The new
3G iPhone may seem cheaper at the onset, but the catch here is the bundled plan that goes along with it.
Gizmodo has come up with a
comparative table of what the new iPhone will really cost you on an
AT&T plan. Surpisingly (or not),
it’s actually
more expensive than the first one albeit just being a hundred or so despite having a lower unit selling price.
On the local front, although nothing’s certain yet,
Yugatech via a
reliable source has come up with the possible
pricing scheme for the iPhone. It comes as no surprise that a
2-year lock-in period is required and
higher end plans will have the privilege of getting the Apple mobile phone at a cheaper price (if not free), but the kicker here is that it’s only the
8GB model being discussed here.
G-Max 3500 iPhone 3G
Initial Fee: Php9,995
Monthly Fee: Php3,500
Free Text: 650
Free Calls: 750 mins.
Globe to Globe: Php3.50/minute
Globe to Non-Globe: Php4.50/minute
Excess SMS Rates: Php0.50/text
Globe Platinum 5000 iPhone 3G
Initial Fee: FREE
Monthly Fee: Php5,000
Free Text: 650
Free Calls: 1,100 mins.
Globe to Globe: Php3.50/minute
Globe to Non-Globe: Php4.50/minute
Excess SMS Rates: Php0.50/text
If you do the math, you’ll actually be spending
P 93,995.00 for an 8GB iPhone on the
G-Max 3500 plan, and
P 120,000.00 on the
Platinum spread over
two years. The prepaid kit isn't looking too enticing either as
Vodafone's unit-only price of the iPhone gives us a hint into the possible price range in the local market. Unfortunately,
Apple is also implementing a new
mandatory in-store activation policy which means you'd have to go to authorized telco distributors to have it activated. This greatly reduces the chances of getting an iPhone in the black market at a cheaper price. Sheesh! The 3G iPhone is starting to look more less-affordable by the minute.
September is the supposed roll-out date of these new iPhone-based plans so by then, we can probably get a clearer picture of what it’ll really cost us.
The iPhone is undeniably a hot commodity, but I’m hoping (probably against all odds) that Globe or any telco for that manner will not use it to bait consumers into getting plans that just aren’t worth it.
After all, current plans put a
premium on SMS and calls while the biggest asset the iPhone its
data usage. Telcos should offer a more
impressive data plans that not only is
consumer-friendly, but
reliable and sound as well. With the entry of the iPhone into the local market, now is the perfect opportunity to push for data plans which has taken a back seat to cheaper call and text rates primarily due to the lack of a device that can truly maximize the usage of such a service. This, in turn, will be an added source of revenue considering how under-used it has been for the last couple of years.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Globe officials will realize this and make a concerted effort to improve on the existing 3G/data usage scheme and make the iPhone more affordable, not just for the well-off crowd, but more so for the greater majority. After all, isn’t it Steve’s dream to have everyone use the iPhone?
UPDATE: The official prices are out already. Read more
here.
On the local front, although nothing’s certain yet, Yugatech via a reliable source has come up with the possible pricing scheme for the iPhone. It comes as no surprise that a 2-year lock-in period is required and higher end plans will have the privilege of getting the Apple mobile phone at a cheaper price (if not free), but the kicker here is that it’s only the 8GB model being discussed here.
G-Max 3500 iPhone 3G
Initial Fee: Php9,995
Monthly Fee: Php3,500
Free Text: 650
Free Calls: 750 mins.
Globe to Globe: Php3.50/minute
Globe to Non-Globe: Php4.50/minute
Excess SMS Rates: Php0.50/text
Globe Platinum 5000 iPhone 3G
Initial Fee: FREE
Monthly Fee: Php5,000
Free Text: 650
Free Calls: 1,100 mins.
