$199 iPhone? Sure, with a 2-year contract
by Peter Ha on June 9, 2008


For the sake of time, I’ll just paste the release. Pricing for the iPhone 3G is based on a 2-year contract. Woohoo. Unlimited data plans for iPhone 3G customers will be $30/month while business users will have to pony up $45/month. Also, revenue sharing has ceased going forward between Apple and AT&T.

Update: Scoot on over to CrunchGear for all the updates and answers to your questions.

SAN ANTONIO, June 9, 2008 — AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced it will be the exclusive U.S. provider of the new iPhone 3G, details of which were outlined earlier today at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

Under the terms of a new agreement with Apple, AT&T remains the exclusive U.S. carrier of the new iPhone, which will be available beginning July 11 at a starting price of $199 with a two-year contract. iPhone 3G boasts several significant enhancements, including:

· 3G broadband wireless connectivity, which gives customers a home broadband-like speed experience when surfing the Internet, sharing files and using media-rich Web applications.

· Business-class capabilities, including e-mail, viewed on a large, touch-screen device and designed to meet the needs of companies of all sizes.

· The ability for developers, including AT&T, to create customized consumer and business applications using the Apple software developer’s kit (SDK).

Customers can get more information on iPhone 3G at www.att.com/iphone.

AT&T expects that iPhone 3G’s attractive pricing and rich set of features including business e-mail and other applications, combined with the broadband speeds of AT&T’s 3G network, will spur significant subscriber and revenue growth — particularly in wireless data — and strengthen AT&T’s wireless leadership and long-term growth profile.

“iPhone 3G will take mobile communications and computing to a whole new level by combining a terrific user interface with a great experience accessing the Internet and subscribers’ favorite applications on our 3G wireless network at unsurpassed speeds,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility. “Combine our high-performance 3G broadband wireless network, the new iPhone’s business-class capabilities and a starting price of $199, and I expect that we will continue to increase revenue per user and attract customers who spend the most on wireless. The device is built, and priced, to sell.”

AT&T will sell iPhone 3G in more than 2,200 company-owned retail stores and kiosks, as well as through its direct business sales teams.

New Agreement With Apple Reflects Significant Growth Opportunity

The new agreement between Apple and AT&T eliminates the revenue-sharing model under which AT&T shared a portion of monthly service revenue with Apple. Under the revised agreement, which is consistent with traditional equipment manufacturer-carrier arrangements, there is no revenue sharing and both iPhone 3G models will be offered at attractive prices to broaden the market potential and accelerate subscriber volumes. The phones will be offered with a two-year contract and attractive data plans that are similar to those offered for other smartphones and PDAs. AT&T anticipates that these offers will drive increased sales volumes and revenues among high-quality, data-centric customers. Currently, less than 20 percent of AT&T’s postpaid subscribers have integrated devices capable of voice, Web and data applications. Based on the company’s experience, average monthly revenues per iPhone subscriber are nearly double the average of the company’s overall subscriber base.

n With a two-year contract, the price of an 8GB iPhone 3G will be $199; the 16GB model will be priced at $299.

n Unlimited iPhone 3G data plans for consumers will be available for $30 a month, in addition to voice plans starting at $39.99 a month.

n Unlimited 3G data plans for business users will be available for $45 a month, in addition to a voice plan.

In the near term, AT&T anticipates that the new agreement will likely result in some pressure on margins and earnings, reflecting the costs of subsidized device pricing, which, in turn, is expected to drive increased subscriber volumes. The company anticipates potential dilution to earnings per share (EPS) from this initiative in the $0.10 to $0.12 range this year and next, with a 2008 adjusted consolidated operating income margin of approximately 24 percent and a full-year 2008 wireless OIBDA margin in the 39-40 percent range. As recurring revenue streams build without any further revenue sharing required, AT&T expects the initiative to turn accretive in 2010.

AT&T’s 3G Wireless Network

iPhone 3G harnesses the power of AT&T’s broad and powerful 3G mobile broadband network, which offers 3G mobile phones download speeds of up to 1.4 Mbps. AT&T’s 3G network is currently available in 280 leading U.S. metropolitan areas; by year-end, the company plans to offer 3G service in nearly 350 metro areas. Following the recent turndown of its TDMA network, the company is further enhancing its 3G network, with improved coverage quality made available through reallocated 850 MHz spectrum.

