I'm not really sure where you could come up with that. The iPhone rate plans are setup FOR the iPhone because no subsidizing is necessary as the phone is sold at full price. If at&t wanted to sell it at a reduced cost and subsidize it with rate plans they would have to change the rate plan costs. Neither price reduction nor rate plan changes are possible without Apple's consent since they are in control of pricing and distribution, and also, since Apple is selling the iPhone in their stores why would they allow at&t to reduce the price.
      • richardhenry, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Yeah right of course! That's why the iPod keeps getting cheaper. Oh, and everything else they make. Unless by rarely you mean often?
    • ktan91, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0That is true.. think of when Apple dropped a price on something? They just cancelled one thing and released another.. sometimes the same price, sometimes cheaper.

      Well, a little over 2 years ago I made a 2 year contract with Cingular so it should be over... So now I got to sign another contract?! And pay $20 extra. That is not bad.. plus the 200 SMS I like.. I hope they include iChat in the iPhone soon. Because before, you bad to pay $20 a month for unlimited SMS which is the same price as 200 $0.10 TXTs. I use a little under 200 each month. This plan is worth it without the internet+voicemail compared to previous plans.
    • sophiaperennis, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2@ktan91

      It is not too often, but Apple did drop the price on their Cinema Displays this year, e.g., the 30 inch went from $2000 to $1800. Furthermore, the price of the 20" iMac went down when the 24" model was introduced.
    • angers, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1It's been told that you must sign a minimum 2 year contract in order to get an iPhone, so I don't see how that would be possible to activate the iPhone if you are not elligible for an upgrade.
    • spainexpat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I just talked to AT&T too who said that for Go-Pay customers there's no chance of using the iPhone's data capabilities. According to AT&T reps, their pay as you go infrastructure is "unable" to provide data capabilities beyond text messaging. If you buy an unlocked iPhone this could be the same situation (according to them), unless you have an insider to set up your phone for you, your unlocked iPhone is "unsupported."

      Such BS. I'll still get one.
  • coolmaster121, on 10/11/2007, -41/+14This ***** is sick
  • MacBear, on 10/11/2007, -22/+16Sounds like a great deal, this just made my day... did any one notice on the how much memory was on the storage bar in the sync window??? I kinda missed it and if my eyes serve me right it believe it says 74 GB!?! Just after the movie sync part of the video!.
    • coolmaster121, on 10/11/2007, -3/+67.27GB
    • AppleLuva, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Saw that too...That's obviously for the iPod but they just didn't edit it out.
    • kris33, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1It says both. First 7,27GB, but after a while it says 74GB. Just after the sync is done.
    • OandA, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2yeah the bottom bar is says 74GB. i noticed that too. but the info box says 7.27GB
    • dbirling, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3Saw it too... Lame if a mistake... super cool if it is an unannounced feature?
  • slaguru, on 10/11/2007, -14/+10I have a question about 'unlimited'. Really unlimited or 'fair use'... big difference
    • paulmike3, on 10/11/2007, -6/+4This isn't Netflix. Unlimited is unlimited.
      • B1663r, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2They don't show the terms on the activation video, but all sms carriers have restrictions. I doubt that just because it is apple there will be an exception to this.

        For example, if you have a server on your computer sending you a sms every couple of seconds, you will get banned.
    • starbird, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6I think he may be referring to Comcast's "Unlimited" internet, but then canceling people who use it a lot. I can't imagine that you would, after the first couple of months, when the newness wears off a bit, and you've shown all your friends, that you would use it constantly. I mean, it's not like it's 10 mb/sec or anything. you won't be downloading Ratatoile on it....
      • B1663r, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1To get canceled by comcast you had to be pounding your cable modem 24/7 with bittorrent traffic... something like 450 gig a month. I have used comcast heavily for years now in the 50-100 gig a month range without issue.
    • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I'd like to agree, but I'm sure someone will test it to find out
    • EtherGnat, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Does this sound like unlimited to anybody? http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/plan-terms.jsp

      Prohibited and Permissible Uses:
      Data Service sessions may be conducted only for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) corporate intranet access (including access to corporate email, customer relationship management, sales force automation, and field service automation applications).

      PROHIBITED USES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, USING SERVICES:

      (I) WITH SERVER DEVICES OR WITH HOST COMPUTER APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WEB CAMERA POSTS OR BROADCASTS, CONTINUOUS JPEG FILE TRANSFERS, AUTOMATIC DATA FEEDS, TELEMETRY APPLICATIONS, PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) FILE SHARING, AUTOMATED FUNCTIONS OR ANY OTHER MACHINE-TO-MACHINE APPLICATIONS;

      (II) AS SUBSTITUTE OR BACKUP FOR PRIVATE LINES OR DEDICATED DATA CONNECTIONS;

      (III) FOR VOICE OVER IP;

      (IV) IN CONJUNCTION WITH WWAN OR OTHER APPLICATIONS OR DEVICES WHICH AGGREGATE USAGE FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION;

      (V) USING THE SERVICES FOR ANY ACTIVITY THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF OTHER PEOPLE OR SYSTEMS TO USE EITHER THE SERVICES OR OTHER PARTIES' INTERNET-BASED RESOURCES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF NETWORK OR SYSTEM RESOURCES (WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL) AND "DENIAL OF SERVICE" (DOS) ATTACKS AGAINST ANOTHER NETWORK HOST OR INDIVIDUAL USER; OR

