4 ms·

plus a monthly of $39.00 or more and a $15.00 data plan...

by hsmyers 16y ago

Bud 16y ago
Sure, of course. Like most every other smart phone. That's still a lot of phone-ness for $49, albeit w/ contract.
- brudgers 16y ago
  ($15/month data + $20/month phone subsidy)(24 months) + $49 = $899 $20/month phone subsidy based on difference between T-mobile "Even More Plus" and "Even More" plans.
  - Toucan 16y ago
    First off, I'm afraid I don't understand what a phone subsidy is, perhaps we don't have them in the UK or I've never seen them on a price plan here. Assuming it's something you pay for owning a smartphone, would it still be there for a smartphone that costs nothing? If so, then the extra cost for the iPhone is still $49. The comparison ought to be an iPhone v another smartphone and contract with comparable features, not an iPhone v not buying a phone at all.
    - brudgers 16y ago
      In the US most phones are bundled with a service contract (typically two years). This reduces the line item price of the phone from list price to a fraction of list price (or zero). However, if the contract is terminated early, the balance of the list price is due. In addition, if a smartphone is bundled with the service contract, the purchaser must select a plan which includes data service. ATT makes additional revenue by charging the same rate if you have bundled a phone with your service plan or if you are using your own unlocked GSM phone. Tmobile, the other significant GSM carrier in the US provides a $20 a month discount for (and does not require a service contract) when the customer does not bundle a phone with their plan. In the US ATT is the exclusive iPhone carrier and unlocked GSM iPhones are not available. Thus the price of the iPhone is $49, and it's cost over the course of a 24 month contract is $899 because of the terms required by ATT's standard agreement.
      - Toucan 16y ago
        But any cheaper phone is still useless without a contract anyway? The difference isn't $899, it's $899 minus the cost of ownership of an equivalent phone. Even a free phone on a 2 year basic contract is going to be around $600-700, surely? There are pay as you go options, but other than the lightest of users, I don't know many people who find it cheaper than a contract, especially if they use any data.

plus a monthly of $39.00 or more and a $15.00 data plan...

by hsmyers 16y ago

plus a monthly of $39.00 or more and a $15.00 data plan...

Bud 16y ago

Sure, of course. Like most every other smart phone. That's still a lot of phone-ness for $49, albeit w/ contract.

brudgers 16y ago
($15/month data + $20/month phone subsidy)(24 months) + $49 = $899 $20/month phone subsidy based on difference between T-mobile "Even More Plus" and "Even More" plans.
- Toucan 16y ago
  First off, I'm afraid I don't understand what a phone subsidy is, perhaps we don't have them in the UK or I've never seen them on a price plan here. Assuming it's something you pay for owning a smartphone, would it still be there for a smartphone that costs nothing? If so, then the extra cost for the iPhone is still $49. The comparison ought to be an iPhone v another smartphone and contract with comparable features, not an iPhone v not buying a phone at all.
  - brudgers 16y ago
    In the US most phones are bundled with a service contract (typically two years). This reduces the line item price of the phone from list price to a fraction of list price (or zero). However, if the contract is terminated early, the balance of the list price is due. In addition, if a smartphone is bundled with the service contract, the purchaser must select a plan which includes data service. ATT makes additional revenue by charging the same rate if you have bundled a phone with your service plan or if you are using your own unlocked GSM phone. Tmobile, the other significant GSM carrier in the US provides a $20 a month discount for (and does not require a service contract) when the customer does not bundle a phone with their plan. In the US ATT is the exclusive iPhone carrier and unlocked GSM iPhones are not available. Thus the price of the iPhone is $49, and it's cost over the course of a 24 month contract is $899 because of the terms required by ATT's standard agreement.
    - Toucan 16y ago
      But any cheaper phone is still useless without a contract anyway? The difference isn't $899, it's $899 minus the cost of ownership of an equivalent phone. Even a free phone on a 2 year basic contract is going to be around $600-700, surely? There are pay as you go options, but other than the lightest of users, I don't know many people who find it cheaper than a contract, especially if they use any data.