Apple and AT&T Announce iPhone Service Plans

daveschroeder writes "Apple and AT&T today announced service plans for iPhone, 4 days before its release in the US at 6pm local time on Friday, June 29. The plans are $59.99/mo for 450 minutes, $79.99 for 900 minutes, and $99.99 for 1350 minutes, and all include unlimited data, 200 SMS messages, rollover minutes, and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling. Any other standard AT&T service plan may also be used. A two year service plan is required, with a $175 cancellation fee if terminated early. In addition, activations are done via iTunes, so only the hardware is purchased in the store. Interestingly, activation of a contract via iTunes is required to enable the iPod/syncing functionality of the phone as well. (It will remain to be seen whether there are workarounds for this for those who only want the iPod functionality of iPhone, and whether the iPhone is easily unlockable for those who wish to try it on alternate carriers, and so on.)"

Re:Alternate Carriers

nope, its only Apple stores and select AT&T stores are carrying it. In no way has it ever been stated that you can buy a unlocked phone. Jobs was very clear to the fact that the iPhone was a 2 year AT&T exclusive.

Re:Alternate Carriers

Actually, it's not quite that simple.

Here is who's carrying it:

- Apple retail stores [apple.com]
- Apple online store [apple.com]
- AT&T corporate stores [att.com] (not corporate kiosks or resellers initially, but those may come in the future)

As to the other points:

Yes, it's always been generally said that iPhone would require a two year contract, but what was said at the keynote was that the agreement between Apple and AT&T was a "multi year exclusive", which has subsequently been revealed to be five years. Until today, it appeared that AT&T would be selling the phones with mandatory activation, whereas you could just walk out with a phone from the Apple store. So, a lot of people were hoping that the phone was hackable or easily unlockable, so as to use it with other carriers. If the iTunes activation thing is easily worked around AND the phone is unlockable in some way, then you might be able to move it to another carrier. The worst case scenario - assuming the phone is unlockable - is that you sign on with AT&T, have them unlock the phone after 90 days (assuming it's unlockable in this way), cancel the contract, and move to another carrier. Obviously, a lot of people are hoping they can just buy the hardware, unlock it somehow, and use it on the carrier of their choice. That may still be possible, but we really won't know until people start playing with these things.

Re:Alternate Carriers

If this phone lasts 5 years, it could very well be the best made phone in existence. The contract only applies to the original iPhone, I doubt Jobs gave them exclusive access to iPhone v2.0 and iPhone Nano as well.

I'm waiting for the iPhone Shuffle personally. The one w. no screen and just send & end buttons. Every time I press the send button, it randomly dials phone number on my contact list.

Re:Alternate Carriers

I'm sorry but as a long time Treo user, I'll have to call you on your crap.

The Treo was cool five years ago because it pioneered the idea of having a Palm PDA with a phone. It hasn't kept up, and Palm OS is creaky and needs a bullet in the head. Even Palm abandoned its own product to deliver a Windows Mobile version, which is actually less functional and more problematic.

I hope the iPhone results in Palm closing down. It really deserves the failure it earned by dumping trash on its own customers.

The Egregious Incompetence of Palm [roughlydrafted.com]
Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Linux, and Symbian currently power the world's smartphones. How does each stack up against Apple's OS X in the iPhone? This article presents an overview of Palm. Palm's early products actually followed a trajectory strikingly similar to Apple's original Macintosh. Differences in the choices made at Palm provide an interesting glimpse into "what if" scenarios of a parallel universe.

Re:Alternate Carriers

Nope...The iPhone is exclusive to AT&Tingular for a "Multi year exclusive" So...unless someone finds a way to unlock it, the iPhone at AT&T are married for a minimum of 2 years in the USA...there has been speculation that it's a 5 year exclusive for the USA, but no one knows for sure yet.

According to the article, you buy the phone from apple or AT&T unactivated...You then use iTunes to activate the phone and your plan. It seems Apple wanted total control over the unboxing and activation experience...they didn't want oily prepubescent AT&T sales reps get their greasy fingerprints all over someone's brand new iPhone :)

Re:Alternate Carriers

Also...check out http://www.apple.com/iphone/usingiphone/activation .html [apple.com] for a video on how to activate using iTunes...It would seem that this is the same for iPhones bought at AT&T stores and Apple Stores. So...lines should be quick...just go in, pay for the phone, and go home to activate... None of this activating a plan and taking 30 minutes to get going bull that normally comes with buying a cell phone...In, Pay, Out, Activate.

