Comments on: Buy an iPhone? No thanks, I'm going Nokia

One former iPhone user comes to an AT&T store on iPhone launch day to downgrade to a traditional cell phone, in an effort to cut his phone bill.

[ewelch]

I have to agree, this writer not only did not do her homework, it's obvious she decided what the conclusion to her research was before she started researching it! Because it certainly is not reflecting how the sales of iPhone 3GSs is going.

You find one guy who downgrades, and it becomes a commentary on the dearth of iPhone 3G S sales, and the overall market of smart phones taking a hit from an economy which is worsening (when in fact it is getting slightly better these days).

D-

[genmgr]

The lack of lines probably doesn't indicate a lack of desire for the phone so much as it shows how much better the pre-order process was this time. I know 8 people off the top of my head that stood in line last time, but ordered online via AT&T or Apple this time. My Fedex driver knocked on my door at 9AM, which is a huge improvement over getting in line at 7AM.

[Geoff_W]

Why not ask him if he would have gone with Nokia if his iPhone had not been stolen?

[Mergatroid Mania]

Why not ask him if he would considered any brand of phone other than Nokia. The answer would most likely be "yes".

[ngcomputing]

Actually, Nokia makes great phones that syncs with OS/X (and lets you browse the phone). I bought the 1st generation iPhone and sold it about 2 months later and opted for a Nokia. About 2 months ago, however, a client bought a new iPhone and gave me his old 3G/8gb. It is great for my business because I have all my gadgets like calculator, voice recorder, imap mail, camera etc, in a handy little package. One way I found of making a bit of money to offset the extra $25-$30/mo is by taking photos with the iPhone and instantly mailing them to a local online newspaper --- where they pay me per photo.

Personally, I plan to hold off on the 3Gs until I see a price break. The $199 price tag isn't bad, however, getting locked into another 2 year contract when the FCC is currently looking into exclusive handset deals might not be a great idea.

Wow! I thought these people had crawled back under their prospective rocks last summer!
This women probably still has a VCR with the 12:00 flashing...
Data phones come with a data plan... get over it!
If you don't have the money or don't use the internet, then buy a crappy phone and join a Crappy Phone User Group so you can whine to each other about those terrible iPhones/Blackberries etc...
Bleating on about the long term price of these plans is ludicrous... If you can't afford it, don't sign a contract.

[Mergatroid Mania]

I have a data phone, and I don't pay $30 more per month even if I don't use that feature. Maybe you should look into how much you are getting ripped off instead of just accepting the ripoff as a good deal. Sounds to me like it's not just your phone that's programmed.

[SteveW928]

Or you can get an iPod Touch.... but the point is that the PLAN is too expensive. I suppose I could afford it... but I have much better things to do with that much money. A cell phone should cost $20-30 per month max. Anything more than that is a rip-off. Just because I can afford it, doesn't mean I like getting taken advantage of.

[Mergatroid Mania]

I have a nice HTC smartphone running Windows Mobile. I love the phone and have no problems with it. However, I made the guy selling it take a barrage of questions before I bought it. I found out exactly how much my first payment would be, and every monthly payment thereafter. I have internet access, but I didn't buy it for that.

I bought a smart phone because I wanted a PDA with a camera and phone. I use it to view and edit MS Excel spreadsheets and Word files on the go, and take pictures of items to send to manufacturers. It's exactly what I needed. However, it's nice to have the internet access in case I ever do need it. Lucky for me, I didn't sign a stupid contract that makes me pay $30 a month even if I don't use the internet that month. I pay a total of $60 a month including taxes, and I get a nominal amount of texting and internet free (more than I need), 500 free daytime minutes per month (more than I'll ever use) and free calls after 8:00pm. So, basicly everything is free and I just pay the monthly fee.

People have to nail down the costs before they choose what phone to buy. The Iphone is a fine phone, but that manditory $30 extra per month sounds a little excessive. If you don't need the internet, then buy a phone that has the capability but doesn't add extra money just for accessing the internet even if you don't use it.
Of course, I selected a 3 year contract to get all the rate deals and the phone didn't cost me a cent.

And, I really like the pocket pc/windows mobile os. It's very customizable. I now have my phone set up to look and feel like Windows XP. I love it.

[tm_anon]

Good for you, I didn't see anybody ask though.

[lazycat202]

i have 3 lines, 2 WinMo and 1 regular phone, pay $90/month, 1000 mins, no data plan. I don't need an internet contract for my phone. I could use free wireless around where I work and around my house. Gezz! $30x24 =720. That's what i'm saving. By the way, i'm not a rich guy and i have a wife and 2 kids

[FellowConspirator]

Yes, $30 is stupid expensive. But "minimum will cost them $1,680 over the life of their service contracts" is hyperbole. $30 / month x 24 months = $720.

