[appleikon]

Prices for the iPhone 3g from Era (Poland) range from $335.00 to $837.00 for the basic tariff (500 Mb data), though with the $164.00 tariff the phone starts from $0.48 The tariffs are as follows: 500Mb (data) $45.00 per month , 2Gb $92.00 and 5Gb $164.00. However, these prices are a special offer and only available until August 31, essentially 9 days. So we can expect the prices to go up?

According to the local outlet contract upgrades are only possible were there is jut a few months left to run on the existing contract, though what that meant, exactly, they couldn't say. Why somebody on a basic existing contract with only a couple of months left to run would pay an additional $500+ (for the phone) to upgrade I find difficult to understand. Why Era feel the need to charge such a fee is also difficult to understand, as surely they only pay around $199 for the phone in the first place ( it not being subsidized by them); especially if the existing contract is probably worth less than $19.00. Calls to Era support to clarify this were far from helpful as, in addition to being somewhat contradictory to each other, suggested that the iphone 3g cost Era $853.00! The only positive outcome from the calls was that the phone will be available unlocked. The price... $853.00 (8Gb) and $1022 (16Gb). The Era website & telephone support provides around 24 different prices for the iPhone 3g, 75% of which are substantially more than $199.00. How this can be squared with the keynote ... '$199.00 anywhere' is something I find the most difficult to understand! Or, am I missing something?

[msuper69]

Sounds like Era is responsible for the high iPhone prices and plan. I think they are gouging Polish consumers because they know how hot the iPhone is. How about complaining to them? Or better yet, don't get an iPhone from them. Get something else. Money talks.

[Simon]

The $199/$299 iPhone price is for the US and a few other countries (Germany for example isn't bad). But in many other countries it's a lot more expensive. I paid $675 for my 16 GB iPhone in Sweden and that was with an 18 month plan.

[appleikon]

Yes, there are a few other countries where the phone costs more than $199.00 with a standard package! But, that still doesn't explain the keynote statement. The prices quoted, by the way, are for 2 & 3 year year contracts. As for getting something else - well that looks likely now, as there appears to be no way of actually purchasing an unlocked phone a present and, as I have a contract with more than a couple of months left to go, I can't upgrade. It would have been such an addition to my me.com account and other macs! The only other option for purchase is Orange, and they don't intend to reveal their prices until the day of release - August 22. Don't get me wrong, I am sure there will be plenty of coverage of queues in Warsaw come August 22, but I don't see the actual numbers being that impressive. Certainly not until they sort out the present fiasco.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Simon 

The $199/$299 iPhone price is for the US and a few other countries (Germany for example isn't bad). But in many other countries it's a lot more expensive. I paid $675 for my 16 GB iPhone in Sweden and that was with an 18 month plan.

SJ should fly there and give Swedish iPhone owners personal commendations.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

SJ should fly there and give Swedish iPhone owners personal commendations.

I'd actually settle for copy/paste and tethering.

In all fairness I should add that plans here are a lot better though. I get some voice and text messages plus unlimited 3G for $47 a month. AT&T's $75/month would buy you a whole lot more plan here.

[appleikon]

Get this, the procedure for purchasing an iphone 3g on August 22, with Era Poland, involves signing a pre-contract contract - stating that you will complete the iTariff contract by August 31. You can even print the contract from their website, take it to the outlet of your choice and your phone is pre-orderd and will be waiting! You even have the choice of collecting from the outlet (on August 22) or it being delivered by courier. So, maybe those queues want be that long after all!

The big question now is - do you pre-book or wait to see the Orange tariff on August 22.

[ort888]

It doesn't cost that in America either if you are a current AT&T customer. Steve lied to me. An Apple store employee lied to me, and two different AT&T CSRs lied to me. Apples commercials also lie.

Apparently flat out lying to their customers is a new Apple/AT&T policy.

[scottiB]

Originally Posted by ort888 

It doesn't cost that in America either if you are a current AT&T customer.

I'm an AT&T customer and the 16GB was $299.

