Comments on: T-Mobile slashes iPhone price 75% in Germany

By: Tom Ross, Berlin, Germany

Tom Ross, Berlin, Germany — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:16:04 +0000

It should be noted that German prices include sales tax (VAT), while US prices are quoted without sales tax. To American eyes, this makes the German prices look bigger than they actually are. I would suggest removing the VAT as you convert to US$. Then the iPhone price drop would be from €399 ($525) to €99 ($130), for example.

By: Nodack Phoenix AZ

Nodack Phoenix AZ — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:18:33 +0000

Lol RJ.

Wishfull thinking on your part and good luck with that.

By: Nasty, Zurich, Switzerland

Nasty, Zurich, Switzerland — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:40:45 +0000

I've been waiting i Switzerland for one of these things for so long now it isn't true. Evidently not selling them makes more money than not selling them the right way, in Switzerland and other, lessor, nations.

Anyways, I gave up long ago worrying about how much the iphone costs. If it is under 1000 USD, I want it. My big problem, the thing that has held me back, is getting shafted for data by the all powerful telecom monopolies.

The big story with the iphone is how much folks use it, and the data traffic demands. That reality will drive pricing in the mobile broadband market and, more importantly, it will drive advertising revenue to apple. And friends.

By: Dan, Boston, MA

Dan, Boston, MA — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:44:45 +0000

To gms: The iPhone users are forced to get a data plan as well – owners of other phones are not. It's completely fair to point that incremental cost out.

Plus, THERE'S NO SUBSIDY ON THE iPHONE, yet buyers still have to sign a 2 year contract and pay an ETF to get out of it. Keep claiming that people are being unfair pointing this stuff out, but there are elements to the iPhone contracts that are onerous compared to comparable smartphones.

By: RJ Manchester NH

RJ Manchester NH — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:23:31 +0000

How will that 79% "satisfaction rating" look when everyone that bought and iphone early (just as in the US) ends up getting screwed by yet another unexpected price cut of an apple product? My guess is the cult of early adopters signed on and then most of the real power users (jobless college kids excepted) figured out that the RIM machines are just much better.

By: gms_60613, chicago IL

gms_60613, chicago IL — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:19:51 +0000

why is it when it comes to the iphone there is always comments on how much the two year agreement will cost? what service besides pay as you go offers a contract less than two years, with or without the iphone?

ex ped: In this case the cost of the two-year agreement attached to the 99 euro iPhone is relevant. Otherwise, you're right.

By: jmmx, Portland OR

jmmx, Portland OR — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:41:21 +0000

SoonerFan -

79% was VERY Satisfied. Need to add the Satisfied response as well – I imagine that will bring "approval rating" up over 90% (I have no idea the actual figure.)

This is very good news for Apple, as they will sell a lot more phones. I imagine that most of the cost is being born by T-Mobile. Telcos are used to making long-term investments. Getting that customer in-house is worth the price cut. (Remember THEY do not pay €399!)

My guess is that there will soon be a memory upgrade along with the 3G – maybe even before the 3G.

This also tests the "discount waters" to see how it goes. I think it is possible that Apple will not lower the price of base models (i.e. 16GB -> 8GB price, 32GB -> 16GB price) but allow discounts/rebates for signing up with preferred carriers. This way Apple get their income either way.

IMHO

By: SoonerFan...Cedar Rapids, IA

SoonerFan...Cedar Rapids, IA — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:11:13 +0000

The biased reporting on both sides of the ditch are obvious. The proof is in the pudding…79% approval rating for the iPhone. It's doubtful anyone will regret the decision to own one no matter how they go about obtaining it.

By: Dennis, Ft. Pierce FL

Dennis, Ft. Pierce FL — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:05:44 +0000

"They may also feel more pressure than Apple to get rid of their old iPhones before the new 3G models arrive; unlike U.S. Apple stores, which have been running out of inventory lately, they seem to have plenty of iPhones in stock."

Um, everything in Europe is 3G, and most in the US isn't. The fact that there's any demand for a 2.5G phone like this speaks well of the quality of the phone.

By: Mike, San Diego, CA

Mike, San Diego, CA — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:58:13 +0000

"something they may come to regret down the road" Talk about biased reporting. Don't you think the consumer knows how much service they need?

With a 79% satisfaction rating, I doubt they will regret buying an iphone.

That being said, easy to see why they are running an incentive with their costs being much higher than in the US.

Toni should just give it up, he doesn't have a clue whats going on. Of course the explanation is the iphone costs $399 in the US, much less than the $625 in Germany, so people buy it in the US and ship it around the world, thats why its sold out in the US and nowhere else. Apple underestimated how small this world is and how willing people were to do this.