      (VI) INTERFERENCE WITH OR DISRUPTION OF OTHER NETWORK USERS, NETWORK SERVICES OR NETWORK EQUIPMENT. EXCEPT FOR CONTENT FORMATTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AT&T'S WIRELESS CONTENT STANDARDS, UNLIMITED PLANS CANNOT BE USED FOR UPLOADING, DOWNLOADING OR STREAMING OF VIDEO CONTENT (E.G. MOVIES, TV), MUSIC OR GAMES. FURTHERMORE, UNLIMITED PLANS (EXCEPT FOR DATACONNECT AND BLACKBERRY TETHERED) CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY APPLICATIONS THAT TETHER THE DEVICE (THROUGH USE OF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONNECTION KITS, OTHER PHONE/PDA-TO-COMPUTER ACCESSORIES, BLUETOOTH® OR ANY OTHER WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY) TO LAPTOPS, PCS, OR OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR ANY PURPOSE.

      Service is not intended to provide full-time connections, and the Service may be discontinued after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage. AT&T reserves the right to

      (i) limit throughput or amount of data transferred, deny Service and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network and

      (ii) protect its wireless network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. You may not send solicitations to AT&T's wireless subscribers without their consent. You may not use the Services other than as intended by AT&T and applicable law. Plans are for individual, non-commercial use only and are not for resale.
      • Bamborzled, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Because everybody installs Apache, transfers image files continuously, shares movies, music, and games, uses VoIP, and engages in denial-of-service attacks on an iPhone.
    • brundlefly76, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1There is no such thing as unlimited data usage on any plan with any carrier, but I wouldnt worry about bumping your head unless you are using your phone as a laptop modem.

      It should be noted that AT&T is one of those carriers who specifically charges extra for using your phone as a modem for your laptop ( I dont even know if this is possible with iPhone anyway), which I think is much more significant then whatever they cap you at for handset data (seriously - how bad can that get?).

      On T-Mobile, for example, an unlimited Blackberry Curve data plan with 1000 voice minutes is $59.99, which is over twice the minutes of the $59.99 iPhone plan *plus* you can use your Blackberry Curve as a modem for your laptop all you want with no extra charge.
  • bertram, on 10/11/2007, -15/+10"Minimum new 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod"

    so it's a brick without service, FYI
    • newsheatdotcom, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4I just noticed that too. I'm surprised the iPod function won't work without service. And it isn't just service, it is signing on for 2 years with at&t
    • jeffeb3, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8hmmm...my phone is a brick without the service too.... bastards!
    • geoken, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2@jeffeb3

      I think you're missing the point. There are people who've payed a lot more for a PDA with no phone capabilities. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would gladly pay 499/599 for a PDA with the iPhone's capabilities/specs. Hell, I'm sure their are people who would pay 499/599 for an iPod with the iPhone's specs.
  • MacBear, on 10/11/2007, -10/+76Yep... 6 min and 17 sec. into the video... it says 74.40 GB!!!
    • l0rdn1k0n, on 10/11/2007, -23/+4It says approx 7.4 GB, the formatted capacity of an 8GB iPhone. You're an idiot.
    • ScrumFritter, on 10/11/2007, -2/+24I know it's probably just an editing error in the video, but wow, how cool would it be if they sneakily made the iPhone in 40Gb and 80Gb models? Wishful thinking, methinks. :p
      • kermatron, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I know the odds of this are against us, but isn't apple usually better at finding mistakes this blatent???
    • zebov, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2They've fixed the editing error. Shucks.
    • ZigVicious, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2yeah, a 6 min 23 sec, it shows 74.40 gigs capacity at the bottom of the screen, and 8gigs capacity at the top??
    • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1If that's the announcement at MacWorld 2008, I think I might pee myself with glee. ...I'll also be really ***** that I'll still have a year left on my contract when it comes out.
    • sophiaperennis, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5That must be the 2nd generation iPhone Pro.
    • Ben174, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6No it doesn't: http://www.bugben.com/drop/iphone-ss.png
      • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1---
        by zebov 5 hours ago
        They've fixed the editing error. Shucks.
        ---

        You should read, sir :)
  • hrhs556x, on 10/11/2007, -12/+3Didn't they say they were getting rid of the 2-year agreement?
    • prockcore, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3No. Right on that page it says "Minimum new 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod; plans are subject to AT&T credit approval."

      Can't even use the thing as a music player without a 2 year agreement.
    • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@hrhs556x

      When did they say that?
  • Zerfram, on 10/11/2007, -14/+13Took them long enough
  • bertram, on 10/11/2007, -15/+42Minimum new 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod

    so a brick without AT&T service until someone hacks it.
    • bertram, on 10/11/2007, -11/+4damn it - digg this one down too
    • jeffeb3, on 10/11/2007, -17/+1why would you spend $500 for a 4GB ipod? you people are idiots.
      • awhiteflame, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Because that's totally all that it is and all.
      • thinkart, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6why read iphone news and why comment if you think it's stupid. i think you might be a little retarded for wasting your time.
      • macinjosh, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1uhh yeah, its not just an ipod, moron
      • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Man, you're right. $500 for a 4 gig iPod *would* be kinda stupid. No way would I buy that. They'd need to add some other features to make it worth it before I'd even THINK about buying an iPod that expensive. Maybe a full web browser, or portable google maps, or hey, maybe a cell phone! THEN it would be worth it!
      • johnpaul191, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1not $400 for an iPod.... the thinking some people have is that the device is a mini tablet. if you did not have the phone/data features, the iPhone can hop to WiFi normally. if it will function (sans phone stuff) as a mini tablet, it might be an interesting toy. that may not be viable till people upgrade to iPhone2 and have the old one around. i think those people are more interested in it as a little tablet than just a wide screen iPod.