[appleikon]

Received a call from an Era employer, who says he has worked out how I can order an unlocked iPhone 3g. I am to go see him tomorrow. Apart from not holding my breath, it has been one heck of a roller coaster ride of information and misinformation this past week, I will need to decide if the iPhone 16Gb is really worth $1022.00 All opinions appreciated.

[appleikon]

Latest news from Orange (Poland) is that the iPhone 3g will not now be available in shops until August 26, so if you are planning to queue early - take a tent! Prices are still not available, officially, until August 22, but the service operatives at the kiosks claim to be in the know, so expect a leak some time soon.

As for purchasing an unlocked phone, I do now have the Era order codes for all three versions. Things are looking better, though the price of the 8Gb has gone up by $47.00 since the weekend, and they are not even on sale yet. On the downside - I will need to go to a main Era point, after purchase, to have the phone unlocked and as I live in, what is described as, a top ten Polish city there is no such point at present.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by appleikon 

Prices for the iPhone 3g from Era (Poland) range from $335.00 to $837.00 for the basic tariff (500 Mb data), though with the $164.00 tariff the phone starts from $0.48 The tariffs are as follows: 500Mb (data) $45.00 per month , 2Gb $92.00 and 5Gb $164.00.

[...]

Why Era feel the need to charge such a fee is also difficult to understand, as surely they only pay around $199 for the phone in the first place ( it not being subsidized by them);

If I understand what you're saying correctly, you are COMPLETELY off.

$199 is a SUBSIDIZED PRICE. The ONLY reason the iPhone 3G came down in (initial) price over the previous generation is precisely BECAUSE it is subsidized.

Calls to Era support to clarify this were far from helpful as, in addition to being somewhat contradictory to each other, suggested that the iphone 3g cost Era $853.00!

That is probably not *quite* the price Era pays, but if you subtract sales tax and a minimal profit margin of say 10%, you'll probably get close to their actual cost.

The only positive outcome from the calls was that the phone will be available unlocked. The price... $853.00 (8Gb) and $1022 (16Gb). The Era website & telephone support provides around 24 different prices for the iPhone 3g, 75% of which are substantially more than $199.00. How this can be squared with the keynote ... '$199.00 anywhere' is something I find the most difficult to understand! Or, am I missing something?

So you're saying that a full SIX price plans make the iPhone 3G' subsidized price $199 or less in your country?

In fact, it's available at $0.48 initial cost???

How does that NOT agree with the announcement that iPhone 3G will be available for "$199.00 anywhere"?

[Cipher13]

$59/month for calls, SMS and 500MB data, + $7/month for the 16GB iPhone. That's with Optus in Aus. 24 month contract.

[appleikon]

Originally Posted by analogika 

How does that NOT agree with the announcement that iPhone 3G will be available for "$199.00 anywhere"?

Very much so. The six, out of 24, prices at $199 .00 or below are mostly available with a THREE YEAR contract and tariffs up to $164.00 per month. They are not subsidized, just paid for over time. And, as $164.00 equates to about one third of the average Polish monthly wage they probably don't expect to sell many at that price. ( That would be something like a $1000.00 a month Tariff in the US) Don't forget these tariffs have limited data, call and text allowances - even the $164.00 per month THREE YEAR tariff. If you compare iTariifs to other tariffs, by Era, they are much more expensive and with less allowances. With this attitude they will end up selling very few - how big is the market for mobile users with - no existing contract, too much money and a desire for good products?

Both these providers sell the iphone in other countries for $199.00 across the range - why not here? And, why didn't Apple make that a part of their contract?

[moonmonkey]

They are mostly free in Hong Kong, that balances it out a bit?

[analogika]

Originally Posted by appleikon 

Very much so. The six, out of 24, prices at $199 .00 or below are mostly available with a THREE YEAR contract and tariffs up to $164.00 per month. They are not subsidized, just paid for over time.

Um.

That is what "subsidized" MEANS. The carrier buys it from the manufacturer at full price, and gives it to you for much less, while you pay for it in monthly fees - the carrier "subsidizes" the buying price.

Same as with every other phone on the market.

Also, do note that prices in the US are ALWAYS given WITHOUT sales tax.

