Question for iPhone users

[abelenkpe]

Hello dahlings:

How do you feel about the service on your iPhone? How come it's so expensive? I'm looking at a family plan for me and my hubby and they want 200 a month. Is that normal? Any comments of advice would be appreciated as I'm thinking of getting this for my hubby for the holidaze. Maybe I should just get him one?....

[NYC_SKP]

1. That price sounds crazy.

One phone:

Nation Unlimited
$99.99/month
Nation 1350 w/Rollover® Minutes
$79.99/month
Nation 900 w/Rollover® Minutes
$59.99/month
Nation 450 w/Rollover® Minutes
$39.99/month

Family plans:

Nation 4000 FamilyTalk w/Rollover® Minutes
First two lines: $199.99/month
Additional lines: $9.99/month
FamilyTalk Nation Unlimited
First two lines: $199.99/month
Additional lines: $99.99/month
Nation 3000 FamilyTalk w/Rollover® Minutes
First two lines: $149.99/month
Additional lines: $9.99/month
Nation 2100 FamilyTalk w/Rollover® Minutes
First two lines: $109.99/month
Additional lines: $9.99/month
Nation 1400 FamilyTalk w/Rollover® Minutes
First two lines: $89.99/month
Additional lines: $9.99/month
Nation 700 FamilyTalk w/Rollover® Minutes
First two lines: $69.99/month
Additional lines: $9.99/month
Nation 550 FamilyTalk w/Rollover® Minutes (Max 3 lines)
First two lines: $59.99/month
Additional lines: $9.99/month

Note that last plan.

:donut:

[frazzled]

20. Okay, we just bought a plan from AT&T yesterday with iphones

It should be $59.00 for the 550 minutes per month plus $30 for the each data plan. (If you both get iphones, that would add $60, totalling $120 minus taxes.) If you added text messaging that would add $5 a month.

They worked it out for us, for three people (2 iphones plus one regular phone) and it came to $130, before tax.
If you get yours today, before the Thanksgiving weekend is out, they waive the activation fees. (That saved us $88, I think).

We bought the 16GB iphone. We are getting good signals so far. So fun! I was the one that stuck with the regular phone so my husband and son could have the iphone. I'm jealous!
It's only been one day, but we're happy we finally took the plunge.

[NYC_SKP]

22. I love the Google map feature. Directions, live sat navigation, search for a store...

Live traffic, it's much better than my car's nav system.

You'll love your iPhone!

:toast:

[abelenkpe]

30. K, I'm not sure why they are quoting

200 for us. I'll go back to the store tonite and see if we can get a similar deal. My hubby would definitely be happy to have one. Thanks for the info!

[Tesha]

31. "Too many minutes" is probably why you're getting such a high quote.

Your personal phone habits obviously have to determine which plan is
best for you, but I'm on the lowest plan (450 prime time minutes per
month) and never come close to even using up a quarter of my minutes.

It's the unlimited data plan that's essential for me ;).

Tesha

[GrantDem]

The wife and I both have iPhones

plus two extra lines for the kids. Our bill is around $175/month.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Same here

Same phones. Same amount.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. Depends on how you want to use it.

There's no point in getting one if all you want to do is make calls. It's probably the worst mobile *phone* I've ever used. The "phone application" is none too great. That said, I've had no problems with AT&T's service as far as calling goes. On the other hand their 3G data services can be quite spotty. I frequently have difficulty keeping a 3G connection in major urban areas. If you want to use all of the hoopy data features (google maps, internet radio, etc) then this phone is hands-down the best mobile device on the market. Nothing comes close. You just have to put up with bloody AT&T's lousy 3G network. As for the monthly charges, it's absolute highway robbery, because AT&T has a monopoly on the iPhone. I pay over $90/mo for a fairly basic plan. READ THE FINE PRINT on the plan. They nickel and dime you for all kinds of stuff.

Even with all of the expense and hassle, I don't regret my decision to get one. I use it all the time. It really comes in handy in a lot of situations. The combination of GPS, google maps, and live traffic reports is priceless if you're a commuter or if you like to travel. I can't remember the last time I actually printed out a map from my PC. I've found some great new bands via using Pandora in the car when I'm traveling around. I can take pictures and send them to my mom or post them to facebook without the hassle of plugging into a PC, transferring files, and then uploading. I can check my e-mail any time, which means I actually spend *less* time in front of the PC. So despite AT&T's price-gouging I don't regret the decision.

