Look, we know you've been holding out for the iPhone to hit Walmart before you pick it up, sandwiched between the fishing gear and row upon row of exercise videos -- and we don't blame you. You'll ride your shopping cart down the wide aisles like a chariot, and when you get home with the phone you'll dial up all your friends and let them know how much cheaper your iPhone was than theirs. What was that? Yeah, the new word on the street is that Walmart is getting a 4GB iPhone 3G for a mere $99, according to
Boy Genius Report, and while
BGR was previously reporting a November 15th launch date at Walmart, and can't vouch for the accuracy of this new report, Walmart training materials (pictured above) have been seen in the wild, so there's a grain of truth to this madness somewhere. Plus, a $99 iPhone just sounds so Walmart-ey, doesn't it?
[Via
Mac Rumors]
posted Dec 4th 2008 9:22AM
That puts it in the range for me to drop VZW after so many years.
Don't, AT&T's service sucks balls, there's still too many problems with coverage. I just canceled my iPhone to get a G1 and have never made a better decision. I can actually use my phone in my own house now without having to go outside. I think you'll join me in canceling within 12 months of dealing with hell. The phone itself is kinda nice, but the service just ruins it. Either way you go, good luck :)
Hmm, that is strange, AT&T's service has been working great for me. Just got back from a week of traveling too...
Here's an amazing revelation: coverage/service depends on where you are. Locally, ATT coverage is the best of all the carriers.
@Hunter
It all depends where you live. T-Mobile is the worst service in my area no contest. I wont say AT&T is the best but it works well enough for me to enjoy my iPhone.
I'm not a huge apple fan but Ive played with a lot of the new phones (Dare, Instinct, G1, Touch, Touch Pro, Delve) and I can say so far none of the above compare to the iPhone yet. I really cant wait till iPhone looses its thrown but as it stands its still the best.
I left T-Mobile 3 years ago because ATT had 3g in Houston, and T-Mobile wasnt even talking about 3g yet. I had sprint before T, and CS sucked. CS with T-Mobile was ok, but i never factored that into my decision when choosing a carrier. ATT has dropped the ball so many times with my account. I wouldnt mind going back to T since they have the 3g, but its "proprietary" 1700mhz 3g band has nary a selection of decent smartphones. Never had verizon, but ive seen enough evidence to never dip my foot in that pool.
In the end, all CS from every American carrier basically sucks.
If walmart gets this $99 iphone, they will bring it to the masses that thought they could not afford it before. The market will be saturated with iphones. This could invoke innovation from other manufacturers (and hopefully microsoft http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20081126\ACQDJON200811260859DOWJONESDJONLINE000594.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=UPDATE:%20Rumors%20Of%20A%20Microsoft%20Cell%20Phone%20Swirl%20Again ) and i fully welcome it. Think Differently!
BTW: If you have issues getting ahold of a "human" when calling customer service for almost ANY company, not just carriers, check the link.
http://www.gethuman.com/
Example: Belkin Tech Support @ 800‑223‑5546 At prompt press 2263; press 1 at each prompt thereafter.
Hunter - That comment is stupid. Because you have bad service, that means everyone else does? Moron. I've had AT&T for the past 6 years, and I love it. I live in Chicago, and I have perfect 3G speeds all the time. Great reception, great speed, good customer service. My girlfriend has TMobile, and while the rates are good, their phones suck and I've had better service with AT&T. The iPhone doesn't have the best reception out of all phones - that could also be your problem. At Thanksgiving dinner at a relative's house, I had between 0-1 bars, while someone next to me had some flip AT&T phone, with 3-4 bars.
Honestly, needing to switch from VZN to AT&T was a major reason I delayed in getting the iPhone. I made the leap when the 3G was released and braced myself for the worst. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. I have had almost no problems at all, and it's actually been better than my experience with VZN! To say that everyone (or even most people) will have bad experiences with AT&T is extreme naval-gazing. Get out of your hole and realize that you may not represent the norm.
number of bars varies by manufacturer. there is no standard. the important thing is, can you make a call, and can you get data at a decent speed?
