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AT&T and Apple announce service plans for iPhone starting at $59.99 per month
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 08:48 AM EDT

AT&T Inc. and Apple today announced service plans for iPhone which start at $59.99 per month. All plans include unlimited data, Visual Voicemail, 200 SMS text messages (more SMS text messages can be added to any plan), roll-over minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling. With everything else already included, iPhone customers can easily choose the plan that's right for them based on the amount of voice minutes they plan to use each month. In addition, iPhone customers can choose from any of AT&T's standard service plans.

Individual AT&T service plans for Apple iPhone:
• $59.99 for 450 minutes
• $79.99 for 900 minutes
• $99.99 for 1,350 minutes
• $119.99 for 2,000 minutes
• $169.99 for 4,000 minutes
• $199.99 for 6,000 minutes

Family AT&T service plans for Apple iPhone:
(Includes one line. Additional iPhone lines are $29.99 each.)
• $80.00 for 700 minutes
• $100.00 for 1,400 minutes
• $120.00 for 2,100 minutes
• $160.00 for 3,000 minutes
• $210.00 for 4,000 minutes
• $310.00 for 6,000 minutes

All plans include unlimited data (email and web), unlimited nights and weekends (except $59.99 plan which includes 5,000 nights and weekends minutes), Visual Voicemail, 200 SMS text messages (more SMS text messages can be added to any plan), roll over minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile and a one-time activation fee of $36. All iPhone monthly service plans are available for individuals and families and are based on a new two-year service agreement with AT&T.

Current AT&T customers service plans for Apple iPhone:
(Just add one of these data plans to your existing voice plan)
• $20.00 for Unlimited Data (Email/Web), Visual Voicemail, 200 SMS Text Messages
• $30.00 for Unlimited Data (Email/Web), Visual Voicemail, 1,500 SMS Text Messages
• $40.00 for Unlimited Data (Email/Web), Visual Voicemail, Unlimited SMS Text Messages

"AT&T has the largest voice and data network in America, the largest mobile-to-mobile calling community and the fewest dropped calls," said Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO, AT&T, in the press release. "AT&T has invested more than 16 billion dollars in its wireless network between 2005 and 2007, and iPhone customers will enjoy the best voice and data network in the nation."

"We want to make choosing a service plan simple and easy, so every plan includes unlimited data with direct Internet access, along with Visual Voicemail and a host of other goodies," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, in the press release. "We think these... plans give customers the flexibility to experience all of iPhone's revolutionary features at affordable and competitive prices."

All iPhone plans include Visual Voicemail, an industry first, which allows consumers to see a listing of their voicemails, decide which messages to listen to, then go directly to those messages without listening to previous messages. Just like email, Visual Voicemail on iPhone enables users to immediately and randomly access the messages that interest them most. Unlike most wireless plans that charge additional fees for new features, there are no additional fees for Visual Voicemail.

iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a revolutionary multi-touch display and pioneering new software that allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers. iPhone combines three products into one small and lightweight handheld device-a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and the Internet in your pocket with best-ever applications on a mobile phone for email, web browsing and maps. iPhone ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones.

iPhone goes on sale at 6:00 p.m. (local time) on Friday, June 29 and will be sold in the US through Apple's retail and online stores and AT&T retail stores. iPhone will be available in a 4GB model for US$499 and an 8GB model for $599, and will work with either a Mac or PC.

MacDailyNews Take: These are simple, well-priced plans. Let the bloodbath commence!

MacDailyNews Note: For those who might be thinking of buying an iPhone and never activating it in order to use it as a 6G iPod, Think Different™. From Apple's iPhone Rate Plans page: Minimum new 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod; plans are subject to AT&T credit approval.

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Reader feedback page 1 of 3 pages:  1 2 3 >
Jun 26, 07 - 08:55 am Comment from: Cool

I think that's very reasonable based on the prices out there just for unlimited data plans are close to that without voice too.

Jun 26, 07 - 08:56 am Comment from: Mac1

That's not bad. Essentially $39.99 for voice and $20 for unlimited data.

