Apple Announces iPhone Rate Plans, iTunes Activation

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On launch day (June 29, 2007), 400,000 Apple iPhones are expected to be available from 162 Apple Stores and roughly 1,800 AT&T locations. The iPhone will ship with YouTube integration along with a higher-capacity battery and a 3.5" display screen. The device itself will be priced at $499 for the 4GB model and at $599 for the 8GB model (both require a two-year service agreement).

Apple and AT&T also recently announced three rate plans that allow for unlimited data (email and web), Visual Voicemail, 200 SMS text messages, unlimited mobile-to-mobile and rollover minutes:

$59.99 plan: 450 anytime minutes & 5,000 nights and weekend minutes
$79.99 plan: 900 anytime minutes & unlimited nights and weekends
$99 plan: 1350 anytime minutes & unlimited nights and weekends

A one-time activation fee of $36 will also be charged for the iPhone. In addition, Apple and AT&T also announced that new iPhone users will be able to activate their phone through iTunes. "Users will be able to activate their new iPhone in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

Link: Forum Discussion (Thanks kraized)

News source: DailyTech

(1 reply) #1 Marshalus on 26 Jun 2007 - 22:57

That's actually not too bad on the plan. I still perfer my Sprint 1250m w/ unlimited Internet for $49

#1.1 Netrack on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:47

sero plans are great...if you can manage sprint lol

(1 reply) #2 RaisinCain on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:00

How you gettin' that marshalus?

#2.1 Marshalus on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:45

Quote - (RaisinCain said @ #2)

http://sprint.p.delivery.net/m/p/sprint/epc/epclanding.asp

#3 bmaher on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:01

That plan isn't too bad, but whats with the activation charge!?

#4 Ogden2k on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:03

I think I'll stick with my 700 minutes for $35

#5 +chorpeac on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:21

Cool, I will wait until the phone is around 200 before I splurge, no need to be a first on this one.

#6 Niccos on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:25

I think ill wait till its 9.99 and in a tracfone case before I go and buy it. Im sick of the contract lockins and bull**** service for 90 a month that I had w/ a family plan

(2 replies) #7 looseone on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:33

you certainly have it cheap in the usa

#7.1 RAID 0 on 26 Jun 2007 - 23:37

You've never had an American girlfriend, have you?

Back on topic, the plans look "OK", but the cost of the phone is too high for me.

#7.2 zivan56 on 27 Jun 2007 - 10:46

Cheap is relative. I am traveling in Serbia right now and bought a prepaid SIM. The going rate for a call is 2.9 dinars/min, so 2.9x1350 (most expensive plan on there) = 3915 dinars, which is 65.54 USD.
I don't see any data plan rates, but here it is 3 dinars for 100Kb, or 0.05 USD.

So you can see that the US/Canada has horrible rates compared to what is offered worldwide. I have a 50/500 plan for $15 in Canada, which is also a rip off...and 0.05 CAD per Kb! Can you say gouging?

(3 replies) #8 Marty2003 on 27 Jun 2007 - 00:04

a "higher-capacity battery" ?

Higher compared to what?

#8.1 whocares78 on 27 Jun 2007 - 01:49

luv it, it's the first release, it's better than umm, the beta version they had knocked up in china rfor $50, this is typical marketing bull&*it from apple

#8.2 eAi on 27 Jun 2007 - 20:03

Compared to what the previously announced? Seems kind of obvious?

#8.3 whocares78 on 28 Jun 2007 - 04:16

Quote - (eAi said @ #8.2)

it may be obvious but is a complete load of marketing BS, e.g. the company lied/ misled people on the battery life, and then came out and said nah we will make it better, there is no proof they did sqaut, all they did was say, its better than we originally thought it would be.

#9 CoLdFuSi0n on 27 Jun 2007 - 00:07

Ouch those are expensive plans.

(1 reply) #10 Croquant on 27 Jun 2007 - 00:32

Assuming that they distribute the phones evenly between stores (which they won't) that means that each store will have roughly 203 phones each. Somehow, I don't think that's going to be enough.

