While Apple had the upper hand in telling what AT&T could and could not do or charge for the current-generation iPhone, the 3G iPhone could usher in a new age of carrier-based iPhone pricing. Speculation over the next-generation iPhone’s pricing scheme is rooted in an AT&T executive’s loose-lipped statement. AT&T CFO Rick Lindner spoke at the Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit yesterday and was caught talking about the upcoming launch that Apple still hasn’t admitted is happening next month.
According to the Guardian:
Lindner said AT&T has yet to determine pricing for a hotly anticipated new version of Apple Inc’s media-playing iPhone. “There’s not been a product announcement. There hasn’t been any pricing decision made. That’s yet to come,” he said.
Now the fact that Lindner is talking about a product that hasn’t had “a product announcement” coupled with the implication that AT&T would be determining the pricing structure for the upcoming iPhone makes for some juicy iPhone rumors on the eve of this long-weekend. If AT&T does indeed determine the next-generation iPhone’s pricing schedule, we could see a deeply discounted iPhone offered in return for a long-term commitment from subscribers – which is in line with subsidization rumors from other carriers.
Of course, iPhone subsidies would increase the iPhone’s appeal to potential customers, but I have a feeling that early iPhone adopters aren’t going to be too pleased at having paid full price to sign a 2-year contract with AT&T.
Stay tuned for June 9.
[Via: Guardian]