This morning, a reputable investment site made mention that AT&T plans to give away 18 months of service for free with every iPhone. It's not important who said this cough*thestreet.com*cough, but a Cingular rep just told me that the rumors are simply not true:
The report is nonsense. We've always said the only way you can get the iPhone is with a Cingular rate plan.
We're all for salivating over rumors when labeled as fantasy, but this one is so...
unbelievable that it doesn't even get us half-hard. OK, take the world's most anticipated phone, sell it exclusively. Sounds like a money machine. So, why give away the minutes and data for 18 months, leaving 6 months of paid service on the 2-year contract? Bunk...unless that 50% margin on the totally unsubsidized phone is going into Cingular's pockets. That could rewrite the way phones are sold...Yes! UGH, no. Must...resist...rumors.