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General discussion

Who will buy the iPhone?

Apr 25, 2007 11:07PM PDT

I'm interested in knowing which BOLers are planning on buying the iPhone. I want one bad, but

a) Can't afford the price tag.
b) Just renewed my plan with Cingular.
c) Its a Rev1-- completely new-- Apple device...

Alex

Discussion is locked

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Not for me...
Apr 25, 2007 11:48PM PDT

Wife won't go for it (price) and I'm a Verizon customer. If it were open to Verizon customers, I would have a much better argument, but all of our friends and families are with Verizon. As much as I hate their stores, it's not worth going to Cingular.

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(NT) I'm too poe
Apr 25, 2007 11:52PM PDT
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I would love to have one..
Apr 26, 2007 12:16AM PDT

but.

...not at PS3 price
... not with that battery
... not with ONLY 8GB of storage.

fix that, and I'm on board. I'm not huge on 3G tho. so i guess that's fine with me.

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Newton?
Apr 26, 2007 12:25AM PDT

Is this a smart phone or just an MP3 phone with the Apple touch?

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not until the price comes down and the battery life goes up.
Apr 26, 2007 12:29AM PDT

not until the price comes down and the battery life goes up...

And...I'm just not a fan of high subscription prices for a comprehensive suite of cell phone services that I probably won't use. I mean, I don't even subscribe to cable TV (I grew up on broadcast). I don't have enough of a reason to have redundant services either (home internet and cell phone internet).

Best,
Shalin

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This stuff needs to get to Apple
Apr 26, 2007 5:39AM PDT

It's unrealistic for them to try to sell a telephony iPod-- which I will admit looks great and I'm sure performs it-- without the 3G network, 4GB drive, 3+ MP camera, and so on-- I really dont think this phone is worth $500.. plus the extremely high plan required with the phone...

Alex

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Who will buy the iPhone?
Apr 26, 2007 7:04AM PDT

Not me either right iPhone is too expensive and I am also on Verizon too and am in the fist year of a two year contract and it is way too expensive to switch I also wouldn't buy a first gen iPhone at all. Should wait until they have ironed all the kinks out of the iPhone.

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Not I
Apr 26, 2007 7:57AM PDT

Plenty of reasons, but the main one is that cingular isn't available in my area. That and it's too expensive really. I can buy a basic computer or a bunch of games for that price.

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not me*
Apr 26, 2007 10:54AM PDT

1) Too, too expensive: I'm under contract with Sprint (don't ask) so the net price for a 4 GB iPhone would be $650 for me. For an 8GB iPhone, it would be $750 (!).

2) No 3G in the iPhone 1. I don't believe software updates would fix that problem.

* I have a feeling that Apple/AT&T will offer either: a) a "conquest" rebate to current non-Cingular customers to defray the cost of breaking contracts with current carriers, or b) offering 6 months of free AT&T service. The aforementioned promos along with the emergence of a few third-party/internet/Apple killer-apps could change my mind... =)

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(NT) According to Arstechnica, no discounts :(
Apr 26, 2007 12:49PM PDT
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don't believe it.
Apr 26, 2007 1:35PM PDT

The chances of there being some sort of rebate or discount on AT&T service within 6 months of launch is greater than 75%.
Evidence?

1) A casual survey (just ask your friends or look at this thread...) shows that the vast majority of people think that $500, $600 is too much to pay for an iPhone.

2) The vast majority of people in the US do NOT have Cingular/AT&T cell service, therefore the effective cost of the iPhone for the vast majority of people is $650 4GB / $750 8GB.

3) Apple likes to make money. In order to make money on the iPhone, they have to move units.

Take these 3 factors into account and there is almost no other conclusion to be drawn. There WILL be some sort of discount/conquest rebate/service discount on the iPhone before Christmas '07.

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$200 price drop = conquest rebate
Sep 5, 2007 12:11PM PDT

Well, for current Sprint, Verizon and T-mobile customers, the iPhone is now REALLY $599.
That $200 price drop will cover the broken contract fees...