Jun 26, 07 - 08:57 am Comment from: Mac ATTY

Cool... The plans are reasonable! Verizon charges an extra $49/month for unlimited data on top of the voice plans.

Jun 26, 07 - 08:58 am Comment from: Chris

About in line with expectations (at least mine). I'm getting 900 minutes.

Nice not to be nickeled and dimed to death.

Jun 26, 07 - 08:58 am Comment from: maclover

These prices are too high. They are fleecing us rabid Apple fans.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:00 am Comment from: Lee

I live in Japan, and this plan is surprisingly good for the US. The unlimited data and unlimited mobile-to-mobile is great.

The iPhone is going to do well in the US. I look forward to its arrival in Japan, where it will face stiffer competition. However, the iPhone will likely do well here, too.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:00 am Comment from: Cool

Yeah, I'm happy with those rates. I could justify $59.99/month.
At first I thought the text messages were low, but with data and Mail, who needs SMS?

Jun 26, 07 - 09:01 am Comment from: twilightmoon@mac.com

Cool, I wonder how this will effect me seeing as my family has already signed up with AT&T in anticipation of the iPhone...

Jun 26, 07 - 09:02 am Comment from: Randian

@maclover:

Boo-Hoo, Boo-Hoo-Hoo, Boo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoo! Sucks to be you.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:03 am Comment from: Angelus520

Perfect! I'm paying $39.99 for 450 minutes plus $19.99 for unlimited data right now so it's a wash for me to upgrade. I just wish they had more than 200 SMS included. Oh well, see how it works out.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:04 am Comment from: Chris

wait for the bitching.... here it comes...

"only 200 SMS?" "$99 per month!!??"

Enderle, Dvorak and Thurrott are foaming at the keyboard this morn...

Jun 26, 07 - 09:04 am Comment from: TowerTone

Good news for me. That's about what I pay Alltel for minutes only.
Time to change. Now where did I put that extra $600.00?.....

Jun 26, 07 - 09:05 am Comment from: Ogre

Impressed. The $60 (w/ taxes & fees) I pay Verizon every month for 450 min and 1000 txt/pix seems very pricey all of a sudden...

Jun 26, 07 - 09:06 am Comment from: Empty Tank

I'm there. Sign me up Scotty!

Jun 26, 07 - 09:07 am Comment from: Matt

I want to know if I have to pay to break my existing contract or will they simply just allow us to move to iPhone and service plans?

Jun 26, 07 - 09:09 am Comment from: M.X.N.T.4.1

So essentially the price is $39.99 for everything other than minutes then $20 for 450 minutes, $40 for 900 and $60 for 1350 with a minimum of 450 minutes..

Jun 26, 07 - 09:13 am Comment from: macca

wow. this is a bombshell - the unlimited data thing was very smart on at&t's part. personally, i can't wait for my verizon contract to be up - by that time, they'll be out with at least rev 2 or 3 of the iphone.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:15 am Comment from: M.A.D.

No iPod if the phone is not activated... hmmm

"Minimum new 2-year wireless service plan and activation fee required to activate iPhone features, including iPod..."

Jun 26, 07 - 09:19 am Comment from: E.

After the last two years of getting ripped off and using a crappy phone, this is a breath of fresh air

Jun 26, 07 - 09:24 am Comment from: Reality Check

I live in the Washington, DC Metro area. I just compared plans from other carriers and also AT+T's current plans. Here is what i found:

If you go to AT+T’s plan page and get a comparable minutes package and add the blackberry data additional package onto it, it comes out to $79.98, and that’s just on a plan old blackberry. So in comparison $59.99 is a good deal if you do a straight comparison of current AT+T plans.

T-Mobiles comparable plan is $39.99 for voice and $49.99 for data which totals up to $89.98. So the new iPhone plan at $59.99 is a bargain compared to T-Mobile’s plan. Verizon’s Voice+data plan is the same as T-mobile’s plan at $89.98. Sprint’s plan is $79.98 for both voice and data. So if you look at all the other carrier’s plans, the iPhone/AT+T plan really is a bargain.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:24 am Comment from: Shoeman

Excellent Prices. I'm quite surprised. The $99.99 is perfect (for me).

