Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, iPhone
Whither the 1.0 iPhone resale?
If you managed to find a quiet dark place during the keynote, you might have heard several tens of thousands of small cries in the distance. What were those cries? They were the sounds of iPhone resale values hitting near zero. With new 3G models selling at rock bottom prices and iPhone sales rolling out around the world, the poor iPhone 1.0 has gone the way of most other outmoded technology.
Sure the iPhone 1.0 won't die right away. It is full 2.0 firmware compatible, and it is an absolutely terrific device. But I'd be surprised if the first generation units sold for much more than about a hundred bucks after today's announcements. With new 8GB going for $199 and 3G service available, many of today's iPhones are going to become tomorrow's high-end iPod touch units.
Instead of resale I predict that very soon now a lot of spouses and teenage children will be receiving their very first iPhones hand-me-downs. What do you think? Upgrade? Or stick with the iPhone as it is? Let us know in the comments.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
cheddacheese said 8:08PM on 6-09-2008
heh... I sold mine saturday for 415 unlocked! hahaha I love craigslist :D I knew this might happen so I took a risk and got lucky hehe
Reply
Tony C said 1:14PM on 6-10-2008
Resale money can still be had... Not $400-something I'd wager, but that $199 and $299 3G comes at a price -- a signed 2 year contract to be precise. Plenty of people around the world will be perfectly happy with an iPhone 1.0 running the 2.0 software and not want to sign their lives away to the evil AT&T or equivalent empire.
meatybonez said 8:09PM on 6-09-2008
hopefully the jailbreak and subsequent unlock takes forever...so that I have time to sell 1.0 to someone looking to unlock and jailbreak....
Reply
Zapharus said 8:08PM on 6-09-2008
I never had plans to sell my 1.0 iPhone, it was destined to be a hand-me-down. So I'm giving my current iPhone to a friend.
Reply
imacmatt09 said 10:28PM on 6-09-2008
That's what I was thinking.... I want to give my iPhone to my little bro. I might unlock it or something so he can just pop his sim in. But I do love my iPhone and I think I'll keep it. 1.1.4 Jailbroken... I think its better than the 2.0 firmware. At least for now.
BRockNYLA said 10:29PM on 6-09-2008
Yes, I was one of those cries. I even had a few people lined up to buy my 1.0.
best laid plans...
Reply
kevinm said 8:08PM on 6-09-2008
My view exactly when I heard the news; who the hell would pay near list price of the 1st gen now that they can get the better one at half the cost. Depending whether in-store activation if required, the 1st gen will be virtually dirt cheap.
Reply
Tom said 8:34PM on 6-09-2008
Activated in store only: http://gizmodo.com/5014764/iphone-3g-pricing-and-activation-details-30-unlimited-data-activated-in-store-only
Tom Boucher said 8:51PM on 6-09-2008
depends...
Do you want to unlock it and use it somewhere not approved?
You can't do that with the 3G apparently, activate it as you buy it.
Hawkman said 9:47PM on 6-09-2008
Yeah, the probable in-store activation means the value of 2G iPhones will probably hold up reasonably well. Of course, it's also the reason I guess I'll be sticking with mine instead of upgrading - which is a shame, seeing as I'm currently using GPRS (not even EDGE) on the network with the best 3G packages/coverage in the UK. >.
Withoutasoul said 8:52PM on 6-09-2008
The people who rely on jailbreaking/unlocking the current iPhone for service with other providers will probably stick with their current iPhones. Just a thought.
Reply
Matt said 8:10PM on 6-09-2008
Sticking with my current 4GB refurb iPhone that I got for $249 thanks to the original price drop.
Not upgrading and paying an extra $10 a month for 3G coverage I might or might not get.
After my contract is up I'll most likely switch to MetroPCS and a cheap for. $40 a month for unlimited talking and reasonable text messaging? Yes please. iPod touch if I still want/need the features the iPhone has.
Reply
mosxs said 8:14PM on 6-09-2008
Meant cheap phone* before anyone jumps on me for the typo.
fishbert said 8:10PM on 6-09-2008
I'm waiting to upgrade. Part of me hopes the video chat thing will come to pass... but more than that, I smell 32GB coming down the pike fairly soon.
Anyone else think Apple's going to have a separate event next month to push this thing a bit more? Today seemed to really focus on developers (wonder why?), with app demos nearly overshadowing the 3G announcement. I can't help but think there's more to the story than what was told today.
Reply
Francesco Caporusso said 8:16PM on 6-09-2008
The event today "seemed to really focus on developers" because it was the WWDC, which stands for Worldwide DEVELOPERS Conference.
fishbert said 8:44PM on 6-09-2008
The subtlety of parenthetical sarcasm escapes you.
gareth said 6:22AM on 6-10-2008
Video chat, staring at the back of the phone?
Cycomachead said 8:12PM on 6-09-2008
If I had money I really wouldn't mind picking up one just to mess with. I could really use a summer job...
Reply
Cycomachead said 8:12PM on 6-09-2008
If I had money I really wouldn't mind picking up one just to mess with. I could really use a summer job...
Reply
honest abe said 8:13PM on 6-09-2008
it all depends if Apple breaks the activation process, so you have to get it activated instore... and how fast the new phone gets unlocked and jailbroken.
Reply