Globe to Globe: Php3.50/minute
Globe to Non-Globe: Php4.50/minute
Excess SMS Rates: Php0.50/text
If you do the math, you’ll actually be spending P 93,995.00 for an 8GB iPhone on the G-Max 3500 plan, and P 120,000.00 on the Platinum spread over two years. The prepaid kit isn't looking too enticing either as Vodafone's unit-only price of the iPhone gives us a hint into the possible price range in the local market. Unfortunately, Apple is also implementing a new mandatory in-store activation policy which means you'd have to go to authorized telco distributors to have it activated. This greatly reduces the chances of getting an iPhone in the black market at a cheaper price. Sheesh! The 3G iPhone is starting to look more less-affordable by the minute. September is the supposed roll-out date of these new iPhone-based plans so by then, we can probably get a clearer picture of what it’ll really cost us.
The iPhone is undeniably a hot commodity, but I’m hoping (probably against all odds) that Globe or any telco for that manner will not use it to bait consumers into getting plans that just aren’t worth it.
This will be my first iphone, and I honestly can't wait to get it. But I have to admit, I am a little worried about how badly overpriced the plan is going to be. I also want to get a 1-year plan instead of a 2-year, but still get a plan with unlimited texts and hopefully minutes.
if the projected price package is correct, then globe will surely lose any potential customers to online iphone (unlocked)sellers.. there are tons of iphone sellers online, or one can easily get them thru relatives in the US or other countries... unlocking the iphone is now very much doable so i hope globe will make a "smart" move on their iphone pricing, no pun intended.=)
i really hope that the new iPhone will have the same back as the old one did. that was sweet.
@jman
sorry, but no luck there...as we mentioned in our earlier post regarding the new iPhone, it has a redesigned exterior which features a black or white glossy design dumping the old brush metal finish.
@warlock
I highly doubt anyone will be selling cheap, unlocked 3G iPhones anytime soon. The difference being that telco aren't allowed to seel them unlocked anymore giving them exclusive rights to sell and unlock the units.
I currently have AT
3G iPhones are scheduled to launch in the US sometime in July. Give it 1 to 2 months (even earlier) and some genius would find a way to get it unlocked. By that time, Globe would only be starting to roll out their first iPhones.
Previous versions of iPhones were also not supposed to be unlocked. A quick search on your local ebay site would show tons of gray market unlocked iPhones at relatively low prices (not to mention the "no contract" requirement). So how would these 3G iPhones differ from the previous ones in terms of being unlocked?
@michael
The difference betwen the new 3G iPhone as compared to the first one is that stores won't be selling unlocked units anymore. The first version was allowed to be released to customers locked which, in turn, allowed for other means of unlocking possible. This time around, it seems that Apple is a bit wiser in not allowing resellers to sell unlocked iPhones anymore. True, someone out there will probably find a way to unlock the 3G iPhone without going through the normal process, but the question is, how can one buy an unlocked iPhone if telcos won't sell them anymore? With this new policy around, you won't be able to find unlocked 3G iPhones easily.
Unlocked iPhone v2.0 might be available in Europe as it's illegal for phones to be locked to a certain telco. Think roaming EU users who would rather buy a prepaid SIM than sign-up to a plan for every country one normally visits.
That's right, but it'll set you back around 499 Euros (8GB) or 569 Euros (16GB) for a unit-only iPhone.
what would one need an iphone for? that should be the big question on one's mind that needs to be answered before going out and buying this "nice" phone.
i personally would not want to surf the net or watch videos straining my eyes on the 2-something inches screen. much less play games on it.
texting, forwarding text messages, taking pictures, etc. are better done using a nokia or motorolla or sony mobile phones.
wala lang. maybe i'm just too old for an iphone.
Buying this gadget is only wasting your money. Huhhhhhhh!!!!!
Unlocking the iPhone 3G isn't the problem. People will find ways to eventually unlock the phone. The mandatory in-store activation IS!!!
Sure, somebody can make their relatives/friends buy the iPhone 3G for them, but they are required to sign a 2-year contract before they walkout of the store.