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Not needed
Apr 26, 2007 12:17PM PDT

No until it becomes a viable alternative to an iPod and my phone. Right now it is really "gadgety." It's not a necessity and just has stuff thrown on. If they can find a way to tie everything together, I just may get the next generation.

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Passing on this till later
Apr 26, 2007 3:56PM PDT

There is one main reason I am passing on this phone. It isn't the price. I don't have an issue with that. But what came to light for me was the operation of the phone. I had to send my blackberry perl in for repairs as someone had dumped a pint of beer on it.

Because of that, I needed a phone and I needed it fast. I got my hands on a brand new LG Chocolate slider phone. I got this only because it had fair reviews and it was unlocked. When I started to have to navigate with that phone, I immeadiatly started to hate it. all the keys are touch/heat sensitive. if you try to type a message, you really had to make sure your thumb was well above the keys or you could end up adding more letters then you wanted.

This also happened when trying to dial a number. When I would throw the phone in my pocket, it would be rubbing up against my leg and because there was heat and "just" enough preasure, I would end up pressing keys and the phone would go into a loop because it couldn't figure out what I was trying to do.

The new apple IPhone is going to be an issue for me, because they are using the touch "sensitive" keys. At first glance I thought I wouldn't have an issue, but after going through the crap I did with the LG, I am not so sure. If there is a way of locking the buttons I MIGHT get one, but the LG was not so easy to lock, and if you did have it locked and got a phone call, it is not so simple to unlock in order to answer.

So bottom line, I like the apple design and phone, but it is the navigation buttons are a worry. I am also worried about it's life span. Putting all that functionality takes power, and lots of it. What I would also like to know, can I buy extra batteries or is this going to be another issue where apple has it all sealed up.

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(NT) No wi-fi no way, waiting for open Moko
Apr 26, 2007 4:56PM PDT
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Not me
Apr 27, 2007 5:40PM PDT

I actually think apple may have shot itself in the foot with this one. Either they are beginning to beleive thier own hype or they think that because customers have historically been prepared to splash out large sums for the latest and greatest ipod they will do the same for the iphone.
There are a multitude of smartphones on the market, almost all of them play music some of them even have gps navigation and wifi , but off the top of my head I cant think of one that you cant get at a discount if you get it with a contract.
just as a comparison you can buy an 8gig sd memeory card on new egg for 80 bucks, put that in your discounted $199 smartphone and you have an 8gig smartphone that plays mp3, connects to wifi has DUN and makes phone calls without getting the screen all smudgy, and your not forced to moveto ATT/Cingular if you dont want to.

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You guys must be crazy. iPHONE doesn't have NFC.
Jun 10, 2007 9:58AM PDT

This is what I'm buying, but I cannot find one.

Nokia NFC phone. Kyocera and BENQ may also be selling their version by the end of the year with SIRIT NFC.

Watch this clip on the NFC phone, and laugh with me at the iPHONE.

Why buy a hype when the revolution is coming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duvczJCHdRc

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Hello troll.
Jun 10, 2007 1:22PM PDT

Comparing apples to oranges are we?
Come on. This NFC stuff is child's play. The hard part is establishing conventions and infrastructure. After that any and all phones will have this capability

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Not trolling...
Jun 10, 2007 1:26PM PDT

But NFC-- is stupid. It doenst boast any phone features, just the vague possibility of for some reason all these random organizations integrating software/hardware to work with one nokia handset..

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Not just Nokia.
Jun 10, 2007 1:36PM PDT

Kyocera launching after finishes trial in link below.

BENQ also just signed on for the technology with Sirit.

Surface may just be a front for Microsoft entry into NFC.

Face it, Apple has little more than hype. Just immagine what SJ could do with the image of two kids sharing music by simply touching phones (or iPODS).

NFC is the real deal. iPHONE is me too BS for the MACmasses.

