Loyalty rewards

There is no obligation on anyone's part to "keep up". That is a personal choice, not a requirement. Apple's upgrade schedule for all hardware is pretty well known now and has been for some time. Apple has released a new iPhone model every 12 months since the original iPhone was released. In the cell phone business, the cell phone carrier is the one that provides a discount on a selected cell phone with a two year contract required for the discount they provide. The more you spend on a monthly basis with the cell phone carrier, the quicker you qualify for upgrade or subsidized pricing with a new phone - at least with AT&T. Some AT&T subscribers qualify for upgrade or subsidized pricing with a new phone every 12 months which can coincide when a new iPhone is released or shortly thereafter. Most other subscribers qualify for upgrade or subsidized pricing with a new phone every 18 months or so. If someone that qualifies for upgrade or subsidized pricing with a new phone every 18 months must "keep up" and have the new iPhone model when released which is not required, they will pay more for it. It is expensive to "keep up".

Ask the same question about EVERY computer manufacturer and cell phone manufacturer. No other computer manufacturer or cell phone manufacturer does this so why would anyone think Apple would or should be any different in this regard?

Microsoft has Something for Military people, if Active Duty they have certain Software like Office for $9.00...Att offers Military Discount and waived Fees...go to Apple and ask for Military discount they say no...These Companies also offer incentives if you buy certain software you get discounts on others, if your grandfather with ATT certain Cell phones can be waived free...

Message was edited by: 0Jojo0

Message was edited by: 0Jojo0

I can tell you who doesn't - not Motorola, not HTC, not Samsung, not Nokia, not RIM, not Palm/HP....

Cell phones are subsidized via the carriers and very few are sold unsubsidized from Apple. The "loyalty discounts" occur when you upgrade significantly earlier than the expiration of the contract and get the full subsidized discount.

Hardware, and I believe the only hardware Microslop manufactures is the XBox, the Zune, and whatever the cell phone was that they released one month and they pulled off the market the following month. Two out of three were failures and I doubt Microslop offers a loyalty reward when purchasing a new Zune model whenever that was or is released for those interested in that failure.

*Name another computer or cell phone manufacturer that does this - just one.*

Yes i guess that is true but Apple has its tricks to like only adding features on newer Hardware and not the old...like no extra text tone on the 3GS on iOS 4.2.1 and no 4.2.1 support for the Original but they have it for the 3G were the hardware is clearly not all that different...

Yup they dont require you to "Keep Up" but they certainly stop supporting older hardware just enough reason for you to upgrade even if you dont have to...

The original iPhone was released 4 years ago this summer. I venture to say if a survey was conducted for all cell phone owners with or without a subsidized phone, the overwhelming majority purchase a new phone every two years or less on average. When a new cell phone model or a new computer model is released, you can bet the farm a new phone and computer model is already in the works when the latest and greatest is released - with any viable and successful company. Microsoft is always late to the game since it takes them a while to copy other's work.

Yup they dont require you to "Keep Up" but they certainly stop supporting older hardware just enough reason for you to upgrade even if you dont have to...

The same applies to EVERY cell phone manufacturer - most cell phones can't be updated at all, but the self entitled habitual whiners of the world think Apple should be different in this regard for some reason.

Back to the OP's question - name another computer or cell phone manufacturer that does this - just one.

"and no 4.2.1 support for the Original but they have it for the 3G were the hardware is clearly not all that different..."

but didn't 4.2.x perform so horrible on 3g so people was asking how to downgrade ?

funny thing is my 1g ipod touch can use the ibook app not really an app that require that much power 🙂

Message was edited by: Rudegar

Correct.

Hindsight is always 20-20, but Apple probably would have been better off not supporting iOS4 with the 3G, but the same people complaining about Apple "forcing" them to upgrade to a new iPhone model would have been claiming the same and then some in regards to the 3G had Apple not supported iOS4 with the 3G. It is impossible to make some folks happy regardless what is done or not done.

What does this have to do with the thread topic?

Are you actually trying to say that Apple (or any other manufacturer) is obligated to provide indefinite OS upgrades for their obsolete hardware? Name one that does.

The question is in regard to "loyalty rewards" - Apple providing a discount to those that choose to purchase a new iPhone model when released, or that choose to purchase a new Mac computer when released. I guess the definition of loyalty can be argued, but to me there is a difference between loyalty and having an uncontrollable compulsion that requires them to purchase the latest and greatest model when released.

This is not apply to the question either, but Apple does provide a free iPod Touch with a new Mac purchase during late summer before school starts that anyone purchasing a new Mac during the time gets, and Apple provides educational discounts to students and teachers.

Loyalty Award? We are yalking about Apple here right?!

Name another computer or cell phone manufacturer that does this - just one.

How can you compare software updates and discounts with hardware sales??? Ridiculous.

Well i guess they are tge same...but at least MS give support to the Military...i got my Xbox 20% with 2 years Xbox live off and my MS Office for $9...something Apple can never give me

Yup that os correct...but thats the same with MS that is why i didnt mention it...but Apple lacks military support...at least all the Appls stores i asked