#10.1 whocares78 on 27 Jun 2007 - 01:51

do you really think that many people will be stupid enough to jump on the band wagon, people remember this is a NEW UNPROVEN product. why do people want it soo bad, umm oh yeah apple marketing

#11 stifler6478 on 27 Jun 2007 - 00:37

My plan is 1000 anytime minutes + free call-me minutes (all incoming calls are free) for $40 through US Cellular.

@Croquant - I'm betting it will be plenty.

-Spenser

(2 replies) #12 sin-ergy on 27 Jun 2007 - 01:28

haha you people will pay anything for ijunk. enjoy getting the shaft and making jobs richer!

seriously though, wtf is up with that activation charge? reminds me of that radio ad "that must be some switch"... that's like pure profit for them.

#12.1 RAID 0 on 27 Jun 2007 - 02:03

Out of all the websites I go to everyday.. only a handful want (are going to buy) the iPhone, most people (like myself) think it looks cool, but too expensive. When you say "you people", add your-self to that mix, cause you're here too!

#12.2 Galley on 27 Jun 2007 - 03:20

Activation fees are common in the U.S. The phone company charges you $44 to activate your account, which amount to nothing more than making a simple data entry on a computer.

#13 +Ely on 27 Jun 2007 - 01:48

Im fine with my T-Mobile Dash for $50 a month with 1000 anytime minutes, unlimited nights and weekends and unlimited internet.

#14 Optix Illusion on 27 Jun 2007 - 01:56

Who really uses unreliable wireless phone service on the ground now-a-days?

#15 denzilla on 27 Jun 2007 - 02:52

The phone looks awesome, but its too expensive and so are the plans.

(1 reply) #16 basicguru on 27 Jun 2007 - 06:03

This is just another example of how Apple is exploiting the hype about iPhone and charging way too much for plans that with any other phone and plan would cost half as much as can be seen in previous posts. Perhaps Apple needs to stop being so greedy and actually trying to compete too. Some of their products are not worth as much as they offer them for and people are still too dumb to see that there are alternatives that cost less and do more.

#16.1 +kraized on 27 Jun 2007 - 07:42

Quote - (basicguru said @ #16)

AT&T are responsible for the plan pricing not Apple. The plans are also not that more expensive than the others listed. Even if you don't have the iPhone, the plans are the same price.

(2 replies) #17 The Gunslinger on 27 Jun 2007 - 07:47

HOLY CRAP...!!!...

That phone is dirt cheap!

Before you flame me, let me explain why I say that.

Here in South Africa, I pay around $50 for 85 off peak minutes and 15 peak minutes.

And for data I pay around $ 0.30 per mb...

The sad thing is this is the prices of one of the cheaper carriers.

So if the iPhone is launched here in SA with those plans, I GUARANTEE it will sell out in minutes.

#17.1 whocares78 on 28 Jun 2007 - 04:30

pity it won't sell for that though.

#17.2 The Gunslinger on 28 Jun 2007 - 06:26

Quote - (whocares78 said @ #17.1)

Lol...Yeah, It would probably be around ten times the US price if released here...

#18 SkyyPunk on 27 Jun 2007 - 12:06

Wow, those prices are actually pretty good for the plans if I am reading it right, $60 for 450min and unlimited data isnt too bad from what I remember... I *used* to pay $40/mo for just the 450min, so $20 extra for unlimited net seems reasonable

#19 roxics on 27 Jun 2007 - 12:39

I agree, you guys who say this is expensive are crazy. I pay $45 a month here in Michigan for Sprint 450 anytime and free nights and weekends. I figured the iphone would be at least that for the phone service plus another $40 a month for unlimited internet.

$60 a month for both isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. I'm actually pretty surprised.

#20 plastikaa on 27 Jun 2007 - 18:30

If I was paying $59.99/mo for 2 years i would want the phone for free

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