Lines should move fairly quickly.

Re:Slashdot is against the wrong monopoly

You can avoid the iPod because it is a free market. You can buy a Zen or even a Zune.

You can't do the same in the PC market. You will grow grey hairs before Dell or HP or any other PC maker will offer you real options in your OS. Sure, a few token free OS offerings to hobbyists, but no commercial competition, and no hope for that situation to change. It's been the same since the early 90s. That's a monopoly.

Avoiding Windows is like trying to avoid roads or money. Sure you can barter and live in a cave, but there is really no option to avoiding Windows. You can easily avoid any products from Apple and find all sorts of competitive alternatives.

Apple: iPhone Now Costs Less than Ballmer's Lame Motorola Q [roughlydrafted.com]
After earlier blowing apart iPhone battery panic with an announcement of 8 hours of talk time, Apple dropped yet another bombshell upon "business as usual" in the mobile market. ...With the new plans announced by Apple and AT&T, that has changed. The minimum plan with unlimited data is $59, or $1416 over two years. That makes the $500 iPhone well over a hundred dollars less than Verizon's limp Motorola Q, which is $2170 with its required service plan.

Re:Unlimited data, eh?

What makes you think the iPhone will run voice calls over IP? It's a traditional GSM phone that uses EDGE data to provide additional services including the visual voicemail. But calls go over the traditional cellular network just like any other phone.

Re:Unlimited data, eh?

How hard is it to make a VOIP application that works in Safari?

Without Flash or Java? I'd say pretty damn hard.

Ah ha!

If the phone calls will be running on voIP, which is *data*, then technically there should be no monthly limit on minutes. Who wants to be the first to try this out?

I think you may have just hit on the very reason why Apple isn't supporting 3rd party apps. I'll bet the deal with AT&T had some sort of language to prevent this very thing since many of the iPhone's coolest features require a lot of data access. Since non-unlimited data plans are nightmarishly expensive if you're a heavy web user (like I am), it seems almost a prerequisite that iPhone plans come with unlimited data.

Naturally, this opens up the very possibility you just mentioned, so both AT&T and Apple are probably very keen on making sure that it doesn't happen. Hence, no iPhone SDK for 3rd parties. All the bluster about controlling the experience is probably just that -- bluster meant to distract from the real issue.

Why else would Apple cripple a brand new platform that could fuel a rush of developers for them except to appease AT&T?

Re:Ah ha!

Its actually for the reasons that they stated. I know the Slashdot set is rife with conspiracy theories but Apple and AT&T simply want to avoid the nightmare that other phones cause, such as Treos and WMobile devices of being returned when the user installs some instable 3rd party app and of course they go home and reload everything that was on the first phone onto the second phone causing another return, repeat repeat repeat.

Wow: nice conspiracy theory. According to Merrill Lynch, return rates at HTC (the world's largest maker of Windows Mobile phone) at 2.2%, against an industry average of 3%. So, those "nightmare" return rates are... made up.

Re:Ah ha!

I know the Slashdot set is rife with conspiracy theories but Apple and AT&T simply want to avoid the nightmare that other phones cause

You can't make something false just by calling it a conspiracy. Think about it: limited voice, unlimited data. Why would somebody not install some software to circumvent this arbitrary distinction if they could? Apple already has more than a little experience selling devices that accept 3rd party applications - I seem to recall they got their start in personal computers :)

Handled on the network

With only Safari as the platform for 3rd party apps, there is a much smaller set of APIs to secure against a malicious app essentially being able to spy on every phone call, email;

Not an issue; that functionality is already handled by AT&T.

Re:Ah ha!

I would be surprised if Apple didn't demand that AT&&T make unlimited data a manadory requirement to carrying the phone. Phone companies vary in price but every phone typically has data packages as secondary options. People who don't realize the data usage might be high refuse the purchase and pay for the kilobyte transfer or buy reduced programs, earning the carriers extra money for overages. Presuming that data transfer will be high on the iPhone, Apple thought to stem off complaints by removing the option.

Re:Ah ha!

"If the iPhone is supposed to be a communications device, 200 text messages is not sufficient. Unless typing on the iPhone just *really* sucks, in which case maybe it doesn't really matter. However, considering I've managed to type messages on the dial pad of my old cell phone, it's hard to imagine it gets worse than that."

Depends. If you listen only to /. you'd think everyone in the world depends almost soley on SMS txt messaging. I guess it depends on your 'world', but, pretty much in my circle...it is very rarely used. I have friends that refuse to pay extra for it, and I myself really only 'discovered' it and the T9 functionality during the aftermath of Katrina, when voice was impossible to any phone in the 504 area code, but, text messaging would go through. I learned to use it then.