Hunter just thinks everybody lives in his bubble where his little tmobile 3g map is supreme.
If you read Sean's comment aloud dramatically it's so very awesome.
I don't want to be trampled to death. :)
The G1 isn't ready for primetime. I love Google, and the G1 (check the name), but I miss my iPod Touch.... my next phone will be an iPhone.
Don't not for the damn iPhone, AT&T is the worst. I had it and used it all over California and nothing compares esp. at home when it comes to Verizon it works great and in alot more places than ATT and plus its a hell of a lot more reliable I don't get call failed every call anymore.
i have no problem with at&t service - you should firest get the iphone and see how your service is - much morelikely to be fine - the iphone is the best phone out their hands down - it is predicted to overtake the cell phone market in a few years like ipod took over mp3 market
I would love to get a iphone or touch. my kids really want to play dizzy bee. this will put it in my reach. and att has worked well for my family for over 5 years.
Merry Christmas
H
@Sean
Hasn't ATT been down in Chicago like all day?
Although cheap the only way I'd buy this is if it had expandable memory.
Actually this would be okay on PAYG. The 8GB is a little too expensive off contract.
IPhones go up to 16Gb. I've found that to be plenty. Never been left wanting for space, or that SD card I forgotto bring with me.
Are you kidding? WalMart is just taking over the goddamn world. The sad thing is that people are actually going to go for the 4GB one, half of them just because their brainwashed to buy anything WalMart tells them to.
@Hunter
Replace Walmart with Apple.
I don't know why Wal-Mart is derided so much.
Wal-Mart makes so much available to the masses that otherwise wouldn't have access to or couldn't afford it.
Wal-Mart's electronics offerings are challenging Best Buy, Circuit City, and other major electronics retailers. It's called competition and it's great for the consumer.
In the end, if you don't like Wal-Mart, just don't go to it.
I have to agree with kjb. Why would anyone get mad at a company for selling things at discount prices? I mean I loathe every moment I have to go to Wal-mart, however, I still go because I'm on a strict budget. As a gadget geek on a budget I welcome any retailer that's willing to cut me a deal. Even if it's only an imaginary one!
Either way, unless you own stock in a big box retailer, you have no reason to hate Wal-Mart. Unless you don't like long lines and 100's of fat sweaty people fingering your veggies, in which case you're completely justified!
Do a little research on Wal Mart, their underhanded business practices, and look at just how many jobs have been outsourced due to them, how many independently owned businesses were killed, and what they ultimately end up doing to a community. There are many documentaries out there, but the best I've seen was on FrontLine,
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/
check it out sometime & you will be shocked. People don't hate them because they offer bargains, they hate them for what they are doing / have done to the U.S.
Those 'bargains' come at a price.
Wal Mart sucks...
I don't work for corporate Walmart, and I agree Walmart has used some practices that have shut down local shops. But don't you think all those local shops would have done the same thing if they were in Walmart's shoes? Competition is competition. People put Walmart down because their companies can't compete with them. Cry me a river. Walmart also started off small, and they built themselves up to the point that they are at today. Its a success story, and it makes me sick that people put them down for being successful. It's called jealousy.
Also, on the living wage and job issue, you are a socialist if you complain about that. Walmart pays them above the minimum wage by law, that is all they have to do. Local shops probably pay just minimum wage, but you don't hear people complaining about them. Walmart is not evil, they are a corporation. They care more about money than their employees. People call that harsh, but guess what, they wouldn't be around if it way any other way and then millions of people would lose their jobs.
Very good points Brett. If WalMart had a union it would effect the pockets of everyone that shops at WalMart.
Do a little research on Wal Mart, their [dynamic and novel business practices], and look at just how many jobs have been [created] due to them, how many [poorly run] businesses were killed, and what they ultimately end up doing to a community [in other parts of the world].
People don't [like] them because they offer bargains, they [like] them for what they are doing / have done to [developing countries].
Those 'bargains' come at a price.
Wal Mart [rules]...
You [fail] at emphasis.
