iPhone 4 drops to $99, iPhone 3GS free with contract
updated 04:00 pm EDT, Tue October 4, 2011
3GS goes free on contract
Although the iPhone 4S is now Apple's flagship smartphone, the company is keeping both the iPhone 4 and 3GS on sale. Like the 3GS the 4 is now restricted to 8GB of memory, although black and white tones are still available, as is the choice of going with AT&T or Verizon in the US. There prices for an iPhone 4 now start at $99 on contract; an unlocked GSM model is $549. In both cases the downgraded hardware is shipping on October 14th.
The iPhone 3GS has become free on contract, and priced at $375 in unlocked form. As before, there is no CDMA option. While the hardware is compatible with iOS 5 though, it is now trailing-edge technology by Apple standards, and will likely be discontinued next year.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2010
Think DIfferent
What is most astounding is the pricing difference between current iPhones. The mark up, on even a subsidized phone, is bound to be ridiculous. For example, at Newegg, a 64GB SD flash card retails for $79, take the actual cost of that (probably $20 to someone like Newegg) and tell me how we get to a $400 phone WITH THE CONTRACT. I think Apple is profiting, even with subsidized pricing. And we're being taken for suckers.