P41,899 for an 8GB pre-paid iPhone 3G. That’s almost $930!!!!
WOWOWOW!
That’s expensive! And i thought that Apple – the direct supplier – is only selling the iPhone for $199 (P8,955.00) a $731 difference.
Meanwhile, the 16GB prepaid iPhone 3G is selling for P48,899.00.
I say these prices are absurd!!!! Apple clearly wanted the iPhone 3G to be cheap so that more people would be attracted to buy and use it. But with this pricing.. i say it’s not worth buying an iPhone.
I’m thinking that bulk of the $731 excess in the price of the iPhone is brought about by 2 things: Profit and Taxes/Government fees.
Here are the postpaid plans you can choose from:
I really feel that Globe went way to “pricey” on the iPhone 3G. But as any new gadget that comes out, especially with the big amount of HYPE, this is a “normal” result.. meaning they do start at a high level.
I say, rather than buying an iPhone 3G, i suggest these alternatives:
1. a UMPC instead? Like the Asus Eee PC, HP Mini Note, or Deep Blue H1, Gigabyte UMPC, Acer Aspire one, MSI WInd, etc.
2. You could also get a Internet Tablet like the N800 or N810.
3. Buy a Laptop. Nowadays, good laptops can be bought for less than P35,000
Also, for Smart and SUN (who will soon be releasing their 3G services), i say grab the iPhone alternatives from Samsung, LG, HTC, and Nokia. Specifically, the Smasung Omnia, Samsung instinct, HTC Diamond, and the soon to be launched Nokia touchscreen phone.
Then make sure that the price is half of the iPhone 3G. Then we’ll see the iPhone 3G price drop.
But if you still want to grab an iPhone 3G after reading this, then reserve a unit now.
(note: rates i used – $1 = P45.00)
UPDATE:
After i posted this article, Dave pointed me to a case of overpriced iPhone 3G in Canada. Just like Globe, Apple awarded the selling of iPhone 3G to Rogers Communications. However,
Apple was “disgusted” with the rates Rogers is charging on the iPhone. An Apple store manager last week confirmed to CBCNews.ca that staff were “very disappointed” by the cellphone company’s rates and that Apple was keeping a tally of complaints. (source)
Almost 60,000 people signed up for the online petition regading this issue.
I will also try to get the side of Globe on why their plans are high.
Too freakin expensive! You’re right, I’d rather buy a UMPC than waste it on an iPhone.
Hi Migs!
Why not our own version of an online petition too?
Grabe to the max naman talga!
The $200.00 iPhone is inclusive of a subscription plan. With prepaid phones (one of the more unique phenomenons here in the Philippines), there’s no guarantee that the said phones will be subscribed to Globe. I wouldn’t consider P40K “feasible” for most consumers but it’s actually surprising that Globe is willing to sell phones that aren’t permanently tied to their services.
Plan P3299 is certainly on par with the $200.00 iPhone.
[...] via Migs Mobile Network. Thanks to Migs. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)CNET.com: Planet CNET: Ringing in [...]
BAN GLOBE FOR THIS STUPID RIPOFF PRICING !!!! WHAT DO THEY THINK ??? WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO CONVERT FROM DOLLARS TO PESOS. HEY STUPID ASS GLOBE MARKETEERS WE WILL JUST BUY FROM THE BLACK MARKET UNTIL YOU ADJUST IT DOWN YOU GREEDY SCUM.
SUBSCRIPTION MODEL PRICING MY ASS. 42K FOR THE PREPAID. YOU ALL DESERVE TO GO TO HELL
If the price is too steep for you, don’t waste your time whining about it. It’s time to move out from the apple side. In my opinion, the iPhone 3G is a bit outdated nowadays huh? Remember when Nokia released the N7600 way back in late 2003?
Now it’s time for the others to come in – Nokia tube, XPERIA…and others..=)
or if you want to ride on the iPhone mania..just rather buy an iTouch – at least it does look similarly to the iPhone.
Peace =)
Hey guys – a friend of mine got an e-mail from Globe:
-For loyalty / retention using your current globe postpaid line if you average P5,000 – P7,999 a month you can get iPhone 3G 16GB P6,000 handset price if you average 8000 up a month you can get the iPhone 3G 16GB P2,300 handset price -first 1000 reservations get an additional 1K discount for the handset-
For those of you qualify, good for you
Jonathan,
the reason we are somewhat angry is because Mr. Steve Jobs wanted the iPhone to be cheap so that a lot of people will be able to use it. Now here comes Globe giving providing high priced post and prepaid plans.
I think a 25k price would be acceptable.
==============
Noemi,
Thanks for the info!
“Mr. Steve Jobs wanted the iPhone to be cheap.”
Yes, he wanted that way but I don’t think that would be made into reality unless Jobs and his apple minions will centralize its price. $199 is $199 – although its subsidized by the network operators themselves. That’s why you get that pricey iPhone for $199 and pay for the monthly contract.
Talking about marketing gimmicks, looking back at the EEE PC last year – it widely created a buzz and ofcourse, hype (hush) when ASUSTek announced that it will be selling at $199. But what happened? It turned out to be a negative price expectation.
This would be something like a remedy….
http://news.softpedia.com/news/China-made-Mercedes-Benz-Mobile-Phone-Unveiled-91535.shtml
=)
Other countries are selling it for close to $199.. si italy yata ang pinaka mahal.. more than $2,000!!! whoah!
I think it really depends on the carrier/telco.. kung gusto nilang mababa ang price.. pwede nilang pabababain….
Sabi nga “kung gusto.. may paraan, kung ayaw.. madaming dahilan”
siguro lets wait na nga lang for 3 months… bababa din yan!
wahahahhaha
WTF??? $1000??? that’s 10x the list price.
yeah, globe is killing the iPhone. I also filled a complaint to apple on this. In a few months, for sure price will drop.
what people don’t realize is the minimum at&t plan you can get with the iphone3g in the US will cost around $75 (call+text) which comes out equivalent to Globe’s 3299 plan where you can get the 8GB unit for P12300 ($280). so if you think about it, subtract phil gov’t tax, presumably smaller volume commitment compared to at&t – hence lower subsidized cost, and other distribution/importation costs and the price actually makes sense
Apple knows it job!iPhone 3G is the real stuff!Thanks for great review
It’s about time Apple stops shooting itself in the foot and starts controlling these greedy buffoons.Every time Apple brings out something new, they allow profiteers to scare most sane people off. The price every where is ludicrous, Tying the phone into one provider is asking for trouble. Pay as you go is the biggest use so why exclude most of the sane world with ” lucrative ” tie ins with providers. I certainly will not pay to be stuck with one provider who will stick it to me whenever they feel like it as I will have nowhere else to go. I would just have to throw the bloody iPhone away!
Thanks for the review
I’ll keep your info in mind before I make a purchase.
Great write up. The iPhone is truly revolutionary and I don’t like being without it. This time last year I had jumped in a pool with my iPhone and it was dead. I had to wait 9 days before I was able to purchasea new one. The phone I had was a cheap go phone. I really love all the games that can be downloaded to the iPhone. The best part about the iPhone to me is the ability to check emails on the fly. Thanks for the information.