Without contract I hope? (Wishful thinking)
You kidding? An unlocked 8 GB officially costs around 700$-800$, so really wishful thinking..
Nope: "there will be a 4GB model priced at $99 with a 2-year agreement" (from BGR)
I was wondering the same thing, sounded too good to be true.
Hey, it was 'madness' and it wasn't clear for me. Although further examination of the picture shows the at&t logo...
If this happens, together with a pay as you go payment model, the iphone would come perilously close to becoming as common as ipods...
or the dreaded RAZR. Good thing that model worked out well for Motorola. What's that? It didn't work out? Oops.
Really, it didnt work out?
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-05/22/xin_3405042208088512768263.jpg
Vineet, are you joking? I am pretty sure the RAZR is the top selling cell phone of all time? If not the top, it's up there.
Not sure what you're on about either, Vineet... Razr only just got overtaken (by the iphone) as the best selling handset in the US.
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/11/10/iphone-3g-overtakes-the-razr-as-best-selling-domestic-handset/
And that's WITHOUT a $99 iphone on the market...
How about a $99 4GB Touch instead?
Exactly!
It's what my son wants for Xmas ("and nothing else!" he said:)!
Although, there is the danger of a repeat of the Black Friday Rampage(s) over this. :@\
And how exactly would the $99 Touch be subsidized? The only way they can do it with the iPhone is because AT&T is subsidizing the cost on the promise of a 2-year contract for each phone. The Touch has nothing like that to make it that inexpensive, so there's no way it can happen.
@Jason....
You can get 4GB MP3 players for $50....so I'm offering $100 for the touch tech. Seems a reasonable offer on my part.
@Kspraydad
And how much for the WiFi? And the Email and Web browser.
How much for the large screen that isn't on $50 MP3 players.
I could go on, but I'm sure most will get the point
First: 4 gig ipod touch doesn't need subsidized, but I bet it'd cost about $70-$80 to make.
Where would Apple get money back? Oh, I duno. Something tells me the almost 10,000 apps and iTunes store would HELP the price drop. Trust me, Apple is pretty well off right now. They could possibly even give Touches away and make money back on them. They wouldn't, but the way I've bought apps and games, I think Apple's made plenty of money back on my subsidized 8 gig iPhone.
Sadly, not gonna happen anytime soon. 4G 4GB iPod Nanos (the ones that don't technically exist) sell for $139.
I'm pretty sure I saw smiley mcgee slash the price to $98.87.
Hah, yeah, I came here to say $99 doesn't sound like a walmart price, $98.26 sounds like a walmart price. Still won't shop there though.
I work for Sam's Club and our reps should be coming in the next week or so for training. We're getting the iPhone December 28th, not sure about a $99 model though.
Wha? Dec 28th? After the Holidays? I thought the whole point would be to get it out before Christmas rolls around. Or would that just be Sams? As I can see how they might get it after Wal*Mart.
I was about to say "Do you want to get fired?" for sharing information like that that seems like it would be hush hush, but then again, working there, it's possible you do.
I call "lie" on this one, because I was a manager at the Sam's Cell phone Kiosk awhile ago. They're owned by Radioshack, not Sam's.
I call total BS on this one. Sam's doesn't own the cell phone sector.
Our kiosk is intact owned by Sam's Club. I do not intend to be fired, they pay pretty good. The first shipment will arrive on the 19th, and all stores will be getting a demo model with an activated sim. But I do assure you that only Sams Club owned kiosks are getting it. We can't confirm the 4gb rumor yet.
$99...that is pretty cheap. but no touch?
Are you stoned?
$100 for 4gb more? or $200 for 14gb more? That doesn't seem right to me. What's the cost of the iPhone's memory?
Only the highest, pure grade memory is used in the iPhone, aged to perfection in the Cupertino valleys imported from Japan...
I wonder if iEye works on a street corner somewhere handing out fliers and saying "think different" while wearing an iPod classic suit.
If not, he should consider this as a career alternative...
Well, that's just lovely. Now, having bought your $99 iPhone, all one has to do in Canada is add, say, the 2 GB/month data plan from Rogers at $2700 (over the course of a three year Plan) to make the device even marginally viable.
