AT&T announces iPhone 3G pricing plans
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted July 1st 2008 9:44AM
posted July 1st 2008 9:44AM
Notes:
- iPhone 3G will be available for $199 (8GB) and $299 (16GB) for iPhone customers who purchased an iPhone prior to 7/11, customers activating a new line with AT&T and current AT&T customers who are eligible for an upgrade
- Existing AT&T customers who are not currently eligible for an upgrade discount can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model. Both options require a new two-year service agreement.
Individual plans:
| Price | Voice | Data | Night and weekend | Additional minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $69.99 | 450 |
Unlimited |
5000 |
$0.45 |
| $89.99 | 900 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0.40 |
| $109.99 | 1350 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0.35 |
| $129.99 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | N/A |
| Price | Voice | Data | Night and weekend | Additional minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $129.99 | 700 |
Unlimited |
Unlimited | $0.45 |
| $149.99 | 1400 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0.40 |
| $169.99 | 2100 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0.35 |
| $209.99 | 3000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0.25 |
| $259.99 | 4000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0.20 |
| $259.99 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | N/A |
| $359.99 | 6000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $0.20 |
Text messaging plans are as follows (for individuals):
| Price | Text messages |
|---|---|
| $20 | Unlimited |
| $15 | 1500 |
| $5 | 200 |
| Price | Text messages |
|---|---|
| $30 | Unlimited |
| $0.20 (per message) |
Pay per use (no plan selected) |
Ummm... shouldn't it be $199 (8GB) or $299 (16GB) for new and eligible users?
I'm with him, and all the comments below. Are you guys sure those prices aren't off by $100?
Yeah, this seems like a pretty effing big surprise. Apple's site still says 199/299 but no elaboration in a quick glance..
Hmm... refreshed the page and now the pricing's fixed.
Nice ninja edit there, Josh.
In b4 Apple tools
Too bad a tool still got in before anyone else...
OMFG!!! That's fing expensive!! and $20 for unlimited texting, are you kidding?!?! Don't forget you have to pay uber tax/month on all these fees too.
I'm sticking with T-Mobile. I'll buy the 3G iPhone on eBay, use iPwn to crack it and enjoy a lower monthly bill.
AT&T is raping customers
LOL Look at those prices! I'll be on the $30 Sero Plan with my Treo 800w :)
@Reid and Supercoolblahblahcan'ttype: No, idiots. No.
As soon as I read this, I knew people were going to be up in arms about the $299/399 price - regardless of the fact that Seismographs the world over felt the aftershock of Appleheads geeking out over the Steve-certified $199/299 price deal.
I wasn't disappointed.
Fucking POS iPhone. There is ZERO reason to have these data plans only on just the iFuck. You go with the base voice service and unlimited data its something like 80-90 a month. Fuck you ATT and fuck you Apple.
John Doe,
You are wrong. The Data plan for other smart phones is also $30 a month, making the minimum plan for other smart phones $39.99 + $30.00=$69.99= same as iphone. Go be outraged somewhere else.
Tell 'em Dan.
The $69.99 covers their current #39.99 voice plan, add in $30 for data (which includes unlimited texting), and it's a decent rate.
The charts on Engadget aren't as clear as AT&T's website. Those text-only rates are just for those who are buying unsubsidized phones.
@xtole
WTF dude, T-Mobile is $15 for unlimited texting, you go that nuts over $5 more for the same thing? Raping?
Wow. These prices are insanely high. Even if you are eligible for the 199/299 prices, you are going to be paying unbelievable amounts per month. The old iPhone is/was $20/month for unlimited data and 200 texts, and this one is $35/month for the same thing. That's $360 difference over two years. At every price level, AT&T has raised the prices (for 1500 texts, you are paying an additional $5 than what it was before).... and thats just data and texts
Now the voice... its even insanely expensive for the family plan. Why should each minute on the iPhone be more expensive than any other phone? Their family plans are signicantly more expensive for the iPhone + instead of the regular $10 per additional line, its a whopping $40/month... Seriously AT&T? You're gonna screw us over THAT bad? Seriously?
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/family-cell-phone-plans.jsp?_requestid=39089
People are going to be buying this phone thinking its such a great deal, but they are going to be kicking themselves at the end of the month, every month. AT&T is squeezing every penny out of this that they can get. It'd probably be a good time to invest...
Holy crap, what kind of "unlimited plan" doesnt include text messages? Sprint may not be the best carrier but atleast you can get an EVERYTHING "everything plan" for under a hundred bucks with real GPS. Though i guess if you got together with three of your "friends" you could get the monthly plan and share it for about 75 bucks...asuming you have three friends.
remember that the old iphone was edge only. It costs AT&T more for faster data transmissions, plus, like was said earlier, all the other PDA have the $30 plan anyways. And don't forget, AT&T is STILL the only company that let's you keep unused minutes.