        it's an interesting idea for city people. Philadelphia is in the process of rolling out complete WiFi coverage (maybe 1/4 or 1/4 of the city is done so far), so if this tablet worked all over town, i almost would not need to use AT&Ts slower data connection.... right? by the time you can ebay somebody's old iPhone i am sure *somebody* will make this work.
    • ke5crz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2It's a pretty brick :)
    • lougoose, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Nobody's gonna hack it...nobody has hacked the iTunes store (that I can remember), and nobody's gonna hack the iPhone.
    • MaxwellTD, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2lougoose, i think he means "Unlock" the phone to use with a different plan or service, not use it for free
  • digitallysick, on 10/11/2007, -2/+55"If you’re already an AT&T customer and want to keep your current voice plan, you can just add an iPhone Data Plan with unlimited data (email and web) and Visual Voicemail for just $20 per month"

    nice! i can handle that.
    • cafesuada, on 10/11/2007, -4/+0Yeah, but too bad they make you renew for another 2 years + activation fees. And sounds like they are checking your credit again?
      "Minimum NEW 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod; plans are subject to AT&T credit approval."
    • texpundit, on 10/11/2007, -8/+1Existing customers = only existing customers with contracts. Us with Pay-As-You-Go plans or prepaid are SOL. So, that means I won't be getting an iPhone...and it means I'll be switching to Verizon soon. Oh well.
    • jeffeb3, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5I don't think they would ping your credit again if you were already a customer. especially if you pay your bill ontime.
    • pasher1221, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I bet you can't add it to a GATE plan
    • Jomwilli, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I have an old Cingular/AT&T account and got grandfathered in to a $20 unlimited data on my RAZR. I have 450 voice already and pay around $70 a month after taxes. Soooo what will I be paying at AT&T if I get an iPhone??
    • sra8sra8, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Bravo to whoever noted that the ACTUAL cost will be far higher. I have a $29/mo plan (had it for years) with AT&T/Cingular. Somehow this translates into $46/mo w/o any text messages/overage. That is a 58% tax rate....of course not all of those are taxes, they are "fees" which are simply random charges which can somehow legally be charged. I wish I could add "fees" for my paycheck. In fact, anyone work for AT&T...try it ;-)
  • one0hseven, on 10/11/2007, -2/+50The pricing is really reasonable. Verizon charges $40 for unlimited PDA data without any text messaging.
    Example:
    Treo 700
    450 Min - 39.00
    Unlimited Data - $40
    1000 Text - $10
    • maninblac1, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Except the total cost of ownership if you use the 900min plan.
      ~$2600 for the 2 years
      But let's not forget the service charges that Cingular *cough* AT&T charge on a regular basis, i would suspect they will nick ever use for probably $15 a month in random service charges.
    • one0hseven, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Verizon does the same thing. I was only worried about the data plan costing $40; now that the plan is $20 with texts included I am more inclined to get the plan. I am paying 39.99
      + $10 just for text messaging with no email or web plan with Verizon.
    • Botond, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Verizon's 39.99 Unlimited data comes with 2000 txt if "your company told you to ask for the PDA 2000 Allowance for push email". Of course, my company told me no such thing.
      Example of my plan:
      Samsung i730
      450 min - 39.99
      Unlim Data - 40.00
      2000 txt - free
    • jeffeb3, on 10/11/2007, -5/+8I don't get random service charges every month. Try this:
      1) pay your bill on time
      2) don't use more minutes/texts than you are alotted
      With these simple tasks, you can reduce/remove these "random" charges for good!
      • maninblac1, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Well, at least the FCC is finally pulling in AT&T's reigns. We've used AT&T for years, and they're always adding $5 here and there, for whatever reason, we switched to SBC to get away from AT&T, only to have SBC get sucked up into AT&T years later.
        And i was talking about landline, not Cellular. We use Verizon for Cellular, we'd go verizon for landline too if they were in the area.
        • daborg, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You're talking about AT&T's landline behavior on an article that discusses their cell phone strategy. Yeah, that makes sense.
          • maninblac1, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Why would a rotten monopolistic company behave any differently?
      • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@Jeffeb3

        No, I pay my bill on time and use a quarter of the anytime minutes and still get charged ~$20 every few months for "peak calls"
      • jdpalite, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Everyone gets charged taxes... and I think few people are dumb enough to consider late fees (see your point #1) as "random service charges"
      • s1mph0ny, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@jdpalite: a lot of the times the "extra fees" are taxes which the government charges the phone company. By passing these fees directly to the customer (without including it in their advertised price) they are commiting fraud.
    • pkulak, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1That's what I was thinking. My plan right now with ATT is exactly the iPhone plan except no data and I'm paying $50 a month. I really thought I would have to pass on the iPhone because I wouldn't be able to afford the plan, but this REALLY makes me want to pick one up. I bet this was part of the negotiations and why ATT got the phone in the first place.
    • angers, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1trust me, that's amazing, TELUS charges $25 for 4MB, yes, 4MBs. I use that on one website ffs.
    • TheCount, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I pay 45 per month on AT&T for my 8525, the difference is that it's a 3G phone, so the data actually means the data is worth something. Plus, I can use skype off that data plan (as well as a bunch of other programs), which is really nice.

