Everyone!!! Sign this PETITION so AT&T will provide better pricing!!!

[macc55]

http://twitition.com/f96aq
Check my sources
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=Mobile+and+Wireless&articleId=9134267&taxonomyId=15&pageNumber=1

[LuvKeane]

what's twitter??? :rolleyes:

[azsprty]

im not creating an account just for that...sorry

[ZR_Yancy]

I have an account but I'm not going to give my sign on info to someone I don't know. Sorry. Not very safe.

[acosmichippo]

i have an account, but i disagree with the petition. sorry.

[wildonrio]

The petition doesn't make sense. Who cares if you are new customers, at&t STILL hasn't recovered their losses from the subsidy they gave you on the last phone. They have every right to charge you more.

Charging $200 more because you are only one year done with your contract is unfair, however. I think the pricing should be $299/$399 if you've had your 3G since iDay2, which is only $100 more. Still don't agree with the petition though, it needs better wording.

[hydro94530]

Yeah no thanks. It's justified in my opinion, and the next iPhone will be fully subsidized for us if we choose to buy it so I'm good.

[zeluiz22]

These people are robots. That's worse than fanboys. Stockholm syndrome. Who on earth would "agree" to pay more money for something, given the choice? I am signing.

[wildonrio]

at&t IS in fact running a business remember. When they take a $200 hit knowing that you will slowly pay them back over the next 2 years, but then after only ONE year you are trying to get ANOTHER subsidized phone, they lost a whole year of payments from you on that first subsidized phone. They have every right to charge current customers more than the new customers. I am NOT an at&t fan boy at all by the way.

[acosmichippo]

These people are robots. That's worse than fanboys. Stockholm syndrome. Who on earth would "agree" to pay more money for something, given the choice? I am signing.

hmm... accept a valid business charge, or throw a hissy-fit until i get what i want...?

yes, i'll pay more given the choice. like an adult.

[jptolife]

These people are robots. That's worse than fanboys. Stockholm syndrome. Who on earth would "agree" to pay more money for something, given the choice? I am signing.

I lol'd :)

I signed the petition but I highly doubt it will do anything.

[hydro94530]

hmm... accept a valid business charge, or throw a hissy-fit until i get what i want...?

yes, i'll pay more given the choice. like an adult.

Agreed. And $499 is much better than $699.

[Eragon]

at&t IS in fact running a business remember. When they take a $200 hit knowing that you will slowly pay them back over the next 2 years, but then after only ONE year you are trying to get ANOTHER subsidized phone, they lost a whole year of payments from you on that first subsidized phone. They have every right to charge current customers more than the new customers. I am NOT an at&t fan boy at all by the way.

I really question whether the subsidy program inflicts any pain on the carriers. It's all about ARPU. Carriers are making money hand over fist with data charges, minutes, text messaging.

The two year contract model is nothing short of a monopolistic remnant from the old Ma Bell years. What ever happened to freedom of choice both in terms of devices and carriers? I still remember the crappy phones the old AT&T used to impose on households.

[sonicwind]

I don't want other people to have iPhones. I like it when people say "man that's cool, I wish I could afford one/my wife would let me buy one/[fill in the blank]". I wish they were like $1200.

[Mikozee]

I don't want other people to have iPhones. I like it when people say "man that's cool, I wish I could afford one/my wife would let me buy one/[fill in the blank]". I wish they were like $1200.

While I don't agree with the statement, I did find myself enjoying the phone more when it essentially made you a member of an exclusive club.

Good thing I had to switch to Verizon last year. At least I can get the subsidized price regardless of the petition.

[ryisfly]

it's like no one remembers paying a subsidized price for their phone....

it's embarrassing that so many people have signed this

[stevetim]

I expect to pay a premium on a brand new product introduced, especially from Apple.

If you aren't willing to pay the premium for the premium phone offering, why not just wait until you are eligible for the upgrade when the CONTRACT you signed ends its term?

It's not a life support device, so I think everyone that doesn't get a 3Gs right away, will be OK.

Besides that...
a petition will not do squat. You know what will, though? The market. The market will decide what AT&T does to entice people to buy the 3Gs. If AT&T doesn't sell anywhere near their projected amount of phones to new and current customers, sure, they'll drop the price. But they will look at numbers of phones sold, not numbers of signatures on some petition.

[We Beat U]

Sorry, but no. Carriers are SUPPOSED to make money. That's why it's called Capitalism. If you really believe the AT&T is making money 'hand over fist' then you should buy some stock & become an owner in the company. Then, you'll be one of those people making money hand over fist.

I'm not an AT&T fanboy, but I agree with others that they have every right to hold you to the terms of the contract if that's what you signed for. If you want to buy out of that contract, you can but there will be a cost to do so.

The complaints bug the heck out of me.

[acosmichippo]

I really question whether the subsidy program inflicts any pain on the carriers. It's all about ARPU. Carriers are making money hand over fist with data charges, minutes, text messaging.

The two year contract model is nothing short of a monopolistic remnant from the old Ma Bell years. What ever happened to freedom of choice both in terms of devices and carriers? I still remember the crappy phones the old AT&T used to impose on households.

apple gets at least $325 per iphone from ATT (http://venturebeat.com/2008/06/19/report-for-everyone-iphone-3g-sold-apple-is-getting-325-425-from-att/), and i don't think that even includes the initial cost of the phones. ATT sells them for at least $199. That's roughly $125 per iphone they lose... and they have to have sold at least a few million iPhone 3Gs... adds up quick.