@Dan.Ploch
Other companies have 3G service.... same price.
I'll bet I can sell you toast for a higher price than plain bread.
I'm currently with Sprint and even without Sero I get:
450 anytime minutes
Unlimited nights and weekends (starting at 7pm)
Unlimited data
Unlimited text messaging
All for the _exact_ same price as this from AT&T:
450 anytime minutes
5000 weekend / night minutes
unlimited data.
That's crazy! I thought Sprint was supposed to be one of the more expensive carriers.
@Tim: Where do you see on AT&Ts site that unlimited txting is included? You say it's clear but I can't see anything indicating that it's anything other than $5 a month for what used to be free.
Hey Danny P. you must not understand that the concept of unlimited everything inclueds minutes....and the fact that you get it every month regaurdless of what you did the previous month, making the term "rollover" useful only in regaurds for your dog.
They could have at least had the video and audio in sync on the creepy tour video!
Wait... so are the text messages an additional fee (i.e. an additional $20 on top of a voice/data plan)?
I dont have an iPhone right now, but i recently signed up with at&t (not eligible for upgrade).
2 Questions:
1. What if i buy a used iPhone, activate it under my name and then go for buying an iPhone 3G. Will i still be eligible for the $199 price?
2. What if a friend buys a new line for himself, then wants to just transfer the iPhone 3G device to my name. Will they just activate it or do i need to pay any fees? In other words, if i walk in to the at&t store with an iPhone 3G already in hand, will they just activate it for my number?
Thanks.
I am a current At&t customer. Can I assume that I will simply keep my plan as it is currently configured? X amount of minutes for Y and $30 unlimited data plan, plus $5 for 200 texts.
It cost more to run 3G compared to the EDGE plan? I swear I'm getting raped by the current EDGE plan paying $20 a month when almost 99% of my internet usage has been on the Wifi network inside my house or at a local coffee shop. What am I paying for on EDGE exactly? For $30, I should get unlimited data AND unlimited texting.
Stupid at&t tax.
I distinctly remember the last time I checked that although FAN accounts (for corporations) do help, since AT&T jacks up data usage pricing for corporate users all it basically lets you do is break even (with a comparative individual plan). ATT Premier used to be sweet when they basically had the "unlimited upgrading" on handsets (as long as you just renewed for 2 more years from the date of getting a new phone).
Honestly, I hope people don't buy a lot of these (especially initially) because it will make ATT and Apple rethink their pricing on this mediocre device. The fact that the introductory truly "unlimited plan" starts at $90 and doesn't even include text messaging is ridiculous.
The text messaging part of this may be the largest scam of it all, since ATT charges $15 for 1500 messages of ALL TYPES (including MMS) for all other phones, and has a "corporate only" texting plan (I think it's called B2B texting) which gives 1500 (text only, no MMS) messages for $10 a month. If you get this phone and sign up for this plan, you are truly getting scammed.
All I can say is that one would hope, in an economy that is definitely uncertain...
(especially if Obama is elected - people can argue with me as much as they want but socializing medicine will put health insurance companies even further down the toilet, if not into bankruptcy. That mixed with a Countrywide housing bailout, $300 billion farm bill, and an increase in unemployment and welfare benefits will lead to a massive devaluation of the US Dollar)
...that people are more prudent about what they blow their money on. This might seem like a rant but when the average US consumer savings rate is NEGATIVE, I don't see why so many people should be flocking over this phone.
@Dave,
IRU accounts are not forced into the $45 business data plan. You can still get the $30 data plan, with your discount knocked off of that.
What happened to the previously stated:
"Customer has had a standard calling plan plus data services costing $99 a month or more, and who has been in contract (and not upgraded) in the last 12 months. A customer with a calling plan and data services of less than $69 who is 21 to 23 months into contract may upgrade for a fee and a commitment of an additional two-year service contract extension. No upgrade fee is assessed for any customers who are on a month-to-month agreement."
Does this still hold true?
I thought it was supposed to be $199 and $299 for new customers?
Who the heck is Dave Q? Why is my name Dave Q? I'm posting from my computer with my email and password.
I think your comment is a couple down.
Whoops haha. Sorry Dave, you and I posted almost exactly the same comments and when I hit submit I saw you're but mine didn't show up yet. Screwed me up for a minute.
No... the $299 is for the 16GB. It has been understood for several weeks that AT&T was taking $200 off the price.
