In a possible attempt to clear out old inventory, Apple’s retail stores are now selling iPhone 3Gs contract-free at the unsubsidized price of $599 for the 8GB and $699 for the 16GB.
The move coincides with the recent sell-off by several other carriers and retailers, including AT&T, who also started selling iPhones at an unsubsidized price as of yesterday. The only differences between Apple’s offering and AT&T’s seems to be that Apple has no limit on the number of phones a customer may purchase and you don’t need to be an existing AT&T customer.
With the WWDC right around the corner, the only logical conclusion is that everyone is trying to clear out old iPhone 3G inventory in anticipation of new hardware in June or July. Will these no-commitment offerings be enough for any of you to finally pick up an iPhone, or will you be waiting to grab the new hotness that is the next iPhone?
[via AppleInsider]
Why would it really matter though, because Iphone users will get OS 3.0 for free anyway wont they? I mean why are they really trying to “clear them out” when the new ones will be the same thing just with the new OS that people can get for free anyway. Maybe I’m ignorant of something that apple is planning, but I havent heard anything about an actual “new” model of the iphone coming out when OS3.0 gets released. Who knows i guess.
Well, that’s the whole point. You’re right; getting rid of existing inventory wouldn’t make any sense if the new inventory is going to be the same. Ergo, the new inventory must be materially different; Apple must have some non-trivial hardware changes in the works.
No one seems to know anything about it. But I’ve got a small wish-list:
1)More memory
2)Decent camera with flash
3)Forward-facing camera for video conferencing
4)Faster processor
5)32GB flash storage
6)ATSC tuner (ok, fine, I’m getting carried away)
True, I understand that one must move out old products to bring in the new. It just seems like all they have to offer so far for the new model is OS3.0. I do agree with your wishlist quite a bit, although since I have an Ipod Touch 32gb, I guess I can check off that box (and uncheck several I dont have). But I know that I am excited to shell out my 10 bux for OS3.0, should be pretty interesting.
Although at first glance this appears to be an attempt to clear old stock prior to a new model being introduced, the method is unusual for Apple.
As we have seen previously, Apple typically either hit the manufacturing sweet spot, delivering new models right when the old stock is running out, or preface the new model with a short period of reduced prices for the old model.
The biggest difference obviously, is that laptops and iPods have never had price subsidising contracts attached to their sale.
The timing certainly seems right for a new model, and 32Gb chips should be in Apples hands by now.
So, brand new model with memory bump, extra hardware features and new external design?
I doubt it, but probably two of these three.