AT&T Official 3G iPhone Plans
AT&T has today released their official subscription plans for 3G iPhone users, ending weeks of speculation. While some people who have been holding out from being an Apple iPhone 2G adopter, from what I read on the internet, they are pretty bummed with the steep plans.
As expected, the 3G iPhone will retail on 11th July, 2008 at US$199 and US$299 for the 8GB and 16GB models respectively. However, buyers will have to subscribe to a two-year contract with AT&T.
Base plan for individuals start from US$69.90 per month which includes 450 minutes of talk time, Visual Voicemail and unlimited data. This new plan unlike the plan for the first generation iPhone, does not include SMS text messages so if you are a texter, you would need an add-on package of US$5 per month for 200 SMS text messages or US$20 per month for unlimited SMS text messages.
For a more detailed rundown on AT&T’s official 3G iPhone plans, check out ars technica.
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Why Is Apple’s 3G iPhone So Much Cheaper?
When the 3G iPhone was announced by Steve Jobs earlier this month, everyone was ooh-ing and aah-ing about it’s price. Compared to the first generation iPhone which was released last year, it is way cheaper.
However, many people did not take into account the US$300 per set subsidy by telco carriers. They also did not take into account the data plan that they are forced to subscribe to for two long years but these costs are an entirely different story although.
InfoWorld.com has a report by iSuppli, a market researcher, on why it cost less to make the 3G iPhone [US$173] than the 2G iPhone [US$226]. We are talking about the device only. In Cantonese, we call that the “vegetarian set”. They, of course, are not taking into account the research and development cost.
iSuppli plans to take apart a 3G iPhone when it is finally shipped to better determine the cost of each component that makes up the 3G iPhone, the brand and its manufacturer. it would be very interesting to see how much it actually cost to make an iPhone.
FREE 3G iPhone - I KNOW You Want It!
I spent a little time over the weekend looking for websites that are running contests with a grand prize of the Apple 3G iPhone. You know I LOVE freebies!
So here are a couple of contests that are open to legal residents of the United States and Australia. If I were you, I would GRAB at this opportunity. And don’t ask about the data plan or anything yet. Submit an entry and only worry about the plan and stuff if and when you win it.
First up, ZAGG, the maker of condoms for our devices, is running a video contest for legal residents of the United States whereby you need to show in video your obsession with your digital device. Doesn’t sound easy but then you would be getting a shot at a free 3G iPhone! The first hundred video submissions will receive a free invisibleSHIELD while the BEST video wins a 3G iPhone. Start cracking now as contest closes on June 30, 2008.
Next, MacTalk is running a contest that is open to all legal residents of Australia. You are required to pick your favourite DLO accessory. However, make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully as you would be subjecting yourself to some marketing messages from iWorld Australia. This contest ends on July 31, 2008.
Good luck to all of you. I hope that there’s a contest to win a free 3G iPhone in Malaysia!
Street Talk On Apple 3G iPhone
I overheard this conversation while having dinner at a local eatery one evening recently, two men talking about the new 3G iPhone.
Senior Guy A: Wah… the new iPhone ah, got 3G one, so cheap only. RM600 only!
Senior Guy B: So cheap only meh?
Senior Guy A: Ya loh! If I knew, I would not have bought this phone lah! (pointing at shirt pocket) Cost more than RM1,000, you know?Senior Guy A: This 3G iPhone ah, got so many features, you know? Can go online one. Some more got twelve different languages! Got English, got French ….
Senior Guy B: You know French meh?
I later found out that this Senior Guy A is someone who sells “kai see hor fun” at a kopishop in (Ipoh) town. Wah, I’m impressed. Hawker uncle also so up-to-date. LOL
Why Did You Buy An Apple iPhone?
This question is directed to those who bought an Apple iPhone within the past two months and yet wanted the 3G iPhone.
I read on various blogs that AT&T are allowing iPhone owners who purchased their iPhone from 27th May, 2008 onwards and who had signed a two-year plan, to upgrade to a 3G iPhone and sign a new two-year data contract overwriting the old contract.
And what amazed me was that there were many people now jumping up and down because they bought their first generation 2G iPhone prior to 27th May, 2008 and are now left holding an “obsolete” iPhone.
This just shows that these “new” iPhone owners, who would rather own the 3G iPhone, did not do their homework thoroughly before buying the iPhone. Steve Jobs already confirmed that the 3G iPhone will be released in 2008 way back in January. And although a date was not confirmed earlier on, there were rife rumours that the 3G iPhone will be unveiled during the week of June 9th, 2008, at its worldwide developers’ conference in San Francisco, USA and true enough, it was.
I can understand why they are jumping. I WOULD be jumping too if I had just splashed a few hundred bucks on an “obsolete” iPhone AND tied myself to a two-year long contract and then find out a week later that there is a newer, faster, improved iPhone at half the price!
But really, these people have only themselves to blame for not following the iPhone news and trends. There’s no point taking a class action suit against Apple for selling an older model knowing that it will be replaced by the 3G iPhone in a couple of weeks’ time.
What are your thoughts?
3G iPhone: Twice As Fast, Half The Price
Apple finally, as expected, announced their second generation iPhone, the 3G iPhone on 9th June, 2008, with the tag line “Twice as fast, half the price.”