Unless, the relative/friend is willing to pay for your monthly plan for 2-years. There's no way around it.
dont think this forcasting will happen. come to think of it, overpriced but lack of globe services like video calling? hell no
Globe does offer video-calling and it doesn't make sense to provide consumers with a new price scheme for video-calling either for the iPhone or other phones for that matter. Video calling is over-rated. It' charged almost similarly to a regular phone call and yet only a handful use it. It's either the ones they're calling don't have a video-call enabled phone or they just don't feel the need to use.
Bottom line is it's a feature that's proven to be more of a luxury than a necessity that only a few end up using.
I don't see a front cam on it anywhere? wtf?
Anyway.. I've been a loyal user of WM phones. If this goes out less than 15k, I might actually consider this.
the new iphone wont take too long to unlock, and that's for sure : )
Surely this one's a great buy. Perhaps pricing is somewhere between 10K to 12K for the 8GB and about 18K to 20K for the 16GB.
Iphone should not put into theirs ads twice as fast and half the price.
I already have one. The 1st Generation iPhone, 16GB.. JAILBREAKED! It's working fine with my Globe sim. Dude, unlocking the iPhone is not a big problem..
www.modmyiphone.com RULEZ!
A $199 iphone is too good to be true.. As you surf the net, the price has some ASTERISKS on it.. I agree, it's just a waste of money, telcos are always greedy = hefty locked phone.. And having an illegally unlocked phone is worthless, since you can't update it, or it will just crash.. Apple is clueless of our(Filipinos) needs.. Big Sigh
i have the first gen iphone, it works better with my smart prepaid. with edge technology smart offers with a really low price and the great internet capacity of iphone, it works very very well!!! therefore, getting the 3g from globe with the projected price wont be worth it!!! =) l just wait till one hell of a genius techy person gets to unlock it and buy it with far better prices... i need to gas up my freakin car first!!!
how much will it cost when i will buy an 3G Apple iPhone in cash and not in plan?
what!!!it's SOOO OVERPRICED!!!!i'm expecting my 3G iphone next week from japan and unlock/jailbreak it instead of getting a plan w/ globe!!
i guess a 5000 monthly plan would be fine since i would be using the texts and minutes anyways.. plus ill be owning one of the best phones ever made
The iPhone 3G is really wonderful, but why Globe???
If iphones will sell at telcos with overpriced rates, then Apple will not expect many users to get one. Well come to think of it, there's this Hi-phone selling at P5,950.00..you know, China-made..hehe
I have my iphone 3g here in Japan on the date of release July 11th. the plan offered by Softbank is better that Globe Telecom will do in Philippines. I guess they should concentrate of providing a unlimited use of data which iphone 3G is very useful. Softbank charges customers for unlimited data usage at 2500 pesos.. and price of the unit is around 14K pesos payable for two years or 24months.. call and sms and emails to softbank phones are included.. only other telco will be charged accordingly.. i think Globel telecom price is too high considering the economic capability of filipinos nowadays...
stuppid GLOBE, so overpriced iphone 3gs!
We are looking at the price of IPhone here which is a lotta cheaper compare if you buy IPhone package alone which will cost you 30,000 plus. But we are talking plan here which mean Calls/Text included. If you consume 5000 or higher then its good for you coz you'll get the phone for FREE. If the purpose is to have a plan just for a phone and having the phone for free because you call/text too much is two different perspective.
My main contention about the bundled plans is that it doesn't really complement the main features of the iPhone which is data usage. Anyone who has used an iPhone or iPod Touch knows how it is a bit more troublesome it is to use for texting so it wouldn't be an ideal phone to use if your SMS-heavy.
By far, it is the best mobile internet device I've come across, but instead of highlighting this, the plan that comes with it banners call and SMS.
Anyway, these are all just speculation at the moment, and I am hoping that Globe will come out with a more substantial post-paid plan when they official launch the iPhone locally.
better get one from grey market be sure its unlocked.
it's in inquirer's breaking news. globe will sell it at around 42k pesos. what a rip off? it's just 199 and 299 dollars in the US. and consider that it would easily depreciate in value.
