Discounted iPhone data plans, pre-paid options on the way?
Mon May 18, 2009 2:31PM EDT
See Comments (5)
Buzz about AT&T offering cheaper data plans for the iPhone is on the rise, with BusinessWeek chiming in with the possibility of a "limited data access" plan for a $10 discount. Another possibility: a pre-paid iPhone, at last.
What might "limited access" entail? The BusinessWeek story doesn't go into specifics, but I'd imagine it would involve a relatively strict bandwidth cap -- say, 250MB a month, with charges for each extra MB. (I'm just pulling that 250MB figure out of the air, by the way.)
Some other possibilities, according to the BusinessWeek story: An iPhone price cut to just $99 for the cheapest model, or even a (long overdue) pre-paid iPhone through AT&T.
BusinessWeek also repeats the same basic rumor that we've been hearing for months: that a new iPhone will be announced as early as next month, and that a cheaper iPhone might be on tap in either June or July. No additional word on the "media pad" rumor, by the way.)
No comment from AT&T or Apple, of course (which have yet to confirm that there even is a new iPhone coming), but still, interesting speculation. Indeed, one of the biggest complaints I hear about the iPhone is about the $30 monthly data plan for the 3G model-although to be fair, that's about what you'd pay for any 3G smartphone data plan, not just the iPhone's.
So, what do you think: Any iPhone fence-sitters out there who might be swayed by cheaper iPhone service plans, even with limited data access? And what about a pre-paid iPhone (which, since I'm sure it would be subsidized, would probably cost far more than $199)?
Related:
Cheaper iPhone Plans from AT&T? [BusinessWeek]
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2 Posted by redsox.adam on Mon May 18, 2009 9:40PM EDT Report Abuse
apple GET PERPAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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3 Posted by magpagbst on Tue May 19, 2009 12:53AM EDT Report Abuse
. . . well . . . verizon involvement would be quite nice . . . but i am most excited about the media pad rumors . . .
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4 Posted by cadffda on Tue May 19, 2009 4:17PM EDT Report Abuse
The sole reason I am holding off getting a new phone is the cost of iPhone/data packages. I am just not going to spend an additional $30 per month.
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5 Posted by teenamarie12345 on Wed May 20, 2009 6:00PM EDT Report Abuse
You get what you pay for. The iPhone data plans are comparable with other smartphone plans from other providers. The main difference is in the branding. Lots of smartphones also have the mp3 capability-but none interface with iTunes, which is the largest seller of online music. Plus, the iPhone is COOL. Verizon and other ocmpanies aren't in on it yet because the exclusive licensing to AT and T hasn't expired-that happens later this year, so unless Apple and AT and T renew their exclusivity agreement-which isnt likely, as the market is ripe for benefitting from the universal iPhone availability-we should all be able to get relatively inexpensive iPhones by Jan 10.
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1 Posted by billyswiper on Mon May 18, 2009 5:45PM EDT Report Abuse
BRING ME PREPAID!! LOL