AppleInsider Staff
As iPhone resellers dump existing stock in preparation of an impending next-generation refresh, U.S. mobile carrier T-Mobile will supposedly cut up to $50 off device-only pricing in an across-the-line sale, according to leaked internal documents.
The discounts, revealed in an internal sales memo obtained by TmoNews, will reportedly be announced on Wednesday and apply to device-only purchases of current iPhone models, as well as any back stock, including the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s.
The memo fails to mention per model prices, however, meaning certain iPhones may not get the full $50 off. As noted by the publication, the qualifier "up to $50" suggests some variations or models may see less substantial out-the-door cost discounts .
If the discounts go live tomorrow, T-Mobile will be the latest to drop iPhone pricing ahead of Apple's expected "iPhone 6" release this fall. Last week, big-box retailer Walmart announced its own savings plan with a 90-day sale that drops 16GB iPhone 5c models down to 97 cents and 16GB iPhone 5s handsets to $79, with a two-year contract.
Earlier today, Verizon quietly initiated aggressive discounts on both iPhone 5c and 5s models in an apparent bid to run through inventory before Apple's anticipated announcement. Interestingly, the nation's largest carrier is burning through the 32GB iPhone 5c model without restocking, possibly hinting that Apple may discontinue the mid-tier version with the next release cycle.
Apple is said to be planning a special iPhone event for Sept. 9 that is expected to see the unveiling of a 4.7-inch iteration and possibly the debut of a 5.5-inch "phablet" variant.
William Gallagher
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
Andrew O'Hara
7 Comments
Why must it say August 27 rather then wensday or tomorrow, is it that it will be that within hours for most? It just says 27th like next week or something.
[quote name="Curtis Hannah" url="/t/181987/t-mobile-to-reportedly-slash-up-to-50-off-iphone-models-starting-aug-27#post_2584883"]Why must it say August 27 rather then wensday or tomorrow, [/quote] Because that is the day it starts and they want employees to know exactly what day. [quote]is it that it will be that within hours for most? It just says 27th like next week or something.[/quote] It's not "like next week or something". It starts on August 27. What's wrong with being correct? The flier likely was not printed/created today. What if it was made last Tuesday?
Why must it say August 27 rather then wensday or tomorrow, is it that it will be that within hours for most? It just says 27th like next week or something.
Because different people will see the message on different days. Let's say you work for T-Mobile but you are currently on vacation. If you don't read the message until your return, you might think that the change occurs in a week or two from whenever you read it.
In this case, the effective date is very clear.
This is why legal documents require signing parties to write the date, not "Wednesday" or "today" which are highly relative dates depending on the individual reader.
In the same way, sometimes it is necessary to affix a time zone to a time to eliminate confusion. If you say "1pm" that a different start time for people in New York versus Los Angeles. When you say "1pm PDT", there is no confusion.
Cautious people will not just rely on a day (like Wednesday) or date (August 27), but will use both to make sure there is no error. If someone says "Wednesday August 28" or "Thursday August 27", both of those are contradictory, so you can follow up asking for a correction. If you just rely on "Wednesday" or "August 28", there is a greater risk of incorrect data being passed along.
Also, you don't want to rely on numerical date abbreviations. 10.03 for an American is October 3rd, but 10.03 to a European is March 10th. This is why date formats are clearly explained in documents like passports. For a US passport, the month is abbreviated, rather than converted to a numeral.
$50 off is "slashing" the price of a $600+ device?
With the new models being introduced on Sept 9 (if the damn rumors are true), then who would want to buy the previous model on Aug 27?