      I'm still mourning the fact that we will never see a VOIP program on the iPhone.
    • sra8sra8, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Bravo to whoever noted that the ACTUAL cost will be far higher. I have a $29/mo plan (had it for years) with AT&T/Cingular. Somehow this translates into $46/mo w/o any text messages/overage. That is a 58% tax rate....of course not all of those are taxes, they are "fees" which are simply random charges which can somehow legally be charged. I wish I could add "fees" for my paycheck. In fact, anyone work for AT&T...try it ;-)
  • Felshadow, on 10/11/2007, -16/+13Not as bad as people thought? people know that all cell phone contracts are horrible scams right? why do they need to charge PER text message...its not like sending a text message does something strenuous on their equipment that they'd have to limit it... oh wait....everyone does it so its a good way to make money? and no company doesn't do it so we don't have a choice? oh yeah...
    • starbird, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2ok, I agree with you, but the good thing about this? why would you use text at all? you have e-mail. And your friends/family that don't, you can send an e-mail to them that they will get as a text message. Brilliant!
    • Ricky8765, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Emails are a pain to respond to on my cell phone, but I don't know how it is for others. I, for one, would use text over email any day
    • btgoss, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I don't think he should be dugg down for making a valid point.
  • jpetticrew, on 10/11/2007, -12/+1So wait, I can't use an iphone without modifying my at&t plan?
    • spazzcat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1sure you can didn't read where you can keep your plan?
      • jpetticrew, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I thought the guy said I would have to add the iPhone data plan.
        • geminitojanus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Extra $20/month for unlimited iPhone data plan (fewer text messages and such) but your voice plan stays exactly the same as it is now.

          $20/month for Visual Voicemail alone is worth it for me.
    • Surtur, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2My reading is that you will have to add an iPhone data plan (starts at $20 with 200 sms.)
    • camknig, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0It doesn't say that the $20 add on to an existing plan includes any sms. It just says unlimited data and Visual Voicemail.
    • camknig, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0still not a bad deal though
  • TheATeam, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1the plans don't look to bad, although they kind of cheaped out on the # of SMS messages if you're not already a customer.
  • JAPAN, on 10/11/2007, -13/+5Dose anyone know how much the unlimited SMS will be?
    • spazzcat, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1$40 for unlimited sms and web
    • sgglynn, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2AT&T already has pricing for that... 5.99 for staying in the ATT network, 19.99 for unlimted through any network... remember... "IDK my BFF Jill"
    • eneshelon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6if you check out the video it says $20 for unlimited text additional and $10 for 1500 texts
    • jeffeb3, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3RTFA
  • pzarker, on 10/11/2007, -16/+7http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_storage_80_gigs

    snap shots from the sync video showing huge storage upgrade
    • ahhell, on 10/11/2007, -9/+2Nice try promoting your own digg.
      ***** you spammer.
    • CountZero75, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Very interesting...
    • Tialys, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Wow... that was uncalled for. Jerk.

      pzarker... site down.
    • OandA, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3there is no upgrade just a production snafu. I will bet you a large sum of potato chips this is the case. now move along and stop spamming
  • jimvwmoss, on 10/11/2007, -10/+4So on top of a 2 year stretch, do we still have to fork up the $300 - $600???
  • craftyshrew, on 10/11/2007, -4/+37I'm terrified to see what the rate plans will be in Canada. Our data plans are ridiculous.
    • dbqp, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1Well, I just called Apple Store here in Toronto (Sherway Gardens) and they confirmed they have no date for the iPhone and have no idea who the carrier will be...I thought this was a "global" launch???
      • ArchieAndrews, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Right from the announcement day, we knew this was a USA only launch. Was this really a surprise for you that it is US only?
      • dbqp, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Yes, it was a surprise as I was obviously not aware this was a USA only launch. Geez. I don't get it, being dugg down for that comment about not available in Canada? Some fanboys need to get a grip and realize everyone doesn't drool over Apple products - this would be the first Apple product I have ever been interested in...Digg this one down as well, but it was just a point I was making in response to the initial comment from craftyshrew about being terrified what the rate plans would be in Canada.
      • xero9, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3No doubt it will be Rogers if/when it comes to Canada. Seeing as the iPhone is GSM it only leaves 2 options: Fido and Rogers. And I don't think the little mutt will step up to the plate on this one (even though they're the same company).
    • superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1But your phones are cheap, right? Perhaps there's a connection...
      • eleven, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Our phones are not cheaper than the US. We're actually pretty screwed all ways.
    • dhughes, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Bell: $25/month low end plan you pay $10/MB, high end $300/month you pay $1/MB
      Rogers: $5 to $10 for 5 to 10MB once over that and you pay $30/MB (or 3cents/KB as they put it...gee it sounds so cheap that way)
    • ElectroBot, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1So anyone want to bet that the rates for Canada will be

      $1000 CDN for the 450min plan / month
      $1030 CDN for the 900min plan / month
      $1060 CDN for the 1350min plan / month

      BTW the $59.99 USD plan should cost approximately $65CDN (exchange rate at www.xe.com) if the Canadian cell phone providers weren't r***ing us on the data plans (check the data plans for Bell.ca and rogerswireless.ca)
    • smithco, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1And there is the only reason I will not buy an iPhone any time soon.
  • kidtwist, on 10/11/2007, -11/+6It would be nice if they had something cheap with very few minutes. I need a cell phone occassionally, but not too often.
    • spazzcat, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8Then why would you want an iphone?
    • epilonious, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4smart-phones like the iPhone assume you will have the phone glued to your hip and/or ear and will otherwise be using it all the time to do nifty internet. If you are of the "cell phone occasionally" crowd you can get the free, featureless phone with the cheapest plan available, or even get something like Virgin Mobile no-contract that allows you to buy minutes as you need them.

