USD 199... SURE!

Question

Level 4

1,557 points

USD 199... SURE!

Well,

This is not a technical problem. It's just to let other people know...

Mr. Jobs said during the iPhone 3G release that it would cost US$ 199.00 in the US and that prices worldwide would be something similar... well...

iPhone 3G was officially released in Brazil yesterday. 2 major carrier will sell it. Price???

Minimum - USD 499.00 (attached to a US$ 325.00/month service plan that IS NOT UNLIMITED)
Average price - USD 899.00 (several service plan options - most of them LOUSY PLANS, NONE UNLIMITED and some with the ridiculous amount of 200 minutes for phone calls, 50 SMS and 100MB of data)
Maximum price (pay as you go) - USD 1,443.88

WOW

That's pretty close to 199.00, Mr. Jobs. :S

JP

MacBook White Core2 Duo 2.16GHZ 2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.2), Apple Care, iPhone 8GB, iPod Mini 4GB.

Posted on Sep 27, 2008 3:43 AM

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Answer 1

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Sep 27, 2008 4:10 AM in response to JP Ellery

He did not say that it would be $199 everywhere. The $199 price all depends on how much the carrier is willing to subsidize the price of the phone. In the US, if you are not eligible for an upgrade, the iPhone costs $399/$499. Blame your cell phone carrier for the prices, not Apple. Also, Apple has nothing to do with the service plans. That's completely at the discretion of the cell company.

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Answer 2

JP Ellery Author

Level 4

1,557 points

Sep 27, 2008 4:24 AM in response to Tamara

Well...

I'm not sure if you read that right. I didn't post he said it would BE 199, but he did say it would be something similar. And actually... 499 is similar to 199 only regarding the 99 ending.

Second, I didn't say Apple has anything to do with the service plan... I'm talking about the iPhone price... about the device.

Third, as I first stated, that's just a piece of information for those who want to know how iPhone is doing worldwide.

Cheers.

JP

Adding: By the way, I don't even blame Apple about our prices in Brazil. They're mostly related to our sweet and smooth 60% import taxes we have here. I just don't understand why Steve said such a thing in his Keynote when he does know he can't chance countries' import policies.

Lots of people anxiously waited for the 3G arrival hoping it'd accomplish Jobs's promise. I didn't... I've owned my 2G iPhone for almost 6 months now and it'll take a loooooooot of time till I move up. 😉

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Answer 3

gilesjuk

Level 2

195 points

Sep 27, 2008 4:31 AM in response to JP Ellery

iPhone 1 wasn't subsidised by the operator. You bought your phone from Apple and the contract from O2

iPhone 3G is subsidised by the operator. You phone operator buys the iPhone from Apple, you buy your phone and contract from your operator.

Pricing is determined by the operator.

This is why the iPhone 3G cost me £99 not £349 (contract free option).

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Answer 4

Sep 27, 2008 4:35 AM in response to JP Ellery

Well don't buy one then.

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