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This is going to make a lot of people very happy. About time! Thanks AT&T;!

Man, life is getting expensive, eh? $1200 a year just to make phone calls.

We couldn't care less... we're leaving outside the US, France, UK and Germany. Just get that s*** unlocked and the all world will be happy.

Think about iPhone worldwide + SDK available. This would mean Apple dominance.

Once again, Steve is letting an opportunity slips into his hands.

Feb 19, 08 - 03:44 pm Comment from: Logan

So... they charge US long distance fees? Really?

Feb 19, 08 - 03:48 pm Comment from: Willie G

@ Mac+, do you honestly think that those decisions are at the sole discretion Steve Jobs' and AAPL? I mean... really? I didn't think that level of naivete was even possible in today's world.

@ Mac+

Me english speak good.

@sitruc

"Arse you are."

That is rediculous!

I'm with ATT right now, and I get more minutes than I can use a month, with roll over, shared between two lines for $62. We dropped our land line and use these two phones for our primary numbers. Really, me and my wife have had this deal since 2006. We have never once given though to Roaming or Long Distance or using up our minutes. Why on earth would we pay $40 more per month for "Unlimited" when we are not even using the minute we have?

Who does this even apply to?

fsck AT&T;. My iPhone rates are already ridiculously high. It's $40 bucks if you want to add unlimited SMS, it's $5 on a regular phone on AT&T;. The ONLY thing that can ruin this wonderful product is the greed of AT&T;.

"Who does this even apply to?"

People on any voice plan that costs more than $99/month. DUH.

unlock the iphone.

Feb 19, 08 - 04:25 pm Comment from: TexasAg03

Who does this even apply to?

Like Captain Obvious said, it's for people who currently pay more than $99 per month for service or would like to have more minutes but can't afford the increased bill.

I can't use all of the 450 minutes I get (I have over 1600 rollover minutes since September), so it's not for me. However, if I ran a business and used my iPhone for it, I might be inclined to go with a plan like this.

It would also be good for someone who wants to ditch the land line.

TO "Mac+",
This is not about dominance... this is about creating a great product and making sure that it is well supported.
Cheers!
PS: Check different jailbreaks online and get your iPhone working anywhere around the world... I heard of a few working iPhones in Iran!!! Who knows, maybe Ahmadinejad has one of them! haha.

Where the hell is Time Capsule?????

Feb 19, 08 - 04:28 pm Comment from: Mr. Peabody

I think ATT Verizon et. al. should look out for VOiP while they're making us feel lucky that we're spending $120/month for phone service.

Feb 19, 08 - 04:33 pm Comment from: GmanMac

@ Eddie G.

Why should Apple unlock the iPhone?

ATT stepped up to the plate and worked with Apple for years to develop it and make it work full featured on AT &T;'s network--sight unseen.

Why should Apple give it away to other cell carriers that didn't do the same?

You want an iPhone--switch.

"Who does this even apply to?"

People who spend lots of time away from others in parts of the world where AT&T coverage is poor.

I don't do this enough to make it worthwhile but, for example, my parents live in Vermont which has very poor coverage. If I spent lots of time visiting my parents (like most weekends), I'd want some kind of roaming plan.

If I was doing this while living in LA, I'd want some kind of long distance plan as well.

Where's my Canadian iPhone ?

Feb 19, 08 - 04:45 pm Comment from: TexasAg03

My iPhone rates are already ridiculously high. It's $40 bucks if you want to add unlimited SMS, it's $5 on a regular phone on AT&T;

That $40 includes the $20 data plan which makes the unlimited messaging $20. Unlimited messaging is $20 for regular phones, so it is no more for the iPhone. I know the iPhone won't send MMS, but you CAN send pictures via email; it's not very hard.

I can't believe that someone complains about the iPhone rate plans - Where the hell else can you get UNLIMITED data for $20 It is a pretty good deal.. and if you have 2 phones on your plan you can share the minutes, both get unlimited data and both get the 200 sms messages

Where's my Canadian iPhone, eh?

Get with the program you hoser.

Feb 19, 08 - 06:56 pm Comment from: Willie G

@GmanMac

AT&T;played no part whatsoever in developing the iPhone. No agreements between Apple and AT&T;were in place until after the primary development phase was over. Apple's first choice was Verizon, who didn't agree with Apple's terms. AT&T;did, so they get exclusivity.

...and, yeah.

Feb 19, 08 - 09:07 pm Comment from: Spark

@Willie G

Actually I think GmanMac is more correct than you. The iPhone unveiled last year did not exist when Apple went shopping for a carrier. AT&T;did not participate in the hardware development of the iPhone, but the did cooperate in Visual Voice implementation, the flat rates, the revenue sharing, and the activation via iTunes software. Those are not incidental accommodations to Apple, and all add up to making the iPhone different and special. You are correct that Verizon was Apple's first choice, but Verizon's refusal to play ball only says more about AT&T;'s stepping up to the plate IMHO.

toTexasAg03:

the $40 per month charged by AT&T;for unlimited SMS is on TOP of the $20 per month they already charge for unlimited data. You call them and find out for yourself. They charge only $5 a month for unlimited SMS for a non-iPhone. You are in error.

Had Verizon 2 years ago and switched to Cingular. I was working construction management and kept running between 20 - 60 minutes over on my 450 minutes/mont plan. Verizon has the best coverage but still the most expensive plans.

Even when I boosted my plan to 600 minutes / month I was still getting hit with overage charges to the tune of $125 to $200 per month. My boss would only pay for 1/2 my bill even though 95% of the calls were for his business. I wrote the rest off on my taxes which still only got me back 20%. I swtched to ATT because for what Verizon was charging me for 600 minutes I could get 900 minutes from ATT plus the roll over feature.

A lot of people I know only use a local plan and not a nation wide one because the local plans are cheaper. Once on ATT the only place I had to worry about roaming was Canada (hello Rogers) He rapes you worse than Verizon.
As for who this benefits? How about business travellers that travel all overe the US and maybe internationally twice to 3 times per year. It would be nice if the next Iphone version could be used as high speed 3G modem for MBA.

I want this plan. I use the phone all the time and this deal would save me money.