vB Easy Archive - Boycot the Iphone

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Boycot the Iphone
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Posted by: autobengal

When are people in the US going to stop bending over for these companies - specially Apple, and get screwed. Phone should be sold unlocked - period.
I will not under any circumstance by the iPhone.
Bits: New iPhone Pricing Model Is a Step Backward for Consumers:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/...mers/index.html

Posted by: dmblue

get a life dude

Posted by: payroll

It is an advertising tactic. Now they can say the iPhone is cheaper than ever before, only $199. But they do not have to mention that the data is now more expensive.

Posted by: krazyrican99

I agree with you autobengal but thats the way it has been set you see a phone you like you have to buy the service. Trust me i dont agree but i wanted a iPhone so i left Verizon i didnt have to i wanted to. so i had to pay for it but i was not forced to get a iPhone.

Posted by: toomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by autobengal

Boycot the Iphone

Um. No.

Look - it's a choice. You can get a great plan with lots of freedom, but with a phone with a mediocre mobile operating system and UI (BB, WM, S60 -- yes, I said it). Or you can get a phone with a great operating system and UI, and unfortunately there are more restrictions on the plan. Why? Because they can get away with it...

If a WM phone came out with these type of plan restrictions, no one would buy it. Dare I say, same for BB and S60 too. But Apple can get away with it for some reason - you'd be wise to ponder why, exactly, that is.

Posted by: Derek Zoolander

Bending over for what? Just buy something else for christ's sake

Posted by: craig87c

add to that the activate in store policy. another reason im not all that interested in the new iphone

Posted by: toomer

Just read the article. Not exactly an example of stellar journalism:

Quote:

But AT&T’s decision to subsidize the iPhone but require customers to sign a two-year contract “undermines progress towards an open network future,” wrote Mr. Moffett.

Ok, so how is this different from nearly every other phone that AT&T sells? You want the "subsidized" price? You have to commit to 2-years. End of story.

I fail to see what is insightful with this article.

And I don't buy the "ooooh, data is $10 more!" argument posed by the author either. The iPhone 1 had a very cheap data plan - in comparison to every other phone in AT&T's stable. The truth of the matter is, we're now expected to pay the same amount that everyone else pays. My data plan for my BlackJack was $29.95. And given how much more people surf with the iPhone, it's not surprising that they couldn't sustain the $20 price point any longer.

Posted by: brettatk

yeah, nobody will buy an iPhone just like nobody will pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas.

Posted by: payroll

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig87c

add to that the activate in store policy. another reason im not all that interested in the new iphone

It does suck, compared to the old iPhone policy. But have you ever upgraded your phone before? You have to go to the store, activate the phone in store, and sign the contract in store. It is the same thing with the iPhone, just like upgrading a phone.

Posted by: wookiee2cu

Keep in mind not all of us bought the first generation iPhone (including me), so a 3G iPhone at half the cost of the original seems like a pretty good deal! Also, most PDA/Smart phones cost $300 with a two year agreement subsidized price so it seems like they are more in line with the other phones in their segment are going for.

Posted by: Konceptz

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomer

If a WM phone came out with these type of plan restrictions, no one would buy it. Dare I say, same for BB and S60 too. But Apple can get away with it for some reason - you'd be wise to ponder why, exactly, that is.

Do you really need to preach opinion as wisdom?

Posted by: payroll

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomer

If you upgrade to a Blackberry on Verizon you have to sign the contract in store... If you do a Blackberry on Verizon you are required to have the data and keep it on. Yet there are still millions of Verizon customers using the Blackberry...

Posted by: MaxLV

Well, I wanted an iPhone, til I realized that they're all locked, and you really have no freedom with them, even if you purchase them at retail price.

Screw Apple and AT&T...

