iPhone Data Plan to be Announced June 29th?

With June 29th fast approaching, we at TUAW want to alert you, our very important readers and iPhone obsessives, to any and all information, tips or potential issues about the new device, I bring you this latest news from USA Today. In the article, Larry Carter, senior VP of sales for AT&T, points out steps taken by his company to, among other things, beef up its retail operations to handle the extra crowds coming in to buy an iPhone by hiring 2000 extra people, improve its network quality, and make sure iPhone works "seamlessly" with the company's wireless network by doing a great deal of "interface testing" in bars, subway stops, office buildings, rural areas, and elsewhere.

Those all sound like positive steps, don't they? Unfortunately, there are also some negatives. According to Carter, not all AT&T retail stores are equal and those in areas with large numbers of iPod users — such as New York City, Chicago and much of California — will get a much larger number of iPhones at launch than stores in other areas. So, if you don't live in a big city like NYC, San Francisco or LA, expect to wait a few days (or longer) before you can pick up an iPhone. In addition, Carter mentions that the iPhone "may offer cool features such as unlimited Web browsing." However, people should expect to pay for this feature.

"Regardless of which device you're using today, you pay us a certain amount for (voice) minutes, and you also pay us for data units," said Carter. "That is also true on the iPhone." Finally, Carter admitted that although they do have data plans coming for the iPhone, the actual specifics won't be announced until the day the device is released. Just when I thought they were starting to get it by taking those positive steps, then this happens. How can you have a device like the iPhone knowing the huge potential market for it and then not announce what, exactly, it will do until the day it comes out? Maybe its just me, but does this bother anyone else?

[Update] Apparently, now AT&T are denying they won't announce until the 29th, at least according to iLounge. Sure would be nice to get the straight story someday. Maybe before June 29th? Of course, by then it'll be too late.

[via AppleInsider]