Comments on: Hello 3G iPhone. Goodbye included SMS messages.

By: ignar

ignar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:07:21 +0000

@Jeff, I believe you will be likely able to use your 3G iphone SIM in your Tilt. How do I know? Since that’s what I’m doing with my 2G iphone right now. I have a few 3G phones and they all work fine with my iPhone SIM card. And you guessed right. They all run at full 3G speed. That’s one reason I don’t want to upgrade to 3G iPhone. Technically, only difference is a device, and AT&T wants to charge more for the same service just because device is changed. I’m going to keep my 2G iPhone and SIM swap with 3G phones as necessary.

By: DrDan

DrDan — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:26:15 +0000

All the more reason to use programs like AOL Instant Messenger rather than SMS. AOL demo'ed a version for the iPhone last March when the iPhone 2.0 software update was announced.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:34:01 +0000

any tethering options with the 3G version?

By: John in Norway

John in Norway — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:02:18 +0000

I'm interested to see what the pricing and plans will be when this thing comes to Norway. I'm not interested in the device - it's useless as anything more than a toy - but I am curious as to how it will compete with the normal cheap tariffs and phone subsidies. (Did I just use Norway and cheap in the same paragraph??) However, Norwegian teenagers are just as gullible as in other countries so I'm sure it'll do well.

By: Jahan Khan Rashid

Jahan Khan Rashid — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:54:47 +0000

Wow, for once im glad i live in the UK.

Im on 3UK, the "free" phone i got with my 18 month contract i sold straight away, put the money from that plus £50 to get the HTC touch Diamond.
My price plan is £30/month and for that i get 500 mix and match voice and texts, 50 min video calling, 50mms, 300 voice mins to my wife (she is on same network) i can watch the majority of 3UKs tv channels for free, 3gig of internet browsing/month.
Sooo glad!

By: D9

D9 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:47:10 +0000

Original iPhone users will still benefit from the 2.0 software update while retaining their contract which allows 200 messages. IMHO, we get the majority of nice features (push, App Store, games, etc.) w/out having to pay more. Plus, who knows what 3rd party solutions will emerge from all of this.

I agree w/ others that 3G is not that big of a deal to justify all these cost increases. Like they say...watch out for what you ask for, you just might get it!

By: MathProfJohnson

MathProfJohnson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:49:21 +0000

Utterly ridiculous! I WILL be keeping my 2g phone and this sealed it. NO way am I paying them more for the stupid phone, signing yet ANOTHER new 2-year contract, to pay MORE in data per month. The text messages didn't affect me since my family has unlimited for the group. I live in an area where there is no 3G, wonder if other's will be as pissed if they can't even USE the 3g.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:28:27 +0000

So, if I'm right...

There will be no unlimited messaging on the iPhone at all?

By: GregC

GregC — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:39:51 +0000

@kevin white – SMS via e-mail: send e-mail message to phone number@teleflip.com i.e. 5055555121@teleflip.com – no need to figure out which carrier the recipient is using. If they reply back from their SMS client on their phone, it will go back to your e-mail address from which you sent your message.

By: kevin white

kevin white — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:13:07 +0000

I am concerned that one of the cool things Apple did - not cave to AT&T - has been undone.

However...

You can SMS someone by emailing the right value. When they respond, I think it goes back to your email, but that might depend on something. I've seen it go either way.

That leaves people SMSing *you* as charging you. That's still kind of ridiculous though. I liked not paying extra.

By: Pam T.

Pam T. — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:14:33 +0000

Just for the record, AT&T unbundled text messaging from their plans several months ago. It’s equal opportunity nickle and diming for all users, not an iPhone discrimination.

By: Wayne Schulz

Wayne Schulz — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:09:44 +0000

Double rip off because unless I'm mistaken Apple is not certifying any apps that "stream" (which is why I think Sling is not in the developer program).

So, we pay $30 for faster downloading of email and web browsing (most of which I do via Wi-Fi).

AT&T should have included unlimited text messages in the plan and that would have put this whole issue to bed.

Instead, as is the norm. The nickle and diming will continue until enough of us vote with our pocketbooks.

By: Mark in Texas

Mark in Texas — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:08:46 +0000

That new Samsung i900 just keeps looking better and better...

By: Mike Cane

Mike Cane — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:46:28 +0000

Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch.

As if rising gas and food prices weren't enough!

By: Taxman

Taxman — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:40:32 +0000

The more my rational side thinks about the new 3G iPhone the less enthused I become. Apple has dazzled us with this "3G" brilliance the same way that Tide makes the colors brighter in our laundry. At the same time, they've given the cell phone business back to AT&T's business as usual. No home activation, fewer bundled cell services, more $$. Though I find it hard to find the money quote on this, my impression back in January 2007 was that Apple was promising us a better cell phone buying and using experience than that. This was the phone that Apple introduced on its terms. What happened? As they roll this out in more countries with more carriers have they had to sell their Apple souls? Have they run out of enthusiasm for re-defining the cell phone experience? I can't help but believe that retreating back to dazzling h/w and s/w is better for Apple, but maybe less good for we consumers. Am I overthinking this?

Taxman

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:20:12 +0000

Here are the 2 things I want to know:

1 – I switched to AT&T last year to get on board with the Tilt. So, the data plan doesn’t bother me as I am already paying $30/month for unlimited data plus extra for voice and SMS. However, since I appear to be in the nether region of existing non-iPhone AT&T customers, how much will I have to pay to buy the 3G iPhone at launch (I’m not eligible for an equip upgrade discount for months).

2 – This is the most important question – can I use this new iPhone Sim and associated service with my Tilt? Inevitably, even with the app store, there will be things I’d like to retain my Tilt for. If I can Sim switch between the devices as I choose, then no problem – I’d even jump through whatever hoops necessary to acquire the phone and re-up the plan, etc. I just need that device switching flexibility for the foreseeable future. My guess is that with a move away from revenue sharing, this should be possible since very specific iPhone plans aren’t necessary like the were before. My hope is that the new “iPhone” plans are just AT&T’s standard $30/month PDA Personal unlimited. The pricing is the same and the service type (3G) is the same, so you’d think it shouldn’t be a problem. But, as always, we shall see…

Jeff