Again, stupid expensive. Doubly so since they don't include SMS in that. SMS is encoded in the cellular packet header -- data the phone is sending out anyway. There's no cost to carry it, and maybe a fraction of a cent to route it, so any additional cost is ludicrous.

[tm_anon]

Agreed, that's with any carrier in the US though. They need more regulations or at least one competitor to say enough is enough and price things the way they should be.

[mobius32us]

Recently, AT&T execs publicly stated what has been obvious for a long time: Even if you dropped a "smart phone" purchase price to $50 a lot of people (who are neither luddites nor broke) would still pass because it's the voice/data price that hurts most. In fact, even if you pay the full, non-subsidized price for an iPhone you still can't use it on a pre-paid or a la carte plan basis! What the AT&T execs finally stated was that there are a large number of people who would like/want to pay for data as they use it (and pay for voice as they use it) -- and they might be willing to pay the full, non-sub price. Now, they don't want to do this because many of their current smart phone users would suddenly realize that they don't use the Internet every day; or might use it less in a conservation move.

[ants11]

actually you dont have to add to your normal phone bill, at least in Canada i know for sure.

i bought the iPhone 3G and opted out of getting any data plan. so instead of paying $30 EVERY MONTH for 3 years (yes its 3 in Canada), I payed an extra $50 on the phone itself. Most people have wifi wherever they go nowadays! come on, do you really need to check your email while going from point A to point B. some need to OK, but not EVERYONE! oh and my phone bill stayed exactly the same after switching to the iphone.

[SteveW928]

Hmm... that is interesting... I'll have to check into that. It doesn't sound like this is an option in the US. It did sound that way when I called Fido/Rogers up here... but I didn't dig that far into the details as I was planning on buying a used iPhone.

Do you mean you bought a new one... and only paid $50 extra for the phone... and opt-out of the data plan? Could you then choose any of the voice plans you wanted (like a most basic one?). If so, I might go for a new one.

[ants11]

@SteveW928: yep, i bought a new iphone (3G at the time) and only payed $50 extra because I opted out of the data plan. I chose to keep my existing voice plan, and I dont think they restrict your choice of voice plan anyways. Good Luck!

[SteveW928]

@ ants11 -

Thanks.... I'll have to look into that. That sounds like a really good deal.

[aztecwarrior25]

AT&T is selling you the Retail 499/599$ iPhone for 300$ less as they are subsidizing the cost. So your real 2 year cost is just 650 to 720 minus 300. 420 which is roughly 15 to 20 per month for 2 years. If you can't afford this then why are you crying.

Retail price of Pre is 699, of Black berry is 599 of N97 is 599. how can that be any cheaper. ???

Also this is how I calc cost - 720 for 2 years data. (You pay for voice any way). A family plan for 2 iPhones with 550 shared minutes works out cheaper assuming you get a corp discount of 8-10% and your bill will be 49.99+9.99 (voice) +30+30 (data) -8% discount + taxes. approx 58-65 per month per head or 650 to 720 more than the individual voice plan.

With HSDPA tethering you could potentially stop your home broadband and save 25-40 bucks. then AT&T data is a steal deal! Its about time the network scaled enough to support wireless broadband.

[Constable Odo]

Wise choice for him to get another handset. People that can't afford iPhones absolutely should not buy them. What's so unusual about that? That's why there are fewer people driving Lamborghinis, Porsches or a GT40 Mark 1. Don't go out of your way to buy things you can't or were never meant to have. It will only bring you grief. Get something cheap and affordable to match your lifestyle. Not everyone can have a N97 or iPhone 3G S. Settle for less. It doesn't hurt and nobody will even give a second glance. Luxury items are for people that can afford luxury. Not for poor working-class stiffs that have to count every penny they earn. It's either iPhone monthly charges or paying the rent. Pay the rent. No point in being homeless with an iPhone in your pocket.

That's why your parents told you to stay in school, get a better education and your life will be better. Instead you cut class, and went to work for the local burger joint and now the iPhone is beyond your means. Lucky, there are still pre-paid phones at the local WalMart. No bells and whistles, but they do the job.

[sapporobaby]

The only real troll here is seven7dust. He is the Apple cheerleader and #1 iBoy. Little does he fail to understand is that not everyone wants an iPhone. Many people, I would say millions, prefer something else and do not like Apple products. This is way over his head.

By the way, nice safe article this time to the author. Last one she got her head handed to her for shoddy reporting.

