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Sat, Jul 04, 2009 - 11:50 PM EDT  —  AAPL: 140.02 (-2.81, -1.97%)  |  NASDAQ: 1796.52 (-49.20, -2.67%)

Analyst: Apple to sell iPhones for $149 in Costco starting in January
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 11:24 AM EDT

Apple Online Store"Every month, Trip Chowdhry, the one-man band who covers all things tech under the moniker Global Equities Research, writes a piece he calls Silicon Scoop on current trends and gossip from the Valley. It’s always a good read, but this time around it is especially full of eye-opening predictions, many of them seriously distressing. It reads like Nostradamus has decided to cover the tech business," Eric Savitz blogs for Barron's. "Here are some of Trip’s current prognostications:

• Almost every Silicon Valley company is facing deteriorating business conditions and will cut their workforce by 3%-10% by year end.
• Motorola could get a life line in the form of equity investments from Microsoft and possibly Google, in return for supporting the Windows Mobile and Android mobile phone platforms.
• Apple, he says, is going to start selling iPhones via Costco at $149 starting in January.

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Fred Mertz" for the heads up.]

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Nov 11, 08 - 12:29 pm Comment from: applecart

$149 @ costco, PLEASE. jobs would sooner cut his wrist with a unibody.

Nov 11, 08 - 12:42 pm Comment from: Tiger

As likely as a $700 MacBook.

Nov 11, 08 - 12:42 pm Comment from: Ray

He also predicted that Steve Jobs got his next next big business from the movie "Forrest Gump": Apple is going to sell produce!!!

Nov 11, 08 - 12:48 pm Comment from: Jocko

Only if they bring out a 32 Gig iPhone

Nov 11, 08 - 12:51 pm Comment from: alansky

The iPhone 3G cannot be sold without immediate activation. So Costco will activate all those $149 iPhones? Not gonna happen.

Nov 11, 08 - 12:55 pm Comment from: derek in Milan

the guy is called TRIP - nuff said.

Nov 11, 08 - 01:02 pm Comment from: Canadian in Canada

Costco in Ontario (at least the one I visited in Kitchener) had a wireless booth selling iPhones and other mobile phones. You couldn't buy the iPhone without signing a 3-year contract with Rogers. The iPhones were being sold for $199 & $299 CA.

Nov 11, 08 - 01:02 pm Comment from: twilightmoon

Alansky hit nail on head, the 199 price on the iPhone is based on an upfront carrier subsidy, which does not occur if the phone is hacked and shifted elsewhere. Activation is now part of the sale, and as such Costco which does sell iPods is not equipped to sell iPhones. This could change if Costco could figure out a way to activate the phones on site.

Nov 11, 08 - 01:04 pm Comment from: twilightmoon

@Candian in Canada, if they already activate the iPhones up in Canada, it stands to reason they could do it in the US.

I stand corrected.

Nov 11, 08 - 01:15 pm Comment from: currentinterest

Costco sold the PPC Mini packaged with keyboard and mouse, it carries the full iPod line, sells accessories, sells & activates other cell phones, so I see no reason why this could not be true. Costco is seeing increased traffic, I think it may be a good idea.

Nov 11, 08 - 01:18 pm Comment from: MacintoshSoftwareList.com

Crap, I don't have a Costco!

Nov 11, 08 - 01:35 pm Comment from: Gregg Thurman

iPhones in Costco? Maybe.
iPhones for $149? Maybe. But this guy wouldn't know about it.

Pure trolling for hits web site.

Nov 11, 08 - 02:57 pm Comment from: opie

I don't know about the 149.00 at COSTCO but they sure have been doing a lot of stupid things lately. First they didn't consider a 3-1 when the stock was over 180.00. (I'll buy next at 60.00) Pissed of half of there customers on Prop 8. Unless you consider the voting percentages than they pissed off a little more than half. Got in bed at least for a few years here with a company that was monopolistic and who many consider to still be.(ATT) Oh thats right, these are the guys who listen in on the telephone to protect us with their special agreement with the government. I wonder if that will change with Barry in charge? Yeah right! All in all I would say that corporate fascism is still the flavor of the day. I wonder what will happen with the "Apple-Psystar copyright imbroglio". Like I said, a whole lot of stupid in a short time.

Nov 11, 08 - 04:17 pm Comment from: critic

Every Costco I've been in has sold cell phones and carrier contracts.

Also, opie should calm down.

Nov 11, 08 - 05:52 pm Comment from: krquet

I have been a member of the Priceclub and now Costco since '92. I always felt Costco doesn't much care for Apple for some reason. Go to their website and see if they offer any iPods online right now or ever. It is not carried by their main distribution, but rather each store individually. Some Costcos will therefore offer iPods, some won't. I used to notice bigger promotions for all other MP3s in the world, mostly notably Zunes at Costco, while keeping the iPods slightly away from the main traffic by the entrance.

Finally, Bill Gate's Dad is on the Costco board.

Costco, fast becoming M$ of the retail, while Tesco has been experimenting the Apple retail magic in a werehouse for a year before landing in the US recently. There should be a link there somewhere on this from 2007. I miss PriceClub.

Nov 11, 08 - 07:15 pm Comment from: Register or Login

Great, now I can get an iPhone with my 36 rolls of TP.

Nov 11, 08 - 07:38 pm Comment from: Scott in Japan

I was recently at the Makuhari Costco in Japan. They do in fact sell Apple products... currently only iPod and iTunes cards. They're iTunes cards are discounted. I saw the 3000 yen card selling for 2780 yen. In the past I have also seen iBooks there.

Nov 11, 08 - 08:50 pm Comment from: WriterGuy

Comparing Costco and Microsoft isn't fair.

Costco is one of the most labor-friendly companies in the country. In fact, they're frequently faulted by Wall Street analysts for -- get this -- paying their employees too much! They also give out full benefits to a large proportion of the work force, which is rare today. Unlike the late (non-lamented) Circuit City, they actually want to keep experienced staff around to improve services.

Nov 11, 08 - 09:27 pm Comment from: Hans Brunt

We will NOT prostitute our game changer no matter how many times the MSFT cartel sticks their head in their ass. Read that again Savitz and fellow retards.

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