      Unless of course you meant you want to play with the iPhone for internet yimmies and don't need a talk plan... and then I think you can get a cheap plan and do a $20 internet add-on.

      The pickle is that once you get a cellphone it's a temptation to use it a lot more and you end up with a $40 occasional text an internet 500 minutes a month plan anyways.
    • lougoose, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1If you don't make a lot of calls, you shouldn't get an iPhone. Get some cheap Pay-as-you-Go phone that gets the job done.
  • chris9902, on 10/11/2007, -17/+11so that's $1800 for a phone for 1 year.

    *****... that.
    • neuropsychguy, on 10/11/2007, -5/+6I have a suggestion then, don't buy it. We all have our likes. Some people don't think twice about spending that much on a phone/plan. I wouldn't think once because I can't afford it as a student. Most people would probably balk at spending $1500 on a bike whereas I wouldn't. A lot of people balk at a $1000 computer but I'm sure the average Digger doesn't. I could go on.
    • bradproctor, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Okay, realize that most people pay $50 or higher for most cell phone service already. If they are getting more of a phone with more features you expect to pay more to use those features. It is a phone....which means you have to pay to actually use it.... if it was just an iPod then your statement would make sense....
  • jcostom, on 10/11/2007, -24/+13Ok, so this announcement is a big snoozefest, IMHO.

    Why? Look at the existing AT&T plans. Lookup individual plans for 450, 900 and 1350 minutes. They cost $39.99, $59.99 and $79.99 respectively. Now, add to that Media Max 200 (unlimited data + 200 messages, be they sms, mms or im) and guess where you are? The magical iPlans. They throw in this "Visual Voicemail" thing on top. So, is this supposed to be earth shattering? You get a list of who left you vm, and can listen out of sequence. Anyone else care to join me in a rousing chorus of "Who cares??"

    I love the idea of the iPhone, I really do. I want substance though. I want a swappable battery (and yes, I've seen that rumor), I want HSDPA, I want > 8GB of storage, I want a better cam -- 2MP fixed focus is lame -- give us at least 3MP with autofocus! Do those things, I'm first in line to buy one.
    • 1jaxstate1, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Who said it would be earth shattering. I thought they would charge out the ass for their data, and they didn't. The plans are on par with other plans, and that's good news.

      P.S.
      You need to look into buying another phone if you want all those features. There are plenty out there that can do all those things. Nobody is forcing you to buy the iPhone.
    • SWiG, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Companies throwing anything in for free (unlimited data) usually doesn't happen.
      • KennMac, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1But it's not free. jcostom just spelled it out for you.
    • neuropsychguy, on 10/11/2007, -5/+2"I want substance though. I want a swappable battery (and yes, I've seen that rumor), I want HSDPA, I want > 8GB of storage, I want a better cam -- 2MP fixed focus is lame -- give us at least 3MP with autofocus!"

      I want, I want, I want. Someone is sounding a bit like a spoiled kid. Yeah, and I want a phone that can cure cancer and make me fly.
      • wageslaven, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4He's a comparative objective shopper. He's simply saying what the non-kool-aid crowd has been saying for some time; that the iphone has serious competition with better phones -- the iphone is a great "meh" moment in the history of cellphone-technology.

        Its not a child saying "I want", its an adult, saying to the reality-distorted children "this is reality: A, B, C"
      • jcostom, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2So, I'm unwilling to spend $600 on a phone that lacks a sizable list of not unreasonable features, and that's a "spoiled kid", eh? I suppose I should be grateful that the iPhone exists, and now queue the story about how you walked 28 miles to school, uphill, both ways, wrestling grizzly bears for your notebook?
    • neiltc13, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Assuming you get the 4GB iPhone (which you probably won't, since that's a pitiful amount of space for a video device), the minimum you'll be paying for the pleasure is:

      $499 + (24x59.99) + $36 = $1974.76 + Tax

      You could almost buy a MacBook Pro. Hmm.....
    • starseed420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1okay, time to burst your bubble ... the media max plans are for crippled access to the media net portal , and do not support PDA devices , the PDA plans start at 39.99 for unl .. and until only recently they added unl data w/ 1500 txt for 39.99 .. so it's a damn good deal .. $20 for an unlimited PDA data plan == $480 savings over the life of the contract .. not a bad deal
      • jcostom, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Hmm.. Better not tell that to my devices. I've got Media Max 200, and have yet to encounter an app that didn't work. Using it as a modem over Bluetooth works, no difficulty, no limits on what I can and can't do.
    • mchiu, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I agree with you on your "wants" for the most part. For the amount of money you are paying for an iPhone, and for all that it is hyped up to be, I would have expected HSDPA and expandable memory options. For the camera side of things, I have come to the conclusion that a cellphone camera is great for snapping up candid shots and taking pictures on-the-fly, but if you want a high-quality photos, you really should use a camera. Moreover, it just seems like such a waste of resources to have a small screen displaying a 3Mpixel photo that really should be meant for a larger screen.
  • prockcore, on 10/11/2007, -12/+5So you have to have a data plan? I'll stick with my $40 Alltel plan which gives me 500 minutes and unlimited mobile to mobile.

