[brokenjago]

Maybe a contract-free iPhone is NOT out of the question - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

That post on TUAW got me thinking. Why has Apple removed all of the "2 year contract" required messages on it's ads?

Also, this page at wirelessatt.com which USED to mention the required 2 year contract no longer does:

iPhone Exclusively from AT&T and Apple | AT&T, formerly Cingular Wireless

Could this mean there may be a pre-paid option available? Does this mean they might sell them contract-less?

I honestly don't know. I sure hope so!

What do YOU think?

[krove]

That is rather conspicuous.

[brokenjago]

Yes, it is. I'm surprised not more people have perked their ears up at this news. One of the main drawbacks was the 2 year contract.

[butterfly0fdoom]

Well, it'll still be locked into AT&T, so it's not like not having a contract will be of much benefit.

[brokenjago]

It will be if you buy one and decide you can't afford the contract a year from now.

[Oversoul]

Wishful thinking.

With all Jobs' talk over the last few months about AT&T bending over backwards for Apple over the iPhone (e.g., accepting terms with Apple unprecedented in the industry, developing exclusive technologies, potential profit sharing over new subscriptions, bowing to Apple's policy of secrecy, selling and activating their iPhone from Apple outlets, multi-year exclusivity, rewiring their stores, improving their EDGE network), I highly doubt AT&T would now remove their two year requisite at a disadvantage to themselves.

I don't believe AT&T is subsidizing the iPhone, but at the same time I don't ever recall reading AT&T is getting any cut of iPhone sells either. What money AT&T makes will likely be from new activitations from switchers/new adopters and lengthened contracts from existing customers. I don't see AT&T foregoing the opportunity to lock people in to two year agreements after all they've put into this partnership with Apple.

I'm sure the AT&T exclusivity and the possibility of being tied to their service for two years has put people off. It's been one of my big hurdles, as I'm generally satisfied with my T-Mobile service, which I've had (in some form or other) for nearly 10 years. But the same can be said about the iPhone's technical specs (non-3G) or price point ($499/$599). Neither of the latter two negatives are advertised either, but does that mean Apple's done a second-take on these issues as well and decided to include 3G networking or lower the iPhone prices? I doubt it and Apple's non-inclusion is likely just good marketing.

Do I want there to be no contract or a shorter contract requirement? Sure, who wants to be tied to multi-year contract? But I think anyone seriously thinking of getting an iPhone should be ready to commit to AT&T for the next two years just in case.

[macfantn]

just buy the phone and cancel your service and pay the $175 fee