Posted by: craig87c

Quote:

Originally Posted by payroll

i think this might actually be part of the reason not too many people on here seem to want the new phone, there are a lot of the people that like the exclusiveness of the iphone, the unlocked version even more so. i personally dont like the way that the iphone is becoming like every other phone, i was hoping that at&t wouldnt have a stranglehold over the iphone (in the US) i guess i was hoping maybe apple would let us choose our own paths

Posted by: RNF1968

I'm boycotting it until July 11th! Then I am gettng one!

I am even willing to waste a whole 15 minutes of my life and activate it in the store. The nerve of AT&T!

Posted by: CocheseUGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomer

Um. No.

Look - it's a choice. You can get a great plan with lots of freedom, but with a phone with a mediocre mobile operating system and UI (BB, WM, S60 -- yes, I said it). Or you can get a phone with a great operating system and UI, and unfortunately there are more restrictions on the plan. Why? Because they can get away with it...

If a WM phone came out with these type of plan restrictions, no one would buy it. Dare I say, same for BB and S60 too. But Apple can get away with it for some reason - you'd be wise to ponder why, exactly, that is.

Because my Blackjack or 8525 didn't require a $30 data plan to get. I'm so ever glad that it wasn't that way.

I think there's something about this forum that makes people lose common sense.

Posted by: davechen

Yeah, good luck with that. My suggestion? First learn to spell boycott.

Posted by: cowboy1964

Feel free to buy something else then.

Posted by: jvanbrecht

Quote:

Originally Posted by CocheseUGA

Because my Blackjack or 8525 didn't require a $30 data plan to get. I'm so ever glad that it wasn't that way.

I think there's something about this forum that makes people lose common sense.

Actually they did sort of require it. When I bought my Tilt, for the $200 rebate, I had to get a qualifying data plan, which happens to be $39.99

They have not really increased the cost of the plans, since what they did with the initial iphone is decrease the cost of their basic media services, all they are doing now is bringing them back in line with the costs for the other pda data services, and yes the iphone is a pda. All of those people (myself included on my wifes iphone) that have the media max whatever for $20, that plan is not really for pda's, but cellphones, the basic pda plan has always started at $30

Posted by: CocheseUGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvanbrecht

Actually they did sort of require it. When I bought my Tilt, for the $200 rebate, I had to get a qualifying data plan, which happens to be $39.99

Sorry, I didn't lay the sarcasm on thick enough.

Posted by: cokeman73

I highly doubt anyone will be boycotting the iPhone or any other phone. But I would like to know how AT&T is going to get around the 3G iPhone plan. If you get the 3g version data plan is 3G iPhone data, what are they going to charge customers that don't have access to 3G? AT&T's 3G service is very limited at the moment there will be many that have to use EDGE.

Posted by: CocheseUGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by cokeman73

I highly doubt anyone will be boycotting the iPhone or any other phone. But I would like to know how AT&T is going to get around the 3G iPhone plan. If you get the 3g version data plan is 3G iPhone data, what are they going to charge customers that don't have access to 3G? AT&T's 3G service is very limited at the moment there will be many that have to use EDGE.

Le sigh.

You aren't paying for access to the 3G network, you are paying for access to AT&T's network. It's up to the device to be able to use 3G or not. It doesn't matter if your area has it or not, you all pay the same price if you enter into contracts at the same time.

Old iPhone users entered into what are now obsolete plans, but are grandfathered in. As long as they don't change their contract, they pay the old rate.

New iPhone users happen to fall under the new pricing category that was implemented several months ago. Clear?

I think people are getting very confused by the '3G iPhone' term.

Let's use the Blackjack as an example, and pretend it's launchs coincided with the iPhone launches. BJ comes out, and you could get it with a $20 data/messaging plan. Before the BJ2 comes out, data rates change. If you get the second one (subsidized, and you sign a new contract), you have to go with the new rates because the old ones only exist for grandfathered users.

Both devices use 3G, you aren't paying more because one can and one cannot. The only difference in the analogy is that the first iPhone couldn't access the 3G speeds. That's it.