With the iPhone, I'd probably be doing the same thing...mostly either voice, or maybe email through my own servers....or picture mail which I do now (since with sprint vision, pic mail is 'free', so I send a pic and type text on it).

Re:Ah ha!

I think you may have just hit on the very reason why Apple isn't supporting 3rd party apps. I'll bet the deal with AT&T had some sort of language to prevent this very thing since many of the iPhone's coolest features require a lot of data access.

Indeed. Having worked in wireless myself, down in the customer support trenches, I can tell you that most carriers rue the dawn of Treo's and Win smartphones and such. If they could take it all back without blatantly appearing to be the complete and utter bastards what that they are then they certainly would faster than a 10khz tone drops an old fashion amps call.

Enter his Steveness wielding the iPhone. It does a few nifty tricks heretofore unseen from cellphones and oh, look, it's an iPod too. "Smartphone schmartphone" sez AT&T execs, "it's an iPhone and that's different. Make Mr. Jobs tweak the reality distortion field to our liking. He will acquiesce if he wants his precious to ever touch a network like ours, Muwahahaha!" Making a deal with a carrier is akin to making a deal with the dark one himself. I'd not be surprised if the iPhone has shed features along the way, features some of us have been bitching for. I've seen this first hand many times. Think Motorola and Verizon for example. Or Nokia and most any US carrier. And need I remind you how supposedly Jobs had approached VZW first who then sent him packing? It's my observation that most of us will never again see the day of newer "smart" phones getting to market 100% unmolested and in their original state as intended by the manufacturers.

A few other notes

- iPhone DOES have a user-accessible SIM tray.

- Since one would presume the iPod functionality of the device still needs to work when the contract expires, there is probably going to be a fairly easy hack/workaround to use only the iPod functionality (e.g., perhaps just a file sitting somewhere, a la .AppleSetupDone).

- It will be interesting to see whether AT&T will unlock the phone on request, as they do for other GSM phones (for international travel and prepaid SIMs), and if that is the case, how well other carriers' networks work with iPhone (obviously sans things like Visual Voicemail).

- Still no word on battery replacement specifics, but it seems safe to assume that iPhone is the same as iPod in this respect; namely, that it is sealed and that the battery isn't "user accessible", but that there will still be plenty of ways to replace the battery [ipodbatteryfaq.com] yourself or via third parties if you so choose (battery failure under warranty would be covered by the warranty [ipodbatteryfaq.com]). I'm going to be tracking this issue here [ipodbatteryfaq.com].

- Still no word on insurance or AppleCare, but since all iPods have AppleCare options ($59 for two years), iPhone probably will as well.

- Two more days to determine this for certain, but it appears that if only the iPod/syncing functionality (or first time setup, anyway) is what is tied with iTunes activation, WiFi via the browser will probably work fine as-is without a contract. Note: it is not certain that this is the case, but it seems likely. (Just a point of information; not stating this as inconrtovertible fact. The only way this might not be the case is if the entire phone is just locked until activated, which seems unlikely.)

- Also remains to be seen how "hackable" the phone is in general. Here's to hoping.

2nd gen? -- rubbish

Everyone knows that the 3rd gen will have a ball massager and and a cheek flosser. However, I am really stoked for the 4th gen which will cut the price of the phone to .25 of its original price, as Apple always does.
According to the rumor mills, the 4th gen may also come in watermellon red, which as far as I'm concerned is the color of Kings.

Re:A few MORE notes

intentionally withholding information from the original posting -- that most people will read -- so you can post it later and get karma, is sleazy.

Sleazy? What a strange word to use here. I think you overestimate the importance of Slashdot karma... and probably of Slashdot in general. Most of us like to browse Slashdot, looking for some interesting news, and partake in the discussions. Karma helps us get our points across, but for most of us, it's not the end of the world if we lose some now and again. In any case, it's pretty judgmental to assume that dave is preparing to launch an assault on some Slashdot sacred cow, and he doesn't have any links in his posts (in a sig or in the header) to a commercial site or blog, only his webpage at his school, so he's not making money off of people reading his posts.

Let's all take a break from our computers now and step outside for some fresh air.

Yes but

What about the iPhone?

Unlimited Data.

Some carriers define "unlimited data" as some arbitrary level, which once you break you either lose service, or are charged a hefty fee. Just something to keep in mind.