[Simon]

I think he understands that. If I understand correctly he is pointing out that the total cost (including subsidies) is far higher in Poland than in the US.
US: $199 + 24x$75
Poland: $199 + 36x$164

[appleikon]

Originally Posted by Simon 

I think he understands that. If I understand correctly he is pointing out that the total cost (including subsidies) is far higher in Poland than in the US.
US: $199 + 24x$75
Poland: $199 + 36x$164

Exactly. About three times the price over the period of the contract, and for less data. To put it another way - approx. $2000.00 more. Or. just over $1000.00 extra if you continue the US contract for a third year. That's without the fact that you will not be able to upgrade your phone for the three years, and I can't believe there will not be an iphone upgrade for another three years!

[analogika]

Oh, and btw, from looking at the official Era page on the iPhone 3G:

Nowy iPhone 3G w Era

I only see twelve variations: basically just three different contract conditions, each at 24 months or 36 months.

Only in three of those twelve does the iPhone cost more than US$ 199:

The 8GB iPhone on the cheapest tariff and 24 months, and the 16 GB iPhone on the cheapest contract, both 24 and 36 months.

ALL other contracts put the iPhone at less than $199.

The site doesn't mention the unlocking fee, but I assume that's a fixed price completely independent of the contract, as in all other countries that require carriers to offer all phones unlocked.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Simon 

I think he understands that. If I understand correctly he is pointing out that the total cost (including subsidies) is far higher in Poland than in the US.
US: $199 + 24x$75
Poland: $199 + 36x$164

Except it's NOT (as per the actual carrier homepage I linked to):

US: $199 + 24x$75 (two years, excluding tax)
Poland: $0.45 + 24x$88 (two years, INCLUDING tax)

That's forty-five CENTS for the 8GB iPhone 3G, and the price difference based on current exchange rates works out to $13 a month. This means he's paying $312 more in contract fees, so the iPhone 8GB is about $100 more expensive (actually, it's not more expensive at all, since the Polish contract fee includes sales tax).

If you opt for the $43 contract instead of the $88 one, the phone is $325 INCLUDING sales tax, which is 15%, I believe - so $280 without tax.

What am I missing?

[appleikon]

Originally Posted by analogika 

What am I missing?

Several pages on their web site for a start. So I no longer think you work for Era, but then again!

The first page just has the best 6 prices, and these include tariffs way beyond the price of most Polish people. What's included in the Tariffs means you are likely to need add-ons, so you can't make a direct comparison with the US $75.00 tariff. If you want to compare website prices compare those of Mac products, generally, here in Poland. They can be up to 30% higher, and that is without TAX.

[appleikon]

Latest update from Era is that one of their stores in Warsaw will open at 7pm on August 21. It doesn't say whether or not sales start before Midnight, but with only one store opening at 7pm, on the 21st, in the whole of Poland there might at least now be a queue for the iPhone It might even make it on to the late news. Orange will also be opening stores on the 21st, but that is not until 9pm and in addition to four stores in Warsaw they will also be opening at least one store in each of the major cities at the same time. Many smaller outlets still maintain that they are not sure when they will have the iphone, but probably not until the 26th. So much for the August 22 release, that even the Apple press team claim to be the release date.

As for the cost of using an iphone here, a close look at the details of the contract, particularly data, provides for further concern: If, or when, the allocated data is exceeded any additional data is charged, per packet, at the rate of $0.055. That is for each send, and for each receive data packet up to 100kb, though being charged for 1kb is not uncommon. It is not impossible, therefore, to be charged up to $55.00 for an addition 1Mb of data, though $0.55 is the minimum charge. As the 500Mb tariff is already more expensive than the average consumer package here, how would the cost of using this iphone package really compare with the US? I expect several customers to be in for a little surprise when they start to enjoy the iphone functions and receive their bills.

Despite statements to the contrary Orange have now released their prices. Contracts also range from 2 to 3 years, but their main starter tariff of $69.00 is more expensive than Era's, though this does include 1Gb of data. However, additional data would appear to cost $0.115 per 50Kb which is considerably more expensive than Era's (see above)!