[seven7dust]

cant make any valid points so you resort to personal attacks ,good for you
liking a product a listing it's benefits makes you a troll
BTW hows that N97 working out for you great to see the OVI store florishing with thousands of developers ! LOl!

[kelmon]

"Little does he fail to understand is that not everyone wants an iPhone."

Nice use of the double-negative. I think you meant to say "Little does he understand that not everyone wants an iPhone" but you couldn't be bothered to read what you had written to ensure that it made sense.

The problem with statements like "[m]any people, I would say millions, prefer something else and do not like Apple products" is that you actually have no research to back this sort of claim up with, just as a claim that "millions prefer Apple products" also cannot be proven. All you can say is that millions of people have bought Product A and millions have bought Product B, perhaps followed up by customer satisfaction survey results. Unless you have some credible market research to back up your position I can only suggest not making such statements, particularly when you evidentially have a partisan agenda.

[sapporobaby]

Ah, the scent of troll hits the air. Oppsss. He returns from living in Steve Jobs pants.

Let me see. The Ovi store opened when? Almost a month ago, but you forgot Handango (been around for years with about 30K apps), My-Symbian, etc.... I guess you missed this at troll college.

"liking a product a listing it's benefits makes you a troll". Not sure what this means. Must be troll for: "I have no idea what I am talking about". There is this new thing called punctuation. You might want to try it.

Anyway back to the lesson. The N97 will sell very well because: a) It is unlocked. b) It has more features that people want, if not the same at the iPhone. c) It is a class by itself with the keyboard/touch hybrid design. 4) Longer battery life and replaceable battery. Oh did I mention features? You know, the same ones that Apple now added 2 years later but makes it appear new and innovative.

Class dismissed. You can climb back into Steve Jobs' pants, your your mom's basement.

BTW. My point is very valid. Not everyone wants an iPhone. There are millions that will never own one no matter how much you wish they would.

[clamburgler]

"Not everyone wants an iPhone. There are millions that will never own one no matter how much you wish they would."

It's a shame that the iSheep can't grasp this concept. They believe that they are on some higher level of intelligence just because they brown nose to everything that is apple, and feel the need to bash everything that does not have an apple logo on it. That's what happens when you get people who have no clue of the tech world talking about things which they barely know about.

"but but I iz have appz store"

[seven7dust]

I never said anything about everyone wanting a iPhone
but your So called Nokia phones arent that much better either !
your features argument is arguable ,resistive screen sux, ovi store is a joke , enough said !

[seven7dust]

and personally attcaking people on the internet for choosing/praising different products
how very brave of you !

[sapporobaby]

@seven7dust,

Your righteous indignation is laughable. Brave has nothing to do with outing a troll who's life is built upon iSheepledom. I never said my Nokia phones, but they had the same features that you wetting your pants over for years. Shall I go down the list for you? Tethering, MMS, SMS forwarding, cut and paste, GPS with maps to include turn by turn, longer battery life, A2DP, etc... Get the picture? This site does not allow picture so I can't post them but Apple has spent their marketing budget wisely. They pulled a Jedi Mind Trick on you as it only works on the weak minded to make you think the few things I mentioned above is new and innovative only because Apple now does it.

The Ovi Store just got off the ground so I have enough sense to reserve judgment for a while. I guess App Store just popped into existance out of no where. Soooo until you go and have some first hand info about the N97, I suggest you keep your uninfomed mouth shut. With every post, you portray how much of an iBoy you really are. There is nothing wrong with liking a product, but to dismiss all others is pretty ignorant.

[kelmon]

"Not everyone wants an iPhone. There are millions that will never own one no matter how much you wish they would."

I'm sorry but isn't this a given anyway? The iPhone is a very good device but it is both very expensive and delivers functionality that not everyone needs. Until such time that everyone wants to, for example, surf the World Wide Web on their GSM, there will be a market for cheaper, less complex devices that may only make telephone calls. I honestly do not recall having seen anyone predicting that the iPhone will become the only GSM that people will buy and such suggestions would clearly be nonsense.

Whether the N97 "sells very well" depends on your definition of the term. It looks like a capable device but Nokia is not a platform with much market momentum at the moment, characterised by declining market share (although it remains the #1). You can almost guarantee that Nokia's share of the market will continue to decline at the expense of higher profile devices, such as the RIM Blackberry, Palm Pre and Apple iPhone with the Android platform a bit of an unknown for the moment (it depends on adoption by the device manufacturers and getting products on the street). Nokia needs a "home run" device to try and shore up its position and I am not convinced that the N97 is it.

