SillyDog701

[Antony]

During today's WWDC 2010 Keynote, Apple announced the anticipated iPhone® 4. iPhone 4 features FaceTime, which makes the dream of video calling a reality, and Apple’s stunning new Retina display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone, resulting in super crisp text, images and video. In addition, iPhone 4 features a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording, Apple’s A4 processor, a 3-axis gyro (gyroscope) and up to 40 percent longer talk time—in a beautiful all-new design of glass and stainless steel that is the thinnest smartphone in the world. iPhone 4 comes with iOS 4, the newest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, which includes over 100 new features and 1500 new APIs for developers.

The super sharp Retina Display features 960-by-640 backlit LCD display boasts a pixel density of 326 (ppi) pixels per inch, higher than the 300 ppi of human retina. The contrast ratio is 800:1. On top of that, the iPhone 4 also uses IPS (in-plane switching) technology — the same technology used in the Apple LED Cinema Display and iPad — and LED backlighting for most vivid experience.

The new iPhone 4 features two video cameras, the front camera allows video calling, FaceTime (no setup needed, iPhone 4 to iPhone 4, requires Wi-Fi in 2010).

Other features including Multitasking, HD Video Recording, Folders and more. Multitasking is part of iOS4 (new name for iPhone OS 4), and the new iPhone 4 can record 720p 30fps HD quality video and 5 megapixels 5x digital zoom built-in camera which also has an LED flash.

iPhone 4 will be available in the US, UK, France, Germany and Japan on June 24, starting in the US at just US$199.

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[Antony]

For just US$199, I don't think anyone can call a smart phone packed with almost everything people can think of expensive.

Further, this phone seems to be the greenest product from Apple...
PVC-free handset
PVC-free headphones
PVC-free USB cable
Bromine-free printed circuit boards
Mercury-free display
Arsenic-free display glass
Majority of packaging made from post-consumer recycled fiberboard and biobased materials
Power adapter outperforms strictest global energy efficiency standards

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[DJGM]

For just US$199, I don't think anyone can call a smart phone packed
with almost everything people can think of expensive.

That'll be for the ones you get on a pay monthly contract. The iPhone on a pre-pay service usually costs at least twice
as much. The new iPhone is unlikely to be any different in that respect, regardless of the amount of new features.


The iPhone 3GS prices on O2, the network that had originally the exclusive rights to sell the iPhone in the UK.

The iPhone 3GS on O2 (UK) Pay Monthly contract plans.
The iPhone 3GS on O2 (UK) Pay as You Go.

The fact is, while the iPhone may be reasonably priced for the handset on a monthly contract, or even free on
certain plans, it's still an extortionate rip-off if you prefer to use a pre-pay service rather than a contract.

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[Antony]

For just US$199, I don't think anyone can call a smart phone packed with almost everything people can think of expensive.

That'll be for the ones you get on a pay monthly contract. The iPhone on a pre-pay service usually costs at least twice as much. The new iPhone is unlikely to be any different in that respect, regardless of the amount of new features.

To the first part: In most countries, mobile phone calls aren't free, which means all mobile phone users need some sort of mobile plans, pre-paid or post-paid.
The second part is completely untrue, and intentional false information.
The iPhone on a pre-paid service (outright) costs nowhere near twice as post-paid plans. In some situations, buying an iPhone outright can end up cheaper than on contract.

Just checking the costs as of now.
Getting an iPhone 3GS (32GB) on a Vodafone $49 cap (+ $18 handset repayment) per month comes to minimum A$1608 (two years contract). (Vodafone is one of five authorised mobile carriers selling iPhone in Australia.) Where as getting an iPhone outright from Apple costs only A$879 outright for 3GS (32GB) model. And people can go for as little as $20 per year cap. My math told me the total prepaid cost for an iPhone 3GS (32GB) is merely A$919 over the same two years period while remain connected.

Allow me to get the fact straight: getting an iPhone 3GS outright (i.e. prepaid) can be as cheap as slightly over half of the total cost for the same iPhone 3GS on contract.

The fact is, while the iPhone may be reasonably priced for the handset on a monthly contract, or even free on certain plans, it's still an extortionate rip-off if you prefer to use a pre-pay service rather than a contract.

The usage of the words "extortionate rip-off" is without a doubt highly inappropriate when the most expensive model outright is just A$879 and just slightly above half of the total cost on contract. Many smart phones cost way over A$879 outright.

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[DJGM]

I was referring to the price of the handset on a pre-pay service being extortionate. The price IS at least twice as much
for the handset alone, than it is for one bought as part of a monthly contract, before any airtime payments are made.

On O2 (UK) the average price for an iPhone 3GS is around £179 before adding the cost of the monthly airtime contract,
which is fine for someone who would use their iPhone a lot, and get their money's worth from it. In stark contrast, the
price for the iPhone 3GS handset on O2 Pay as You Go (no fixed term contract, top up your airtime as and when you
need to) is currently £449. Since the new iPhone 4 has only just been introduced by Apple, final pricing details for
the UK have yet to be announced or confirmed by O2 or any other UK cellular networks that offer the iPhone.

£449 for any smartphone on a no contract, pre-pay service is overpriced, regardless of whether it's an iPhone or not.
If they sold these things on pre-pay for no more than about £249, then for me at least, they might just have a deal.

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[Antony]

I was referring to the price of the handset on a pre-pay service being extortionate. The price IS at least twice as much for the handset alone, than it is for one bought as part of a monthly contract, before any airtime payments are made.

Mobile phones (or even smart phones) aren't really new to the market these days. Most people know that the mobile handset price bought with a contract is heavily subsidized, also in most cases, people do not own the handset completely before the end of contract period. I fail to see the point of raging with the words like "extortionate" on the price people pay to own it outright while comparing it the price people do not own the device completely. And, most consumers pay mobile handsets to make calls, and in most situations, mobile calls aren't free. The associated usage costs should be considered one way or the other.

Again, A$879 outright price for a new smartphone is not that expensive these days comparing to other Windows Mobile phones or Android phones as they can easily go over A$1000 (outright price).

Clearly, the word "extortionate" is unfounded.

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[Mandrake]

The iPhone 4 seems like a solid upgrade from the 3GS. I think the outright pricing of all smartphones is pretty awful, but the contract prices aren't bad. Here in Australia you can get iPhones or other high end phones from HTC, Nokia etc. without any upfront cost on a 24 month plan.

The problem I have with this is the pathetic 3G data usage the Australian companies insist on giving you. I was looking at the HTC Dream with Telstra, for instance, and for $80 AUD a month they are including a pathetic 500MB of data use. Frankly, at $60 AUD I expect 1GB, $70 for 2GB and at $80 at least 3GB. Until the data quotas are more reasonable then I'll stick with my nearly 3 y/o Nokia 6300.

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