Re:Unlimited Data.

Defining "unlimited data" should be easy:

Maximum transfer rate per second * 60 seconds * 60 minutes * 24 hours * 31 days.

That should give you your monthly limit.

Anything below that should be called "limited".

Re:Unlimited Data.

I had verizon's 'unlimited' plan a while ago, and took it to be just that. After a month of remote desktoping, music and video dl-ing (some of which was even legal), I found that my service wasn't working anymore. I called Verizon, who told me that they'd detected abuse, based on the fact that I'd gone over the usage limit (that I hadn't been told about) on my 'unlimited' account, and they summarily canceled my service. At least they let me return the PC access card (still burned me with the restocking free, though). I'm on AT$T's 'unlimited' plan now, but since I just use it with my blackberry, I can't imagine I'm in danger of going over. But, I bet their 'unlimited' plan is just like verizons....quite limited.

iPod functionality

I don't understand the part about users "only wanting the iPod functionality of the iPhone". Why not just buy an iPod then?

Re:iPod functionality

Bigger screen for video.

Re:iPod functionality

Because there isn't an iPod with 3.5" touchscreen?

It's a great looking iPod and I'd be tempted if it were a little cheaper even with just 8Gb. But I live in the UK so we're not going to see it until Christmas anyway.

Alternate carriers

(It will remain to be seen whether there are workarounds for this for those who only want the iPod functionality of iPhone, and whether the iPhone is easily unlockable for those who wish to try it on alternate carriers, and so on.)

Apparently, Apple had to make AT&T make changes to the voicemail system to accommodate some nifty features, so if you switched carriers, you might lose voicemail.

Re:Alternate carriers

So no big loss if I don't have visual voice mail (like I need to see you when you're rambling for an hour into a networked recording device).

You misunderstand what "visual voicemail" is. It has nothing to do with video, but means that you can browse your voice mail messages visually via the phone interface, giving you random access to them rather than the sequential access you normally have. So people who keep all their voicemail can pick one out of the bunch by simply scrolling to it instead of whatever kludgy audio keypad-based navigation they normally have when they dial into their carrier's VM system.

AT&T?

"The plans are $59.99/mo for 450 minutes, $79.99 for 900 minutes, and $99.99 for 1350 minutes,"

Man, it sure is expensive these days to get illegally wiretapped.

Re IPhone

Last phone I bought was a Treo 650, thnking that I will be using the applications. A year later I use my phone for " Making phone calls".

Re: Treo 650, etc.

Google makes a version of Google Maps explicitly for the Treo as well as other smart phones.

http://google.com/gmm/treo [google.com]

Rate plan not so bad....

I currently pay $60 for 450 mins, unlimited data, and 1500 text messages for my Treo with Cingular. Thing is, I bought the Treo on eBay, and I swapped SIM cards from my old Motorola. So as far as Cingular is concerned, I'm still using that. They normally want to charge $40/month for unlimted data for Treos (as opposed to the $20 I'm currenly paying), which doesnt really make sense since unlimited dats is unlimited data.

With that in mind this isn't too bad of a deal. It's the same as what I'm paying though 200 text messages instead of 1500. I assume there will be iChat for the iPhone which will use the data plan, so that won't be so bad.

There's method to that madness...

IIRC they have a blurb in the TOS of the $20 plan saying you may not use the handset as a modem and they certainly do their damnedest to try and prevent you from using that feature, though basic GPRS is pretty crap on their network. I just got a 3G data card and they want $50/month for "unlimited" data for that.

I wonder if the SIM card trick would work on it. I mean, they had to assign it a telephone number (quoi?), so methinks they might not be able to tell the difference.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER? WTF?

From this announcement: [apple.com]

System Requirements ...iPhone activation requires an Internet connection; an iTunes Store account or a major credit card; a valid Social Security number (as required by AT&T); the latest version of iTunes available at www.itunes.com and a PC or Mac with a USB 2.0 port and one of the following operating systems [blah, blah, blah...]

Social Security number? WTF? This is 2007, companies that want my business should need my social security number.

As the Social Security Administrationtells us, [ssa.gov] "Your number is confidential... You should be careful about sharing your number with anyone who asks for it (even when you are provided with a benefit or service)." I reluctantly give it to banks and brokerages who need it for tax purposes. I very, very reluctantly give it to medical organizations.

A phone company? No, thank you.

Re:SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER? WTF?

I believe that's for the credit check they run on you. Thus, the proper anger should be about why the phone company needs to run a credit check on you and/or why a social security number is required to do so.

