I was happy to find out that the iPhone 3G Rate Plans are in line with my previous estimate of $86 for 450 minutes of talk, unlimited 3G data, and 200 SMS messages. From the reaction on other blogs, such as The Apple Phone Show, you’d think that they expected AT&T to lower the rates somewhat below the rates signaled by Ralph de la Vega of AT&T Mobility in an interview he did with Om Malik back in early June.
I’ve talked to a few friends, and the affect this is having on them is as follows:
-
Quite a few AT&T customers who already have iPhones will be sticking with their current iPhones for some period of time beyond July 11. They feel that they have a good deal now from a billing perspective, and think that $15+ extra per month is a little steep for the privilege of 3G speed and on-board GPS.
This is especially the case since almost all iPhone users know that they will get most of the benefits of the iPhone 2.0 firmware also.
-
Several non-iPhone smartphone users will be switching to the iPhone on or about July 15. If they are AT&T customers, they are already paying $86 per month or more to use a BlackBerry, a Treo, or a similar device.
My wife Kathleen is in this boat. She’s a Treo 650 user because she needs ePocrates for work and that application won’t be available for the iPhone until the 2.0 firmware is released and the iTunes Application Store goes live.
I am happy with my current iPhone and see no immediate need to upgrade. That may change if a deal that I have in the works to write about the iPhone comes to pass. More on this later if it pans out.