C'mon! rip-off?! Can't you read? $199* and $299*? that's why they included the sign after the price is because you have to subscribe to an at
I just found out that the prepaid kit costs way too much.. the 8gb version is around 42k at the 16gb version is 49k.. WTF!!!! this much money just for a f(*
this is ridiculous! the iPhone for Php100K! Wtf!! Go spend your money somewhere else like Habitat for Humanity. It's not even a phone, it's more of a toy!
Please don't fall into the trap of getting it from Globe. Wait a bit more and I'm sure it'll be out there in market at a cheaper more, affordable price.
Sheesh!
I live here in the philippines and I saw the price of the iPhone 3G here in the philippines and seriously.. too overpriced.. i mean, PhP 37,000 for a prepaid kit.. might as well get an ipod touch..
meh... don't be too hasty in buying an iphone. it's also equivalently expensive here in new zealand and you don't get to use it on a prepay account.
another downside would be the lack of use of data communications in the philippines. here you can search the internet and the local telcos offer GPS. we don't have that there, do we? much less paved and labeled streets.. =)
don't buy the iPhone just yet. it's not worth it.
@majuro
when was the last time you were in the Philippines? There's no problem with the 3G connection here and in most cases in the metro, you can also get HSDPA connections as well. The services needed to fully utilize the iPhone is already available, but unfortunately, the pricing scheme is outdate and is meant for those that use the data connection sparingly.
Globe has already put up an iPhone portal for their customers who are getting it on the 22nd of this month.
I want an iPhone but the price is somewhat expensive for me. I will just wait for a few more months.
how much if ill buy one w/out plans?
i really think it is way overpriced!
first of all Apple said that it will be ywice as fast but for half the price of the old iPhone. Which means that if the old one was for $600 then the 3G(18gb) model should be $300. In the Philippine Peso,$300 would cost an estimate of 12000 when globe is selling theirs for 48000!I dont see the logic.......
While your conversion to local currency is correct, you fail to include in your computation the fact the the price in the US is subsidized by the telecom. The final price will also depend on the agreement between Apple and the telecom, and the plan that will be bundled with the iPhone. So, essentially, the iPhone will never be the same amount across different countries simply because different carriers will have different plans to offer for their subscribers.
guys, if ever your interested, i am selling my iphone 3g(16gb).. SUPER RUSH.. This is a sacrifice sale.. I am selling it for 200$ only.. shipping fee will depend on your location.. FAST TRANSACTION PLEASE!!!
pm me: rofl_123@rocketmail.com
I want to get an unlocked AT&T phone and the Vu is much cheaper what are the differences and which is better. I want a phone like the iPhone so any other suggestions are great too.
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unlock iphone
Remember about 3-4 years ago when the Motorola Razr first came out? It was $500 and only available on Cingular. Now the phone is priced much lower and available on every network. What are the chances the same thing will happen with the iPhone? I doubt the price will drop as much because of the technology, but what about it being available for all networks in the upcoming years?
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I bought 800M iPhone stereo headsets off eBay and haven't recieved them yet and I was wondering what's the difference between them?
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I'm getting the new iphone 3g and i heard somewhere that the old iphone got 200 free texts. is there a similar thing with the new iphone as well? Or do you have to pay extra money?
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Is the iPhone and iPod Touch with a telephone? I ask because the Touch seems to get nothing but rave reviews, but I seem a lot of complaints and grumbling about the iPhone.
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I would like to get my pictures off the iPhone without sending anything pictures messages. Then, how do you get pictures from iTunes to your computer into files? How do you delete pictures off of iTunes? Please explain clearly because I am technology impaired. Thanks.
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I want to get my friend a new "gadget" for christmas. What is the difference between an iphone and an itouch. Which is better for a teen?
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