Re:SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER? WTF?

All of the major cell phone companies require a SSN to do the credit checks...

Once more, if you loose your password to the AT&T or Verizon websites, I have seen both sites require a SSN for password recovery.

Tracfone and some other pay-as-you-go plans don't require any such sillyness.

Re:SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER? WTF?

Isn't that the same company that is stonewalling the investigations into illegal wiretaps of Americans?

Re:Who came up with these prices?

Problem is you are using a check list style comparison. While sometimes these are useful let clearly indicate a case when they are not.

Bentley Vs My Car (VW Passat)

Both have 4 doors. Tie
Both Seat 5 People. Tie
Both drive on the same roads and get the passengers from A to B. Tie
Fuel Consumption. My car is better. Win my car
Price. My car is about 1/10th the price. Win my car
Speed, the Bentley is faster although given both a limited most of the time by the law and traffic conditions. Just win for the Bentley
Space. Win Bentley
Insurance cost. Win my car.

So is my car better then a Bentley. Nope although it is better value then a Bentley. It also doesn't go into all the little detail that make a Bentley better quality of finish etc. just like you fail to mention the experience of using the iPhone.

Re:Who came up with these prices?

Not to be a picker of nits... but the Bentley's insurance isn't necessarily more expensive.

Contrary to popular belief, insurance rates are determined by the frequency/cost of medical claims far more than the cost of auto body repair work... because medical claims are, by comparison, astronomical.

Case in point: I paid slightly less insurance on a Mercedes Benz than I am paying on my VW... the Benz performs better in 40mph frontal offset crash tests with little or no intrusion into the cabin. The Benzes are tanks... I've seen footage of two 100mph crashes on the Autobahn where the occupants of the vehicle got up and walked away.

I don't know the case with the Bentley specfically, but it is very possible that the insurance rates could be less given the number of safety features typical of luxury vehicles.

Re:Who came up with these prices?

I couldn't build that plan out on the Sprint website. I can get 900 minutes for $59.99 but Unlimited EVDO for that phone is $39.99 (called "Unlimited Data Plan for Phone as Modem"), Insurance is $7 (called "Total Equipment Protection"). That is $106.98 per month by my math.

I assume you get no text messages since you didn't mention that but with Sprint those are 300 for $5 or unlimited for $10. Oh, and of course the phone which (subsidized) is still $400.

Can you help us out on how to get your deal?

74GB capacity?

Did anyone else notice this screenshot in the video?

http://bayimg.com/LAcLFaabd [bayimg.com]

It shows an iPhone with 75GB of storage. Earlier in the video they show the storage as 8GB.

Any speculation as to a hard drive version becoming available sometime soon?

iPhone + Laptop?

Has anyone read anywhere if you can use the iPhone as a generic internet source via bluetooth/802.11 for a laptop or something like that? If it has unlimited data, it'd be nice to be able to pair it up with my laptop and get on the net from a "real" computer if I need to while I'm on the road and can't find a wifi hotspot. (Note.. I currently don't have a fancy-pants cell phone with data capability, so I'm a bit out of the loop on this kind of thing and I'm not sure if that feature is "normal" or not on these kinds of smart phones...)

unlimited = limited read the fine print!

unlimited = limited read the fine print! Just like everyone else there is no free lunch: Prohibited and Permissible Uses: Data Service sessions may be conducted only for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) corporate intranet access (including access to corporate email, customer relationship management, sales force automation, and field service automation applications). Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, using Services: (i) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, without limitation, Web camera posts or broadcasts, continuous jpeg file transfers, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other machine-to-machine applications; (ii) as substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections; (iii) for Voice over IP; (iv) in conjunction with WWAN or other applications or devices which aggregate usage from multiple sources prior to transmission; (V) Using the Services for any activity that adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use either the Services or other parties' Internet-based resources including, but not limited to excessive consumption of network or system resources (whether intentional or unintentional) and "denial of service" (DoS) attacks against another network host or individual user; or (vi) Interference with or disruption of other network users, network services or network equipment. except for CONTENT formatted in accordance with AT&T's CONTENT standards, Unlimited plans cannot be used for uploading, downloading or streaming of video content (e.g. movies, TV), music or games. Furthermore, unlimited plans (except for DataConnect and Blackberry Tethered) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to-computer accessories, Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology) to laptops, PCs, or other equipment for any purpose. Service is not intended to provide full-time connections, and the Service may be discontinued after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage. AT&T reserves the right to (i) limit throughput or amount of data transferred, deny Service and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts its network or service levels and (ii) protect its network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. You may not send solicitations to AT&T subscribers without their consent. You may not use the Services other than as intended by AT&T and applicable law. Plans are for individual, non-commercial use only and are not for resale. Security: AT&T does not GUARANTEE SECURITY. Data encryption is available with some, but not all, Services sold by AT&T. If you use your device to access company e-mail or information, it is your responsibility to ensure your use complies with your company's internal IT and security procedures. Changes to the terms and conditions: These terms and conditions may be changed from time-to-time. AT&T will post the most current version of these terms and conditions on the MEdia Net web site (www.wireless.att.com/medianet) or other appropriate location. Please check these regularly to inform yourself about changes to the terms and conditions, policies, news, etc.

