Comments on: True cost of the iPhone – CenterNetworks does the math! http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone Web 2 and Social Media News and Reviews Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:50:56 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Dogg http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-1#comment-39303 Dogg Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:01:55 +0000 #comment-39303 This was a fun read! I love reading the apple fanboi comments here. A buddy of mine is a fanboi too... he paid $600 to cancel his current contract, $200+tax for an iphone 3g s and $100/month on a 3 year contract. He insists his investment is $200 + tax. My math says he is hooked into paying just over $4400 for his iphone. WHY????????????? This was a fun read! I love reading the apple fanboi comments here. A buddy of mine is a fanboi too… he paid $600 to cancel his current contract, $200+tax for an iphone 3g s and $100/month on a 3 year contract.

He insists his investment is $200 + tax.

My math says he is hooked into paying just over $4400 for his iphone. WHY?????????????

]]> By: eat your words? http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-1#comment-35852 eat your words? Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:36:40 +0000 #comment-35852 so 2 years larer are you ready to eat your words? sure lookslike the iphone made it and is doing great! so 2 years larer are you ready to eat your words? sure lookslike the iphone made it and is doing great!

]]> By: Joe http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11750 Joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11750 Reality. Hah! I was doing that math Tuesday afternoon and already have the money budgeted. It's not actually that bad when you consider I will be getting rid of an existing cell phone, and will be paying for the iPhone out of my tech budget. I do think Cingular is going to either offer a special iPhone all-inclusive plan, or drop the price of the iPhone. The last thing in the world they want is to be the company that killed the iPhone. Reality. Hah! I was doing that math Tuesday afternoon and already have the money budgeted. It’s not actually that bad when you consider I will be getting rid of an existing cell phone, and will be paying for the iPhone out of my tech budget. I do think Cingular is going to either offer a special iPhone all-inclusive plan, or drop the price of the iPhone. The last thing in the world they want is to be the company that killed the iPhone.

]]> By: Glen Raphael http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11751 Glen Raphael Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11751 The cheapest iPhone is $499, not $599. The cheapest plan Cingular offers is $39, and their cheapest data plan is $9.99. People for whom cost is an issue will pick some of these options. Your math boils down to "people who can't afford a cellphone will find it hard to afford this one - especially if they buy the most expensive model." The cheapest iPhone is $499, not $599.
The cheapest plan Cingular offers is $39, and their cheapest data plan is $9.99. People for whom cost is an issue will pick some of these options.

Your math boils down to “people who can’t afford a cellphone will find it hard to afford this one – especially if they buy the most expensive model.”

]]> By: willfe http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11754 willfe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11754 So people are going to drop $500 on this phone but then hobble it with a 450 minute monthly plan and a data plan that will *eat them alive* on usage fees if they try to actually *use* the phone's data features? That $9.99 data plan doesn't hand out a lot of data in a month -- it's trivial to blow past that limit on a device like this. So people are going to drop $500 on this phone but then hobble it with a 450 minute monthly plan and a data plan that will *eat them alive* on usage fees if they try to actually *use* the phone’s data features? That $9.99 data plan doesn’t hand out a lot of data in a month — it’s trivial to blow past that limit on a device like this.

]]> By: polysage http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11755 polysage Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11755 It's wifi, so you could restrict yourself to only using the data features when you're in a hotspot. Its cellular data capability is slow; Edge. 2.5G. 128Kbps on a good day. So that will be frustrating in any case. Also: wtf? No 3rd party software? That kills it for me right there. Jobs is just too controlling. Woz had to fight him to get expansion slots in the original Apple and ][, and now that Woz isn't around, Jobs can do what he loves best: controlling everything closing the box. It’s wifi, so you could restrict yourself to only using the data features when you’re in a hotspot.

Its cellular data capability is slow; Edge. 2.5G. 128Kbps on a good day. So that will be frustrating in any case.

Also: wtf? No 3rd party software? That kills it for me right there.

Jobs is just too controlling. Woz had to fight him to get expansion slots in the original Apple and ][, and now that Woz isn’t around, Jobs can do what he loves best: controlling everything closing the box.

