Comments on: Return of the $99 iPhone 3G

If you don't mind a shorter warranty, you can save $100 on an iPhone 3G by choosing a refurbished model.

[robmarreel]

I agree, the iPhone is well worth that monthly fee, but dropping the entry price by $100 probably isn't going to stimulate a ton of new sales.

Rob
www.exectones.com
iPhone Ringtones for the Business User

[PressAnyKey]

I agree... The data plan is too high. Plus the virtual keyboard is tough to use for any serious emailing. I wish they could mate the Blackberry keyboard with the iPhone interface...

[Fantastipotamus]

Yeah, the data plan is a pain, but considering how big your bill would be without it, it's really for the end-users benefit.

Of course, the alternative would be to drop the price on the data plan, but I don't see that happening. Pre-iPhone, the data plans were $40 for business / PDA phones, and $20 for non-QWERTY phones. I had an old AT&T branded 8125 that I used for several months, and that was $100/mo after taxes and all the rest of the obnoxious fees they tack on.

What this does indicate to me is an effort to reduce inventories on the current gen iphone by boosting sales, which apple always does before announcing a new version... Which is exactly why I'm not upgrading my 8gb 2G to a 16gb 3G right now.. and holding out hope for an upgraded one in the next couple months.

Keep hope alive!

[skaorsk8]

I refuse to pay more than $15/month for a data plan, since it's for personal use. Call me crazy if you want, but it's true. And I think a lot of other people agree with me.

If my company was willing to pay ... that would be a different story.

[patrickpiteo]

Yea but the phone can come with minor cosmetic damages.. Like scratches..

[homercles82]

If it works, who cares?

[blusky08]

IME, refurb phones suck!
They are often have cosmetic issues, sealing issues and general quirks. Plus, the device and/or battery may or may not give up the ghost before your contract period is up!
Bottomline: Saving a hundred bucks on the phone is nothing--it is the data plan that's the killer!

[rickbroida]

For what it's worth, I've purchased a couple refurbished iPods, and they've been absolutely 100% like new. Can't say for sure if the iPhones will be the same way, but I think Apple's pretty good at the whole refurb game.

[WDS2]

I concur with Rick. I've purchased 4 iPods, 2 new and 2 refurbs from Apple. The refurbs were in perfect condition.

[Tombow]

Who care how much you love the iPhone? You?re so blinded by your apple fetishes that you?ve invalidated your own arguments why this is anything but a rip-off deal. At $70 a month, you'd be better off paying for a brand new iPhone with a lower monthly plan and you'd still save significantly more in the long run. And best of all, you'll have a "brand new" iPhone - not a refurbished piece of crap. Seems apple can sell some of ya'll rocks and you'd still call it a gemstone.

[fcz1]

I'll just reiterate what so many others believe. It isn't the initial cost of the device that prevents me from getting an iPhone, it is the $70+ a month thereafter.

[rufustel]

Tombow, you're missing the point: you can't escape the $70 per month fee. Making the iPhone an $840 per year "experience" (totally apart from them "more minor" hardware cost) ...

[urisage]

I haven't done it myself, but from what I understand you CAN escape the $70/month fee; it's just inconvenient, you won't get the subsidy on the device, and it's not supported by AT&T. Basically, 'all you have to do' is get an AT&T SIM card, get it set up for pre-paid/PAYG, and then pop the SIM card into the iPhone 3G.

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/13/confirmed-3g-iphone-works-out-of-the-box-with-payg

Pages 2 and 3 of the comments there aren't loading for me atm, so I don't know if something has changed since September - like AT&T actively going after people doing it - but hopefully not.

What's especially interesting to me - she was pretty much just using the data-only prepaid plan, which IIRC is $20/month (prepaid is, or at least was, cheaper than the regular iPhone data plan). That's really what I want out of the iPhone; if I've got the internet everywhere, and all the ways of communicating it brings, I'm not sure I really need a phone.

The PAYG plan probably isn't a good deal for people who want to use the phone itself a lot, but for those who want to use it to get to the internet anywhere + make a few calls here and there it could save up to $1200 over the course of the two years you no longer have a contract for.

Not sure how much the hardware would end up costing, but certainly for this group of people you'd still have hundreds.

[frenzy2223]

I?m a current at&t customer and have a Blackberry. It?s time for me to upgrade my phone and I was told by at&t that the $99 (8g) or $199 (16g) iphone deal was only for new customers who sign a 2 year agreement! The stated that current customers are not eligible to purchase a refurbished iphone at the $99/$199 price! Has anyone else been told this?

[hafenbrack]

Yes and it is a total line of CRAP. But you DO have to sign a new 2 year agreement, a whole new deal, not like a 2 year extension. It's like you become a new customer.

[frenzy2223]

UPDATE
I went on to my account with att today and it allowed we to purchase 2 iphone 3g?s for $199 with a new 2 year contract agreement (family plan)!

[WHYnow]

I'm a current ATT customer and bought a refurb 8gb on the 18th for 99 from them, so yes you have to do it online.

[bsachs]

I am under the impression that it is only for new A T & T customers and that exsisting customers cannot take advantage of this offer

[nutjob]

At $99 the 8GB iphone is still too much (total cost) except for people who have disposal income or are spending $$ to impress.

[cfr0213]

I just got the $99 8GB iPhone and I'm a current customer. I had an available upgrade and extended my contract. I already pay the money for a corporate data plan so there was no difference in cost.

[derek5L]

AT&T are a bunch of crooks. I had three different iPhones. They are awesome. Apple's warranty rocks, but upgrading and renegotiating my rate plan is like pulling teeth. I switched to Sprint 3 months ago, sold my iPhone 3G 8GB to a 16 yr old kid who broke his blackjack 2. The dude paid $450. Now I am patiently waiting on the Palm Pre to make its debut. I already pay the Simply Everything plan to Sprint. My bill is now $113.84 per month. I was paying $181.22 per month to AT&T for the same thing. You tell me which is a better choice?

[frenzy2223]

I still can't figure out what the deal with the warranty is! The att site says 90 days, but I have heard that apple will warranty it for 1 year! If someone has the aswer to this, please let me know!

[njiacdolas]

Hi i'm nicolas from lebanon, i want to buy an iphone 3G and i will pay cash so please tell me how
email: [e-mail]

[deepen05]

for all of you saying a refurb is crap? you have no knowledge at all. According to AT&T, refurb means it was returned within 30 days. so it could even be a phone somebody bought and returned the next day. thats basically brand new. i mean come on, who can really mess up a phone in 30 days anyway? I am about to get this deal. it will be about 70 bucks plus tax per month. which i know is a lot, but after using a moto slvr l7 on tmobile for the past 2 1/2 years i think its time for an upgrade.

[tbennett39]

I don't get it!! Someone who just wants to save a hundred dollars does not need an iPhone anyway!! If you are that tight you probably arent going to pay the 30.00 monthly data fee either!! N who wants a used phone??? I sure as heck don't!!!

[birdshake]

The data plan is also what kills it for me aswell. Come on AT&T! :(