3G iPhone Launch Date

[BobMarley]

Smart words, another option that has come up from time to time in different threads, is buying used, if you MUST have an iPhone. But as always, there will always be a price to pay to have the latest and greatest.

Originally Posted by webwise

I'm no financial guru, but I recommend everyone considers the real cost of owning an iPhone...it's not small - $85 a month (U.S.) for 2 years - adds up to a considerable amount of money. As much as I respect and admire Jobs, it not true that the iPhone 3G is cheaper. Prior to iPhone, I would've laughed if you had told me that I would be paying so much for my phone in a year or two. I realize it's much more than just a phone, but I just don't want anyone (and I know a few people who are considering who really shouldn't) to get into something that they won't be able to afford down the road. And with an entry price of $199, many will be sucked into a plan that they will struggle to justify later on.

Some of you should consider an iPod Touch (with a separate, much cheaper phone plan) - and while there are trade-offs - the financial trade-off is the one you should realize...

No, I'm not your dad - I just have friends that I care about.

[ngbauer]

Let's say you already have a qualifying AT&T plan, if you get the iPhone and add a data plan at $30 a month for 24 months, you are added $720 in plan fees and $199 in phone cost, or $919 over the two years. My thought is as a college student with a good wireless network on campus I can survive without the data plan since i don't have one now anyway. So, if I can get a used iPhone for under the $199 price then I could save over $700 or $800 in the two years. With the right hack, the iPhone could be my phone without extra fees and a cooler than iPod Touch device. . . I guess it is just weighing the value of the data plan. Maybe $700 extra over 2 years is not a huge burden?

[iWonIt]

I agree with your plan of action. I'm also a student and will probably look for other alternatives to the data plan if I end up buying the new iPhone, or at least hold off until I graduate and see if I can get a company to pay for it.

[chadaw]

Originally Posted by iWonIt

I agree with your plan of action. I'm also a student and will probably look for other alternatives to the data plan if I end up buying the new iPhone, or at least hold off until I graduate and see if I can get a company to pay for it.

Oh yeah, would be nice to land a job where the company would pay or help pay on the iPhone. I am a graduating student this year. Thats my hopes too But I doubt I wait that long

I hear Apple employees get a decent discount on it.

[iWonIt]

Well even if you don't wait, you can foot the bill for now and then have the company pick it up after graduation. At least the number won't be $700. I know the company I'm interning for pays for blackberry data services for email access, and I think they'd do the same for the iPhone.