Jun 26, 07 - 09:25 am Comment from: jay

So if you don't stay with AT&T for the total length of time you have the iPhone, and go with some other carrier for the phone part, you're then screwed on the future use of the standalone iPod features? If true, this is a deal breaker for me.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:26 am Comment from: jovial pc boy

I'm absolutely loving this. Told you it was going to be over 2 grand but this is even better: Let's see:

- overpriced cell phone manufactured for pennies at Chinese slave camp sold for half a grand: check
- overpriced contract plus the usual slew of Apple chains and locks (no activation, no iPoo): check
- unsatisfying and overhyped iPhone user interface: coming on the 29th

I smell Newton episode 2. And they ask me why are you so jovial!!!

Behold Apple sheep. The ZunePhone is coming.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:27 am Comment from: maclover

hey buddy - i'm the real maclover, cease and desist

Jun 26, 07 - 09:27 am Comment from: January 24, 1984

A chair just went flying over at Verizon HQ.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:28 am Comment from: Shoeman

"So if you don't stay with AT&T for the total length of time you have the iPhone, and go with some other carrier for the phone part, you're then screwed on the future use of the standalone iPod features? If true, this is a deal breaker for me."

A different carrier??? iPhone is AT&T exclusive. But we've only known that since January.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:30 am Comment from: Matt

These prices make me feel even better about buying an IPhone. I have a Blackberry Pearl with 900 minutes and the unlimited data plan. My Bill is easily over $100 every month.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:32 am Comment from: No Squirt For You

Perfect. I'm sold.

(And don't feed the troll.)

Dean Vernon Wormer: "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

Jun 26, 07 - 09:32 am Comment from: UndercoverMacBrother

Wow. Good Job AT&T and Apple.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:34 am Comment from: Geo B

I am an existing Cingular/AT&T customer, and $40/month is their standard for 450 anytime/anywhere minutes - so the $20/month for unlimited data seems fair. If I can add a line for $20/month, this seems very standard pricing. Very fair. Yes I would like to know if I keep the 5k nights/weekends minutes I get since I do a lot of family calls then. So now since my wife's phone is ancient and she needs a quad band phone for our overseas trip -

Where do I sign up? wink
(oh the Apple Store Baybrook or the AT&T store in Webster)

MDN Magic Word "true" - hope the iPhone delivers a true Apple experience

Jun 26, 07 - 09:38 am Comment from: Ned Kelly

Crikey,

I've always bitched about Australia's slowband (256 - 512 kbps) but now I can understand why the USA has low mobile useage. By Australian standards that's highway robbery. I'd expect much lower prices in the Antipodes.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:38 am Comment from: AP

These plans seem pretty fair. I am currently paying about 82 a month with two lines and no data plan with 200 sms messages. So I can probably knock a few bucks off a month with the iPhone. I really dont need more than 450 minutes. I roll over a ton of minutes every month. I wish they had a 300 minute plan for 39.95. That would be pretty sweet.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:43 am Comment from: en

WHAT, they are going to charge me for service TOO! Well, thats a deal breaker for me!!! . . . . . . . . .

sorry, could not resist. grin LOL

NOT bad. Not bad at all. You know, this iPhone-ie thing could just work after all. . . . . . .rotf - chuckling heavily. grin

en

MDN word "born" as in Born again - iPhone user. Hail Mary and toss me a plan. grin

Jun 26, 07 - 09:45 am Comment from: No Squirt For You

"They don't mention a fee to break the 2 year contract."

$175 cancellation fee.

Jun 26, 07 - 09:47 am Comment from: Moo

Crap. I was expecting to not like the pricing plans and had no plans of buying the JesusPhone.

Crap, now i gotta find 500$

Jun 26, 07 - 09:52 am Comment from: jackspratt

WHAT WE DON'T GET UNLIMITED EVERYTHING FOR FIVE BUCKS A MONTH? HURRRRGHHHH! THE IPHONE WILL FAIL! I'M ROB ENDERLE AND I JUST POOPED MY PANTS!

Jun 26, 07 - 09:55 am Comment from: Chris ][

Ok. Not bad at all. This was my last concern. They're going to sell tons of these things. Wow.