You may want to consider other alternatives, though. There are the new Google Android devices, which offer many of the same features, as well as the Palm Pre and Pixi, which I actually prefer to the iPhone in a lot of respects. I'm not sure how much the service costs for those, though, and I know that at least the Palm devices don't offer 3G (which is a dealbreaker for me.)

[MercutioATC]

3. ...and jailbreaking it opens up even more options...

...like turning your iPhone into a WiFi hotspot :)

[LoZoccolo]

6. Do you know if people jailbreak the iPod Touch very much?

I've got an iPhone and get kinda nervous but get nervous about getting bricked should I jailbreak it, but I would love to have what actually is a BSD Unix box in my pocket! I could kinda sidestep that with an iPod Touch.

[MercutioATC]

12. No idea, but it can obviously be done.

For me, the attraction is using my iPhone as a modem and/or WiFi hotspot. It's a lot easier to type on my laptop's keyboard.

[Poiuyt]

15. You can find out more about jailbreaking iPods here:

http://www.ipodtouchfans.com/forums/

(I haven't done it with mine though)

[Deja Q]

9. And malware... I'd leave it in its cell.

:D

[Lisa0825]

7. They may have some competition now.... I just got the Droid and it is pretty awesome.

I did not have an iPhone, but I had an iPod Touch, and loved it, so I was thinking about getting an iPhone. But almost everyone I know has had problems with AT&T phone service, so I started reading Droid reviews, which were extremely positive. I have only had it a couple days, so I haven't tried everything yet, but so far as I can see it can do pretty much everything the iPhone does, and the screen resolution is AWESOME.

I think the monthly charge is whatever your calling plan is plus $29 for the data plan.

[Deja Q]

10. Larger size, yes. Pee yellow color? Nooooo.

http://content.zdnet.com/2346-11408_22-362456-9.html?tag=content;col1

http://content.zdnet.com/2346-11408_22-362456-1.html?tag=trunk;content



And AT&T has not been perfect, I'll agree.

A shame verizon can't do data & voice simultaneously... then again, they lock out phones' multimedia capabilities so they can bugger off...

Tested - links do work.

[Lisa0825]

11. Mine isn't blurry or yellow at all.

and it is MUCH sharper and brighter than my iPod Touch which is less than a year old, and the iPhone my friend has.

It is so clear that even in long screen, I can read tiny little text that I can't read on the iPhone. The "extra vertical space" s not "extra" when you view long pages.

[Lisa0825]

13. I just realized something....

The photo in the comparison of resolution and color is taken at an odd angle. No one looks at their phone at that angle... you look at it straight on. My phone does look slightly yellow when held at that angle, but it is not something that would ever bother me, since that is not how I look at it when I am reading anyway.

[alfredo]

17. The exclusive contract runs out soon. Maybe Verizon will

be selling the iPhone in the near future.

[abelenkpe]

27. Ooooo

That would be nice! Thanks!

[alfredo]

40. I'm on Verizon and would consider the iPhone.

[Tesha]

34. There are technical reasons why Verizon can't currently support the iPhone.

iPhone uses GSM, the nominal worldwide standard for mobile phones.

Verizon uses a basically Verizon-private networking standard. iPhone would
have to contain a different radio system to operate on the Verizon network.

This will change as "4G" (LTE, "Long Term Evolution") rolls out and Verizon
joins the rest of the world in supporting one common mobile phone networking
standard. Then it becomes merely a business decision as to whether or not
iPhone will be available on the Verizon network.

Tesha

[alfredo]

39. How much is AT&T willing to pay to keep Apple in the fold?

[Tesha]

41. *THAT* is an excellent question and it is on that sort of question that the...

renegotiations of AT&T's currently-exclusive contract in the U.S.
will hinge.

Tesha

[alfredo]

42. And Steve Jobs is an excellent negotiator. Those sweet deals

Apple always seems to get are not accidents. He didn't reshape the music industry on the merits of iTunes. Jobs sold Pixar to Disney, and now Pixar is calling the creative shots, and Jobs is the single largest investor in Disney.