Posted by: Dewars

Buy the iPhone, boycott buying gas.

Posted by: Icbluscrn

Quote:

Originally Posted by RNF1968

I'm boycotting it until July 11th! Then I am gettng one!

I am even willing to waste a whole 15 minutes of my life and activate it in the store. The nerve of AT&T!

sounds like a plan i can get behind .
I will also boycott buying gas untill my tank is on E.

As far as appple charging more for the data plans, they are not they are charging the same as the everyone without an iphone,Consider the old pricing plan as a discounted price.

Posted by: toomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by cokeman73

If you get the 3g version data plan is 3G iPhone data, what are they going to charge customers that don't have access to 3G?

The same thing that they charge someone who buys a BlackJack (a 3G capable phone) for data service.

It's not a "3G data plan" -- there is no such thing. It's just a data plan. Your mileage (i.e.: speeds) may vary, based on conditions.

Posted by: BeyondTheTech

I can see it now. One lonely person picketing in front of a crowded, bustling Apple store. That's sticking it to the man! You show them, buddy!

Posted by: Texasags

Quote:

Originally Posted by payroll

It is an advertising tactic. Now they can say the iPhone is cheaper than ever before, only $199. But they do not have to mention that the data is now more expensive.

I have seen no evidence of a cover up concerning the more expensive data plan.

Posted by: TenTwelve

Gfy + Diaf

Posted by: Gorgonesh

Everyone is pissed off because ATT decided to classify the iPhone 3G as a PDA and now it's stuck on the PDA plan. In the past ATT classified a device as a PDA if it ran WinMo or if it was a Blackberry and now the iPhone has been added to that class. This has never been the case that I can recall on an S60 device, even when they sold the E62. Can anyone correct me on this? Enjoy paying $20 too much for data now, that really sucks.

Posted by: RogerPodacter

Quote:

Originally Posted by cokeman73

how many more time are people gonna post this? you are NOT paying more for 3G, you are paying more because its a PDA device. makes no difference if you are on EDGE or 3G. put it this way, my phone is 3G and i pay 15 dollars for unlimited. but wait, i'm on 3g!! on no!! how is that possible? its because my n95 is considered a regular phone, not a PDA, by ATT. get it?

Posted by: t-bone-t

Quote:

Originally Posted by brettatk

yeah, nobody will buy an iPhone just like nobody will pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas.

Except, we have to have gas to get to work but we don't have to have iPhones. Do you also wonder why people complain about gas prices even though it is one of the cheapest liquids available at gas stations?

Posted by: cokeman73

Quote:

Originally Posted by CocheseUGA

You missed the point. AT&T is calling it the "3g iPhone plan" thats stupid on there part. I know good & well you need a 3g phone & access to 3g for it to work. I also know that the price has nothing to do with 3g service. It's AT&T's PDA data plan. Trust me many will ask why they have to pay more when 3g isn't available in their area just because of the name of the plan. That was the point I was trying to make.
PDA/Smartphone data plan makes since, you get any of those devices you pay 30.00 a month
Media Net makes sense all other phones fall into this category for 15.00 a month.
Sorry if I didn't make it clear.

Posted by: CocheseUGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by cokeman73

You missed the point. AT&T is calling it the "3g iPhone plan" thats stupid on there part.

I think the emphasis is misplaced by people here.

It's not a 3G iPhone plan, but a 3G iPhone plan.

Just so long as everyone understands that, the confusion should lessen.

Posted by: rebelde96st

HOW BOUT THIS......

1.GO INTO APPLE STORE
2.GET IN LINE FOR THE IPHONE 3G
3.PAY IT WITH A GIFT CARD.FAKE NAME.
4.WHEN THEY TURN THERE BACKS RUNNNNNNN...