Such a deal!
He's really not kidding - I ended up just getting a prepaid LG Rumor and forwarding my email to text messages with Gmail, a 4GB MicroSD, and commited to never using the web browser.Committing to at least $2500 = not my thing
RIP iPhone, we hardly knew ye...
Taking your life in your hands. You'll get squashed.
the manual looks like a Photoshop job. And the font doesn't make sense, for the "Activation.." part. FAKE!
This may be fake or not. Either way, it's a hell of a great business move.
lower iPhone price alone cannot get more customers, it has to be data plan price cut as well
What they need to do is go back to the old way of selling it... WALK IN WITH A HANDFULL OF STOLEN CASH!!! no questions asked,
the Apple iPhone gimme the doh and go sales model!
You're completely right. Apple would sell soooo much more iPhones if you could buy it for $99, and you didn't HAVE to have a data plan attached. Of course if they do that, then there goes their profit margin.
I
A glorious touch-screen web browser phone with NO data plan?
Why?
"A glorious touch-screen web browser phone with NO data plan?"
Because data plans are a rip-off. I want the other features, but I don't need to be surfing the net on this gadget.
> "Because data plans are a rip-off. I want the other features, but I don't need to be surfing the net on this gadget."
So you want an iPhone to be a regular cell phone, to send just text messages and listen to music? Yeah, I guess that would work. Although many would disagree and say that the web browser is THE killer app on the iPhone.
I, for one, am gladly paying for 3G...even though I have wifi at home, school, work....friends houses....everywhere except when I'm driving. 30 dollars a month for pandora, simplify media or orb streaming music from my hard drive.
Okay, I think AT&T should either cut the price of data, or not require the plan. Wifi would cover most needs for most consumers.
All we need now is for someone to unlock the 3G version. Any news on that front?
Just use the *SIM ~$7-$10 until a software unlock is available...
It is not such a rush this time around since somewhere you have to sign a contract for it...
Why do people have such rancour/fanatical emotions toward phone companies? It's a freaking phone, why does it matter if one is better than the other at the moment? Buy what you like and shut the hell up, its just annoying.
As long as you don't have to renew your contract to get this phone, Walmart has my money. I'm in for 4 @ $99 if it ever happens.
I don't see this making much difference in sales because the majority of people aren't buying due to the monthly cost of the plan, not the initial price of the phone. The could give the phone away for free but many still couldn't afford $80 a month for the plan.
yep you have to paid $82 per month that's included the tax, that's $984 a year, who has money like that when shopping at walmart.
well, considering that the name Wal-mart is synonymous with skanky and cheap I might just save my pennies and get a crackberrie instead
What's with all the posts at the original articles location? ( http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/12/04/apple-to-sell-a-99-4gb-iphone-at-walmart/ )
A lot of people seem to be upset a lower capacity model is being offered at a lower price.
It seems that they want to be the only people with IPhones or want the lower capacity version to look different so people KNOW which one you have.
Seriously, the economy hurts right now, why be so harsh on people trying to get their cake and eat it too via getting a decent smart phone at a decent price?
It's cool until walmart sell's it. Image of somebody talking to iPhone, cheap beer in the other hand wearing cowboy boot's and mullet must be THE nightmare of current iPhone owners.
Beer? At Wal-Mart? Wow, you must live in a real state. Here in the Weimar Commonwealth of PA, we must go to a government kiosk to buy alcohol, or a special beer-only store to buy a case of beer. Or, if you want a six-pack, you can go to a bar or store that sells six-packs, but you cannot buy a six-pack in a beer-only store.
Say, guess which political party runs the grand ole state of PA? Just from reading the above. Betcha can't guess!
Probably would be win-win for Apple and ATT. Then again, they'd be dealing with wal-mart, who is notoriously one of the more difficult and demanding retailers to deal with.
I'm also not so sure if this is real, the picture of the black & white iPhone is slightly crooked, and the 'wal-mart' logo doesn't line up evenly with the ATT logo.
