We are nearing the launch of the new iPhone 3G.  AT&T is gearing up for their July 11th 8:00am launch date, by announcing the prices of the plans needed for the new iPhone 3G.  For those looking to start a new contract or are eligible for an upgrade can grab the iPhone for $199(8GB) or $299(16GB).  While those that want to upgrade the phone but can’t upgrade the contract must pay $399(8GB) and $499(16GB). AT&T has also prepared a video to help you help them.  It highlights what you need to have ready for when you buy the phone, since you need to activate in-store.  Here is a view of the prices of the plans that will be available for your new iPhone purchase.

Here are the individual plans, which do not include text messaging:

And here is the Family Plan, which also does not include text messaging:

And here are the texting options:

We leave you with the video AT&T created to help you make the proccess easier for the both of you.  Enjoy, and start making your plan of what to do while waiting in line for the new iPhone 3G!

AT&T iReady

written by Councillor Wes \\ tags: 3G, Apple, AT&T, iPhone

The Boy Genius has reported that AT&T managers have received emails letting them know that the iPhone 3G launch would be at 8:00 AM local time on July 11th.

Looks like they’ll be getting an early jump on sales, considering last time around the iPhone went on sale at 6:00 PM.

All this is at this point is a juicy rumor, but I’m sure confirmation will come in soon.

Can’t wait!

[via BGR]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: AT&T, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G Launch

We’re all sitting here waiting for the unveiling of the new 3G iPhone… and while the wait continues, more and more deals are being made over in Europe that are providing some hints as to Apple’s attitude towards service providers. New deals have been made with providers in Italy, Austria and a small group of other countries as well. Looks like Apple is mixing things up, exclusivity is no longer the word of the year.

On Friday, Orange announced it will sell the iPhone in Austria, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, and a few African nations. Good on ‘em.

These multiple supplier deals can only mean one thing. Apple has broken down on their insistence to have exclusive marketing agreements wherever the iPhone is sold. The ‘big iPhone launch’ is still rumored to be in the works, a huge launch including all sorts of counrties around the world… So perhaps Apple is gearing up to get the iPhone into as many hands as possible. More carriers means more plan options and choices… and a little healthy competition amond providers has to be a good thing.

No word yet whether this new attitude will affect AT&T’s 5-year deal with Apple… But note this: AT&T and T-Mobile have begun offering WiFi side-by-side at Starbucks locations. T-Mobile uses a GSM network (a necessity for the iPhone), while Verizon and Sprint run on CDMA. If a carrier is going to break the non-exclusivity stranglehold that AT&T currently has, look for T-Mobile to step into the ring.

All I know is this. Exciting ‘iPhone’ times are upon us. The iPhone is not only scheduled to go 3G in early June, but it will also (probably) launch in numerous countries around the world at the very same time. Also, with this news of non-exclusivity breaking from Europe, look for more carriers to pick up the iPhone, therefore increasing proliferation of the device and lowering monthly plan prices (fingers crossed!).

[via Yahoo! News]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: 3G iPhone, AT&T, iPhone, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon

With the rumored release of the new 3G iPhone upon us (all signals are pointing to a June release), it raises the question of how much will it cost? Price rumors have been floating around lately, and in an article last week at Fortune, writer Scott Moritz reported some tasty little tidbits. He noted:

“AT&T is preparing to subsidize $200 of the cost of a new iPhone, bringing the price down to $199 for customers who sign two-year contracts, the source says. Apple is expected to have two versions of the new iPhone, an 8-gigabyte-memory and a 16-gigabyte-memory model with price tags widely expected to be $399 and $499…The $200 rebate or subsidy would be limited to AT&T customers and not available through Apple’s stores. The new iPhone sold by AT&T will likely be locked or programmed so buyers can’t take the cheaper iPhone to another phone service.”

At that price point, the iPhone would be well within reach of a much larger market. The aim here of course is to get the iPhone into as many hands as possible. Without a doubt the $200 price tag is much more attractive, affordable, and reasonable.

Bringing the cost of the device is one of the most important next-steps in the proliferation of the iPhone in my opinion. iPhone is now charging on the enterprise scene, and with a more affordable 3G up for offer, I think we’ll see it in the hands of much more diverse group of social, business and casual users in mid 2008.

The question remains… What would you pay for the 3G iPhone? Is $199 a fair pricetag?

[via Fortune]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: 3G iPhone, AT&T, iPhone

It’s May… and do you know what that means!? Free Wi-Fi for everyone! Well, ok, not really… But AT&T has apparently started to offer free Wi-Fi to iPhone customers at some Wi-Fi hotspot locations.

How does it work? Well, according to several reports (and as you can see by the blurry picture to your right), when a participating AT&T Wi-Fi network is accessed by an iPhone user, a page appears on the iPhone with a message: ‘Free AT&T Wi-Fi for iPhone’. I’m assuming you simply enter your phone number and press the continue button to activate the connection.

What is unclear at this point is wether AT&T is going to be offering free Wi-Fi at all hotspots, or only at select locations. You would have to think that eventually all hotspots would (and should) be accessible to AT&T iPhone users.

For a complete list of AT&T’s Wi-Fi hotspots, click here.

[via MacRumors]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: AT&T, AT&T Hotspots, iPhone, Wi-Fi, wireless hotspot

A surprising statement indeed but those are the words that came out of the mouth of Apple COO Tim Cook. He said:

‘Apple is not married to the single, exclusive-carrier model.’

This is a pretty bold statement considering Apple and AT&T are supposedly locked into an exclusive long-term deal. Perhaps the deal is much shorter than everyone suspected? We can only speculate.

Cook was quick to point out that his comments did not imply an impending or immediate change of carriers, business models or anything else for that matter. Cook also noted:

‘We’re not married to any business model. What we’re married to is shipping the best phones in the world’.

Here, here Mr. Cook. Stay focused on delivering the best product(s) you can. Without them… there is no Apple.

[via informationweek]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: AT&T, iPhone