That is simply not true. They are pulling their usual bs of having a bundled media package. You DO NOT have to purchase the data plan, in which case you can get a 450nation plan for 39.95 a month. (no data/txt included). Obviously this limits some of the uses of the phone, but with the option of wireless network who really wants to use AT&T's slow as a turtle data service. (especially at the price of an additional 20$ a month)

Wow, that's really not too bad. The cost of the device is now the only limiting factor.

as above. haha.

If they get the 39.95 a month plan with no data and text, then it would be pointless to even buy an IPhone. All of the features that make it a cool phone require the data plan. I can't see why someone would buy an IPhone and not get the data plan.

I really have to hand it to AT&T here; back when I had Cingular and my Treo 650, they wanted 60 bucks for my phone service alone (and that was a meager pittance of minutes but still had roll-over), and internet/data access was strictly a la Carte. If you wanted a data plan, they were astronomically high: upwards of $40 for unlimited service, bringing my bill to over $100 dollars a month! Of course, I only used the 'net sparingly and therefore never REALLY got to use my device as I would have liked. I think they realize this, and want consumers to really experience the device to its full capacity, and not be slammed in reviews simply because people are cheap (of course, one could probably successfully argue that if you can afford upwards of $500 for a phone, what's a service plan really set you back?).

I'll be honest, this was my biggest fear prior to launch, would be just how much the plans would cost. I was also worried that you wouldn't be able to "upgrade" your service plan and/or device if you were already under contract, but after speaking to the provider today, it appears it isn't an issue (outside of a $18 device upgrade fee, which is in lieu of the $36 activation fee if you aren't already a AT&T customer).

Now, my next comment is: what sort of insurance (AppleCare?) will be offered, here? I've not seen much about the durability of the device... but a little "parachute" would be nice.

And if you really want a bad angle here (after all, this *is* Tom's, where we hate Apple), go after AT&T: I called a local shop asking some questions, and they don't have answers. And they won't have them... until Thursday. One day before the launch. I anticipate madness!

I agree with the above the phone would just be a cool touchscreen phone unless you had the data plan on it. Plus...who doesnt have a data plan these days??

600 dollar game systems. 700 dollar phones.

When did the world become "the fool" in the saying "a fool and his money..."

That's not true, it has wireless (802.11b/g) so you can use ALL of its features without actually using the ATT data service. I am almost never in a spot with no Wireless, and I live in Maine, so for most of the real world I can't imagine it being a problem.

And people say the Playstation 3 is expensive... God help those of us who aren't making 6 figures!

So true! Last time I checked the value of a dollar is going down, why is the price of everything going up? Who the hell can afford this crap? I can barely afford rent/bills and gas with what I consider a reasonable salary.

I have a friend who spends more than $60/month on Starbucks coffee (some people can actually stomach the stuff). I know of someone else who spends $200 /month on cigarettes.

Cell phone bills $200 per month per user for corporate accounts is typical. So the iPhone would fit right in there. Plus, there will be fewer of those ugly Blackberries around.

$60 doesn't compute. iPh $60 services cost $100 for BB Pearl.

For my Blackberry Pearl, I pay $100 a month to AT&T for the same services in the iPhone $60 package. It's either a come on or the info is incorrect.

I highly doubt you will be able to type as fast on the iPhone as you can on a blackberry. Touchscreens are a slow way for user input. Plus with no feed back on your fingers it won't be as easy to memorize the key locations. Also lets not forget the on screen KB would have to take up a lot of space to even get close to a blackberry's accuracy and they how can you read what your typing? For as cool as I think the iPhone is a blackberry killer it is not.

This is terrible, $60 service. In most European countries you only pay for what you use and the phone companies do not charge consumers twice for phone usage i.e. (the caller and the callee both get's charged).

Now they are pushing data plans on you based on the phone you buy and I found out first hand today that I can't even use the data connections with my laptop without buying another service. I'm already paying $75 for surfing the net on my cell, but have to pay extra to receive that data on my laptop.....

Phone companies are evil, evil, EVIL!

@Chris

When the dollar depreciates, U.S. goods are now cheaper for foreigners increasing export demand, while local consumption demand is unaffected. Thus the overall demand for U.S. goods will rise, and so will prices.

