Katie MarsalSpeaking to the Associated Press, AT&T spokesman Fletcher Cook said the limited availability will only be for the initial launch. Later, it will be sold on AT&T's Web site and through other outlets, he said.
AT&T owns 1,800 retail stores that will be carrying the inaugural Apple handset when it goes on sale later this month, in addition to approximately 170 Apple-owned retail stores.
But AT&T also works with thousands of other franchise outlets that carry the AT&T or Cingular name, the AP noted. In all, the No. 1 U.S. wireless has 8,000 franchise outlets and retail carriers.
Cook did not specify how many of those partner locations may begin to carry the iPhone in the months ahead, nor did he reveal a specific timeframe for the expanded distribution.
iPhone is due to go on sale beginning 6:00 p.m. local time on Friday, June 29.
AppleInsider Staff
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64 Comments
oooh hoo not long now
Anybody have any idea how they're going to treat current subscribers? I haven't seen a thing about it yet.
Anybody have any idea how they're going to treat current subscribers? I haven't seen a thing about it yet.
They're being really quiet about service costs, and how they will handle current vs. new subscribers. A bit scary this late in the game.
It makes sense that they're limiting distribution to just AT&T-owned and Apple stores initially. They have to draw the line somewhere to ensure there's enough phones to go around at each location.
They're being really quiet about service costs, and how they will handle current vs. new subscribers. A bit scary this late in the game.
It makes sense that they're limiting distribution to just AT&T-owned and Apple stores initially. They have to draw the line somewhere to ensure there's enough phones to go around at each location.
I choose to be optimistic about this-- they're remaining mum about rates and plans for the same reason Apple keeps revisions under its hat: to keep sales of current offerings from drying up in the interim.
It's not a complete stretch to imagine that one of the things Apple negotiated with AT&T are special rates and plans for the iPhone, as part of the general intent of making a mobile information/communications device like the iPhone a mass market (consumer) item instead of a niche (business) player. Attractive rates would go a long way to assuaging price-point sales resistance
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Even $20 off the going monthly rate, after a year, would amount to the "subsidy" of other high end phones, and it just gets better thereafter.
Of course, that's the very thing that makes this scenario less likely-- the carriers know that the phones are just the crack pipe, and the money is in moving the rock. Sure, we can make you a great deal on that pipe!
If Steve actually managed to get some movement out of AT&T on this front, it will mean the RDF has swollen to world destroying proportions.
Anybody have any idea how they're going to treat current subscribers? I haven't seen a thing about it yet.
I would think the same way apple treats it loyal customers. Oh, wait, you were hoping for good news, huh?
I choose to be optimistic about this-- they're remaining mum about rates and plans for the same reason Apple keeps revisions under its hat: to keep sales of current offerings from drying up in the interim.
It's not a complete stretch to imagine that one of the things Apple negotiated with AT&T are special rates and plans for the iPhone, as part of the general intent of making a mobile information/communications device like the iPhone a mass market (consumer) item instead of a niche (business) player. Attractive rates would go a long way to assuaging price-point sales resistance
...
Of course, that's the very thing that makes this scenario less likely-- the carriers know that the phones are just the crack pipe, and the money is in moving the rock. Sure, we can make you a great deal on that pipe!
Keeping the lid on it doesn't wash. The lid's been removed long ago. Anyone even remotely interested knows it exists and are waiting impatiently for it. I don't think people are going "Well, I don't know how much the monthly fee is going to be, so rather then wait a month, I'm going to get suckered into another phone instead"
And it isn't a stretch to think Apple got a special pricing deal. However, it is a stretch to think it would be a 'lower' price. AT&T isn't going to want to go cheaper, when they have to foot some cash to apple to boot. Everyone keeps thinking Apple is some altruistic company looking out for their customers. That's a joke. They're a corporation looking at the bottom line. And one thing they've got their eyes on is, in your analogy, getting a piece of that crack dealer's take. You work together, offer something the public wants (better rock!), and keep the prices high!