[mikemike]

If I may, let me see if I can help:

Enterprise data is good/great if you have a Microsoft Exchange Server that is a 2003 or newer. If you don't, then I would suggest that you use the Apple MobileMe (which is going to replace .mac around the 7-11-08 release of the 3G iPhone) MobileMe (for Leopard) is due to work with Apple iCal, Address Book and Mail, while it will also work with those that have Windows XP (with at least SP2 or newer) or Vista used through Outlook or, if it still exists, Outlook Express. There is absolutely no reason for a family of 5 that have iPhones to pay for Enterprise data unless they/you have a server...don't pay for something you don't need. (Similarly, if you own a Blackberry, you don't pay $45.00 for the Blackberry Enterprise Service for the exact same reasons mentioned above. You always use Blackberry Internet Service for $15.00 less.)

Next, something that no one is talking about: If you work for UPS, you have a 23% FAN discount, which you will now get to claim on the main line of a family talk line or on your individual line...this is huge! Imagine you have one line, your rate plan is 60 for 900 minutes, 30 for the new iPhone data plan and 20 for Unlimited text, your $110.00 base rate plan just went down about $25.00 to $85.00 then your taxes. Current subscribers get 60, 20 for data and 20 for text, so the cost is $100.00...no discount. So which is cheaper? It is incumbent that you find out if your company has a Foundation Account Number with AT&T and bring a work ID or a pay stub with your DL to an AT&T store, because they will give you the discounts.

On the camera thing, anyone who has seen a "Jailbroken" iPhone can see that the camera is not nearly as bad as you all are saying it is.(The camera has a very good zoom, clear with Technical drawings, good in overcast lighting, etc...) Now, will there be an App for this? Probably. Will there be MMS? You can do it now if your iPhone is Jailbroken, so you probably will see something like that too. Don't be surprised when the APP store is the more important change to the iPhone than the 3G part. I never use EDGE data (OK, yes I do, but rarely), I am always on WIFI, but maybe my area is just one big WIFI zone, but I doubt it.

I think this is what I know for now, when I know more, trust me, I'll let you know....MM

[mikemike]

Also, if you have a family of five and have a family talk plan and four of you work for the family business, but little brother works for Best Buy, use his Best Buy FAN number. 20% there. Trust me, make little brother an authorized user on the account or go to the AT&T website for the mobile account and enter the FAN number there...too many people don't realize all the discounts the lose out on in all sorts of companies...MM

[austinlee]

I don't have an iPhone so I don't really know how the pricing works, so my question is: will you be able to purchase an iPhone for $199 WITHOUT any contract with AT&T? How does this work? Do you buy an iPhone from the Apple Store and then take it to AT&T? I know AT&T is iPhone's only available network, but if the phrase "buying an iPhone" means that you must also pay for the huge AT&T bundle, then the $199 price tag is meaningless, am I right?

[Apoc112]

austinlee said:

I don't have an iPhone so I don't really know how the pricing works, so my question is: will you be able to purchase an iPhone for $199 WITHOUT any contract with AT&T? How does this work? Do you buy an iPhone from the Apple Store and then take it to AT&T? I know AT&T is iPhone's only available network, but if the phrase "buying an iPhone" means that you must also pay for the huge AT&T bundle, then the $199 price tag is meaningless, am I right?

the answer is 'no'... you won't be able to purchase an iPhone without signing a 2-year contract. According to AT&T, there's not even an option to pay the full retail price for the iPhone. At the time of purchase, you're sat down for the extra 15 minutes in-store, be it Apple or AT&T, to sign the contract and activate the phone.

as for that making the $199 price tag meaningless... that's subjective. i'd be getting one and signing a 2-year contract with AT&T for it even if they still retailed for $399 AND bumped up the data charges. so, to me, the reduced price tag is fantastic.

[yellowdog]

After going through the AT&T site, this is what I see as the pricing. Since you are required to activate the phone, you simply need to get a voice plan to satisfy that requirement. The 400 minute plan is 39.99$ 900 anytime minute plan is 59.99$ and there is a 36$ activation fee.
Then, if you want, you can get a data plan or sms on top of that. Since the iPhone has Wifi, and I dont have any need to be walking down the street surfing the web or downloading video or audio and can connect at the places I need to via Wifi, this is much better pricing, albeit a little bit more than my T-Mobile plan, but hey, I get to use a much better phone. This seems like something that should be included in any article about this new phone. Yes, you pay a little more, but it is a la cart and I am sure there will be some special at one point that includes everything for one price if that is what some people want. Besides, I swore I would never use a windows based smart phone. I dont want any Microsoft on my machine if I can help it.

[e24mpwr]

It isn't really different than how most phones are solid in the mobile world - they are subsidized over the lifetime of the contract.

An iPhone without the activation is pretty much an iPod touch. You can see the lack of subsidy in the price of one of those (essentially $100 more).

Frankly, $30 for 3G data is reasonable compared to what Verizon and AT&T will charge you on other phones. It was $40/$45 respectively last time I checked. If it as fast as advertised, it will be worth it.

Those of you on family plans might want to consider splitting plans if you don't use all the minutes on your plans.

[godofbiscuits]

The official video from Macworld Keynote 2007 @ time index 38:18
http://www.godofbisc...ages/160ppi.png

It was spec'd at 160ppi.

[stevelee]

>What is an "Enterprise Data Plan" anyway?
It enables the phone to make tricorder readings. Just be sure not to wear a red shirt when using this feature.

[xbxchk]

I am baffled by what Apple is doing. The upgrade is missing a key feature. Why no multimedia messaging? It is so frustrating not being able to view or send photos in text format. Also, the camera needs flash. Also, I hate the on-screen button to snap the photo.
I must say-- no MMS is my biggest gripe. I can't believe that Apple still neglected to incorporate that into iPhone 3G...
I still love my iPhone, but I am not spending another dime on an iPhone until they release an upgrade with MMS.

[Wearie_Willie]

I would like to see clearly written instructions for leaving my current Verizon contract as I sign up for my new iPhone. Clark Howard has many horror stories of misinformation and gotchas people have experienced with various providers.

[theguyfromtatooine]

Can iPhone be used by a stylus?

[chrisarias]

Sell While The Gettin's Good!
I sold my iPhone to a guy in Switzerland last week for $550. This window is probably closing fast, so dive in if you're in to flipping gear.
Also, as far as video is concerned, I would imagine that will be an app. I jailbroke my version 1.0 iPhone and got a video recorder for it. It performed decently.

[gromagoza]

Hi. I bougth an iPhone about two months ago and still havent activated it. I want to activate it now and want to know if I have to get the new plans which are more expensive or do I still use the old plans?? my iphone obviously is the old one 1.1.4...thanks!

[Howmanoid]

>Spoke to an ATT rep last night who sounded very well informed. She said that if you want the Exchange functionality, you have to pay for the business plan. She mentioned having to route the data through different servers on their end.

Sounds like someone spouting what their marketing dept has told them. There's absolutely ZERO technical reason why you would need a business data plan. I'm an iPhone developer and have been running 2.0 firmware on my 2G iPhone for weeks using push email back to my own Exchange server. No business data tax, no problems... Remember, this is AT&T we're talking about. Dirty tricks and hidden fees abound.