Is T-Mobile 'œdumping' the 2G iPhone - because 3G is coming?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 07 April 2008 12:01

Your IT - Mobility

I wonder what Apple’s telco partners know that they can’t publicly announce, but could be trying to hint through deals that seem to scream: sell remaining stock, fast!

iTWire colleague, Stephen Withers, has posted a story on T-Mobile in Germany dumping iPhones at €99 – with one massive catch – you must sign up to an €89 per month plan.

While the plan is expensive, it’s perfect for heavy users of voice, data and SMS messaging, something that is ever more common, especially for iPhone owners who are huge users of wireless data.

Not every young person is massively cashed up and can afford these higher rates, but for those that can afford them, why would you waste time with cheaper plans that could see you pay excess usage charges for breaking through artificially low limits?

As Stephen notes, there are cheaper plans, but the price of the iPhone then goes up to €399 for the 8GB model, or €499 for the 16GB model.

Apparently the whole thing is a ‘sales promotion’ – but if it isn’t to clear out what will, in theory, shortly become old stock, what is it, especially when no other official iPhone carrier around the world has yet decided to drop prices?

Perhaps it’s just the first of a series of worldwide price drops to, once again, clear out old stock.

Astute readers would be well advised to steer clear – if a 3G iPhone is truly set to emerge soon, the 2G iPhone will likely still be on sale at massively reduced prices, and likely on whatever plan you want.

Indeed, given the fact a 3G iPhone is due in 2008 at some stage, why would you bother to buy the 2G model now, at any price? Please read onto page 2.