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Owning an iPhone 3G will Cost More Than iPhone 2G

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 at 1:15 PM - by

For the original iPhone 2G, for the majority of those who paid $399 for an 8 GB model, the monthly plan for 450 minutes was US$39.99/mo for the voice service and $20/mo for the unlimited data plan That also included 200 text messages. The total outlay, not including taxes, has been: $59.99. Over 24 months, that's about US$1,476, including the $36 activation fee you paid.

For the iPhone 3G, on the same 450 minutes plan, the bundled price of voice and unlimited data rises to US$69.99. However to get those 200 text messages back will cost an extra $5/month. The total outlay is $74.99 over 24 months, or just under $1800.00.

Adding the prices of the phones in gives US$399 + $1,476 for the iPhone 2G resulting in an outlay of US$1,875.

For the iPhone 3G, (8GB) over the next 24 months, you'll pay US$199 + $1,800 + $18 activation fee or US$2,017 (before taxes).

Customers will end up paying more for the luxury of that alluring looking $199 (8 GB) iPhone 3G, but for some, the increased data rates, if they're in a 3G capable area, may well be worth it.

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drjason said:

member since 28 Aug 2004 with 37 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:12 pm

I feel like we all got smacked by a bait-and-switch here, I can appreciate that with a 3G data connection there will be more data used and thus a higher data plan BUT to nickel-and-dime us with the text messages just seems shitty. If you back out the additional $5/mn for text messaging, the added cost would have only been $22 over the 2 years or less than a $1/mn !!!!!!!!

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A guest said: (hide)

Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:13 pm

$142 more over a 2 year contract? If one can actually get good 3G service in your area that isn't that much of an addition. I agree that the text message thing sucks.

- Ben

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TosaDeac said:

member since 05 Feb 2008 with 16 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:25 pm

Lets compare apples to apples:

2G 8GB iPhone with 450min, unlimited data, 200 texts = $59.99 x 24 months = $1440 + $399 = $1839

3G 8GB iPhone with 450min, unlimited data, 200 texts = $74.99 x 24 months = $1800 + $199 = $1999

That's a $360 difference just for the plans but only $160 over the 2 year contract life of the iPhone.

Now the only decision is if $160 is worth it for you to get 3G speed, included GPS, and the newest device. For me, I'm happy with my current 2G iPhone, but really it is not that ridiculous. Granted I agree the fact they are advertising the 3G iPhone as "half the price, twice the speed" is a bit disingenuous and misleading.

I don't know the answer to this but how does this compare to a Blackberry or comparable phone on the same AT&T network?

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A guest said: (hide)

Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:37 pm

I'm paying $99.96 per month for my Blackberry with tmobile after taxes, but that's for unlimited data, unlimited text, and 1500 anytime minutes. That unlimited data includes "phone as modem" which I use quite frequently with my laptop on the road, though it's dialu-p speeds.

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TosaDeac said:

member since 05 Feb 2008 with 16 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:02 pm

I spent a little time looking at the AT&T website and it looks like for all their "PDA" phones the rates are pretty much the same as what they are planning to charge for the 3G iPhone...$39.99 for 450 minutes, $30 for "PDA Personal or Blackberry Personal" which allows for unlimited data, and $5 for 200 text messages. That was for when I used the Tilt as the phone since it has 3G also (it was $60 for PDA + Tethering which sounds like it means using your PDA as a modem) and a Blackberry (which it doesn't list as having 3G). So those are comparable to the iPhone prices...but I don't know if they were also just raised or if that is what they had been when the 2G iPhone came out.

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