AT&T’s 3G network is the best positioned among American carriers to grow in line with customer demand, evolving to next-generation speeds incrementally during the next few years. Between 2005 and the end of 2008, AT&T will have invested more than $20 billion in wireless network improvements and upgrades.

AT&T has the best global coverage of any provider, with voice-roaming available in more than 200 countries and data-roaming in more than 145 countries, including more 3G roaming than any other carrier.

In addition, the new iPhone 3G will operate in Wi-Fi mode through wireless modems in homes and offices, as well as public hot spots.

Marketing the iPhone to Businesses

iPhone 3G includes new business capabilities, including access to corporate e-mail and intranets, as well as the ability to certify mobile business applications to suit the needs of an array of industries, ranging from health care and real estate to higher education and financial services. Starting July 11, AT&T will begin marketing to its business customers, which includes all of the Fortune 1000. To prepare for the rollout, AT&T will be conducting extensive training among its thousands of enterprise and small business sales force and customer-support employees. AT&T is the world’s leading provider of corporate wireless e-mail solutions.

“We’re anticipating significant demand from companies of all sizes based on the feedback we’ve received from the many corporate customers who have already purchased the first-generation iPhone, as well as from companies waiting for the new iPhone’s business applications,” said Ron Spears, group president, AT&T Global Business Services. “Businesses will benefit from all of the iPhone’s new features, as well as the ability to maximize productivity by using the combination of 3G broadband connectivity and customized applications.”

Through its work over the years with the developer community, AT&T has developed a robust catalog of hundreds of enterprise applications (www.att.com/choice). AT&T will work with Apple, using the SDK process, to enable many of these applications, which today operate on other AT&T-powered wireless devices, to also work on the iPhone. The growth of mobile applications represents a huge opportunity for companies to improve productivity through reduced overhead expenses, access to real-time information and higher levels of speed and efficiency.

Unleashing Innovative Applications With the SDK

AT&T is working closely with Apple to roll out several new and innovative applications that take advantage of the iPhone’s advanced capabilities. For example, AT&T is finalizing YELLOWPAGES.COM mobile for the iPhone, an innovative GPS-enabled application that combines local search with social networking capabilities, giving users the ability to search for information, share reviews and plan activities with friends, neighbors and co-workers. In addition, the company will work to certify many of its existing mobile applications for businesses, created in conjunction with third-party developers, for use on the iPhone.

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  • Just think, if you lived in Canada it would be a minimum 3 year contract, and a minimum $80/month for data service which is most certainly NOT unlimited.

  • @bean counter

    That expression is wrong, but the answer is correct.

    (30+39)(24)+(199) = 1,855

  • 16GB iPhone 3G $299

    data plan increase on 2yr contract, $240

    thinking the iPhone is now cheaper, PRICELESS

    Nice way to hide the $140 price increase, THANKS AT&T!

  • I pay $100/month for my blackberry world edition on sprint which includes BB service, data and voice. But for me it’s important that I can use my phone as internet “modem” to get online with my laptop and etc. via the usb connection.

    if iphone 3G offered the same service I’d move over.

  • I don’t get how Apple is going to make a profit off the new iPhone with a $200 price drop and no rev share from AT&T. I thought the point of the rev share was that they could sell the device cheaper up front and make up for that over the 2-year commitments every customer was making. Now they cut the price in half and AT&T is no longer paying them anything. How are they going to make money? It’s gotta cost them close to $200 to make the device.

  • “Unlimited data plans for iPhone 3G customers will be $30/month ”

    What’s the total monthly bill?

    $30 for data doesn’t mean squat if there is a $70 base rate for 1000 minutes.

    What about that info?

    If it’s $30 a month period, I’ll get one. If not let’s get an app that does VoIP and let me just get the $30 per month data, then I can use skype.

  • http://64.233.1...;cd=1&gl=ca

    This is the same as it was before.