[Tesha]

33. If you think the iPhone is "the worst phone (you've) ever used", then...

...you haven't used a lot of cell phones. Oh, you can complain
fairly about AT&T's network coverage, but there's not really
much to complain about about the iPhone's phone app or
contact manager.

Tesha

[LoZoccolo]

4. Yes, it's expensive because you can connect to the Internet with it.

You pay like $30/month for a data plan. It's cool for people like me who don't have a car and can get a bunch of stuff done on the Internet while riding the bus and train, and surf from work without going on the company network and have them know that I'm doing it. The Internet service isn't the best around but hey, it fits in my pocket. I love my iPhone but I'm a geek.

[ShamelessHussy]

5. Part of the cost is for the device it's self - $500 to $600

Smart phones are like having a computer in your pocket and that is why they are very expensive.

In my case, this the first mobile phone that I actually enjoy using and never forget to charge or bring with me.

If you need/want a smart phone, you can't go wrong with the iPhone, featutre rich and very easy to use.

BTW: I am posting this message on my iPhone.

[ShamelessHussy]

38. BTW: Get the minimum minutes plan, and use AT&T's 5 number plan + google voice for UNLIMITED minutes

I believe it covers U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

[Deja Q]

8. windows mobiel smartphone users have to pay the same price; data connection is mandatory.

I pay $130/mo for a family plan... iPhone and one windows smartphone.

[Lucian]

14. Screw the iPhart...I mean iPhone. Get the Droid instead.

What do you need more? Fart apps or a great 3G phone?

[Tesha]

35. Yeah, all 100,000 iPhone apps are just for farts, right?

Or are you blowing hot air at us?

Tesha

[Poiuyt]

16. I know people who have not bought an iPhone specifically because of ATT

That's notorious for bad service. If Apple ever opens the iPhone up to more providers, the pricing and service should improve by quite a bit.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. It's worth every penny

I'm posting on my iPhone right now. Sitting in the haircut place waiting for my son to get his haircut. Sure beats reading a lame gossip mag.

[abelenkpe]

29. Awesome!

Reminds me that it is definitely time to get my son's hair done too. :)

[NYC_SKP]

21. The iPhone is and will Always Be the Superior Product. Because it is a MAC.

:hide:

[abelenkpe]

28. lol!

Yeah, I do love macs.

I saw that there were some really sweet drawing aps so I'd love to be able to doodle through dailies, and while stuck in meandering meetings. :)

I guess we'll take the plunge. I just don't understand why the service will cost us so much. Seems like others were getting their phones for about 50 bucks less a month.

Thanks for the info!

[NYC_SKP]

32. Start with a cheap plan and upgrade---cuz you can't do it the other way.

My first phone was when they first came out, I had the cheap plan and found I needed more minutes so moved up.

They were happy to change the contract to the more expensive one.

If you check your usage records, you should know how many minutes you need.

Have fun!

[Tesha]

36. And remember, even if you pay for "extra minutes" every once in a while...

that still may be cheaper than paying for a plan that, every month,
causes you to pay more for minutes you never use!

Tesha

[shireen]

23. if you work for a company, ask if they have corporate discounts.

i don't use my phone often ... it's just for emergencies. Most of my iphone use is for the apps, connecting via wifi or the wireless system. So i have the lowest-cost plan that limits call minutes but have practically unlimited access for apps. Couple of weeks ago, i used the wireless connection with the map app to get directions to a friend's house. It was a bit slow, but worked well. (I'm using the older phone model.)

Oh, my monthly bill, for just one number, is $40.

[dysfunctional press]

24. i can't believe how much some people pay to have a cellphone...

i have a 'pay-as-you-go' phone- i put $100 on it in february, and i still have over $50 worth of time left. :shrug:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

25. Generally speaking people who buy iPhones intend to use them for more than making calls.

There's no point in paying the premium price otherwise, as it's not a particularly great mobile phone.

[dysfunctional press]

26. i have a friend who has one...

he mostly seems to use it to show people all the worthless aps.

[Tesha]

37. An iPhone is much more than just a "cell phone".

It's quite close to carrying a full-scale computer in your pocket.
Internet access everywhere can really be a life-changing experience:
there's never a question that need go unanswered because you "can't
get to a computer right now".

Tesha