600 dollars phones has been around for a Long ass time. American ppl just got used to garbage *free* phones and garbage service american phone company offers. Its just funny that stupid americans think iPhone touchscreen is cool, when my *old* w950 has that function like almost 1/2 year ago. hah!

That existing customers can keep their current voice plan and add 20 dollars for the iPhone data plan.

Chris wrote: "Last time I checked the value of a dollar is going down, why is the price of everything going up?"

You answered your own question. If the dollar has less value, you need more of them to buy something. That's what "less value" means.

wow $60 a month does not get you alot with AT&T. My current verizon contract has 4 phones, 800 minutes (free nights and weekends) WAP internet on 2 of the phones plus a GPS navigator subscription. Bill comes to $125 a month.

If the data of the iphone is only $20 that means it most likely just uses WAP data, which as anyone who has used it knows, is dog slow and is not REAL internet. I can't imagine the iphone is only giong to use the WAP service, but perhaps that is a low end option with the option of bumping up to the 35 data plans.

To Baby, No one is accepting the touchscreen as the innovative or exciting piece of the iphone, you are extremely confused or misinformed. it is the OS and customizing options that make it neat. Being able to change around your buttons at will etc... And touchscreen has been around on phones WELL over 1/2 a year, so if you are going to make smug comments at least get your facts straight.

Thanks for the replies on the dollar going down, I guess I didn't really think that through, than again I was just complaining :)

I can't believe Apple supports such a business model that's so bad for customers. People that never went outside the States have no idea how much easier/better the phone/service choices are.
Kingss, imagine $20 a month for UNLIMITED internet and NO service contract. (Better phones available as well).
Anyway, this is a bad way to sell new phones ($600 long term contracts, more so if you already have a contract!)

just think, anytime you see someone with an iphone, you'll recognize a total dumbass instantly :)

why??? just because there are people who can afford it? I am truly sorry 60 bucks is big deal for you -- but is that sufficient reason to laugh at those who have money??? ...

Heh, I'm used to buying phones with a 10$ monthly fee.. Wich I get to use to call for, at 7cents/min..

Why pay that ridiculously much for the phone, and it will still be locked to a operator? :S

sounds nice, but wait until the PRADA is out from Verizon/LG.
check it out http://www.egizmo.com/servlet/...OAodHDfBDw

I agree and feel the same when I see someone with an iPod. They could spend 1/2 (or even 1/3) the money and get 2x the features.

Apple products are never good value for the money.

first thing, drew, quit working at apple, because you're kind of a failure at being inconspicuous.

next thing, when is apple going to stop its monopoly-mind? one service provider? activate service with itunes? music and movies from itunes only work with apple devices? when i pay for something i want to be able to do whatever i want with it, not to be constrained by a company. the ipod was a wretched device in the first place, i couldn't believe it when apple was moving to phones.

and just to back myself up, i have owned two ipods. one died because the device lacked static protection and stopped working while i folded blankets. the second died because the battery stopped working. (why on earth would you make the battery non-removable? as a great article-writer once said, "who designed this crap, anyway?")

Carl, the iphone will NOT replace the blackberry. the two are completely different devices. the iphone is meant for streaming data, playing music, surfing the web, watching videos, etc. Even if it does what it does well (which my guess is, won't happen) it won't replace the blackberry. the blackberry is designed for the corporate crowd with tons of 3rd party applications. the iphone has NONE. and after all, what employer with a good head would put a $600 music and video player in the hands of an employee who should be using their time to work?

Actually I would laugh at them for wasting $600 on a phone they could have gotten for under $200 (feature wise). Not to mention we all know WHO will be buying the majority of these phones, and they can barely figure out how to use the features offered.

"I can't believe Apple supports such a business model that's so bad for customers."

Surely you jest?

Of course it is

Another stupid gadget designed to drive Americans and the rest of the world into crippling debt! Put that $1300 into your Roth or Savings accounts, assholes.