    Can we buy the iPhone, then get a flat $30, no additional fee unlimited data rate from AT&T, then use Skype and mobile Vonage and have the iPhone ringer sync with skype or vonage?

    I would be more interested in that then the current offering. Or maybe we can do that??? Can we?

  • Sean, Apple havent cut in half the price that they give the phones to AT&T to. Its AT&T that are subsidizing the price to bring it down to $199. So Apple still get as much for the initial hardware sale.

    Granted it does look like Apple have lost the revenue share side of things, but they will probably hope to make up for that via revenue from mobileme, and the appstore.

  • 3g should be way enough bandwidth for clear skype calls.

  • If there was a VoIP app on iPhone it wouldn’t use your AT&T minutes and you could get the lowest $$$ data unlimited plan and talk forever to Europe without ever using a single AT&T mobile minute.

  • So no discount for EDGE iPhone users? $199 is a lot cheaper than the $399 I plunked down less than 6 months ago.

    Rumor was that AT&T was going to offer a discount if you signed a new 2-year contract…

    Apparently Orange is offering a 3G upgrade for 50€.

  • Anyone else signed up to be notified when MobileMe goes live? Check out the thank you page…

    http://www.appl...p/thankyou.html

    Seems even Apple can make mistakes. :)

    // In case you get there too late it says in big letters
    “Thank you. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, magna adipisicing elit.”

    Dave
    http://www.techiti.com

  • And why has no one mentioned Bluetooth? Surely that is quite a nice extra feature? No? Or was this on the original iPhone and I missed it?

  • Ah, a quick search say

    “Bluetooth flexibility – Right now, all you can use Bluetooth on the iPhone for are headset voice calls, and that’s it. This is sufficient for most people, …”

    My bad :)

  • Was pretty excited about this until I saw the price.

    $39.99 voice + $30 data = 69.99 a month?!

    Yeah, right. That’s a $10 hike from the last rate plan… definitely not competitive.

  • Great news for me that wanted to buy the current iphone but much cheaper. What ill it be the new price? 100 bucks?

  • Will new iPhones purchased in Apple stores in the US be carrier-blocked?

  • I love how businesses get charged an extra $15 per month for no reason other than that they are a business. Just like many industries, they charge businesses more simply because they can. What BS.

  • Even if it was free, people would complain.

    Hmmm, well maybe with each iPhone purchase, Jobs could personally sign each phone, and then wash and wax your car for you, sans shirt.

  • 1) $199 is *NOT* subsidized price… see AT&T’s investor call & press release for more detail.

    2) AT&T keeping 100% of revenue from voice & data gives them the cash to subsidize the phone further… watch for announcements post 7/11.

    3) For everyone worrying about how is Apple going to make the same money as before, now that the revenue split is gone, remember that they’re keeping 30% of all application sales via the AppStore. This is another SIGNIFICANT break from traditional wireless models, where the content sold MUST go through the carrier’s deck, and the lion’s share of the revenue stays with the carrier. (Could do a whole thread here on how bad this model sucks, and yet annually returns billions collectively to mobile game publishers, app developers, etc.).

    4) I’m betting that Apple takes one out of Google’s playbook, and for their push server services, they charge developers who consume _x_ amount of traffic over a particular threshold — just like web API pricing elsewhere.

    5) All this complaining about Apple’s revenues – yet they just added HOW many more markets to their distribution?!? Granted, the per unit cash-cow they had here in the US just shrunk — but is not gone. Now they’ve opened it up more globally — and with a lower price point, plus the opportunity for carrier subsidized sales — adoption should accelerate nicely!

  • How are more people not seeing that THE NEW IPHONE IS MORE EXPENSIVE?

    Refer to #53.

    A $10 rate hike AT&T implemented in the new iPhone plan adds $240 to the cost of iPhone ownership. That more than covers the $200 price drop.

  • Really shrewd game apple and ATT have played over here…
    Cutting down $200 on the phone and increasing $240 ($20/month data plan vs $30/month data plan) for data plan over two years…
    Excellent way to generate all the hype and make fool of the customers.

    Steve really pulled off this one to achieve his 10 million sales target.

