06-27-2007, 06:49 PM
[quote vision63]Since Cingular isn't subsidizing the cost of the iPhone, I don't see how they can justify a 2 year agreement. With Sprint and the others, you agree to the 1 or 2 year agreement because they're paying for the phone for you to a degree.
So the 2 year agreement is the first ripoff.
I agree that there is no good reason to require a contract. The not-good reasons, in no particular order, are:
* AT&T feels like it.
* AT&T can get away with it.
* We've become accustomed to being locked into a contract. Too few of us are noticing that there's no reason for a contract since there is no price subsidy and saying "Hey, what's the deal here?"
* Many of the people who DO realize there's no good reason for a contract are too excited about the iPhone to exercise good judgement.
If the majority of those who are wetting themselves over the iPhone would stop for a minute and refuse to buy an iPhone unless it comes free of a contract then the problem would be solved. But that's not going to happen.
So the 2 year agreement is the first ripoff.
I agree that there is no good reason to require a contract. The not-good reasons, in no particular order, are:
* AT&T feels like it.
* AT&T can get away with it.
* We've become accustomed to being locked into a contract. Too few of us are noticing that there's no reason for a contract since there is no price subsidy and saying "Hey, what's the deal here?"
* Many of the people who DO realize there's no good reason for a contract are too excited about the iPhone to exercise good judgement.
If the majority of those who are wetting themselves over the iPhone would stop for a minute and refuse to buy an iPhone unless it comes free of a contract then the problem would be solved. But that's not going to happen.