| Okay, that headline about how an analyst thinks | | | | the cost of the AT&T data plan rose to $30/m |
| Apple should lower the price and add new features | | | | making the overall TCO (over the course of the |
| next June/July when they release the 4th generation | | | | 2-year contract) higher. |
| iPhone (not iPhone 4G, that's a couple years and an | | | | Now, if Apple wants the iPhone to battle it out with |
| LTE network away) is only semi-facetious. Apple has | | | | Nokia in emerging markets, TCO is vitally important. |
| lowered up-front costs and increased features on | | | | But Apple hasn't historically chosen to battle it out in |
| every generation of iPhone, after all. Last year the | | | | the low-end PC space, and their answer to netbooks |
| iPhone 3G dropped to $99 and the iPhone 3GS added | | | | wasn't cheaper MacBooks but the iPad. Makes it |
| video recording, hardware encryption, voice control, | | | | tough to see them doing it with discount iPhones. |
| and a host of other things — never mind iPhone | | | | In the US, big, colorful charts show how much you |
| 3.0. According to AppleInsider, however, Katy | | | | can save in terms of TCO on other networks and |
| Huberty of Morgan Stanley has two things more | | | | devices. With the iPad coming, and tiered AT&T data |
| specific in mind. | | | | plans coming with it, maybe it's not unreasonable to |
| “We expect Apple to launch new iPhones in June | | | | think a reduction in TCO is in order — not just |
| that offer both a lower total cost of ownership and | | | | “everything unlimited” but “overall less |
| new functionality, potentially including gesture-based | | | | expensive”. Then again, AT&T isn't hurting for |
| technology.” | | | | subscribers or iPhone sales, so where this downward |
| We'll leave the part about gestures alone; just file it | | | | pressure would come from, if not Apple or our simply |
| under “reads the same patent applications we | | | | wishing it so, is unclear. |
| do” and move right along. Total Cost of | | | | What do you think? Any chance Apple will pull |
| Ownership (TCO), however, is interesting because in | | | | “magical new plans” out of AT&T for the |
| 2008, even as the iPhone 3G was offered at $199, | | | | 4th generation iPhone? |