Rumors: iPhones without contracts? Probably not

Awesomeness, my first Apple post to get linked by TUAW. By the way it's Godarzi not Godarzj ;)

I usually don't talk on the phone more than an hour total *per month*, that is. I really should proofread my comments more carefully

I hope AT&T makes the iPhone available with a data-only plan, or at least a plan with a very low number of voice minutes. I do far more texting, e-mailing and web browsing than I do phone calls; I usually don't even spend an hour talking on my phone except in rare occasions, and even with rollover, I'd be paying for more than I ever used.

I just saw the "How To" ad on Colbert Report's re-air today (June 6). He made a couple okay iPhone jokes, nothing too notable. He took issue with the God Machine reference in the NYTimes article.

But! The disclaimer at the bottom, about the new plan? Gone. No tiny text at all. Just "Exclusively on (deathstar) at&t."

I wonder what that means...

I thought Apple was going to be carrying these phones as well so if that's the case don't you think one would be able to get a phone without getting a contract? I can see walking into an Apple store and picking one of these up without a contract but if you want to use the phone you will have to go sign up with the Cingular folks. At this point all this is conjecture but we'll figure this out few weeks for now. Not to worry...

Read into this what you will but - http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=147638

To be honest, 30 bucks for a data plan is about right but steep in some respects. Why? It is EDGE. Which is like dialup for cell phones. If it had a 3G radio in there, there might be something to get excited about. I love the phone, don't get me wrong, but the price of the data and phone plan here is key. If they get greedy, I am not buying one. I will carry my cell phone and iPod separately.

eww. They better release a non-phone full screen iPOd someime soon. I don't need a $70/month plan for goodness sakes! I just want that gorgeous interface!

maybe you can unlock it, but only after you buy it and sign up for a contract, so as to abide the law, whos gonna sign a contract to unlock a phone and pay for another? maybe some rappers etc lol

Yeah, what's the word "new" in there for? Are they screwing all existing customers? And note that it doesn't say "contract" but it says "activation plan."

Hmmmmmm...

Cheers,
FL