Comments on: Report: AT&T to sell 3G iPhone at $200 discount

Is Apple about to have a two-tiered pricing structure for the 3G iPhone, with AT&T offering iPhones for $200 less than Apple?

[Galaxy5]

Re: Glossy Black iPhone - debunked

Check Gizmodo again. The pix of the glossy black iPhone were
simply pictures of a third-party case for the phone.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I don't see this happening

If the iPhone is available for $199 at AT&T stores and at $499 at Apple stores, it doesn't take much of a genius to figure out where people will be going to. Since you have to have AT&T either way for two years, why pay the extra $200 to Apple?

If it's an unlocked phone, then Apple just gave up their entire lucrative money model with monthly service fees paid through AT&T's system.

Either way, Apple loses a lot of money, either in one time handset sales (not that much money) or in 2 year contracts (MUCH larger amount of money cumulative). It would also ruin any sorts of agreements they have with carriers in other countries.

I just don't see it happening. Too much of a loss in my opinion for Apple if they lose those monthly service fees. They seem pretty hard set to keep those everywhere they have gone so far to give up on them now.

[reidmangel]

Very good idea!

I think this is a very good idea. I would pay 200 dollars for an Iphone. Hopefully the 2 iphones still look the same.