I had a Verizon Treo 650 for two years and my wife has an AT&T BB 8800. I looked at Windows Mobile devices years ago, but when the iPhone first came out that was it. Despite the trollish angst, there is no other device on the market that is like the iPhone. What non-iPhoneiacs don't get is that it isn't just the phone, which is basically a slab of touchable screen, it's the software. This is the first phone I've had that is easy to use and has a wealth of functions that are actually user-friendly. My Treo was a HUGE pain to use except for messaging and the phone function. Email was not user-friendly and the web was like the web on most pre-iPhone smartphones, TERRIBLE. And it was complex and even though I do web design and fix computers I never used it for a quarter of what it could do if you could figure it out! But who has time? I have four kids!

The real irony of the 3G S is that it looks exactly like the first two iPhones, so clearly style isn't the issue. If it was people wouldn't be flocking to buy it and despite the whining here about whatever, people _are_ flocking. I couldn't get one today here in Atlanta if I wasn't prepared to stand on line at an Apple Store. AT&Ts sold out quickly, so clearly the iPhone is a compelling device. Once the lines die down I'll go in and upgrade because the speed & new features of the new phone are reason enough.

I was thinking about how phones used to be marketed and pre-iPhone it was (ironically again) all about design and coolness factor. The flashy keyboard, the cool clamshell with the sparkly painted surface or the shiny surface with the cool black rubber edges. Cameras, microphones, buttons all over that you had to learn whether it was a Motorola with the talk buttons on one side while everyone else's were on the other. I got to the point where I didn't really want all that I just wanted a simple phone because the rest was just too much trouble!

I can remember running my hands over a new shiny and big screen Mitsubishi "smartphone" that was supposed to do the internet, but it didn't work. A big chunk of a phone that you dialed numbers on. But underneath all the phones were the same. Different ways to do exactly the same thing in just as Byzantine a manner as every other phone. Who knew how to do stuff on them? There were phone "geeks" who could show you something "cool" to do on the phone, but really, inside they were almost all the same. Phones aren't supposed to take a degree in engineering, it's an appliance and that's something Apple gets. It's something to USE, not program!

I wish the whiners would take a breath and smell the coffee. Palm and Microsoft had years to make a good phone and really never did. Other than the Blackberry, there wasn't anything very interesting that wasn't a pain to use and even BB is way too complicated for the average user. I know, my wife can't do anyting on her phone but retrieve her email and do text and dial and her IT department had to set that all up for her and showed her how to do the basics. My first iPhone practically set itself up with every email account I have and I have a bunch, on first sync. Is it perfect? No, but the first time in the batter's box Apple hit a Grand Slam. The only serious competition in the smartphone area today is Blackberry and even they are losing share. I hope someone does get traction because Apple will just be inspired to get BETTER.

But sadly, unless it's the new Pre (and maybe it is, but I doubt it's a home run compared to the iPhone) there is currently no phone on the market that is as usable by so many non-geeks for so many previously geek-only things as the iPhone of whatever flavor. And whatever things that are coming out on new phones that are easier to use and have functions that work more like you actually do things, you can thank Apple for that.

If you value your time and you think having the web at your fingertips in the form of a real browser and dozens of apps that connect to maps, the web, texting, photo sharing, Twitter, billing, medical files, Exchange and the hundreds of other things an iPhone can do (and even iPhone owners have no idea how many things there are until they really start wondering what they phone can really do), then you owe it to yourself to put in some time at the Apple store and hey, if price is an issue? Buy the one I have now, the 3G for $99. It's just incredible!

Fanboi? Sure, and if admiring Angelina Jolie or Megan Fox or Jacqueline Bisset (hey, I'm in my 50's!) makes me a fanboi for them, sure, I'll take the label and love it!!!!

JoeL
Atlanta, GA

Written About my iPhone

[kelmon]

The thing to remember is that the Pre and BlackBerry really aren't in the same market as the iPhone. ArsTechnica did a nice article on the subject where the basic principle is that the iPhone is for people who want to watch/interact with media while the Pre and BlackBerry is for those people who do a lot of messaging, hence the importance of the hardware keyboard.

Personally, I remember buying the Nokia "The Matrix" phone (I forget the product's actual name). Now that was cool with the spring-loaded keyboard cover.

[CristGarage]

Personally, I think the iPhone and plan that comes with it should be MORE expensive. I think a person should be administered a certified I.Q. test prior to attempting purchase of the super-phone, and not be allowed to take any home with them until proven by written or oral exam, that they know how to really use it.

I think Windows Mobile users should not be allowed to buy the iPhone, ever, at any cost, not even permitted to touch the device unless well supervised, and having signed off on a lengthy waiver.

