Monday, June 25,2007 @ 1:05pm
iPhone to get unlimited data "iPlan?"
The iPhone will launch this week with a special data plan attached to it, according to high-placed source with access to AT&T. The contacts claim that the provider has decided to create a custom plan for the device, known internally as the "iPlan," that will enable all its features without requiring a premium. Current details reportedly call for a price between $35-45 per month that would offer unlimited Internet access over EDGE as well as a minimum of 2,000 SMS messages. The plan may even grow to include unlimited texting, the source says.
Such a plan would be unique compared to those for other smartphones served by AT&T's network. Its closest equal would be AT&T's PDA Personal Max plan, which is intended for high-end smartphones and typically precludes the use of Wi-Fi without a more expensive plan. Other service options are also more specialized and include plans for BlackBerry messaging or PC data cards.
Differences in calling plans, if any, have yet to be revealed.
Also mentioned separately is word of added security for FedEx shipments of the iPhone to retail stores. The express delivery company is said to be pre-assigning drivers and will require that they ship the iPhone in teams, preventing theft either by drivers or by outsiders. The 6PM timing of the retail launch is similarly a deliberate maneuver to control the flow of phones by making the final leg of the shipment in the afternoon and prevent AT&T stores from selling the phone prematurely, according to the report. [via BGR]