Debitel, a reseller of airtime that it buys from T-Mobile, Vodafone, Q2, and E-Plus in Germany, will now be offering customers a whopping $891 dollars, or 600 Euros rebate on any unlocked iPhones bought from T-Mobile.
The catch, of course, is that the customer must agree to use Debitel wireless service instead of T-Mobile's. This, naturally, undermines most of the advantages of T-Mobile and provides real competition that is great for consumers, but hardly great for Apple and especially T-Mobile!
All this, of course, is to allow Debitel to take advantage of a German courts decision that ordered T-Mobile and Apple to unlock (as an option) the iPhone and thus gain increased market share and subscribers for itself.
According to Debitel's marketing chief, Oliver Steil, "We are happy to offer iPhone buyers the freedom of choice that customers are entitled to expect from a service provider."
Well, maybe Herr Steil might be happy, but I'm quite sure that neither Apple or T-Mobile is too happy about it one little bit. Debitel, and, no doubt, others to come, have thrown a monkey wrench into Apple's and T-Mobile's hard negotiated plans. The iPhone European prices are much too high, and frankly, out of the reach for the vast majority of people, especially at 999 Euros for most to really seriously consider.
All this, of course, is to allow Debitel to take advantage of a German courts decision that ordered T-Mobile and Apple to unlock (as an option) the iPhone and thus gain increased market share and subscribers for itself.
According to Debitel's marketing chief, Oliver Steil, "We are happy to offer iPhone buyers the freedom of choice that customers are entitled to expect from a service provider."
Well, maybe Herr Steil might be happy, but I'm quite sure that neither Apple or T-Mobile is too happy about it one little bit. Debitel, and, no doubt, others to come, have thrown a monkey wrench into Apple's and T-Mobile's hard negotiated plans. The iPhone European prices are much too high, and frankly, out of the reach for the vast majority of people, especially at 999 Euros for most to really seriously consider.
With an unlock iPhone going for up to $1,500, it is real impediment for people who may be lusting and hoping to buy an iPhone. Apple and its iPhone partners need to come up with a better plan, one that will help put more iPhones into the hands of more consumers, which can mean only one thing: they have to lower both the cost of the iPhone itself, and, as well, the cost of running it.
The current pricing for the iPhone puts it into what I call the millionaire's mobile category, one that might be prestigeous, but if the iPhone is to succeed, it has to be priced for the mainstream market. In other words, the iphone has to have a lower and more realistic price, because presently, its simply too expensive for the average user to ever seriously consider.
Presently, the iPhone is an expensive phone, a very, very expensive phone, that has been cheapened by what many consider to be a very poor European introduction and pricing scheme. Already other phone makers are offering better pricing deals on phones offering more features, including, I might add, G3 speeds. Despite the iPhone's great interface and all of its bells and whistles, if the price is beyond a persons ability to pay, it just ain't going to sell - PERIOD!
Common Apple, 'Think Different' and work out a more affordable solution, one that not only the rich can afford, but one that we all can afford!
And thats my 2 cents on the iPhones 'too expensive' European sales model 4 this sunny, but cold, Wednesday, November 28, 2007.
Source:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/11/27/german_mvno_to_undercut_t_mobile_with_600_euro_iphone_rebate.html
Presently, the iPhone is an expensive phone, a very, very expensive phone, that has been cheapened by what many consider to be a very poor European introduction and pricing scheme. Already other phone makers are offering better pricing deals on phones offering more features, including, I might add, G3 speeds. Despite the iPhone's great interface and all of its bells and whistles, if the price is beyond a persons ability to pay, it just ain't going to sell - PERIOD!
Common Apple, 'Think Different' and work out a more affordable solution, one that not only the rich can afford, but one that we all can afford!
And thats my 2 cents on the iPhones 'too expensive' European sales model 4 this sunny, but cold, Wednesday, November 28, 2007.
Source:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/11/27/german_mvno_to_undercut_t_mobile_with_600_euro_iphone_rebate.html
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