]]> By: centernetworks http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11756 centernetworks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11756 <p>Glen yea, and people who buy a MB car go for the base model. Yea :)</p><p>The 9.99 data plan will be worthless and the $39 might work but I doubt it. </p> Glen yea, and people who buy a MB car go for the base model. Yea :)

The 9.99 data plan will be worthless and the $39 might work but I doubt it.

]]> By: Dennis Eusebio http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11757 Dennis Eusebio Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11757 Isn't the cingular deal only for a year or two? As in, maybe after a year or two after this comes out, could we possibly see this phone an different carriers? Isn’t the cingular deal only for a year or two? As in, maybe after a year or two after this comes out, could we possibly see this phone an different carriers?

]]> By: centernetworks http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11758 centernetworks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11758 <p>Yes Dennis it appears to be for 2 years... by then we will have 100 of these devices with other letters first :)</p><p>ephone</p><p>mphone</p><p>zphone</p><p>123phone</p><p>etc</p><p> </p> Yes Dennis it appears to be for 2 years… by then we will have 100 of these devices with other letters first :)

ephone

mphone

zphone

123phone

etc

 

]]> By: David H Dennis http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11763 David H Dennis Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11763 I'm a very light cellphone user, but love being able to browse web pages and check my email on the go when I'm not near a computer or don't feel like taking my laptop out of my bag. So I'm a realistic customer for this device - I'll get a lot out of it - even though I rarely make phone calls and don't send or receive text messages that much either. (I really don't like phones, preferring email). As a result, a viable plan for me would be like this: * $39.95/month basic plan. * $19.95/month unlimited data * $4.95/month basic texting This amounts to about $65/month. This is about the same as T-Mobile charges for the Sidekick II under similar conditions, and I think the data service I have for the Sidekick is considerably slower than EDGE. D I’m a very light cellphone user, but love being able to browse web pages and check my email on the go when I’m not near a computer or don’t feel like taking my laptop out of my bag.

So I’m a realistic customer for this device – I’ll get a lot out of it – even though I rarely make phone calls and don’t send or receive text messages that much either. (I really don’t like phones, preferring email).

As a result, a viable plan for me would be like this:

* $39.95/month basic plan.
* $19.95/month unlimited data
* $4.95/month basic texting

This amounts to about $65/month. This is about the same as T-Mobile charges for the Sidekick II under similar conditions, and I think the data service I have for the Sidekick is considerably slower than EDGE.

D

]]> By: one1time http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11765 one1time Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11765 Wow you did some math!!?!? Amazing!!! New phones are ALWAYS pricey give it up. When the Nokia 8801 first came out unlocked no plans connected to it, the price was about $800-$900. No one made a spaz about that phone. What about the Moto Razr when it came out. Around the same price as the iPhone. Get off your soapbox calculator and stop bashing the phone. So the AVG American can't afford it... and your point is??????? The average American coudn't afford those other phones either. Also Cingular does have other plans. Don't post this garbage without really thinking first. Wow you did some math!!?!? Amazing!!! New phones are ALWAYS pricey give it up. When the Nokia 8801 first came out unlocked no plans connected to it, the price was about $800-$900. No one made a spaz about that phone. What about the Moto Razr when it came out. Around the same price as the iPhone. Get off your soapbox calculator and stop bashing the phone. So the AVG American can’t afford it… and your point is??????? The average American coudn’t afford those other phones either. Also Cingular does have other plans. Don’t post this garbage without really thinking first.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11766 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11766 as a member of the under-18 crowd, my parents pay my phone bill. however, I'm going to have to buy the iphone with my own money - get a job, etc. I'm not a super sweet 16-er, and that's how I'm going to afford it... as a member of the under-18 crowd, my parents pay my phone bill. however, I’m going to have to buy the iphone with my own money – get a job, etc. I’m not a super sweet 16-er, and that’s how I’m going to afford it…

]]> By: centernetworks http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11767 centernetworks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11767 <p>good point anon... i know i worked for everything i had when i was a teenager - i was talking more about the ability to get a contract - looks like you have that worked out - pretty cool!</p> good point anon… i know i worked for everything i had when i was a teenager – i was talking more about the ability to get a contract – looks like you have that worked out – pretty cool!

