[Macworld]

Post your comments for Rumors build on Wal-Mart's iPhone plans here

[nmpike]

This is true, my friend works at Walmart, and she went to training for the phone, the date is correct, December 28th.
As far as Walmart boosting sales, I am not so sure about that. Walmart generally has lower income customers (although I shop there for everything, I'm not considered low income), most of the people there will not qualify without a big deposit from ATT.
With that being said, Walmart is also selling Cricket here... and Cricket is dominating in our market now.
I personally am holding off on buying anything new from Apple until we find out officially why Steve Jobs is absent from MacWorld... if something happens to Steve, Apple is gone... Steve is in everything, if Steve leaves Apple for whatever reason, the innovation we've seen will be gone.
Since his health has gone down hill, we've seen decreased quality in the products they release (iPhone 2.0, buggy Leopard STILL, etc).

[Schneb]

nmpike said:

I personally am holding off on buying anything new from Apple until we find out officially why Steve Jobs is absent from MacWorld... if something happens to Steve, Apple is gone... Steve is in everything, if Steve leaves Apple for whatever reason, the innovation we've seen will be gone.

There are two scenarios in a SJ loss. A) It will go the way of Disney Productions at the death of Walt. Loss of innovation, loss of risk taking, loss of creativity and character. B) Apple puts someone at the helm who HAS vision and CAN innovate. There are such folks out there, they just need to make the right choice.

[Infinite_loop]

"As far as Walmart boosting sales, I am not so sure about that."

If Walmart sold only 1 phone, it would boost sales.

Any Economist would tell you that expanding distribution of a good has a positive effect on the revenue of that good. Or what reason would they have to expand distribution?

[web]

I don't have any concerns about Apple in the long term after Steve Jobs is no longer in charge. The greatest fear about Jobs leaving is the irrational response of the market. Jonathan Ive is one good candidate to drive innovation at Apple. His industrial design is now the stuff of legend, so why would he and his team suddenly stop doing it if Jobs left? Makes no sense. They just need to avoid doing something stupid, like putting a soda pop salesman at the helm. I think they learned that lesson once already.
- web

[LostDogJammer]

FWIW, a Walmart clerk told me today that the price will be $147 (or maybe $149) for an 8 GB iPhone and that the data plan will cost $45. Of course, I have no idea whether any of this is true.

[Chris1975]

I just received the new Walmart ad today and the iPhone takes up the entire front cover. $197 for 8GB and $297 for 16 GB. The ad notes that it is available starting at 9 am on the 28th and that it is not available on walmart.com. Same wording about new contracts or qualified upgrade, etc. No special model and no significant price break like some rumors have reported. The ad looks nice though, very clean and uncluttered layout. Looks more like Apple designed the cover than Walmart.