AT&T declares iPhone 3G out of stock
updated 11:30 am EDT, Fri June 4, 2010
ATT ends iPhone 3G's two-year lifespan
AT&T in a memo circulating to retailers has formally killed sales of the 8GB iPhone 3G. The two-year-old phone is now officially "Out of Stock," and staff are now being asked to steer customers to the iPhone 3GS. The only alternative seen by BGR's source is to check for leftover inventory in other company-owned stores.
The move follows after weeks of gradual tightening of supply and is a virtual confirmation that the 16GB iPhone 3GS will take its place as the $99 model. Walmart gave one of the strongest hints when it dropped the iPhone 3GS to $97, but only for the 16GB capacity; the 32GB model is still full price. Apple has just a short history of keeping two simultaneous generations but often drops the model with more storage.
Most predictions for the next iPhone have it getting capacities as high as 64GB, although Vietnamese leaks showed a new model with 16GB and implied that Apple may either keep capacities the same or jump directly from 16GB to 64GB.
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Joined: Sep 1999
The new service plan is icing on the cake
Instead of making a clear 'buffer' zone in the form of price drop, Those who sign up with AT&T would be able to have the unlimited plan until 6/6/2010. I suspect that the 3GS will be positioned as an entry-level phone when the 4G comes out. Those who buy on or before 6/6/2010 may cry foul, but in exchange, they get 'unlimited' plan for $30.
I would guess that the following:
3G 8GB: discontinued.
3GS 16GB: moved down to the $99 level
4G: starts at 16GB, $199
4G 32GB: $299
4G 64GB: $399