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The link below.
Jun 10, 2007 1:41PM PDT
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cmon now
Jun 10, 2007 1:48PM PDT

Your username would show that your an NFC fanboy.. or troll.. but please its cracked up to be alot but will not be. Get a grip- it looks like a 2001 nextel phone

Alex

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Alex. it has what iPHONE doesn't have.
Jun 10, 2007 2:05PM PDT

It spends money.

It talks to other machines (phones, surface, any NFC-enabled device).

It listens to other machines(phones, surface, any NFC-enabled device).

It is new and different.

Once Apple has it, all the MACmimmics will have one.

In the meantime. I want one.

I'll save my $500 and wait for one of these. If Apple places NFC in their phone, I'll buy it.

The one in the picture would be fine by me.

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it dreams up wat no other phone has
Jun 10, 2007 2:11PM PDT

Its not legal, at all approved by the FCC, nor supported by other companies.

I cant just pick one up and head on down to the airport and get on board wit that phone as my ticket or watever the hell else they advertized. Its bull until I see something really happen- as of now its a conceptual pipe dream.

Alex

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You MAChuggers really don't like to be challenged .
Jun 10, 2007 8:50PM PDT

Something tells me that if Apple were part of the NFC forum, MACalex wouldn't have such a problem with it.

Don't waste your $500 on hype Alex. Wait for the dream to come true. It won't be long.

Go to this link to find the Sponsoring membership in the NFC forum.

http://www.nfc-forum.org/member_companies/sponsor

Don't forget to hit the Principal Members, Associate Members, Non-Profit Members links.

I'd say that NFC is quite a pipedream. Wake up Alex and the rest of you MACfollowers, the iPHONE is nothing more than California dreamin'. NFCphones will soon change the world.

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yea..
Jun 10, 2007 11:13PM PDT

I'm gonna have to go ahead and ask you stop repeating yourself. You've referred to the iPhone as 'hype' like 10 times now.. and I'm starting to get sick of it.

The iPhone is not the god of devices, but its exactly what I'd like to use.. It's exactly what many people want- often minus a feature or two. Just because you see a product with more potential you go and bash its competition (newsflash: iPhone isnt the only competition out there.. in fact it has 0 marketshare)

That NFC phone is a bulky piece of crap, with nothing special but firmware capabilities- as I've said before, while the iPhone is a sleek phone with innovative controls and a very well designed operating system... I'm not impressed at all by NFC, very impressed with the iPhone. Get over it.

Alex

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MACarrogance seems to be rampant
Jun 11, 2007 3:05AM PDT

Repetition is my way of making a point. Like training a dog.

I guess some people like name brand, others innovation. Still others assume name brand provides innovation.

In the end, Apple will eventually catch up and the MACroadies will proclaim their superiority. SJ sure knows how to market to the arrogant.

Good luck with your elegant $500 phone.

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3 million?
Jun 7, 2007 12:39PM PDT

Recent rumors suggest that Apple has a stockpile of 3 million iPhones available at launch. This seems a bit off.

Apple's own goal is to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008. Thus even Apple probably thinks they can only move around 3 million units for the rest of 2007...So why would they have 3 million at launch?

Some people think Apple will sell 10 million iPhones in 6 months. Others like Molly think the iPhone is gonna tank and sell below projections (500,000?, 1,000,000?).

I predict a measured response in line with Apple's own projections. Business-wise, the June release date is a solid choice. They'll cash in on an initial wave of Apple fanboy / graduation present sales. A slight lull will follow, but holiday 2007 sales should be strong.

Apple should easily be able to move 3 million iPhones by December 31, 2007

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Apple iPhone sales projections
Aug 4, 2007 2:17AM PDT

Apple projects 10 million iPhones to be sold in the first 'calendar year'.

Does anyone know if they mean in a twelve month period (July 07 - July 08), the first whole year (Jan 08 - Dec 08), or the remainder of this year (July 07 - Dec 07).

If they think they're going to sell 10 million by December, I think they won't meet expectations. It's looking like they will sell about 3-5 million iPhones by the end of Dec. '07


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/corporatenews/2007-06-28-jobs-stephenson-qa_N.htm