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June 26, 2007

iphone

iPhone mania: Plans and activation details revealed

Posted Jun. 26, ’07, 7:10 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | iPhone

AT&T Wireless logoWe know we promised to cut down on our iPhone coverage, but just in case you’re not among the hordes subscribed to our new iPhone Central blog, we figured we’d let you in on the big news of the morning.

Apple and AT&T have announced the plan pricing for the iPhone, much to the relief of us many prospective customers. There are three default plans that break down as follows:

$59.99 for 450 minutes
$79.99 for 900 minutes
$99.99 for 1,350 minutes

Each plan includes unlimited data, 200 text messages (we’re not sure if that’s sent, received, or both), Visual Voicemail, rollover minutes, and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling. There’s also a one-time $36 activation fee. From what we’ve been told, family plans will be available, and existing AT&T customers will be able to upgrade their current plans. Customers will also have the option to use AT&T’s other plans (for voice, presumably).

Second up, the old activation dance. As we reported a while back, the iPhone requires an iTunes account; turns out that’s for activation. You’ll be able to buy your phone in the store, then take it home and activate it yourself in “minutes.” Good news for those who are worried about long lines at stores; you won’t have to stand behind someone debating the merits of the $59.99 plan versus the $99.99 plan. Just buy your phone and go.


13 Comments

jayH said:

HOW ABSURD!

my current cingular plan is $39.99 for 450 minutes. they want 20 bucks more just so i can have an iPhone? they're beggin me not to get one... first the huge price for the phone... then a 2 year contract with the worst US carrier... and now these ludicrous plans...

June 26, 2007 7:54 AM
Dan Moren Author Profile Page said:

@Jay: The extra $20 a month is what you pay for the unlimited data plan. And they throw in 200 text messages. That's only about $15 more than I currently pay a month for 400 minutes at Verizon. Not too shabby if you ask me.

June 26, 2007 7:59 AM
Fletcher said:

I find this all pretty encouraging. I currently have Cingular on a FamilyTalk plan so I was wondering how the iPhone would fit in. It looks like it would be $20 extra per month to switch just my phone to the iPhone. Not too bad and I like the fact that they have thought through making it easy for existing Cingular customers. Now, if it didn't cost $500 for the phone...

June 26, 2007 8:04 AM
GruffPelt said:

Other iPhone plans announced are:

* $119.99 a month for 2000 minutes
* $169.99 a month for 4000 minutes
* $219.99 a month for 6000 minutes

Notes that all plans include unlimited data, moble2mobile, and night & weekend minutes EXCEPT the $59.99 plan which only includes 5000 night & weekend minutes.

Family plans are available. You can see all the plans at:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/easysetup/rateplans.html

June 26, 2007 8:05 AM
jayH said:

the unlimited data $19.99 plan i had included either unlimited text messaging or 1.000 of them, can't remember... but 200 messages a month is very little if u ask me :)

June 26, 2007 8:11 AM
GruffPelt said:

@Jay: True, the rate plans are not spectacular, but they are decent and generally in line with what other carriers charge with an unlimited data plan. Only people ignoring reality thought that the plans would be ridiculously low-priced.

And, not to be rude, but as for your statement "they're beggin me not to get one" — somehow I don't think Apple has ever needed to beg you not to buy an iPhone.

June 26, 2007 8:12 AM
Thomas GvL Author Profile Page said:

Apple knows they'll sell a bunch of them, so they can afford pricing them as they do ;) One thing's for sure: you need to be rich to own an iPhone.

June 26, 2007 8:25 AM
NCBob said:

I like the plan, currently I was only able to get a 900 minute plan and had to pay more for it. I'll be able to switch to the 450 iPhone plan and save $20 per month over what I'm paying now.

June 26, 2007 8:49 AM
Jeremy McCullough said:

Wow, I was expecting much worse. I actually don't find those plans to be that bad.

Also, I'd like to make a note about the inclusion of only 200 text messages. Personally, I could care less. I'd just as soon use e-mail. Usually, you can e-mail people with an address like theirnumber@theirprovider.com. Since the data is unlimited, they'll be free.

If anyone else has AT&T, then they'll know how ridiculously expensive their data plans are. It's around $60 for unlimited data for a PDA, last time I checked.

June 26, 2007 9:02 AM
jayH said:

oh well... i was getting used to the price of the phone itself... and had decided to sign up for another two years of bad service with cingular, i mean, AT&T just so i could have an iPhone. but i WAS hoping it the plans would be the same... i didn't think they'd need to change them, since they were already locking you up for two years of bad service and customer care :)

does that date plan includes unlimited slow edge internet service as well?

June 26, 2007 10:34 AM
Jack said:

In general these plans are better than piecing one together currently from at&t/cingular. My treo I pay the same for voice plus unlimited internet...but no text messaging. At the time it was $5/200. Right now they changed that to $5/unlimited between at$t customers otherwise the same or something, blah, blah...

The point is these are fair plan prices, and easy to choose, unless there is a catch. I'll bet it took this long because apple was trying to convince at$t not to make it so complicated (note you can use another at&t plan if you want, in case you want to be more ala carte (i.e. so at&t reps can upsell you :) ).

June 26, 2007 11:38 AM
Adam Goff said:

Seeing as how the base Cingular (yes it's still Cingular to me, do you have any idea how long it took me to stop calling it Cellular One!) plan is $39.99 with 450 minutes and rollover, this is one hell of a deal. Add on the 5 bucks a month I already spend for the 200 texts and this deal gets even sweeter. Cingular's current data pricing is horrendous, I was expecting at least $80 a month. And to everyone that balks at Cingular's service, all I know is I've had the same account and phone number for 12 years and I've never had a problem, even through all the Nextel and Verizon hype. It's good service with decent customer service and that says a lot these days. Then again, I live in the Mid-Atlantic so coverage (except Sprint/Nextel) is pretty much universal. In fact, In my area at least I usually get service in areas that Verizon customers barely get a single bar. Nonetheless this announcement has finally justified my decision to buy one.

June 26, 2007 1:20 PM
Jeff at www.thenewsroom.com said:

Check outthe video of the release here...http://thenewsroom.com/details/445649?c_id=wom-bc-js

June 26, 2007 6:21 PM

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