AT&T offering refurbished iPhone 3G with $100 discount
Please don’t hate us for bringing the news if you bought an iPhone, or even a refurbished iPhone recently: For $99 or $199, you can get a refurbished iPhone 3G 8GB or 16GB from AT&T, respectively. It hurts a little, right? Luckily, there are always those 30-day return policies if you want to deal with the hassle and all the bother. Honestly, folks, if you’ve been aching for an iPhone 3G and have been waiting for the price to drop, it’s not going to get much better than this. Refurbs come like new and you really can’t tell the difference, and you can bet these will fly off the shelves soon so we hope your credit cards are within proximity. Is this deal finally going to make you break down for one?
Hi BGR Guys!!!
This is a good deal, but I don’t want to go crazy
And rush to get one, and findout next year they
Caming out with a 24GB or higher, iPhone.
Any chance you guys know if apple is planning to?
Thanks BGR.
You be crazy to go buy iPhone period.
Blackberry fanboy yep!
This still doesn’t make me an iphone fan… BUUUUT I do think it was a smart move on Apple/AT&T’s part. With this, plus adding themselves to wal-marts line-up, I think they’ve opened a few new doors for themselves. Good job guys!
well, the rumor Walmart would sell a $99 iPhone didn’t pan out together, but separately it came true. It’s sold at Walmart and there is a $99 version around.
Of course, you have to admit that sometimes true rumors are forcibly made false after the fact to reduce the perceived reliability of the rumor mills. There may, indeed, have been plans for a $99 Walmart iPhone that were unceremoniously canned because it got leaked.
I wonder how many refurbished 1st Gen iPhones are around and how cheap they would be. My brother wants an iPhone really badly – but his monetary priorities are elsewhere: Kid, new house, new car, new HDTV. Now matter how cheap they make the phone, he can’t justify the $30+ a month it would cost over a normal phone. If it was $15/mo, maybe. But they can discount it till the cows come home, unless they chop the price of the plans – sales will inevitably fall.
I had the first gen and the 2nd 3G, I could never deal with the keyboard. Not to mention I have come to the conclusion I could never live without bb messenger. Bold all the way, from my cold dead hands…
@MadMike, I agree. I was warming up to the idea of an iphone of late and this $99 deal looked sweet.
But the monthly plan cost (factor in a 24 month contract) is deal breaker for me.
Well. The cheapest plan you can get with an iPhone 3G plus all taxes and fees is like $69.54/month.
With a two year contract, that’s $1,668.96 over two years. A normal phone with unlimited media net is like $51.98/month. Which is $1,247.52 over two years.
A $99 iPhone (+ tax) for two years costs a grand total of: $1,774.89
Compare that to a free “dumb” phone (that can still due basic internet & E-mail) you are paying a premium of $527.37
So in essence the phone doesn’t cost $99 – it actually costs $527, you just have to put a $99 down payment on it.
Actually it’s more. I get a 15% discount off of plans. If you are not as lucky to get %15, then your paying $79.97 & $59.77 per month respectively.
Sounds like a good deal but I am holding off until Macworld 09 comes around. I want to see if they announce a 32gb model and if they are releasing it onto Verizon. Then again if they do release it onto Verizon will they remove the WiFi capability??
Paul, let’s get something straight. Apple will *NEVER* release a Verizon version of the iPhone.
The only way you are going to get an iPhone on Verizon, is when Apple releases a LTE version of the iPhone and you won’t see that until 2010 – 2011 the earliest.
And then, you will probably have WiFi because it would be sold carrier independent and unlocked.
Let’s get something clear. Apple doesn’t want 10,000 versions of the iPhone. They want 2. It keeps costs low and profit margins high. Even if Verizon said yes when Apple first approached them, the talks would of inevitably failed anyway because Verizon would have said no to WiFi and GSM. CDMA is used in only 4 places in the world – US, Canada, Mexico & China. GSM is used EVERYWHERE in the world.
CDMA also only has 270 Million subscribers worldwide. GSM has over 1 Billion!
Do you understand now? CDMA is not compatible with GSM and dual radios eat up juice.
@MadMike
Yes, GSM has more users worldwide, but CDMA still makes up the majority of users in the US. GSM 3G coverage in the US, I’m looking at you AT&T and especially you T-Mobile, works basically NOWHERE except for about a dozen metropolitan areas. Verizon’s 3G works pretty much EVERYWHERE and even Spring has better 3G coverage than AT&T or T-Mobile.
So, while a CDMA iPhone might be a bad worldwide decision, it would definitely be a smart idea to release one in the US and Japan, where GSM does not exist. Oh, and if the CDMA using countries you’ve listed are accurate, in addition to Japan, then that covers about 1/3 of the world’s population.
Not that I would ever buy an iPhone anyway, no mater that price, under any circumstance. Any OS based on Unix is already archaic and I cannot understand why these are still in use. Apple is the ultimate in closed source and really nothing but a niche company. When Jobs is gone Apple will die without their idea man. I hate Apple, but I’m just trying to make a point here. CDMA is still widespread and not as irrelevant as many make it out to be. The rollout of LTE in 2010 will make this argument irrelevant anyway. Except for Spring, who insists on using the already outdated WiMAX. They don’t matter though, as they’ll be bought out by Verizon by the end of 2009 at a bargain basement price.
Apple has already produced a CDMA version for China. Why would they not want to maximize production output by introducing it to Verizon?
