iPhone 3G launches in one week

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Corporate News, GPS, Handhelds

Happy July 4th to all our American readers. We just wanted to remind those of you who live in one of the initial launch countries that iPhone 3G launches in just one week. Remember, unlike last year, the iPhone 3G will go on sale at 8:00 AM, so start planning your line strategy now. Aside from 3G goodness, you also have iPhone 2.0, the App Store, and built-in GPS. Next Friday can’t come soon enough for us.

Any Gear Live readers in the Seattle area want to join us while we wait?

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iPhone 3G launching at 8 AM on July 11

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video

Apple and AT&T have finally been letting those of us in the US in on their iPhone 3G launch plans. As it turns out, unlike last year’s 6:00 PM iPhone launch, the iPhone 3G is going to be available bright and early at 8:00 AM. AT&T confirmed that their stores will be opening at 8:00 sharp to start selling the new iPhone - and it makes sense. Since people need to sign up for lines of service, things may go a bit slower this time around. Oh, also, an 8 AM launch doesn’t mean there will be any less of a line. That line will just grow huge overnight instead of during the afternoon. Break out the sleeping bags!

Hit the link below for the full release from AT&T.

Read More | iPhone 3G launch info press release

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iPhone 3G pricing: Who qualifies?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Rumors

It seems that there is a bunch of confusion surrounding the price of the newly announced iPhone 3G. I spent a while on the phone the other day chatting with my pal Chris Aarons over at Buzz Corps, and we debated how pricing would work. At the end of the conversation, I realized how silly it was that, despite a price being announce on stage at WWDC 2008, that people still weren’t sure if they would be able to get the phone for the $199-299 that was quoted.

So, where does the confusion lie? Well, when dealing with cell phone companies in terms of subsidized phones (and the new iPhone 3G is a subsidized phone,) it all comes down to qualification. Don’t believe us? Head on over to AT&T’s iPhone 3G splash page. Next to the price of the phone, you will see a neat little asterisk. Scroll down to the fine print, and what do you find? The following:

*Qualified customers only. 2 year contract required. Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds vary by site conditions. Based on iPhone 3G (8GB) and first-generation iPhone (8GB) purchases. Requires new 2-year AT&T rate plan, sold separately.

Did you get that? Qualified customers only. And yet, there is no mention of who qualifies. There lies the conundrum. When Steve Jobs announced the price of the iPhone 3G, he made no mention of any sort of qualification that had to be met, and many believed that $199 was the price anyone should expect to pay for the new iPhone. Luckily, InformationWeek was able to get some information out of AT&T’s Mark Siegel, which should help in clearing all this up. Looking at what Siegel had to say, here is what we know to be true:

Click to continue reading iPhone 3G pricing: Who qualifies?

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