Apple to sell a $99 4GB iPhone at Walmart?
We just got a tip that in addition to the iPhone 3G actually making its way to Walmart, as we exclusively told you, there will be a 4GB model priced at $99 with a 2-year agreement. We’re not putting our stamp of approval behind this one just yet as the tipster isn’t listed in our BGR’s Guide to respected Ninjas handbook, but it does make you think, doesn’t it? Now, we all know Apple dropped the 4GB iPhone from its initial line-up, but that was at a $399 price-point. 4GB is certainly enough for some songs and short music videos, but let’s not kid ourselves. Anyone looking to spend $99 on an iPhone probably doesn’t care that much about storage anyway and they’ll be more than happy to drop that amount for one of the best-selling smartphones in the country. Just don’t hate us if this doesn’t happen, we warned you. Thoughts?
Thanks for the workbook pics, BC!
Also,
I don’t expect a 4Gb model to come out as the original 4GB, yes even though was priced at $299 at EOL, didn’t sell as much during the initial iPhone run compared to the 8GB.
Secondly, like many said, buying new 4GB flash chips would be costly on Apple’s end (IIRC, the chips for the second-gen iPhone are different than the first-gen). Add in having to carry yet another sub-model for warranty exchanges, and most would say it’s unlikely a 4GB will release.
Third, why start selling a cheaper sub-model AFTER X-Mas when they could offload more phones at the $99 price point now?
Forth, I don’t see a ‘wifi-data only’ iPhone (doesn’t make much sense vs. a second-gen Touch with VoIP) or the idea that there won’t be a data plan offered with it. It’s a 3G iPhone for a reason, 3G data.
Finally, I seriously doubt Apple is going to hand off any refurbished original-gen iPhones outside of their own retail chain/online store.
Actually, I disagree. I’ve been mooning over the iPhone since long before it came out, and as a person who’s got a tight budget, style AND a little tech know-how, that $100 makes a difference. That renders the iPhone cheaper than any of its iPod brethren, & comparing it to the phone I’ve got, (a Samsung dual-flip), for that $50 price difference I would have -gladly- gotten the iPhone 4G, as I’d also like an iPod and this would be the perfect synthesis between the two.
Why would Apple do this? Look at the stats of iPhone uses likely to purchase Apple products in the future.
Why would Walmart do this? Reinforce “rock bottom price” mantra.
For those who think this will dilute the “coolness” factor, I say, “welcome to the club!”. I owned Gen 1 iPod and I was frustrated when hozers got GEN2+.
Think of the bigger picture. This would help establish a new technology… no more “ask for directions, honey”. The world will be a better place. Bring on a $99 iPhone!!
Amen to that.
To me it just signifies that you’re willing to pay any outlandish price for the appearance/”status” of having The New Big Thing first. I bet people who bought CD players when they just came out are -still- kicking themselves inside whenever they see $20 Discmen… It’s not being cheap, or poor, uncool, un-chic or whatever other elitest BS you want to attach to it. It’s just being mindful of waste & being smart w/your money and resources.
No cool techie status symbol is worth going into debt over. I think this potential offer is brilliant, and the folks hoping to ID smarter shoppers w/theoretical poo-brown iPhones are just scared/intimidated by them.
*applauds*
Talking about the Walmart shoppers, from my pure anecdotal experience, most of my friends who bought an iPhone in the first week itself are very bad in managing their money and are neck deep in credit card debt. A lot of them have trouble controlling their spending. So I don’t consider anybody upscale just because they have an iPhone.
I believe this would substantially cut their profit margins…I don’t see it happening. I think they will stick with their $200 price point which has done them so well.
EXACTLY. I know folks at work and socially who do/have done this, and it drives me NUTS. You -know- that somewhere, folks are selling their other stuff and putting their kids to work n’ getting multiple jobs n’ such just to afford this kind of thing. Plus, it stands to reason that those who suffer from this kind of behavior are also the ones contributing to the national situation of unpaid mortgages… “Gee Phil, we can’t pay for our house and now have to bail out of our loan n’ live in our car, but aren’t you glad we got that widescreen plasma and 1st gen iPhone?? Kids, stop crying!!” *grrrr*
@Bob – You are kidding right? Or just plain clueless? The iPhone is in fact MUCH more than a phone. It is in fact a very sophisticated and advanced handheld computer, running the most sophisticated personal computer operating system available.
Moreover, I’ll bet these are the folks who don’t get why we have a national mortgage bailout situation…
The $200 price isn’t what’s keeping people from buying the iPhone, its the $100 a month you have to pay to keep the phone. If walmart had a cheaper rate plan about $75 to $80 that’s what would sell phones. Anyone who is interested in an iPhone and hasn’t bought one yet is waiting for a cheaper rate plan. Anyone commenting on this site should know that.
haha this is kind of funny to me. I thought of this EXACT thing, the idea of Wal-Mart selling 2 4GB 3G, so I Googled it and got this, written only 17 hours ago.
There should really be a 32GB iPhone with picture messaging instead
Really and trully, iphone should be start a new promo saying, “Ipho-r-u and Ipho-r-u and for u and for u and everyone come get your iphone after 1 year which it sold for 599 and in a near future it will be a FREE freakin phone with just a 2 year contract then WHAT?
If you want to stand out in a crowd, get breast implants, don’t shave your beard and wear a red dress. At least then people won’t think you’re a prick with an ego problem. “I want to be the only one” … Tool.
Can Trailer Parks get 3G Reception?
Actually, the $200+ price for the phone is EXACTLY what’s kept me from buying the iPhone. I’m already paying $99 a month for a data plan, and am happy to do so as long as I get at least 900 minutes of talk time with it. What I wanna know is the talk time included in this oh-so-potentially-damaging data plan fee that everyon’e so riled up about.
Well if Layla Kayleigh said it, it must be true. She mentioned this post on the feed.
Agree with the comment about the dataplan being the issue – not the phone price!
if you’re that desperate to impress people, get a Vertu phone.
hahaha. dorks.
Post-Christmas retail sales are the worst of the year… January5th on thru until tax rebate spending, that’s a rough part of the year. It makes great sense to release such a great deal directly after Christmas.
For all those thinking the post-Christmas release proves this rumor to be false, it actually gives it more credibility. Also, keeping this under wraps allows for the Apple consumer (haha) to go ahead and purchase their ipod touches, etc, without thinking they’re going to miss out on a $99 iphone.
I personally think that the rumor is true, or that it should be if it’s not, from a shareholder perspective. After all, keeping the shareholders happy is what Apple needs to do during the Jan-Feb sales slump that’s coming.
Separated from the poor? Anyone who thinks like that…man, I just can’t even fathom the correct insult for someone who lives day in and day out believing that having a reduced price iPhone makes you less of a consumer. Moreover, it actually makes the person who thinks this way look like a complete and utter consumer whore.
What bothers me is that Apple will offer a $100 discount by replacing a 75 cent piece of hardware with a 50 cent piece of hardware. Its sad enough that it only goes to 16gb as it is but such a large price drop when they get all the same features as we paid 300 for.
Storage is cheap its the rest of the phone that costs money so why are they willing to take a hit on their profitability for WalMart but not for ATT.
I wonder if the will require activation at the point of sale?? Does anyone know?