Jun 26, 07 - 10:01 am Comment from: byron church

sounds great ! Take off a couple hundred $ for the 2 year contract and it will be Sweet !

Jun 26, 07 - 10:02 am Comment from: M@c

I have one year left on my AT&T contract. By then, they'll have another revision of the iPhone out. That's when I'll make my purchase. And with these reasonable service prices...it looks like a winner!

Now I have to wait a year...

Jun 26, 07 - 10:02 am Comment from: SJR

I'm stunned. These plans are much lower priced than virtually anyone thought they would be. Let the bloodbath commence indeed!

Jun 26, 07 - 10:03 am Comment from: GW

Does anyone know anything about this:

http://actforchange.workingassets.com/campaign/iphone/nalwt3bx3?

Says Apple has locked the iPhone from being able to work on overseas phone networks "for the foreseeable future".

Jun 26, 07 - 10:03 am Comment from: jay

To be clearer, DIFFERENT phone, different carrier. Therefore having a regular cell and a non-activated iPhone, and use the iPod features by itself. Will a non-activated phone make the iPod features unusable? If so, this would a deal breaker for me.

And I've known about the the AT&T exclusive as long as anyone on this site has, as I "listened" to the webcast. There are just too many "gotchas" with cell companies to spend $600 to have all features totally unusable if I got pissed at AT&T and dopped the AT&T plan.

Jun 26, 07 - 10:12 am Comment from: Woody

M@c: why do you have to wait? Click on the "Existing Customers" tab on the rate plans page and see how you can get an iPhone by adding the necessary services to your existing AT&T service. Like every other carrier I know of, changing services will require a new contract, in this case 2 years. But you can get your iPhone now.

I'm pretty impressed with these rate plans. Why, oh why, did I let the Significant Other convince me to go with Verizon so we could have free mobile-to-mobile? Why was it that when I was doing some business travelling last week, that I couldn't wait to whip out an iPhone in front of all the crackberry users at the airport? Why did I think I could withstand the burning desire for an iPhone?

MW: Wife. No comment.

Jun 26, 07 - 10:17 am Comment from: JadisOne

What? No stories about Dell's new colorful computers to appeal to the consumer market?

On a related note, these prices are perfect.

Jun 26, 07 - 10:18 am Comment from: David

I can't wait to dump Sprint and my crappy Palm Treo 700p. The ATT plan is way cheaper.

As stated above. What about nights and weekends. And, what is the Edge speed? Did I not read that ATT spent 50 million to upgrade the technology? Did they improve the speed?

Palm Sucks.

Jun 26, 07 - 10:18 am Comment from: drdave

these are great!!!! I was expecting far worse

Jun 26, 07 - 10:19 am Comment from: Gil

I like the idea that you can activate (or upgrade) your service right from iTunes.

Jun 26, 07 - 10:19 am Comment from: DM

CHECK THIS OUT!

The Apple activation video shows $79.99 total price for the 900 plan; but in the break down it shows $59.99 for the minutes and $20.00 for unlimited data and 1500 SMS Text messages! Not the 200 mentioned in the plan.

Oversight on Apple's part? Maybe that was a plan they were considering and changed at the last minute? I wish I could get THAT plan.

Jun 26, 07 - 10:23 am Comment from: Lancelot

I use lots of minutes & no one has been able to beat "Metro PCS" unlimited minutes plan @ $45.00.. To bad these other cell companies charge so much for those who need 4000 mins. or more.
Why if "Metro PCS" can offer such a great rate plan others can't also.? Just greed I guess. I'd love to have an iPhone but not when AT&T wants $160 for 4000 mins.. See Ya..

Jun 26, 07 - 10:23 am Comment from: Kent W.

Check out the activation video on the apple site. Very slick!

http://www.apple.com/iphone/usingiphone/activation.html

Jun 26, 07 - 10:25 am Comment from: John

Hrm, wonder what they'll charge for a second "regular" phone if/when I buy my iPhone? My wife just needs a standard beastie with a standard plan. Says $30/month extra for an extra iPhone contract, but I'm hoping for more like $10 to $20/month for a standard phone since it doesn't have all the other cool stuff.

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