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.)"

Comments

A few other notes

[daveschroeder]

- 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 yourself or via third parties if you so choose (battery failure under warranty would be covered by the warranty). I'm going to be tracking this issue here.

- 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.

Unlimited Data.

[Silas Palmer-Cannon]

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:For the Love of Money

[daveschroeder]

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:Unlimited data, eh?

[eric2hill]

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:Ah ha!

[rcs1000]

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.