    If I ever did get an iPhone, I'd prefer to skip the crappy data plan and stick with wifi.
    • ghunt, on 10/11/2007, -4/+0You need to buy the data plan in order to use the wifi or any feature of the iphone.
    • JuliusErving, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I couldn't see owning a smart phone other than say the Q (since it's pretty cheap to begin with) without paying for a data plan. It just doesn't seem worth the several hundred dollars you're spending on the phone to only be able to use its full functionality when you can find a hotspot. And if you don't live in a major city, that's not going to be very often.
      • hightower77, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1It's funny they named it the Q. Since that's what Quality starts with and it certainly isn't a quality phone.
  • IgnatzMouse, on 10/11/2007, -5/+54Yeah! One additional benefit to the iPhone (that was an annoyance with other phones) -- We don't have to deal with the phone store bozos to set it up!
    • kiheimac, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3We wouldn't want the AT&T reps grimy fingers all over our iPhones during set up either. Problem solved.
    • BuckyDent, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Especially with 500 angered people behind you ***** off because you got and iphone and they didn't
  • bertram, on 10/11/2007, -8/+51heh - the activation movie shows the iPhone with 74.40GB capacity...so basically 80GB. Where can I buy that one!?
    • neuropsychguy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Where, I only see 7.27 GB in my movie?
      • ravi7791, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1It's near the end, after John syncs his iPhone.
    • neuropsychguy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Oops, my bad - it was farther in the movie.
    • Hoinah, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1no 74.40 Gb is basically 75
    • Ampidire, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1nowhere in my movie does it say 74.40GB. Think it got fixed?
  • JuliusErving, on 10/11/2007, -3/+22Wow, i have to say i'm pretty surprised. I was under the impression that the data plan would be separate from the phone plan, like any other cell phone carrier (including AT&T). Almost makes me reconsider switching from Verizon to AT&T, but $600 for a first gen iPhone probably isn't worth it (yes i know there's a $500 version too).
    • drgreenberg, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0The data plan really is just a separate plan. The "iPlans" are being listed as complete plans but you'll notice that they are simply the existing 450/900/1350 minute plans plus $20/30/40 (depending on SMS quantity) for the data plan. This is consistent with allowing existing customers to add the iPhone data plan for the same increments.
    • lougoose, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1So what is your point? If you really want them separate, go swtich to AT&T now, then get an iPhone to replacce the phone they give you for free. Apple just wanted setup to be really really easy, so they just bundled it all together. If there was dozens of options (like there usually is), people would get frustrated doing it bythemselves through iTunes, which Apple didn't want (although AT&T probably wouldn't have minded).
    • Ignignokt01, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1You're kidding right? I'm paying $40 a month for unlimited texting under verizon, why would you want to switch? You must be on a ***** plan or something
    • JuliusErving, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Uh, unlimited texting has nothing to do with unlimited data. An unlimited data plan (AKA unlimited internet access anywhere) along with cell phone service for $60 a month is much less expensive than what you'd be paying on verizon (cheapest comes out to $80/month).
  • FDFreak, on 10/11/2007, -17/+5Personally i knew that apple would screw us over on the price for service it was to be expected from "oh mighty apple". Eh it's also a personal opinion i know people who would gladly pay $100 a month for it .......because he's a bag of loser and he would make his parents pay for it. ROFL
  • Roger, on 10/11/2007, -21/+10$100/month. Think of all the starving Ethiopians that could feed.
    • ih8apple, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8but does feeding ethiopians automatically switch to landscape mode?
  • horizontaleight, on 10/11/2007, -4/+28Hopefully this will push Verizon to lower their outrageous data plan of $44 a month down to $20 so I can actually afford it.
  • mini_moose, on 10/11/2007, -3/+34i'm so relieved they're not gouging on the rates. especially for existing customers like myself
    • ilgaz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Unless you head to head compare iPhone with a phone like Nokia N95 , you aren't a "customer", you are a cult member.
    • xcrypt, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1what i want to know is if they will allow me to use my grandfathered unlimited data plan.
      for 20 dollars a month i get unlimited data, 1500 texts and 200 mms.
  • brokenspatula, on 10/11/2007, -11/+5And digg users though Microsoft was expensive
  • bpapa, on 10/11/2007, -16/+11Awesome deal, but they almost had to do this given the fact that it's on a ***** network.
    • Squidly, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7Got a lot of personal experience with that network, do you?

      I do, (2+ years) and it's not bad at all.
    • corsairstw, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4How is the at&t network bad?
    • mini_moose, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3at least it's not tmobile. i dropped them a year ago and couldn't be happier. at&t in my area isn't so bad. could you imagine the iphone on verizon? it would have all the apps on the main screen with little padlocks on it and you'd have to pay extra for each icon to launch. so far it looks like they worked out the best deal with at&t and even before getting any hands-on experience with it I'm happy with how things are going.
    • popfrogs, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I agree, I defected from Cingular 3 years ago and won't look back. I've heard alot of network problems are regional, but in a market like Dallas, you'd think they'd have their ***** together.