  • @bean counter.

    You cannot calculate 39$/ month (as you may be having a wireless phone already right?)

    So it’s only

    $199 + ($30/m data X 24m) = $919

  • Does anyone know if flash will be supported?

  • Does ATT pay one time money for Apple (they say stopped paying monthly) ?
    Otherwise how Apple produces iPhone 3G(PS) for 199$ ?

    Are they selling for a loss?

    What about people who unlock and sell iPhone? Is it another big loss for Apple?

  • Can anyone explain to me how half the people posting moronic comments can even use a cell phone with their limited brain power? Have these people ever bought a phone, or are they still on mommy’s family plan and didn’t know things, er, cost money? Don’t like AT&T? Don’t get a f’n iPhone. Don’t like a 2 yr plan? Then don’t get practically ANY phone in the US. Think the price is too high for data and plans? Get an f’n job that pays you something.

    “Dude, I’d get the phone if it were, like, um free, and stuff, ‘cuz that would really rawk and then I could, like mod it out and maybe add Skype and shit, yeah, then I’d, like buy the iPhone, other than that it sux man.” Please, kill yourself.

    Oh, and if you lose the phone — say, I don’t know, how about GETTING A F’N LIFE AND REMEMBERING WHERE YOU PUT YOUR SHIT, DICKHEAD.

  • @78:

    Whoa!

    Watch the nerd-rage, home boy. You might pop somethin’… on your face. <3

  • The release of the 3G iPhone is a mobile industry tipping point. The value of the phone and the relatively cheap data plan is too compelling for consumers to resist. If tethering is simple and the device proves to be durable, look out….

  • damn, you guys are f##king fags. bitc#ing over the iPhone.

    if you don’t like it, stfu and go get laid.

    fagz.

  • I’m confused…can we get a data-only plan? Or do we have to buy a voice plan as well? What does the data-only include? Is there txts included? And do we HAVE 2 get a 2 year plan still…or can we get a 1 yr nd just pay more…tsry 4 askin a lot…thnx

  • I currently pay $30 a month for sprint for 600 minutes, unlimited data (edge network),unlimited txt, pictures mail and all that jazz on my Palm.

    until apple can get close to that. It’s a no go for me. $70 a month over 2 years $1680 plus $200 makes it $1880 add tax your talking $2000

  • does anyone know if there is an iphone without the 2 year contract available?

  • @everyone
    Check here for details.

  • @Sam (#84): “for sprint for 600 minutes, unlimited data (edge network)…”

    ORLY? EDGE on Sprint’s network? Hmm. Sprint’s network is CDMA and EVDO, so even saying something like that is just ignorant. EVDO is 3G, so you are on a great network if you can get coverage.

  • Don’t know what the fuss is about with the contract, their will be a way to unlock it for other sim cards so what’s the big deal.

    Apple wont try and ultimately block the unlocking process, know one has mentioned how many phones probably sell without the contract being taken up due to unlocking.

  • @ 87 Sry, I meant EVDO

  • @88

    Yeah, why aren’t more people not interested in AT&T talking about unlocking this one?

  • @Thom (#71). Great post! In terms of your third point, do all third party native iPhone apps need to be officially sanctioned by Apple? Can someone develop a third party native app that can be downloaded/purchased outside of the Apple Store and without Apple being involved?

    Also what are your thoughts on Web apps running off the iPhone versus native apps?

  • @sean

    No, you can’t NOT buy a 3G iPhone without first signing up with Voice AND data plan, with a 2-year contract from AT&T.

    http://www.ipho...rint-102678.php

  • Even with the contract, it’s still cheaper than the previous iPhone. Plus, you get to ditch buying a Garmin GPS device, can get internet and so forth. It’s expensive, but it’s a natural progression for the communication space. I’m happy with my current iPhone, but if my contrac twas close to expiration, I’d likely go for it.

    http://www.open...h-the-iphone/?4

  • i read these posts quickly so i may have missed something… but if apple is no longer doing the price sharing thing with AT&T why in the hell are they staying exclusive with AT&T? They know it will sell… when AT&T told them that they wanted to change the contract, apple should have said “GREAT… you can buy as many as you want, well supply you and every other company with however many units you want” Anyone know what the deal is gonna be in europe? its being released on the 11th as well, to movistar in spain, as well as atleast 5 other european countries. Can you go prepaid with it and just pay more for the device, or do you need a contract? is it going ot be locked to movistar?
    I want one bad, but unfortunatley i travel too much for work so if i cant travel with it (and actually use it on a local network) then im gonna have to stay with windows mobile…. if i can travel with it ill get one on the 11th

  • Hi

    I think us in the UK are getting a better deal with O2.