Finally, and most importantly, I call for the total restriction and ban of all Windows Operating Systems from any and all types of access to Apple's website and/or affiliates. Period.

[roamer7485]

Do you know what "S" means in iPhone 3GS? Simply, "SUCKS"!!!! Hardware-wise, there have been no significant new technologies introduced: no video-call, non-A2DP, 3MP-CAM, etc. It can't compete at the levels of Jet, Omnia-2 and even Omnia-1!!!

[seven7dust]

you have no idea wat your taking about
all iPhones now have A2DP even the old ones,{ BTW A2DP is a joke to most people}
second Camera quality doesnt depend on megapixels { eitherway all cell phone cameras suck }
third the Samsung Jet uses a proprietary Samsung crap O.S which means it sux right then and there
Omnia is nice but Windows Mobile has quite a lot of problems of it's own !
plus the iPhone isnt about features its about implementation and refinement of them !
having feature bloat means nothing if the device itself sux in usability !
plus how many phones allow you to shoot a video ,trim it and upload it to youtube with a single touch ?
and thats only 0.1% of it's capabilities !
eitherway I'm pretty sure your just another biased moron who hasnt even used a iPhone in his life
typical troll !

[sapporobaby]

@seven7dust,

I love the entertainment value that you provide. Your ignorance is only surpassed by your shear stupidity. Maybe you should leave your mothers basement more and get out into the sun. Talk about troll. Now the iPhone has A2DP. This has been a feature for over 3 years on other phones. The only joke here is your and your ineptitude. The Nokia has a camera that the iPhone could only wish to have. It was voted the best camera phone on the market. Period. Use Google and go read instead of running your piehole. The iPhone is fast simply because it does not allow anything to run in a multi-tasking mode and for good reason. It is pure crap when running more than one task. I compared an iPhone jailbroken to multi-task against an N97 and the N97 ran circles around it. Forget opening the camera or trying to do anything. The iPhone just sat there and crapped the bed. Pretty much like you. Anyway, you really need to get back on the meds and give the computer a break. With each additional post you prove yourself to be the laughing stock that you are.

[seven7dust]

great job with the insults yet again prooving my point !
anyway there's no point in arguing on the internet
I have nothing against Nokia phones , it's just Anti-iphone trolls like you that **** me off
you do realise that even Nokia themselves think highly of the Iphone
their Ceo said so himself ,
So dismiss it all you want but millions of people have bought it and use it it for various puposes, it's one of the most used phones for web browsing ,has one of the biggest app development community and so on
yes it was missing many features ,
but remember this whole iPhone thing started only 2 yrs back ,
Lets see did Nokia phones have all the features back in 1991
didnt think so !
and the iPhone isnt about adding feature bloat to adevice it's about refinement of those features to the next level
but a biased troll like you wouldn't understand ! So stupid of me for wasting my time again

[sapporobaby]

Thank you for the entertainment. You must be a riot at your group home. Now here is some news for you Einstein.

I have an iPhone, and an N97. Ohhhhh didn't know that huh. Your head is either spending so much time up Steve Jobs butt or you taking up residence in his pants that you can't see past your own ignorance. The CEO of Nokia actually said the iPhone was a wake up call and it was. I never said the iPhone was not good but it is not the end of technology. It is an okay iPod that makes phone calls and has technology that others have had for YEARS. But once again you butt dwelling ways obscured this fact. You apologist ways are also laughable in that it is okay for Apple to take a few years to develop but the Ovi App Store sucks. Actually maybe you are just stupid. Judging from you feeble attempts to post relevant and cohesive arguments points points to your lack of education and borderline illiteracy. By the way, in 1991, MMS, 3G, 5 MP cameras did not exist, do I need to go on? Please stop and lay down. Your head surely has to hurt from ignorance overload.

Anyway, back to the pants or the butt with you. Next time stay in school and learn to read. Moron.

[kelmon]

For the love of god, please learn to use the "Reply" function so that this inane conversation can be avoided. If you can't comment on the content of the article then please don't bother doing so at all.

[lazycat202]

lol WinMo users don't need to use stylus to operate WinMo devices. do i need to explain this? i guess not.

[trentZ2]

I traded in my Blackberry (which blows the iphone out of the water IMO) for a pay as you go Virgin Moble phone (just a basic phone not even a camera) and couldnt be happier. My phone bill went from $150+ a month down to 50 bucks. I can handle that.

[SecretPenguin]

The iPhone plan with AT&T is just too expensive. I agree about the plan but I still really like the iPhone hardware.