Josh: AT&T’s coverage is just fine. Sure, it can get frustrating at times, but Verizon isn’t perfect either. If you overlap the coverage maps, Verizon has only 12% more coverage and in some of the most remote places. Also – Japan has GSM through NTT DoCoMo. The only Japanese carrier to use Verizon’s band of CDMA is KDDI “AU” and they are a very small carrier. The other two carriers in Japan use a protocol called PDS.
As for 1/3rd the world population, that’s true mainly because of US & China. But until Verizon fully buys alltel, AT&T’s GSM is THE largest carreir & a vast majority of China’s population is impoverished and can’t afford a cellphone. That and China uses a different version of CDMA.
Paul: China uses a semi-proprietary TD-SCDMA. It is different than what Verizon uses. So they would still need yet ANOTHER version of the iPhone. Furthermore, that iPhone is 3G-less and doesn’t have WiFi.
That really only holds true if you don’t want to use your iphone for any “smartphone” features …. comapring the cost of the data plans is really apples to oranges … If you want a real comparison, look at the ATT data plan vs. the sprint data plan. Good ol’ ma bell
Lucky Zeek: You would be correct if the iPhone data plan wasn’t required. But, if you have an iPhone you HAVE to get the $30 data plan. Regardless if you use it’s smartphone features or not. People have gotten away with using a jailbroken iPhone with the cheaper unlimited MediaNET plan – however if you try to use no data plan at all, you will find yourself with a very expensive bill at the end of the month because the phone will use the data band. Unless you turn everything off, which is pointless because the phone is basically useless – your better off getting an iPod Touch.
You are correct about the Sprint data plan, it is $50 cheaper than AT&T and Verizon. I asked a CS rep for AT&T if they can match the Sprint price and they said no. HAHAHA.
@Lucky:
Chat InformationYou are now chatting with Ivy, an AT&T sales representative.
Ivy: Welcome to AT&T online Sales support. How may I assist you with placing your order today?
Mike: Hi. I’m looking for an HTC Touch Pro (AT&T Model is called the “Fuze”). I’m stuck between AT&T or Sprint. Sprint has unlimited data with voice and messaging for only $99.99 a month. You guys are charging $149.99 a month for the same thing.
Mike: I don’t travel much, and your services are the same where I am. Sprints coverage is actually a little bit better in my area. Can you compete with the monthly price?
Ivy: I would be happy to help you. The voice plans are $99.99 and the data and texting would be added. AT&T however has the best coverage and the least amount of dropped calls.
Ivy: We offer a vastly superior network as we have the best audio quality in the markets we serve. We also use GSM, the world-standard wireless technology.
Mike: That’s not true, AT&T ranked last place when independantly tested
Mike: and Your technology is GSM standard
Mike: its the same as Sprint
Mike: But they charge $50 less
Mike: for the same phone
Mike: over two years that adds up to $1,200.
Ivy: Would you like the Sales department to discuss any other options that might be available? We can guide you through the system and give you the prices available here.
Mike: I want unlimited everything
Mike: data, text, voice, E-mail
Mike: on the HTC Touch Pro (or HTC “Fuze”)
Ivy: I will send that number for you as we unfortunately are not able to change anything online. One moment please.
Mike: But, your prices are $50/mo more expensive for the same thing, regardless how much you say you have the best coverage
Ivy: Please call the AT&T Sales department at 866.246.4852.
Mike: That’s a waste of time. I’m sorry, I am just going to go with Sprint. $1,200 over two years makes up for any lesser service.
Ivy: I am sorry about that. Have a safe, healthy and Happy New Year!
Ivy: Thank you for choosing AT&T. Have a great day.
HAHAHAHAHA
@bg or who ever wrote this article.
Apple fan boys
LOLLLL @ that convo you had with AT&T MadMike !
That was hilarious ! omg.
I’m seriously confused on how steve jobs didn’t lay an egg at something apple made UNDER $100!
its the same as Sprint? you’re a damn retard, and you MADE this shit up!
Best Buy is also selling refurbished iPhones as well for $50.00 less than retail. They go on sale tomorrow to counter the Wal-Mart launch. They are packed by a 3rd party, do not have a SIM card but have all the OEM accessories included in the box. You cannot take them to Apple to be serviced, you must go to Best Buy. All stores will carry the 8GB models and select stores will carry 16GB models.
[RM]: No, I just had a brain fart. I had Sprint mixed up with T-Mobile. I’m still recovering from Christmas! Besides, Why would I make that up? They have online chat for sales support, its free. It’s not like they promised to give me $50 off or anything. I said it was the same as Sprint and the lady (I guess it was a lady) was just too stupid to know that I was wrong.
Besides, “Ivy” C’mon, you just can’t make that shit up man. But I mean, still its both cell service. AT&T may be a little faster, but AT&T did rate dead last in network quality.
Is it just me or is anyone else wondering just where all there “refurbished” iPhones are coming from? I would understand there was a glut of EDGE models after the 3G dropped but these are the 3G model so is there that many 3G returns? Hmmm
Dear: Sir.
i can buy all refurbished iphone you have in one lot.
but no contract.
for export out of US.
let me know if you have any avelible.
My Dear Azali:
I do actually have quite a few iPhone 3Gs available for purchase. I have access to 1,000 of them, new in boxes. Never used. I will charge $500 each.
I’m assuming you’ll be paying with money orders? Please send $500,000 in money orders along with your name, telephone number and home address so I can send you the iPhones to:
United States Postal Inspection Service
P.O. Box 3602
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-3602
Thanks,
John Q Narc