And regarding service, I have to say that the iPhone is a significant improvement over my old KRZR; I actually get some service at my house (where I previously got absolutely none) and the quality of calls is higher and more consistent.
Give me a wal-marty price on the mandatory data plan reaming and I might take them up on it. Like if they throw in 200 text messages instead of charging $5 that would be a deal.
"Rank me up boys!"
Owned.
I actually heard how these *can* be sold for so little - with everyone still making a hefty profit. If you've seen the Simpsons lately, you'll remember Steve Mobs saying how each one only costs $8 to make - and he apparently pees on each one.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/01/the-simpsons-mocks-m-apple/
Well this will surely increase the amount of workers trampled at Walmart...
Madness? This is Wal-mart!
I was thinking of maybe picking up an iPhone when my VW contract expires. If this is true, I'm definately going for it.
What kind of Volkswagen did you lease? I had a Jetta TDI once, and really enjoyed it.
At that price I bet suckers will be lining up to pay AT&T the $2400 they charge for the service! BTW - check the latest Consume Reports on cell phone providers. AT&T consistently lands in the last or second to last position for every city they individually rated in regards to connectivity, static, dropped calls, etc. I wish Apple would open up and start allowing other providers to cell the iPhone. For the /exact/ same service T-Mobile charges $31 -less- a month. That's $744 less for the /exact/ same service for the life of the contractual agreements. >.< You'd figure that if AT&T was going to charge that much more they'd at least invest it in making their network bad ass instead of just handing it out to execs. *sigh*
Don't do it, Apple. One of the appeals of getting an iPhone is it's hip factor. As soon as the Hill Billy's at Walmart start buying the iPhones, that appeal will be gone.
Funny. I paid $400 for my iPhone the day of the price drop last year. Despite spending more than $299 or $199 or $99 or whatever they might reduce it to, I was happy with the product I got for the price I paid. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have bought it in the first place.
Other people getting the same phone (okay, a 3G but with less space) for much less money than I paid in no way reduces my enjoyment of the phone. The things it did well before, it will still do well. The minor annoyances will still be there too.
The only real impact it'll make is to drive competition, drive lower prices in other smartphones, and increase the addressable market for developers which will increase the number of apps being developed.
Somehow I fail to see how any of this hurts me, the consumer.
I never thought that Jobs would let his most prized innovation be sold at Walmart, a store he despises.
This is beyond Jobx's expectations. The vanguard of black turtle necked Jobxists have established the preminacy of iPhone-ism and now the great unwashed proletariate can be brought into the fold. It will be a perfect iParadise. With mandated iPhones and heavy data plans for all. For those who resist... well we shall crush them with the weight of the iState.
The transformation from razor-ocracy to perfect harmonious iPhone-ism is nearly complete!
If they can do a 4 gig iphone for $99, why not just design a 1 gig model with expandable memory? I'm sure the carriers can offer that for 50 bucks if not lesser...
honestly, with much of the data people want (stream and the like) 4GB is not bad. I have 8GB on my Nokia N95 (of course it's a better phone).. but I use hardly any of it... (typically only for the higher (than iPhone) quality video and pictures) and the rest, movies, music, documents, pictures, etc.... I stream. Oh yes, the N95 can strem video (real time) not pre-recorded download(able) streams only. ;)
But... I've wanted to play more with the iPhone and assuming I can snatch it up without the stupid contract, I'd by it at that price. Replace my N95, NO!.. play with more, yes. :)
I'll take a 1GB iPhone with an expansion slot for $25. How about that, do we have a deal?
Holy crap phones are expensive in America. Over here you can get the 8GB iPhone on £45 a month for free with 1200 minutes and 500 texts, and some people consider that a rip off. I guess we get ripped off for everything else though, so it works out fair.
Yes, yes they are. Everything in America is pretty effed right now, this old mentality of how things "should" work is our downfall.
if this works well and a bunch of people buy it because its so cheap, will this take a toll on AT&t bandwith because of the heavy usage?
walmart customers cannot afford data plans
it's going to take a lot more than a $99 iphone for me to cancel my sprint sero plan