$600 For A Prepaid iPhone
June 23, 2008 by Juan Magdaraog
Filed under Computers
That’s what this report from Appleinsider says. For those in markets/territories where the iPhone will be available through prepaid plans, the handset will cost somewhere around $600. That’s quite a hefty amount for a phone but given the iPhone’s features, this sounds about right.
This price range is somewhat near the prepaid handset price that this report indicates here in the Philippines. According to that report a prepaid iPhone can be purchased for 25,000 pesos or roughly $570. Globe Telecoms is the carrier that Apple has chosen to bring the iPhone to the Philippines.
The Philippines is one country wherein prepaid subscribers out number those with post paid plans. Why? It’s because even though we’re a poor country, mobile communications is a big thing for us. It’s not rare that you see even minimum-wage earners spend a lot of their income on mobile phones. Given that most people can’t afford cars, the mobile phone has become the status symbol.
It’s not uncommon for people to spend $600 on phones here. When the Sony Ericsson P990 first came out people forked more than $600 for the privilege to own one. Even if it did turn out to be a crappy phone.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone does cost around this much for prepaid plans. In fact I’d rather pay the upfront cost rather than be tied to a high post paid plan.
How about you? Are you willing to pay this much for the iPhone or would you rather be locked in with a plan for 2 years?
The problem in the Philippines is the post paid plan IS very high. If I were to convert into pesos what I’m paying for my Singapore Post Paid plan, it would cost less than php500 a month.