No contract iPhone coming March 26th?

[BobSeager]

Rumor has it, and it looks legit (but don't quote me), At&t will see 'no-commitment' iPhones beginning March 26 for At&t exisiting customers.

$599 8gb, $699 16gb

[HaGGardSmurf]

Wouldnt that mean for sending/receiving data you would be using min's? I would think that would be QUITE costly for alot of people.

[BobSeager]

Good question, don't really have an answer

Right now I don't have edge or 3g. SMS goes out over my minutes, about 30 cents per msg (roughly a 3 minute call). The phone still has wifi, so it can get to the internet without a data plan.

Who knows tho, At&t could say they still require a data plan or some other shananigans.

[iamwatt]

so wait, you have an iPhone without the data package. . . ? if so, i take it you don't do much texting

[BobSeager]

No I don't. I've got a prepaid tmobile plan. I could add texting as an option. It's no different than having a regular plan without a texting option.

Costs about 30 cents to send one, 10 or 15 to receive.

[iamwatt]

oh okay, i got it, you broke it out of jail and you're using it on the t-mobile network. . . cool! mine is jailborken as well, i don't really do much with it though, just themes and stuff like that, i seen some of your post. looks like you take full advantage of the jailbreak. . .

[BobSeager]

The rumors are true!

I don't really understand the stipulations.

1) They're still locked (figured of course this would be the case

2) You still have to activate it on an iphone plan, not prepaid

So...as far as I can tell you pay $600 up front and then the usual plan on top of that...but you must be able to cancel anytime

[BobSeager]

Heads up regarding these unsubidized iPhones. You may want to consider this if your plan is to buy a new phone and unlock it.

I do not know what firmware they have, and you cannot yet unlock 3g iPhones with the newest basebands in the 2.2.1 update. I would almost guarantee that if you go out and buy an iPhone today, it will have this update.

[BobSeager]

I contacted an Apple Store the other day and they will sell a 3g w/o contract for $499.

A bit steep, but most high-end smartphones run in the same range price wise when unlocked.