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Jan 14, 09 - 02:07 pm Comment from: Not Bill

"It must open up the iPhone’s API to allow developers access not just to the device, but to the whole network."

Not entirely sure what he means by this, but, I think it will not and should not happen. What does he mean?

Jan 14, 09 - 02:11 pm Comment from: silverwarloc

@Not Bill:

I agree with you. I find intriguing though that he came up with this analysis given Apple's history.

Jan 14, 09 - 02:14 pm Comment from: deepdish

There are some points that corporations make that the iPhone should think about addressing.

But over all, the iPhone is being handled very well by Apple. They have learned a lot from the iPods.

Two distinct model size/form factor choices is a good idea.

Not sure what to do about the ATT exclusivity.

As long as they are in control of the entire experience from hardware to OS, then I don't care where they are sold.

i can tell you how Apple could sell more iPhones/and like devices. Drop the exclusive deal with AT&T;. And there you go...

And features we haven't even considered in the U.S. are playing out in Asia, mainly Japan and Korea. So, the Apple still has some work to do.

But this analyst may simply be doing a numbers game. (10M sold in 2008 hmm... 5 years from now? 77M). Subscriber & device renewal that could come in cheaper iPhones or new feature sets that involve more powerful, but battery friendly chips to keep the Mac OS on iPhone fluid.

The problem is not the iPhone or the $199 price. The problem is the extra $35 per month just to use the thing. Either drop ATT or get them to drop the data plan fee. Without a data plan fee, everyone I know would have one of these things.

Are you saying ATT should offer a non-data option? Why bother?

Once they turn the iPhone into a lineup of devices and drop the ATT exclusivity, I can see Apple up there with the likes of Nokia, Samsung and LG. Their cell phone business will be so big that it could be spun off as an entity onto itself. The only limit is how fast they can grow to take on all of that extra work. Regardless I hope the expansion begins this year.

My household is single-income. I have two kids with pay-as-you-go phones, as does my wife and I.

I can afford the $199 for the iPhone, I cannot afford the $70 (approx.) call plan from AT&T;. Can't imagine what 4 iPhones would run me.

For the record, I do not pay for television, I use the good old antennae, and we can afford Verizon Fios. The internet is more valuable to me and my family than what television offers.

The iPhone is out of the question.

MDN Magic Word: provide "I can't get an iPhone because I need to provide for my family."

Jan 14, 09 - 03:36 pm Comment from: MikeK

I can afford the $199 for the iPhone, I cannot afford the $70 (approx.) call plan from AT&T;. The internet is more valuable to me and my family than what television offers.

-----------------------------

The call plan is $40, the unlimited data is $30 for a total of $70.

If you can't afford it, then you can't afford it. But if the internet is more valuable to you than television, than maybe you should consider that $30 is not that out of line.

Jan 14, 09 - 03:38 pm Comment from: Spark

Quite moaning about ATT exclusivity. Apple has a contract that runs another few years. No doubt things will change at that time. Maybe Apple buys ATT at that point!

Jan 14, 09 - 03:59 pm Comment from: Wingsy

I'm with Spark. Apple could buy ATT with pocket change.

Think what THAT would do.

I do believe ATT should offer the data, but not charge extra for it. $35 extra per month for data and text messaging is outrageous. Data and text messaging should be all-inclusive. The industry is moving that direction and it would be great if Apple could influence ATT to go that way sooner rather than later. $35 a month over 2 years means that iPhone will cost you $199 + 840 for a total of $1039. And that's before your monthly phone plan charges.

Jan 14, 09 - 04:31 pm Comment from: alansky

Broaden the market and you'll sell more devices. BRILLIANT!!!

Wingsy writes, "I'm with Spark. Apple could buy ATT with pocket change." In fact, AT&T;has a market cap of roughly $150 Billion. Hardly pocket change.

What about an iPhone without a data plan that would just use Wi-Fi when it's available. I could make calls and use all of the Apps, and all of the iPod features, but no email or web unless I'm in a wi-fi zone.

I guess it would be an iPod touch with a Phone built in. I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

Jan 14, 09 - 09:27 pm Comment from: bobchr

Two years ago I was paying $70 per month for a 900min/month plan with Cingular on a Moto Razr. I was getting 15kb/sec data transfers on minimalist web pages that loaded painfully slow. I don't see what what all the complauiners on this site are grousing about having to pay $30/ month for a data plan. It's not just the Iphone and It's not just AT&T;. All the major carriers charge that much for prwetty much any smart phone. Go check it out. I don't see anyone offering a pay as you go data plan yet and I don't see it as Apple's job to set telecom rates. They just want the telecoms to not cripple the features they offer. BTW Verizon charges for visual voice mail on the Blackberry storm, how do you like them apples?

On the question of AT&T;'s exclusivity... dump them in favor of virtual network owned and operated by apple itself