Apple, Walmart to do $99 4GB iPhone?
By Paul Miller 
posted December 4th 2008 9:22AM
posted December 4th 2008 9:22AM
[Via Mac Rumors]
posted December 4th 2008 9:22AM
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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.
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.