[Eragon]

apple gets at least $325 per iphone from ATT (http://venturebeat.com/2008/06/19/report-for-everyone-iphone-3g-sold-apple-is-getting-325-425-from-att/), and i don't think that even includes the initial cost of the phones. ATT sells them for at least $199. That's roughly $125 per iphone they lose... and they have to have sold at least a few million iPhone 3Gs... adds up quick.

AT&T may lose $125/device, but that is a one time cost. Over the life of a contract (24 mos), AT&T is earning about 24*(30data+40voice), or about $1600 per user. Text messaging costs alone will break the iPhone cost even.

[acosmichippo]

right, but there IS overhead involved for maintenance, expansion, and the upgrading of the network.

i won't pretend to know ATTs finances... my only point is that they aren't exactly giving out halloween candy.

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

hmm... accept a valid business charge, or throw a hissy-fit until i get what i want...?

yes, i'll pay more given the choice. like an adult.

I wonder how many are upset about the pricing structure because mommy and/or daddy won't pay the higher-tier charges?

[Eragon]

right, but there IS overhead involved for maintenance, expansion, and the upgrading of the network.

i won't pretend to know ATTs finances... my only point is that they aren't exactly giving out halloween candy.

Let's not forget executive salaries, airplanes, and the Verizon blackberries used by the board of directors. :tounge:

[Cantwait4iPhone]

I wonder how many are upset about the pricing structure because mommy and/or daddy won't pay the higher-tier charges?

Oh boy, probably about half the people complaining. There's only so much you can whine before you realize there's little you can do.

But I give everyone a lot of credit for trying.

[LuvKeane]

Just out of curiosity, where do these figured come from? I'd be interested to know REALLY how much a phone costs... it's like buying clothing, even though it's 50% of, that company is STILL making some profit. Not as much as it was full price but they sure as hell are not losing anything.

They lose when it doesn't sell!

But I agree, I waited patiently for the chance to upgrade and now since it's here, I will use it because I WANT to, not because I need to. Like someone mentioned, this is not a life support system or something that tests for diabetes. Even though, that might be in the 2010 model Im sure :tounge:
I saw photos of an EEG or EKG reader or some crap...

[sonicwind]

all the people defending AT&T and Apple, let's not forget that the original iPhone was sold unsubsidized, yet still required 2 year contracts. How does that figure into them "just trying to make money"? That's out and out greed.

The 3G costs like $175 in parts. Of course you have to add in manufacturing, support, warranty, R&D. But there's also the income generated by monthly service fees, so they can well afford to sell the phone to loyal customers at the "subsidized" price. The only thing you have going for you is that fact that Apple hates it when large people complain, thus the rebates after the original price drop and the subsidized 3G for all V1 owners.

[acosmichippo]

the v1 was COMPLETELY different. Unlike the iPhone 3G, ATT didn't pay any large sum to apple for v1 sales, but rather gave them a percentage of the monthly service fees.

[unnecessary]

LOL you guys have no idea.

[acosmichippo]

then enlighten us instead of pointing and laughing.

[up10ad]

http://gizmodo.com/5284318/whiners-of-the-world-shut-up-about-the-iphone-3gs-upgrade-price

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

http://gizmodo.com/5284318/whiners-of-the-world-shut-up-about-the-iphone-3gs-upgrade-price

Rick, follow the "sign here" link in this post for a worthwhile petition. :smile: :

http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7797197&postcount=41

[LuvKeane]

all the people defending AT&T and Apple, let's not forget that the original iPhone was sold unsubsidized, yet still required 2 year contracts. How does that figure into them "just trying to make money"? That's out and out greed.
Sorry, but I am really missing something... did you (or anyone else) HAVE to get Version 1? I didn't and for some odd reason, I am still a functioning human being (kinda). I thought they were expensive and I simply didn't get one! I thought the price was ridiculous and as much as I would love to have a 5 bedroom condo in the prime of Manhattan, I simply can't! Big effing deal!

Plus, when comparing the first iPod (shoebox) with what it is today, I purposely wanted to wait a few versions til some more bugs got fixed before running out and getting one.

[Eragon]

This is not rocket science. You want the iPhone 3G S that bad, then buy it at full price (no contract commitment). The iPhone's update cycle is not consistent with the contract model. If you want AT&T to foot the bill for updating to the next model, you will have to wait every other model. If your hormones require you to get the latest and greatest now, your gonna have to give at the office.

[styfle]

If anything its not the rules for subsidizing prices but the monthly bill itself that needs to be modified. Texting costs them nothing and no one uses minutes anymore. They need to lower monthly costs.

[up10ad]

This is not rocket science. You want the iPhone 3G S that bad, then buy it at full price (no contract commitment). The iPhone's update cycle is not consistent with the contract model. If you want AT&T to foot the bill for updating to the next model, you will have to wait every other model. If your hormones require you to get the latest and greatest now, your gonna have to give at the office.

One of the best comments on this issue I have read. Thanks

[chris]

im not creating an account just for that...sorry


How about for this (http://www.everythingicafe.com/articles/2009/6/9/everythingicafe-iphone-3g-s-twitter-giveaway/)?

[mitchellm4]

^ i would say that is worth the 2 minutes of creating an account...

[LuvKeane]

sorry, already purchased mine. So still no need to join twitter...

[unnecessary]

whats a twitter? =\