AppleInsider StaffIt won't be long after next month's iPhone launch that several new Google-based applications will begin making their way onto the first-ever Apple handsets via software updates, says an official for AT&T Wireless.
The exec, who has been testing an iPhone but declined to produce the unit for a photo shoot, also addressed skepticism regarding the device's high entry-level price point of $500.
"I think when people get their hands on it and really experience it — the touch screen is phenomenal, this touch screen is like nothing you've ever used — to experience that, the skepticism, I think, around some of those things will go away," he said.
There are other things, added Lurie, such as widgets and "some of the Google applications that are coming" that will serve to distance pricing concerns from the minds of consumers.
"There are just so many things here that the price will not be an issue," he said, declining to discuss any plans for subsidies on the handsets.
Lurie also dropped on final tidbit on services plans when asked whether iPhone's full-powered browser capability will soften demand and revenues from existing AT&T services such as directory assistance,
"No, actually it won't. I think it will be great for us, and here's why," he said. "One of the things with this device — people are going to be asked to have an unlimited package — people are going to have to have a package with us to browse."
Apple has said that the iPhone will ship with Google Search and Google Maps but has not commented on plans for any additional applications from the search giant. Similarly, the company has not yet revealed the data plan options and pricing tiers that will be made available alongside iPhone.
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"One of the things with this device ? people are going to be asked to have an unlimited package ? people are going to have to have a package with us to browse."
$599 for the hardware could start to look cheap...
$599 for the hardware could start to look cheap...
$599 for hardware is cheap, compared to the cost of service over the life of the phone.
I don't know why needing unlimited data would be a shock to anyone. If you've ever used a smart phone before, you'll know that paying per megabyte for data makes little sense. The last thing you're going to want to do, especially with a full-featured browser like Safari, is start counting kilobytes like we did in the old days with AOL. You're going to get addicted to surfing and email, and you're going to go over your limit and end up paying even more. Unlimited is the ONLY way to go.
The real question is whether AT&T is going to force iPhone users on their more expensive $40 unlimited data plan, or the cheaper $20 plan that works with most smartphones, including the Treo (although they try to tell you it doesn't). My guess is that they'll be charging $40, or come up with some alternative iPhone-specific plan that's a little less (or even more). But they have no real motivation to offer it cheaper, if you think about it. An iPhone without a data plan would be a real waste of hardware. People are going to want data, and they'll have no where else to get it, other than using WiFi, which will be great, but not always available.
$599 for the hardware could start to look cheap...
No, but you are getting more than a regular phone. There'll come a time when a lot people will have a 24" desktop at home, and a iPhone-like phone, rather than a laptop, but that's a few years away. The iPhone isn't powerful enough, or the storage isn't big enough yet.
This thing does have wi-fi right? I can surf the web over my own wi-fi network without needing to connect via AT&T's network right?
I could give a rat's ass if I can't connect cellularly to the net. Just need the wi-fi.
It would also be nice if it had user changeable batteries and supported SD cards. And i'm still waiting for word on 3rd party apps. Would be nice to have a reader app for my ebooks and also skype.