Apple and AT&T have announced the available rate plans for the new iPhone and they are simple and reasonably affordable. Prior to today’s announcement, many had speculated the iPhone may require an expensive data rate plan on top of the already pricey phone. You will require data plan, but the good news is it’s included with all of the required 2-year service contracts. Also included with every iPhone is access to the killer Visual Voicemail demoed by Steve Jobs at this years Macworld. With your new iPhone you will have a choice between 3 service plan options. $59.99 for 450 minutes, $79.99 for 900 minutes and $99.99 for 1,350 minutes. All plans include unlimited data (email and web), Visual Voicemail, 200 SMS text messages, roll over minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile and a one-time activation fee of $36. Family plans are also available.
“We want to make choosing a service plan simple and easy, so every plan includes unlimited data with direct Internet access, along with Visual Voicemail and a host of other goodies,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think these three plans give customers the flexibility to experience all of iPhone’s revolutionary features at affordable and competitive prices.”
With the announcement of this pricing it looks like Apple is poised to make an even bigger impact when the iPhone goes on sale this Friday, June 29 at 6:00 p.m. (local time). You can pick up yours up only at Apple’s US retail and online stores or from an AT&T retail stores in the US. The iPhone is available in your choice of the 4GB model or an 8GB model for $499 (US) or $599 (US) respectively.
I have to say for me, prior to this announcement, I had no interest in getting an iPhone. Now I must admit it is looking a bit more attractive. Don’t get me wrong, I am still not getting one, but I believe this may push other “on-the-fencers” over to the buying side. Glad I’m not an Apple or At&T store employee scheduled to work this Friday. Good luck fellas!
It looks like another sign up for Verizon at $39.95 for the same amout of minutes.
OK Adam, My $39 only includes cell phone. I was hoping for a ATT phone package for the same price and picking up wifi at the free spots around Philly. Still gonna wait, think of other great Apple 1st Gens like the iMac and iPod….so dated.
iCon John
Yeah Adam, I was very much waiting to see these and they are very similar to my current plan. I’ll likely get the upgrade to 1500 SMS messages which will bring me to a net total of about $10 more than I pay now.
I’m getting a phone as of today but that’s subject to change if the lines start too early or if I just decide not to wait. Stay tuned. The self activation service is really great and tells me this may not have a removable SIM chip at all. But that’s pure speculation.
Man! As soon as my contract with Verizon is up this next November, I’m so getting one. I’m kind of confused with the 200 limit on text messages, anyways you can fireup some sort or messenger via web and text all you want. I don’t know since I’m not a big text guy.
Hey Adam,
Hold your nerve buddy, stay with us!!! Don’t get tempted….
Just think how upset you would be when you get your iPhone and you go to get on a plane without packing an extra iPod and it gets to the bit where the flight attendant calls for all cellphones to be switched off!!! Doh! there goes that 6 hours you wasted encoding some video for the trip!
@Matt-
Actually, the iPhone has an airplane mode built right in, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Victor,
As for the SIM, I’m pretty sure there is a little door at the top, between the headphone jack and the wake-up switch. You can see it in the photos here:
However, whether or not it comes pre-equipped with an AT&T SIM already or you have to add it, we won’t know until Friday. However, WSJ’s Mossberg just wrote that you can’t use T-Mobile SIMs and that the iPhone is locked.
It’s possible that this is just for the demo version of his phone–again, we’ll see on Friday. Personally, I have a hard time understanding why, if someone so wanted an iPhone and were willing to buy it and be contractually bound for two years of AT&T service, why AT&T would care if the phone could be used on T-Mobile’s service as well?
As a current AT&T customer, I think these AT&T plans are actually going to end up saving me about $10/month (except the up-front cost of the phone, of course). Really glad to see the all-you-can eat data plan with some text messaging thrown in.
Anyone living in the DC area planning on waiting in line? I think I’m heading for the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, but I’m still trying to figure out logistics. At least at that mall, people can’t camp out!
Actually you can get individual plans up to 6000 minutes for $219. If you go to http://www.apple.com/iphone/easysetup/rateplans.html and clock on “more minutes” below the chart, it shows 3 more plans.
You left out what is to me and the other current AT&T customers the most important rate for iPhones! $20 to add the data plan onto your existing account… or $30 or $40 depending on how many text messaging minutes you want.
Wow. I’m paying about these rates already with Verizon for the talk time alone. I had no intention of buying an iPhone, but now it may just be too sexy (I mean useful for business) to pass up.
Adam you should be the first person getting an iPhone to report to us your impressions as the Maccast podcaster. It seems you pan new products from Apple and when you do get the product you love it. Remember you were not going to buy the Apple TV and now you can’t live without it. So get in line Friday night to get your phone!
I don’t know about these iphones.. they sound too good to be true u kno wat i mean… i dono how many people r actually thinking bout canceling their CURRENT CELLPHONE PROVIDER to go with this IPHONE i think its kind dumb of them to assume everyone will go 4 it knowing that they will pay so much on the phone itself… besides all those cancelation fees