If you don't mind buying a refurbished unit, you could buy an iPhone 3G from AT&T for as low as $79. Even had the iPhone been around during the hey days of Crazy Eddie, we might not have seen such a low price. The $79 is for the 8GB model of the touchscreen handset while the 16GB refurbished model will run you $129.
It's a brilliant marketing step by the carrier. After all, there are some potential iPhone 3G buyers at $79 that might not open their wallet $20 higher. And even if a small percentage of those are so enthralled by the 3G that they move up to the iPhone 3GS, bingo, extra money in the bank. And that is not even counting the voice and data plans that AT&T will be selling to these buyers. It's razors and blades, boys, razors and blades. AT&T is simply using the same pricing scenario you see in the supermarket with razors. Sell the razor and a couple of blades cheaply and then sell the blade refills for an arm and a leg.
Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.
Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.
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