The strategies carriers around the world are employing to price the
iPhone 3G and its plans seem to be varying pretty wildly -- a side-effect of the newfound freedom Apple is giving them with the new model -- but in Mexico, where Telcel's signed up to release it, the strategy isn't too terribly different from AT&T's. Plans will run between MXN $399.60 and $876.90 (also available in US Dollar denominations of $41 to $90.85 after tax), and the phones will be priced on a graduated scale accordingly. The 8GB goes from MXN $3,199 down to free, while the 16GB will hit your wallet for anywhere between MXN $4,459 and $1,259. In US greenbacks, that works out to $311, free (because free's free in any currency, after all), $433, and $122, respectively. So yes, at the cheapest plan price, both models cost over $100 more than their US equivalents, but the plan's only $41 at that level, which nets you 200 voice minutes, 100 messages, and 100MB of data. Extra texts are 74 centavos (about 8 cents) and extra data -- a very real necessity -- runs 5 centavos per KB, which is a pretty immeasurably small amount of cash until you do the math and realize that you're going to be shelling out about USD $4.86 per megabyte. Be careful there!
[Via
Engadget Spanish]
posted Jun 29th 2008 11:51AM
Will there be an unsubsidized price for Mexico? TJ isn't that far from LA =)
Engadget needs a new site. Engadgetiphone. That way we cod start looking at news about phones other than ones made by Apple.
Will they be selling it on prepaid? I am going to Mexico on vacation in a month and want to pick it up to bring back to the states to unlock once that becomes available.
The most expensive plan will give you unlimited data access, so its fine.
@ Nick D & Ozzy: We currently don't know. Supposedly it's going to be exclusive for plans, but I've read plenty of rumors on different blogs that they are going to sell it also on "Amigo" (prepaid/unsubsidized)
AS MEXICAN and as former user of telcel services in mexico, i could tell you 80% sure they going to release a prepaid option due the structure of this pricing list, when telcel gives a cell phone on a small monthly price like the one of $41 it implies that they going to sell a prepaid option it allways happen
I live on USA right now but it seems like telcel is following the strategy of european companies by subsiding the full price of the phone on highest monthly plans.
And somehow understand that their are some users that are not willing to pay for the phone on high price for services they not willing to use as data plans.
Probably AT&T should follows other countries leads instead of forcing users to pay services they mostly not going to use a high prices. And make this reachable for all audiences.
Are their unsecure of T-mobile? why if they even have 3G yet? probably because of AT&T old fashion way of thinking.
I'm highly surprice that Telcel (most a like and partner of AT&T) rather to follow this great strategy!! congrats!
Now is backwards, last year everybody where purchansing iphones from USA... now sadly we have to buy for other countries like Australia, Europe or probably mexico will see.
Lets wait for a few days after world relese, problably at the end At&T understand where the people is moving and surprice us with some changes for good. lets keep our faith!!
I live in Mexico, and, I follow very close the launch plans of the iPhone here. I've talked to the CEO of America Movil in Mexico, and she said that no, no prepaid mode for the iPhone. Here's the page of Telcel, with a FAQ's and it says there: Is it going to be available on Amigo? The answer is no. You should take a look at the page, very useful info, but no rates yet.
http://www.telcel.com/iphone/preguntas_frecuentes.html
I live in Mexico, and, I follow very close the launch plans of the iPhone here. I've talked to the CEO of America Movil in Mexico, and she said that no, no prepaid mode for the iPhone. Here's the page of Telcel, with a FAQ's and it says there: Is it going to be available on Amigo? The answer is no. You should take a look at the page, very useful info, but no rates yet.
http://www.telcel.com/iphone/preguntas_frecuentes.html
Take a look at this "leaked" page from an AD company which supposedly is doing the iPhone web page for Telcel.
http://idisk.mac.com/publineza/Public/publineza/iphone_planes_telcel.html
Could it be real?
(I doubt it)
I bet there's going to be some sort of unlimited data plan like the one named "Plan Universitario" which uses BlackBerries. No doubt the iPhone is more suitable for that kind of market.
We'll see...
Hello.
They just posted the official plans for México and they are HIDEOUS!! The most expensive is around $80 USD, and ONLY HAS 200 mb!!!! That's a steal. Each aditional KB is 4 cents, so it goes REAL HIGH if you use maps with GPS or even the email!!!!!
I was so hoping to buy it but now I don't know. They can give you an unlimited plan but it starts at an extra $54 USD!! That means $130 USD plus tax and it is SOOO NOT WORTH IT.
Somebody knows how much mb it takes to use it moderately? Let's say, just e-mail, maps (for the gps) and 2 or 3 webpages only?
Would I surpass the limit of 200 mb??
(I think I'd better stick to my unlocked iphone for now)
There's a site where you can sign a petition, similar to the one the canadians have. It has a KB calculator, that translates MB to $$. Check it out:http://www.neltelcel.com
----
Los invito a hacer ruido. Visita el sitio http://www.neltelcel.com y firma la petición. Hagamos lo que los canadienses están haciendo con Rogers con el fin de ejercer presión sobre Telcel.
We should be as lucky if we had a company similar to AT & T here, trust me, yesterday I went to Telcel to ask about the IPhone and yes while the initial price is low in the long run it's a scam BIT TIME, and the cancellation policy utterly RIDICULOUS, you have to sign a 24 month contract like in many other country's but if you cancel before time they're going to charge you 30 MONTHS of rent, WTF!!!!
Living in Mexico your accustomed to monopoly size companies and not having an option, but these brings a new level to the thing. I'm honestly thinking of dropping Telcel 4-ever and getting one with AT&T, live in Tijuana so pretty close to the border.
I live in Mexico and was wondering if anyone has an opinion here... instead of signing up for Telcel's aggressive iPhone pricing... can Ibuy an unblocked iPhone 3G (perhaps buying the unit in the US) and use it with a Telcel chip (now associated with a blackberry with an unlimited data plan). Would that be a lot cheaper and with less of a long-term commitment?
Would that make sense, rather than committing to a 24-month contract with heavy penalties.
Would it even work?