    8GB model £99 16GB model £159 on £30 or £35 per month tariff
    8GB nodel free 16GB model £59 on £45 per month tariff
    both models free on £75 per month tariff

    existing iPhone customers get chance to upgrade early at these prices as long as they agree to renew their contract (18 months).

    We still get unlimited data via 02 Edge and 3G and unlimited use of Wi-Fi Hotspots via the Cloud network at no extra charge.

    As for the new Phone I can’t help feeling a little disappointed that some features have still not been addressed, whether this is in the iphone 3g or the 2.0 software update. I am aware that perhaps these issues may be addressed by 3rd party apps, but features such as copy and paste need to be integrated directly into the OS to work seamlessly IMHO.

    Don’t get me wrong I am in love with my phone and the fact that I am still happy with it after 6 months of ownership is testament to how fabulous a device it really is. I can honestly say that if there wasn’t a new version of THIS phone coming out I would have no intention of trading it in. As far as my personal usage of the phone goes there simply isn’t another phone that can hold a candle to it.

    I am sure that there are owners of other phones, e.g. Nokia N95 or LG Viewty who would say the same about their devices. But for me the iphone blows them away. I have used both the other devices and the shear quakity of the Iphone outshines them. The N95 has a destinct cheapness to the feel of it, it feels light and plasticky (but that’s prob cos it is) and the LG viewty makes a half decent attempt at a touch screen interface but I for one couldn’t live with the delay in pressing the screen and the phone actually doing something. Yes the Iphone may lack in some small areas but my god it’s a quality device. After nearly 8 months of ownership and all the abuse that these deivces put up with there is not a single scratch on the screen. I wish the same could have been said for my sony ericsson Z5, T39, P800, P900, P990i, S700i, my Samsung D500, D600, P300, my MDA Vario II or Nokia 5120, 3310, 3330, 8210, 8310, 7610, 7650, or N73 to name but a few.

    As I said these are my personal feelings regarding the iphone, everybody has a different opinion and needs from a phone. I only use my phone for personal use and have no opinion on corporate use.

    I know you Americans have a raw deal by the sound of things with AT&T as a carrier. I have heard stories of poor quality calls and limited 3g coverage, but over here in the UK (and I can only speak for myself) I have had no problems whatsoever with O2 (and no I do not work for them or Apple and I am not an apple fanboy either (I much prefer Windows to OS X (again a personal preference)).

    I for one will upgrade to the Iphone 3g taking advantage of the free upgrade offered by O2, however I do have concerns about this. I am aware that O2 are not doing this out the kindness of their hearts, I paid full price for the privilage of owning a Iphone 1st gen when it was released in the UK. This phone was not subsidised by the carrier, however the new 3g phone will be. As a result next year when we see the release of the next version I don’t think O2 are going to be so generous, allowing users to upgrade early for free (7 months into an 18 month contract).

    At the moment the sting of being an early adopter of the Iphone has not affected me cos O2 have given its customers a get of jail free card with their early upgrade offers but I have a feeling this will be a one time only deal.

  • um well lyk im getin it so yahh it goin to be lyk awesome bad part not vid and no text in with the data well w/e

  • This sucks and falls short of my expectations. But, so does everything.

  • whitch model $199 ?
    what is the future in this model ?
    it i bye from out side work in india ?
    if any body help me………..pintu

  • #199 iphone can unlock ?
    for normail gsm sim card ?
    if possible plz help me…………..

    thank you

  • if you bought the iphone from futureshop what is the contract because i phone the girl said you have to sign a cntract what is the contract about

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