You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
For A Few Minutes, Apple Allowed Verizon iPhone Ordering

For A Few Minutes, Apple Allowed Verizon iPhone Ordering

January 26, 2011
Officially online orders for the Verizon iPhone don’t begin until February 3 for “qualified customers” and February 10 for everyone else. However, someone at Apple must have been asleep at the switch. Momentarily, Apple let customers order a handset on their website. Then, just like that, the links were no longer functional. That didn’t stop of us from using the site to price out a handset before it went away. Here is what we learned: Models:
  • MC676LL/A iPhone 4 16GB (black)
  • MC678LL/A iPhone 4 32GB (black)
Available plans:
  • 450 min/mo ($.45 ea over) $39.99/mo
  • 900 min/mo w/unlimited to 5 selected people (any network) ($.40 ea over) $59.99/mo
  • Unlimited $69.99/mo
Data:
  • Unlimited iPhone $29.99/mo
  • Unlimited iPhone + 2GB tethering and Hotspot 3G ($20/GB over) $49.99/mo
Messaging:
  • Pay-per-use $.20/text $.25/video/pic
  • 250 messages/mo ($.10 ea over) $5/mo
  • 500 messages/mo ($.10 ea over) $10/mo
  • Unlimited $20/mo
These options, if accurate, are unfortunate. It is clear that adding Verizon as an additional iPhone carrier has done nothing to lower the cost of iPhone service in the United States. The monthly voice plan prices are identical to what AT&T is offering. Unlike AT&T, Verizon does offer an unlimited data plan. Depending on your situation, this can be a better deal, or overkill. For text messages, AT&T’s 1,000 message/month plan costs the same as Verizon’s 500 message/month plan ($10). For $20, both carriers offer unlimited texting. Finally, as expected, Verizon doesn’t offer rollover minutes like AT&T. This is a deal breaker in my household, but again, each situation is different. Since Apple quickly took down its Verizon iPhone ordering page, we have no idea if these prices are valid. If they are, they are disappointing.

Related articles