People saw the ad. The new iPhone is half the price ($199) and twice the speed.
Coming July 11, AT&T stores will open early morning to be iReady to grab every piece of dollar from your wallet and they will not do it once, but keep doing that for next 24 months.
If you are in current contract with AT&T and the contract is not over (in other words a loyal customer), the new iPhone will actually cost you $400. Don't want to extend the contract? Shell out $600. Now, all of a sudden half the price doesn't sound exciting, does it?
$199, my ass!
Well, that's not enough guys! Obviously, you have to get a data plan that combined with your voice plan costs $70 to $130 for 24 months. That means you will be shelling out $1680 ($70 X 24) in the calling costs alone.
And then, new customers have to pay $36 as activation fee. Even current customers have to pay $18.
$199, my ass!
Actually, if you look at the cost side of equation, we all know how much of a ripoff service costs US cellular cartel offer. Just visit India, HongKong or any other Asian country and you would notice that first thing out of the airport. Same equipment sourced from the same manufacturers to operate the cellular network, yet the costs are like one tenth of US.
iPhone 3G's manufacturing cost is $173 compared to $265 of original iPhone. But Apple will get $300 in addition to the price from the carrier AT&T. Then he keeps making money for as long as you remain with AT&T (minimum 2 years).
$199, my ass!