From what I see, besides the 3G connectivity and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, I don’t see any MAJOR upgrade from the first generation. For your information, the 3G iPhone will be retailing in the United States and 24 other major countries around the world.
The 3G iPhone will also roll out to 48 other countries, yet I do not see Malaysia on the list. This is a major disappointment to many of us iPhone users and future iPhone users. I personally do not understand why Malaysia is right now left out of the list. Don’t tell me we are not on par with even countries like Guinea-Bissau or Botswana. No offence to this countries but I am just making a comparison. Oi, Maxis, DiGi, Celcom, better buck up!
The prices announced were way lower that what we have expected it to be. It was speculated that the price point would be somewhere around US$399 but we now know that the 8GB 3G iPhone will retail at ONLY USD$199 while the 16GB 3G iPhone will retail at ONLY US$299. The 8GB iPhone only comes in black while the 16GB comes in black or white.
If I had bought my first generation iPhone, I would feel damn cheated. Hey, the 8GB units were sold at US$599 while the 4GB ones were sold at US$499 and the poor buyers had to be tied to AT&T for two years as well. This time, buyers in the United States will also have to sign for a two year data plan with AT&T but that is another story altogether.
Personally, even with the 3G connectivity, when I first got my iPhone, this was something I hankered for, but now, I feel like the iPhone will always be a step behind mobile devices in Asia. Samsung D800 is capable of dual SIM cards and there are many devices in the market capable to 3.5G or faster. Besides, I do not see an improvement on the camera and even if Apple provides us with a free Apple iPhone 2.0 software update, it is still not able to run on 3G.
So bleh… I think there would be no reason for existing iPhone owners to upgrade to the second generation iPhone unless they absolutely cannot live without 3G.
Is It A Good Time To Release The 3G iPhone?
With the higher cost of living in the US and most parts of the world, no thanks to the price increase of gasoline, which according to my sister, increased almost 100% since she stepped foot on US soil six years ago, and the effect this increment and the increase of food prices and services, have on the people, I am wondering if it is the right time to announce the second generation iPhone. This announcement is slated to be made somewhere around 9th June, 2008.
Although there is no news on the price point yet, though rumoured to be US$399, this is considered expensive in the US when they can get a good mobile device for under US$50 only, sometimes even for FREE.
But then even if the 3G iPhone cannot sell too well in the US even if it is not locked to a particular service provider, unless most of the buyers use their economic stimulus checks to buy it, on top of the fact that 3G penetration is still ultra low compared to Asia, there will always be takers from other parts of the world, especially in Japan, where a high percentage of mobile fanatics declared that they would love to get their hands on the 3G iPhone at any cost.
Personally, I would love to know if the 3G iPhone will finally make its way to Malaysia legally.
Free iPhone Wallpapers For You
If you have not noticed yet, I started a free iPhone wallpaper section on my blog. To access and download my free iPhone wallpapers, just click on WALLPAPERS at the top navigator bar or at the right corner of the footer.
Clownfish iPhone Wallpaper
Curious to see what I have in store for you? I have two wallpapers right now only but I will slowly but surely add more!
Using Celcom SIM Card with iPhone
This post is for my own reference. Although my primary mobile device is my Nokia E61i because my iPhone is not able to support 3G network, I sometimes have to switch my SIM card over to the iPhone, especially when my 3G network is down which means that I would not be able to make or receive any calls or text messages.
I decide to publish the steps here for the iPhone to detect my Celcom SIM card so that I do not have to search the web EACH TIME I need to make the switch. I can just refer to my own blog. Heee!
1. Put AT&T SIM card or any working SIM card (other than Celcom) and power on. Wait for signal bar / no network display.2. Go to Settings, then Carrier. It will search for Network. (if no Carrier is shown, go back to Home and wait a while). In Carrier, wait till all 3 networks are found. Tick “automatic”
3. Press power button (put iPhone on standby NOT OFF).
4. Replace SIM card with Celcom SIM card. (The message “no SIM” will pop up so just ignore it and just press the power button to put it on standby mode again).
5. Press power button then ’slide to unlock’. You will see the network list. Choose Celcom and return to Home.
*This tip was taken from the forum of myPDAcafe.com
3G iPhone Rumors
Rumor has it that Apple will be announcing their new range of second generation Apple iPhones, including a 3G capable iPhone, during the week of June 9th, 2008, at its worldwide developers’ conference in San Francisco, USA.
While I have been hankering for a 3G iPhone since last year when I got my grubby hands on the revolutionary iPhone, I no longer want a 3G iPhone. We are looking at the blazing 3.5G connectivity now here in Asia and 3G is like so “last year”.
Another rumor is how this 3G iPhone will look like. People are saying that the form will be maintained but it will come with a glossy black back. Yet another speculation is its price point. Rumor has it that it will debut at US$399, which was what the first generation iPhone was selling at one point.
Well, right now, only Steve Job has the answer to all these questions. Let’s see if the much awaited 3G iPhone will be what we expect it to be. While many cellular providers around the world have already inked deals with Apple to market unlocked 3G iPhones in their respective countries, I have yet to see any Malaysian cellular company following suit. So, we in Malaysia get to own and use an unlocked 3G iPhone at last?
