Rumor: Speculation on Data Plan
Buzz June 24th, 2007Update 6/27/2007: Official voice & data plans have been revealed
Applegazette has some possible details regarding the iPhone data plan today, which seem to jive with AT&T’s published rates.
From the article:
- PDA Personal 20 Mb for $34.95 a month
- Personal Max w/ 1500 Messages for $44.95 a month
- PDA Personal Max with 1500 Messages w/UNLIMITED M2M Messaging for $49.95 a month
- Data Connect (Unlimited) for $79.95 a month
- Data Connect (Unlimited) w/ Wi-Fi for $99.95 a month
I don’t think I’m alone in thinking those rates are utterly absurd, and if there’s an “Apple Tax” associated with the iPhone, you can expect even higher rates. There’s probably a reason that no AT&T reps have gone on record with pricing yet, if this is the case.
The part that really has us concerned is the “Unlimited with Wi-Fi” option. Keeping an integral feature of the phone locked unless you buy a $100 a month plan (which probably doesn’t include voice) would just add insult to injury. We think that this will include access via AT&T WiFi hotspots, not be a barrier to using WiFi, but our experiences with AT&T Wireless in the past leave us uneasy at the possibility.
As a long-time Mac and Apple user, I’m quite used to accessories being marked up 200% (or higher) at retail because they’re in the “Mac section” of the store, with the same product across the store at MSRP, hence the term “Apple Tax”. Let’s hope that AT&T doesn’t try and carry on this fine tradition, because other phones on their network have an unlimited data plan over EDGE for $20.
Again, take with a grain of salt until official details are confirmed, but it’s looking like there’s a quite good reason nobody’s been talking about the data plan rates.
4 Responses to “Rumor: Speculation on Data Plan”
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June 24th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Just in case it wasn’t 100% clear, the math works out to $2897.80 for the 4 gig and $2997.80 for the 8 gig, before tax, without a voice plan if you factor in a 2-year contract at the true “unlimited” rate referenced in the article.
June 25th, 2007 at 10:51 am
That’s just ridiculous.
June 25th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Keep in mind that they also have a “smart phone” plan with unlimited data for $20.
AT&T website’s about to cave under the load today. Here’s hoping they release details soon.
If Jobs had his way, he’d suggest AT&T release an uber low flat rate plan for the iPhone to build the buzz to a head prior to launch, I’m sure, but I fear that Ma Bell is thinking of getting greedy what with all the hype.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Looks like the pricing fears were unfounded, and honestly I think the data/voice bundles are totally reasonable compared to everything else out there.
Hell, the wife and I can add unlimited data to our existing family talk for $20. Through iTunes. No sales drone, no upsell. For me, that’s almost as much of a killer app as the phone itself.