      Oh and pray to Jesus that you never have to deal with a rep on the phone or ask for a credit. They couldn't care less that you didn't have service for a week, or they overcharged you on a bill, etc. They forward all complaints to /dev/null.
    • lougoose, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1AT&T has great network...I get coverage almost everywhere. I have never used their Internet or Data plans, but they seem to be pretty good from playing around with my dad's Blackberry.
  • nswint, on 10/11/2007, -2/+19$20.00 extra for unlimited sms... check the activation video
    • spazzcat, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1That is what it cost now to get unlimited sms
    • kris33, on 10/11/2007, -0/+71500 for $10 should be more than enough for everybody.
    • popfrogs, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Still can't beat my T-Mobile sidekick plan. Unlimited data and 1500 minutes per month for less than $70 including all taxes and fees.
    • ilgaz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1No wonder they disabled expensive MMS! :)
  • sdub74, on 10/11/2007, -14/+8I'm beginning to hate the iPhone more and more each day. First they close down the stores for 90 minutes to prepare for the launch, then they have armed guards escort the deliveries to the airport, and now they're going to have special rate plans that include unlimited data on the AT&T network, while all of the other customers have to pay an additional $20 for unlimited data on top of AT&T's already overpriced voice plans. Stop being so full of yourselves Apple!
    • podwich, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Armed guards? What a joke.
    • awhiteflame, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1So? Don't use them.
      • sdub74, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I won't. But as a current customer it's ***** that if I need to pick up a charger for the weekend, I can't go between 4:30-6pm on Friday, or I have to pay more for my unlimited data. I know the data won't be as much on the 2G EDGE network the iPhone operates, but it would be nice to have cheaper unlimited data on my high speed 3G handset.
      • hightower77, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1OH MY CHRISTMAS!!!!! What a spare. You'd be up the same creek if Cingular/AT&T stores closed at 4pm. Besides, I think they generally sell phone chargers cheaper at other stores or the little kiosk at the mall. You're just finding ***** to bitch about just to bitch.
        • sdub74, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1My point is that it's ***** all AT&T stores are shutting down for the launch of the iPhone. They've never done this before for any other launch, so why start now? Because Apple is so full of themselves that they think the world needs to come to a halt for the launch of their latest overpriced/underfeatured device. Outside of Apple fanboys and people with too much money on their hands, nobody is going to buy an iPhone.
    • dopke, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Once a hater, always a hater. Even if they introduced the iPhone plans at the same voice rate as the current rates are right now and gave it unlimited data and SMS, you'd still be hatin', finding something to say about how... hell I don't know, their coverage sucks or something ridiculous.
    • slaguru, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I think the iPhone will be the device that will turn Apple into Microsoft for the geek public. Look now as the Apple Fan's (ME INCLUDED) rally to the support of a device no one has yet used. Wait until iPhone is the success that we know it will be. I will hate that day as it will be open season on Apple as it becomes the big bad company it will be fashionable to rag on.
  • xienze, on 10/11/2007, -5/+9These rates are downright decent. I have a Treo with 450 minutes and unlimited data for $70 after a significant corporate discount. To be fair, the data throughput is much, much higher (EVDO) on my phone. I think they're essentially giving you unlimited EDGE and visual voicemail for $20/month, which isn't bad at all.

    If they can keep the same $60/month rate when the iPhone has 3G capability, I'm all over it.
    • slaguru, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Without 3G the Phone bit of the Iphone has to be viewed as old technology. Well here in Europe anyway.
  • kwick, on 10/11/2007, -11/+16Those be some prices I can handle for crappy AT&T service.
    • hightower77, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3Wow...insert canned response here without explanation...
  • burstgoof, on 10/11/2007, -13/+3"Minimum new 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod;"

    Are they continuing the stand-alone iPod line?
    • burstgoof, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Thanks to everyone who took the time to Digg me down but not answer my damn question.... it was a valid question, or so I thought.
  • slaguru, on 10/11/2007, -17/+12So over 2 years that's $1938 for basic phone, basic package raised to $3455 for 2 years all the bells and whistles (8Gb, $99 Data/Phone, $20 VVmail)..
    WOW, I hope that does not equate to the same over here in the UK. That's a lot of cash for a phone and contract...
    • spazzcat, on 10/11/2007, -3/+5The plan will cost the same that I am paying now, so it will be $600 over two years....I don't see what the big deal is???
    • slaguru, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7No big deal for you, but for a new user it looks like a lot of cash. Most of the people on here are talking about trio's and BlackBerry's (business devices). The Iphone is not such a device so for a consumer phone I think this is a large outlay. Lets just see how many people trade BlackBerry, or Windows Mobile5, or 6 devices for an iPhone. I bet no corporations will be doing so.
      • spazzcat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1But if you don't have cell phone now your month to month cost is the same once you start adding sms and data...
    • macaddct1984, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Actually, if you really wanted all the bells and whistles they have a 219.99/month plan for 6000 minutes.

      $5,280 for two years, for the plan alone.
    • ilgaz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Hopefully there are sane people around Europe who doesn't lose their minds over Apple logo so Apple won't dare to announce such rip off prices. I heard they can't even sell SIM locked phones in Belgium already. Some countries has consumer rights :)
    • joshuaok, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I'm a corporate user, who will wait in line Friday to trade my iPAQ 6515 in for an iPhone with amplified feelings of good riddance. We are Mac users, and I've struggled from day one with the iPAQ to find a usable solution for syncing. I'm by no means a typical user, but there WILL be more like me.
    • lougoose, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Good job moron, did you fail math? The data plan is included with those prices...think about it! When I did the math, I got $2,376 (plus tax) for two years total. Plus $600 phone, so, not even $3,000. Good job dumbass.
  • ghunt, on 10/11/2007, -10/+4Much cheaper the Blackberry plan, and you get 200 text messages included
  • shadowspawn, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2does anyone else notice that the initial image in the AT&T "coverage map" doesn't reflect the actual coverage if you zoom in? For ***** and giggles I zoomed in and took a few screenshots, then put the slices together and resized it. Try it.

    http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/
    • aaaargh, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I noticed that as well. The Midwest looks like it has almost solid good coverage when the map is zoomed out far enough, but as you zoom in, a greater proportion of the map is consumed by coverage gaps or less-than-best coverage. It seems that as they zoom out, rather than averaging the quality within a given map pixel, they show the maximum quality within a given map pixel.

