3G iPhone: $199, July 11th
Apple officially announced that the next generation iPhone will be released on July 11th, at a price of $199 (8GB model; $299 for the 16GB model).
This will set you back a minimum monthly contract cost of $69.99 [$30 unlimited data usage, $39.99 minimum AT&T voice plan with 450 minutes] (or $1,679.76) for the required 24-month contract, bringing the cost of each model to approximately $1,878.76, and $1,978.76, respectively (without any taxes or surcharges included that easily will push it over $2,000).
(Of course, with all the coolness of this thing, who’s actually going to be talking on it!)
Now, this is all looking really cool. But, I can’t justify spending $1,000 per year on a cell phone (I’m already looking for ways to cut down my current bill, which is costing me over $800 per year but is shared by my wife and I and gives me 900 minutes). To get similar with the iPhone would add an additional $550 per year to my bill (I’d get 200 less minutes per month, but would have “rollover minutes”).
I don’t think I could get away with that for a “coolness” factor. Too much other things I could do (some of which are needed) with that extra money.
If you’re one of those who’s debt-free, making plenty of bank, and feels like blowing a little money for a toy such as this: more power to you. Unfortunately, I’m not such a person.
But I’m working on it. (More about that in upcoming blogs…)
