AT&T has released the voice and data packages for the 3G iPhone today (Tuesday), and, as expected, we will have to pay a bit more to use Apple’s newest version of the iPhone.
The 3G iPhone will be available at 8 a.m. July 11 in the United States, and eligible customers will be able to get the 8-GB model for $199 and the 16-GB model for $299. AT&T said these prices require a two-year contract and are available to new AT&T customers, current subscribers eligible for an upgrade, and existing iPhone users who purchased their iPhones before July 11th 2008.
If you are looking for Canadian pricing details, click here.
Current AT&T subscribers who wish to buy an iPhone but aren’t eligible for an upgrade will have to pay the new prices of $399 and $499 for the 8Gb and 16Gb models respectively. These users will also be required to get a new two-year service contract.
As previously announced by AT&T, 3G iPhone users will have to sign up for an unlimited data plan ($30), compared with $20 under the original iPhone plan. Business users will have to shell out $45 for Exchange server access and calendar options.
The cheapest voice and data plan from AT&T starts at $69.99 for 450 anytime minutes and 5,000 night and weekend minutes. Or, for $89.99, users get 900 daytime minutes with unlimited night and weekend minutes.
Unlike the original iPhone plans from AT&T, text messaging will not be included in the unlimited data package. Customers can sign up for a $20-a-month unlimited text plan, a $15 plan for 1,500 messages, or a $5 plan for 200 messages. Somewhat expensive if you ask me. Rogers wireless offers unlimited for $15 if you call in and yell at them (see my story on this here). You would think prices would be much cheaper in the States.
At an unannounced time some time after July 11th, iPhones will be available without a contract for $599 and $699. These unsubsidized prices are close to what analysts predicted AT&T was paying per handset from Apple.
U.S. consumers are getting a relative bargain compared to us Canadians. Rogers Wireless iPhones require a three-year contract, and the highest data plan tops out at only 2 GB a month… a far cry from unlimited.
Don’t forget to protect your new 3G iPhone with an invisibleSHIELD!
Technorati Tags: 3G, iPhone, Rogers, At&T