It is. and WTF is the point of paying $359.99 for 6000 minutes on a family plan when you can pay $259.99 on a family plan with unlimited evverything?(except text messages)
@engadgetier
Note the cost of additional lines. If you're buying at least 1+2 lines on the family plan:
259.99/mo + 2x129.99 = 519.97
359.99/mo + 2x39.99 = 439.97
So if among 3-4 people you need more than 4000 minutes (but not more than 6000) then the 359.99 rate is cheaper. It doesn't help for only two lines, but then in that case you should just get two individual lines anyway, instead of a family plan.
No, any Family Plan pricing for every cell carrier states "includes 2 lines". It is 259.99 for 2 iphones at unlimited pricing, which is exactly the same cost as getting two separate iphones at 129.99 unlimited. How anyone could possibly think people would pay an extra 130 a month to have their phone lines billed onto the same account is beyond me.
If you wanted 3 iphones sharing 6000 minutes, then it's 359+39 = 399, or 3 unlimited lines for 389. Unless you're starting some sort of mennonite iPhone clan it is still a pretty strange pricing structure
FYI
Unlimited family plans allow for shared family messaging unlimited plans so if you have a few people who need tons of minutes it's a good idea.
Addtionally, at&t iPhone add-a-lines for 39.99 include the unlimited internet, wifi, visual voicemail package not just the voice plan.
And finnally, it's redictulous to compare at&t pricing to that of T-Mobile. Do you want a phone that is cheap or do you want a phone with reception?
Family plan: $129.99/month
1st iPhone: $199
2nd, 3rd and 4th iPhones: $39.99 * 3
Termination fee: $175 each line * 4
Total: $1148.96, so each iPhone would be $287.24
If I'm right with all the figures, wouldn't that be cheaper way to get the new 3G iPhone without contracts? Of course, you'd need to get three other people to do it. What do you guys think?
dt, the $39.99 is the monthly service cost per additional iPhone line. You still have to pay the full price for the phones.
What happened to no higher than $199?
Do you not pay attention? Did you really think the 16GB would be the same price as the 8GB iPhone? Did you think the unsubsidized price would be the same price as the subsidized version?
This has been known for the past month. The only knew information here is the exact pricing of the retail cost of the handset, $599 and $699.
PS: Those who are not eligible for the upgrade price may want to look into the cancelation fee. I think a lot of them are $175 which means you save $24 by canceling your current AT&T account first, instead of paying the $200 premium.
Bender - you're right on the obnoxious upgrade fees. It's always cheaper to just cancel - you'll save $43 to $98 dollars.
The maximum termination fee is $175, and it goes down $5 every month... so, if you've just missed the 7/11 deadline, you can pay $120 to cancel (after 11 months) instead of the $218 fee.
No commit pricing of $599 and $699 that makes almost any WinMobile phone bought without a contract seem like a hell of a bargin.
I've owned a winmo phone before and there's no way I'd put "a hell of a bargin" into any sentence that contained "winmo"
But is shows how much the phone is being subsidized. $600 is comparable to a full featured WinMo phone.
@BeniRose
Funny, I could say the same for Apple and "a hell of a bargin" in the same sentence. That is unless OSX86 is also in the same sentence.
No point to draw out iPhone versus WinMo (versus Android, etc) bashing. The sooner we increase demand for cellular data services (by increasing competition among iPhone/WinMo/Android/etc devices regardless of individual preference), the sooner all North American carriers will be forced to break out of the subsidy model.
As it is now, if everybody only wants one device, then it becomes a big monopoly by one OEM (Apple) and one carrier (AT&T) with no significant competition to drive down the price. If you want to see cheaper data plans and more devices that don't come with contract restrictions, it's actually in your interest to support all smartphone devices.
@ kal326:
where are these exaggerated phone prices at? all i see is 399$ 8gb [same as now] and 499$ for the 16gb [same as now]. how is this shocking or even mentionable. the pricing for these phones [unsubsidized] is no different than a comparable WinMo phone. Did this article change or can these people just not read.
8gb iPhone for 999$ and 16gb for only 300$ more!!!! 32gb soon for the same price as a macbook pro!!!!
bullshit people. the pricing isn't far from where it should be. will be in a few months when the 32gb model comes out...
@jacob:
Let me see... I can get an HTC Vogue, which is a full-featured touchscreen WinMo 6.1 device that is going for around $250 brand new on eBay without any contracts. This device has copy-paste, EVDO Rev.A, GPS, A2DP Bluetooth, 2MP Camera a very active hacker/developer community and the works. I can also activate the same device on Sprint with the ever-famous $30 plan and get unlimited text, data, and 450 anytime minutes all inclusive.
HTC sucks. As a developer in MS tech, winmo also sucks. You couldn't pay me to switch back to using that clunky piece of sh*t, copy/paste and all.
All this said, I hate Apple fanboys. Its just an effing device, no matter how well it's put together. Get over it and yourselves.