Knowing about the wifi capability, there had to be some unlimited data transfer! otherwise it just wouldnt be used!

besides that, its no phone for some teenager but for people who actually use it! see the new video to see it has stockmarkets on it! and weather! 2 applications mostly businessman care about! and they need datatransfer and the free minutes are also nice in the plan! besides the fact to know how much "anywere calls" means!

its just not the super cheapy plan that comes with little mobile phones!

It might be a stupid gadget to some (I'm not buying one), but if it makes people happy then the money was worth it. Who told you that putting the 1300 dollars into a savings account was a good investment idea? With the dollar going down, you will loose money keeping it in your savings...

You lucky devils, at least you can get the iphone. Here in South Africa we will probbly never get it and if we did, a similar package would cost in excess of 300 dollars / month!

I'm just going to sell a few of shares of Apple I bought 2 years ago that made about $1200. That's the iPhone and a year of service. Oh Yeah!

http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/2...2007062812

I never understood the Blackberry, but I know people that have one. The iPhone will sell. There are too many people with money to burn on new tech gadgets.

Yeah right, no one wants a device that can do everything and will get more providers later on this year. No wonder you folks are poor -- just don't know a good technology when you see it -- too busy counting the your pennies?? $600 is nothing for a device that can do this with a real OS -- get over yourselves you pathetic Microsoft leg humpers.

"AT&T's slow as a turtle data service"

Obviously the above poster has not used a G3 capable phone on AT T's network. I get 700kbs-900kbs when I do speed tests on my laptop synched up with my phone. The problem is that the Iphone will not be G3 capable at release. That is Apples mistake not the carriers.

And I will say it again. It is a hype. Its not the best thing on the market. First off its Apple. Yes their computers are pretty good right now considering they use x86 processors and PC hardware. But their iPods suck.

In comparison to the Zune and Creative Labs MP3/Video players they truly are useless. The biggest complaint about the Zune is the color. Big whoop. And Creative Labs is literally th best sound available anywhere.

When it comes to the iPhone I think they are mistaken it will take over the market. Maybe for a bit the hype will play out but you have to remember one thing. There are 3 major cellphone companies that have been in the game for nearly 20 years. Samsung, LG and Motorola. They are not going to sit back and watch Apple just pave over them.

The LG prada is a new one to me. But I do know that Samsung has a phone coming out soon that is exactally like the iPhone. I believe it will have better quality than the iPhone especially since this is Apples first attempt. Just like with all the flaws of the iPod, the iPhone will go the same route. Take probably 2-3 generations before they make a good one. And by then the other phone companies will already have killed them.

My suggestion is don't give into the hype. Just because it is Apple and says iPhone doen't give it the best phone around. Trust me the major phone companies will kill Apple before they let them take any market share.

Not surprised that there is no employee discount on the HARDWARE, but they aren't even giving the discount on the plans... not that the "discount" is that much anyways... I'll save the $600 and tape my ipod to the bad of my Razr... :p

But I wouldn't pay $600 for a phone that plays music and offers internet (thats why I pay $50 a month for cable...which I think is too much) If I really want an apple mp3 player I'll get an Ipod for about half the cost and 3 times the space.

Last time i checked AT&T is using Edge technology for their data transfers which has a theoretical "Burst" limit of something around 470kbit/s (using 8 timeslots), and a practical one of closer to 200 kbit/s(using 4 timeslots). This is also considered 2.75g technology seeing as it only makes 3g specifications through theoretical and not practical implementation. I’m also curious as to how you synced up your laptop and cell phone to achieve these data rates that almost double the theoretical limitations of the network, it’d be a nice trick to have in the bag.

At any rate, the iphone is also supposed to be able to pick up on wifi 802.11b/g signals so if you’re in any kind of hotspot setting you shouldn't have any issues with data transfers.

The Flipboard has been reporting this phone has hidden charges for about a month! I think I'll wait for my blackberry charges to drop and just upgrade the device. forget Apple...
Articles can be found at http://www.iflipyouoff.com/

IT's Just A phone gosh there is no need for this much money spent on a phone. i have a phone and an 80gb ipod and it is still way cheaper than this rip off.Sure its kewl and new but there isnt much you can do with it that you cant with a phone(exception with the touch screen AND Position sensor) Still not worth it yet i say wait awhile to the bugs are out