Even when I was in the mountains of Colorado, I found time to watch Steve Job’s new keynote speech announcing the latest updates to the iPhone software and the phone itself, the long-awaited iPhone 3G. Everyone knew it was coming for the past few months, and most people (including myself) were looking forward to it.
But seriously, Apple – if you’re going to jack up the fees for monthly rates to AT&T from $60 a month to $70 a month, then at least have the decency to tell your customers on your website. It’s glaringly obvious to anyone who saw the old Apple Store option for the iPhone; the entire box with the monthly subscription fees has vanished. Now, I understand that technically Apple is only a manufacturer and they are not the controllers of AT&T’s prices. But Jobs knew that his partner would be upping their rates, and he says nothing?
The cost of the iPhone plus the old smallest minimum monthly fee (approx) for the 24-month contract: $399 + ($60 x 24) = $1839
Cost of the new iPhone and the new rate: $199 + ($70 x 24) = $1879
It’s not the comparably small increase, it’s that they’re blatantly hiding that it was made. Bad form, Apple. But I suppose you’re no stranger to removing information from your website.
Tripe…
3G service costs S10.00 more for all phones. Not just the iPhone.
You want fast 3G but don’t want to pay for it! Think if it this way, Apple is subsidizing your 3G network cost. Plus you get GPS. Is that not a good deal?
When is it bad form to ask people to pay for the increase in service they are demanding? Did these people expect to get an increase in service from EDGE to 3G HSDPA for free?
AT&T will be spending hundreds of billions of dollars to upgrades their ISP service. Are you under the delusion that this be at no cost to their customers?
Who exactly promised you that pony?
I repeat, it’s not the increase in cost, it’s that Apple is hiding it from its consumers. I know the previous Apple Store page for the iPhone, and they always had the page for the rates from AT&T. I’m just disappointed and upset that Apple isn’t more up front with the consumers about what their new phone is going to cost them in the long haul, regardless of the physical hardware price decrease.
I repeat, the cost came down by $200. Talk to ATT about the change in the 3G coverage. Pricing on the carrier side is no longer controlled by Apple. They lost that when they allowed for subsidies. It is sad really, in that the iPhone may become just another giveaway phone. The quest for market share will be the doom of Apple.