      I think coverage is being overlooked in many comments that compare this price against Verizon or T-Mobile; the services are not comparable. I would assume that in metro areas of a million people, all of the cell companies have decent coverage. Where I live in a Ann Arbor, Michigan, a Midwestern town of 120,000, and traveling to the countryside 20 minutes outside the city, Verizon provides far better coverage. Looking at AT&T's coverage map in Ann Arbor, it covers the dense campus and downtown areas, but weakens as you drive out to the newer commercial districts on the outskirts of town, or drive on the beltway freeways I-94 and US-23 around the city. They list coverage as "Good," not "Best," which doesn't sound so bad, but in my experience those Good areas can mean spotty voice coverage and no data coverage, even standing outside holding your phone above your head on a clear day.

      I'm sure there are areas where AT&T coverage is great and the others are poor, but comparing competing cell plans on price alone neglects that coverage quality is still a significant factor for most of the country, in geographic area if not population.
  • infobhan, on 10/11/2007, -4/+39These rate plans actually seem pretty reasonable. I'm surprised.
  • one0hseven, on 10/11/2007, -9/+69Why is everyone quoting the 2-year cost? Do any of you have cell phone plans currently

    I have had Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint and I had a "2-year cost" with all of them. Contracts are a part of the way cell phone companies ***** us over. Get used to it. When Verizon releases a new Blackberry does everyone quote "OMG, IT WILL BE $43,324 OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS"?
    • burstgoof, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6I didn't mind the 2 year cost.... I was curious why the service agreement is required to use the iPod functionality as well....
      • unmarked, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2if you want to just use the iPod functionality -- wait a few more months and get the next gen iPod. All the iPod features w/o the "2-year cost". Simple.
    • dopke, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Don't mind the 2 year cost also. But I'll just mention that I've still never had a 2 year contract in the last two times I've signed up for new contracts, all one years.
      • unmarked, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2The default is 2-years. All the discounts they should on phones are for 2-year deals. While I agree that these 2-year contracts screw overt the user, it's a problem with the entire wireless business. I also object to the automatic extension if I make any changes whatsoever.

        But are these issues related to the iPhone? No. They are issues related to every cell phone.
    • slaguru, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Most domestic phone contracts are not over 2years. If your on a 2 year contract I will bet its for a business / pro-sumer user..
  • dvddesign, on 10/11/2007, -16/+13So, there's no mention anywhere of people being able to dump their contracts early for a new phone. I guess I was smart to buy a new phone 2 days before Macworld in January. I completely avoided having to shell out $600 to be a beta tester for the iPhone.

    So, if ATT keeps my contract and holds me to it, I should be able to score a 2nd/3rd gen iPhone.
    • DCstewieG, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I don't think they have any problem letting you dump a contract for a higher priced one. If you're already paying more, you may be out of luck.
    • rolf, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2Early termination fee: $175

      http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/06/22/att_to_impose_175_early_iphone_cancelation_fee.html
    • starseed420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2at&t is going to offer early upgrades .. so you will be able to buy an iphone and renew your agreement ... which is good news for PDA owners , since they'll be able to sell there phones to help offset the cost , not to mention the $20 / month savings on the data plan .. that's $240 / year .. For the certain market that uses pda's with this data plan .. seems like almost free iphone to me .. hmmm
    • milkmage, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3did you RTFA? - here's a hint - click on the tab for EXISTING USERS (aka - you)
    • camknig, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8@ dvddesign

      I love how you think you out-smarted AT&T by signing a contract in January and thus limiting your ability to get an iphone at launch. You showed them.
  • Heavy, on 10/11/2007, -10/+15Can i sync whit Exchange?
    • ckohler, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4Exchange servers offer an IMAP option. As long as it is activated, yes, I believe so.
    • slaguru, on 10/11/2007, -2/+11You will not get full push email. POP3 is enabled, but the OWA client that windows Mobile 5 or 6 uses for Push will not be on the iPhone. Also most exchange servers do not serve outside of a firewall in a corporation so IMAP capability will be hidden behind that, so you will need to VPN into your network.
      Short answer is No, not really.
    • ilgaz, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Outlook type sync or plain mail sync? Plain mail is possible if you convince your Admin to enable IMAP.
    • orelses, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Exchange Webmail yo!
    • lougoose, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Depending on the company, they may limit it to Blackberry. I know that is speicifcally what Blackberry was made to do, and to do it very very securely. So banks, etc. will probably not allow it.
  • damnyooneek, on 10/11/2007, -0/+21the iphone plans are a really good deal. I'm with verizon right now and i pay $50 for 500 minutes + $44 for unlimited data + $10 for 500 text.
    • spidoman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The data plan is fantastic, so fantastic that I actually want to get an iphone. Except then I remember that phones are used for communication and Verizon still has the best in network plans. Unlimited in Messaging is a must for me.
      • mojojojo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1then just use the numerous chat clients built to run via safari. they're probably better than what's on the iphone anyway. they work with other phones AND your ichat/aim/yahoo friends. much better i think.
  • greenrider, on 10/11/2007, -7/+33Note the fine print on the apple site: "Minimum new 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod; plans are subject to AT&T credit approval."

    In other words, you can't use it as a widescreen ipod without first getting a two year plan.