]]> By: Rhett http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11768 Rhett Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11768 Besides the fact that $1200 dollars of that would be spent no matter what phone you bought... I currently have Cingular and I can tell you that the MediaMax 200 Bundle is $20/mo for UNLIMITED data and 200 text messages. I use the $60/mo voice plan which includes 900 anytime minutes free mobile-mobile calls (within Cingular customers) and unlimited nights/weekends. You are also forgetting about rollover minutes! I could have actually gone with a cheaper plan because I only average about 700 minutes a month of actual anytime usage. Everything else gets "rolled over" to the next month. Currently I have 621 overtime minutes! This was what pissed me off on my past carriers (Sprint and Verizon) I literally had several monthly phone bills in the $500-$600 range because of overages! The other thing you got wrong is "taxes and fees". Figure about 30-40% for this! My bill is only $79 before taxes and fees but it is ALWAYS $108+ after those! SUCKS BIG-TIME!!! Also, it will NOT cost more for a current Cingular customer! This completely depends on what kind of deal you made on your CURRENT phone. Comparing the above comment about the Blackjack does NOT count. OBVIOUSLY that customer is already in a contract which offered him a discount on his current phone and the Blackjack is VERY seriously discounted with a contract. You have to pay off your current contract before you can expect to get spifs on a new one. They aren't stupid, you're paying for the phone one way or another. I don't know why everyone is acting like this is the most expensive phone to ever come out. There are hundreds of phones in this price range or higher, and many aren't nearly as nice! You seem to forget that because most American carriers only carry the crappy last generation phones. I bought my phone unlocked from a phone retailer and it cost $400 at a discount shop. From the Sony store it would have been almost $600 and it's not anywhere near as nice as the iPhone! Besides the fact that $1200 dollars of that would be spent no matter what phone you bought…

I currently have Cingular and I can tell you that the MediaMax 200 Bundle is $20/mo for UNLIMITED data and 200 text messages. I use the $60/mo voice plan which includes 900 anytime minutes free mobile-mobile calls (within Cingular customers) and unlimited nights/weekends.
You are also forgetting about rollover minutes! I could have actually gone with a cheaper plan because I only average about 700 minutes a month of actual anytime usage. Everything else gets “rolled over” to the next month. Currently I have 621 overtime minutes! This was what pissed me off on my past carriers (Sprint and Verizon) I literally had several monthly phone bills in the $500-$600 range because of overages!

The other thing you got wrong is “taxes and fees”. Figure about 30-40% for this! My bill is only $79 before taxes and fees but it is ALWAYS $108+ after those! SUCKS BIG-TIME!!!

Also, it will NOT cost more for a current Cingular customer! This completely depends on what kind of deal you made on your CURRENT phone. Comparing the above comment about the Blackjack does NOT count. OBVIOUSLY that customer is already in a contract which offered him a discount on his current phone and the Blackjack is VERY seriously discounted with a contract. You have to pay off your current contract before you can expect to get spifs on a new one. They aren’t stupid, you’re paying for the phone one way or another.

I don’t know why everyone is acting like this is the most expensive phone to ever come out. There are hundreds of phones in this price range or higher, and many aren’t nearly as nice! You seem to forget that because most American carriers only carry the crappy last generation phones. I bought my phone unlocked from a phone retailer and it cost $400 at a discount shop. From the Sony store it would have been almost $600 and it’s not anywhere near as nice as the iPhone!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/true-cost-of-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11769 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11769 Sorry brother.... I went into Cingular and inquired about the iPhone... I was told that the iPhone has a special data plan for $49.95 (in addition to voice and text plans).... and that none of the other data plans which do start @ 39.95 will be offered for the iPhone. Sorry brother…. I went into Cingular and inquired about the iPhone… I was told that the iPhone has a special data plan for $49.95 (in addition to voice and text plans)…. and that none of the other data plans which do start @ 39.95 will be offered for the iPhone.

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