Dogfather
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join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
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4 edits | reply to davoice
Re: How many iPhone Edge users will bite bullet & upgrade to 3G?
So I ask again, what cellular phone manufacturers are offering discounts to upgrade? Why is Apple the only company expected to do this?
Reasonable prices are prices that the market tolerates. Given that iPhone is soundly outselling all the Windows devices combined, it seems that the current contract terms and pricing is plenty reasonable.
Just because someone doesn't want to pony up $400 for a smartphone with a 2 year contract, doesn't make the price or terms unreasonable. Their choice is to buy this one device or not buy this one device and buy any of the other zillion that are on the market. Every other choice rightly belongs to Apple and AT&T.
And whether there will be discounts for upgraders remains to be seen. Apple did after all take the unprecedented step of offering store credits when they dropped the price. I saw no such credits from Treo or Verizon when the price of the 700W dropped shortly after I bought. My guess is that Apple will sell both phones, just dropping the 2G phones price further and introduciong the 3G model at the 2G's old price.
If there is tethering, I'll buy the new 3G phone and sell my old one on eBay and that will be my "ugpraders" discount. |
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davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC
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1 edit | reply to Dogfather
Historically, Treo users always got a discount on an upgrade to the latest version from Palm/Handspring. You just had to order from their site and enter your serial number.
When Palm basically "died" and started offering Windows Mobile devices, that policy disappeared.
Carriers wanted to force complete control of devices into their own hands. That's when upgrade discounts disappeared.
}Davoice |
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Dogfather
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4 edits | reply to davoice
All the major cellular companies lock people into contracts and the AT&T data plan is competitively priced.
My Verizon Treo 700W was $599 with a 2 year contract and service is $10 more than I pay with the iPhone. And when the price dropped significantly I didn't see Verizon offering up a store credit like Apple did. I also don't see Treo ponying up any discount for a new phone. Verizon on my biz plan expects me to pay retail for any upgrade and I'll only be eligible for a subsidized phone when my contract is up for renewal. When I spoke with them, they wouldn't even give me a discount if I extended my contract.
What cellular phone manufacturer offers rebates for upgrades?
All technology evolves and all these companies come out with new products. Anyone who wanted a 3G iPhone, should have waited for it just like anyone who wanted a Penryn should have waited for it.
Meanwhile since the full functionality of the existing iPhone will be intact for many years, no compensation is warranted. People are getting exactly what they paid for and Apple and AT&T are living up to their agreements.
If they want a discount, they can take it in the form of selling their old phone on eBay. |
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davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC
·Comporium
| reply to Dogfather
said by Dogfather  :I don't see Dell offering generous trade in allowances on their computers when the next generation of computers is release. Dell also isn't requiring you to sign a 2 year contract to use their computer either.
The sense of entitlement to some sort of discount by current generation iPhone users comes from the fact that Apple and Cingular/ATT have locked them into using their existing phone for 2 years.
Yes, I know you can do a SIM swap but most end users think they're tied to the phone for the life of the contract unless it breaks.
Since (legit) iPhone users are locked into paying a fairly high cell phone bill every month just for the privilege of carrying the device, I tend to agree with them. If Jobs & Co were selling units without a contract, at reasonable prices, then I'd agree people shouldn't expect anything. But since they are locked into a contract, I think it's reasonable to expect some sort of remuneration. (Most likely that of being able to buy the new iPhone at the 'contract' price instead of 'full retail' - even though Apple doesn't sell any at 'full retail' in the US anyway.)
}Davoice |
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