5.U GOT YOURSELF A IPHONE
6.GET IT UNLOCKED

IAM THINKING PEOPLE ARE ALREADY PLANNING THIS

Posted by: misery94

I'm surprised to see so many people sticking up for AT&T here. While it is their "right" to do as they please, they certainly won't win any consumer awards for their handling of the iPhone. It is no secret that while many iPhones have been unlocked and sold elsewhere and they didn't sell as many as forecast, that AT&T made a lot of money and gained a lot of customers by selling the iPhone as somehow "different." This included dangling a cheaper unlimited data with sms price to sweeten the deal. AT&T can call it "changing the business model" all they want to, but this is good old bait and switch, pure and simple. You can say that we will now pay what everyone else pays all you want to, but the fact is that they lured people in with the cheap data and sms package and locked them into 2 year contracts. Now they have turned the tables and pulled the rug out from under us all at once. I realize that we don't have to upgrade, but the alternative is to watch a piece of hardware that you paid a fairly high price for one year ago or less quickly lose its value. I'm sure that Apple and AT&T also knew that many, like myself, would sell their iPhone to raise money for the next model. Now we are truly stuck. We will have to upgrade. re-buy the V1 iPhone used or refurbed, or just move on to a different platform. While Apple and AT&T certainly aren't breaking any laws here, they are definitely guilty of mercenary business practices.

Posted by: timmah333

Quote:

Originally Posted by autobengal

When are people in the US going to stop bending over for these companies - specially Apple, and ^stop^ get^ing^ screwed.<---should be (?) Phone should be sold unlocked - period.
I will not ^COMMA^under any circumstance ^COMMA^ by<--should be BUY the iPhone.
Bits: New iPhone Pricing Model Is a Step Backward for Consumers:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/...mers/index.html

*sirens* woooooooooo wooooooooo *sirens*

GRAMMAR POLICE.

If you're going to try to be the leader of something, at least do it with proper grammar and spelling. I will commend you, however, for at least using some form of punctuation. It's better than 80% of the stuff people try to say on here!

Back to the topic at hand, if that's the case you should just boycott postpaid phones in general and everyone strictly have prepaid phones. By having the phone locked it makes it more financially viable for the vast majority of middle class citizens.

I don't know about everyone else, but $199 up front and $10 extra per month is easier than coming up with the extra $240 up front. Hence the reason that we have credit cards. It fuels the american desire to have things that we really can't afford. I won't be getting the 3G iPhone, but I will have to say that I think it's a great idea to lower the price of your device so that more people can afford it. Just becuase you don't have an extra $240 in the bank for spending cash, doesn't mean you can't afford the extra $240 a year. I have a couple thousand in checking and a fair amount more than that in savings, but I like having money in the bank in case there's an emergency, so if it means taking an extra $10 out a month as opposed to $240, so be it. If there's an emergency, and I have to spend all of my checking/savings $10 is alot easier to find/borrow then $240. Is it probable that I will have to? No. Can it happen? Definitely.

Posted by: klowngoblin

i wouldnt boycott the iphone, its driving prices of competitor products down and THATS what i want. the iphone is great!!, once it gains popularity people will start targeting that phone with exploits so blackberry, symbian and WM users can worry less, just like how mac users are now.

Posted by: DaRtHXtC

Quote:

Originally Posted by autobengal

When are people in the US going to stop bending over for these companies - specially Apple, and get screwed. Phone should be sold unlocked - period.
I will not under any circumstance by the iPhone.
Bits: New iPhone Pricing Model Is a Step Backward for Consumers:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/...mers/index.html

If people are so pissed about this... THEN DON'T BUT IT!!! This is getting really old reading these posts.

You're a consumer, you have a choice, if you don't like the pricing or restrictions no one is forcing you to buy it. Let it go already!

Posted by: CocheseUGA

Quote:

Originally Posted by misery94

While Apple and AT&T certainly aren't breaking any laws here, they are definitely guilty of mercenary business practices.

They aren't guilty of anything. Wipe the sand out of your vag.