Exchange Support Rumor

Somewhat off-topic, but there's another interesting iPhone rumor/tidbit floating in the ether today: A ZDNet Blog [zdnet.com] claims that Apple will be announcing sometime this week that they've licensed the MS Exchange ActiveSync API... which would signal that the iPhone is almost definitely compatible with Exchange Servers. For folks whose IT departments are in love with that particular software stack, I'll bet that will be big news.

Re:For the Love of Money

Nice slashvertisement there, Dave.

So, people aren't interested in this?

Ooookayyyy...

You want me to spend a minimum of $59.99/mo. + $499 for an iPhone?

No, I don't "want" anyone to do anything, other than know that plans have been released for iPhone.

Which is what a lot of people have been waiting for.

Which is why I submitted the story.

What else can you expect from a fat cat sconnie who prides himself on the BMWs he's owned and lists his top 'interest' as Apple?

Sorry I didn't submit as AC. Maybe I will next time to please you! And "fat can sconnie". Heh.

Also, I must deeply apologize for being interested in Apple. I know it's a rare ailment, and that it must offend you greatly. I'm almost shedding a tear!

Re:For the Love of Money

Nope. I don't sell cell phones (and never have), don't work for Apple or AT&T/Cingular (and never have), and I won't have anything to do with iPhone sales (other than buying one myself on Friday).

I just submitted it because one of the most awaited pieces of information about iPhone was its plans, and since every other story here and on other tech blogs lately seems to be about iPhone...well, you get the idea.

Re:For the Love of Money

"You want me to spend a minimum of $59.99/mo. + $499 for an iPhone? "

I dunno what the big deal is. In the US, you buy a phone and you're signing a 1 or 2 year contract, that is the norm here.

My phone with SprintPCS is about $80/mo, unlimited nights and weekends...I think about 1000 anytime minutes, SMS is extra, but, I don't use that much, nor do I ever come close to the daytime minutes. I have the full Vision plan...unlimited data, picture mail...and since I 'unlocked' the bluetooth modem capabilities in my Samsung A900...I can tether it to my laptop as needed.

The latter point, is the main reason I'm not going with the iPhone in Jan. when my current contract is up. It isn't price, it is the stated fact [macworld.com] that iPhone will NOT allow tethering to a laptop as a modem as part of their 'unlimited' data plan.

The price and monthly cost is no big deal to me....but, I want my tethering capability.

Re:For the Love of Money

My phone with SprintPCS is about $80/mo, unlimited nights and weekends...I think about 1000 anytime minutes, SMS is extra, but, I don't use that much, nor do I ever come close to the daytime minutes.

I heard the other day on NPR how it was difficult for Apple or any other hardware manufactuer to get into the phone market because of the service cartel. Personally, I think talking about $80/mo as if its nothing is crazy. I pay like $30/mo for my phone and I think I'm getting ripped off (~ 12-15 of that is taxes and fees and other crap).

I simply don't understand how I can use the internet for $20-40/mo, unlimited "minutes" worldwide access, but talking to someone on the phone frequently costs more?

To me, in 2007, phone service should be less than $20/mo, but being that people are willing to spend over $100/household for phones, the phone service people will gladly take their money.

Re:Plans are not cheap

That's actually not expensive -- I was surprised to see how low they were. Verizon's 900 minute plan is $99, and the cost of a Treo is really not a lot less than the cost of an iPhone (I think it might be more). When I had T-Mobile and a Treo 650, I was happy with the price I was getting (though it included WiFi in Starbucks and wherever else they controlled WiFi), and I was paying $58 for 300 mins and unlimited data. It would not surprise me to find out that these plans are cheaper than other unlimted data plans that AT&T offers.