Fortune reports that AT&T expects to launch Apples new 3G iPhone either on, or very near to, the June 27 anniversary of the original handsets 2007 launch. Citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter, the magazine said AT&T intends to heavily subsidize the new smartphone, giving anyone who signs up for a two-year contract a $200 discount on the iPhones retail sticker price.
Currently the least expensive iPhone is the 8GB model for $399, which could make the price $199 with the subsidy.
AT&Ts strategy, Fortune said, is to use a discounted 3G iPhone to entice subscribers away from rivals Verizon and Sprint. AT&T CFO Rick Lindner recently told investors that AT&T continues to see users flocking to the iPhone. "Over 40 percent of those customers are new to us," he said.
Lindner also said AT&T had not seen any slowdown in demand for the original iPhone in advance of the carriers impending release of a 3G version. "Through the first quarter, it was pretty stable," he said.
A POTENTIAL OPENING
According to Fortune, AT&Ts introduction of a new 3G Blackberry from Research In Motion is being delayed by several months from its original June delivery date. This would appear to provide Apple with a potential opening to make inroads at AT&T in both the consumer and enterprise markets.
Still, some industry observers think Apple still has a long way to go before it can challenge the Blackberrys supremacy in the enterprise. "For enterprises, its really about typing and the keyboard," said Brownlee Thomas, a principal analyst with Forrester Research.
"The iPhone gives a wonderful user experience for viewing photos or looking up a phone number," Thomas observed, but its touch-sensitive screen "is not something you can type a long e-mail on." And it will probably take Apple "a couple more generations before that is refined," she said.
The Blackberry is far more advanced right now than the iPhone in this respect, Thomas noted. "Having slightly raised keys gives users a lot of tactile feedback," she said.
THE PROFITABILITY QUESTION
Enterprises are also very concerned about product reliability and longevity, Thomas noted. RIM conducts very extensive tests on its Blackberry units to ensure the highest level of quality control, she said.
On the other hand, sources told Fortune recently that AT&T had concerns about the call quality of RIMs 3G Blackberry. Moreover, Lindner says the iPhone "continues to be very popular with customers, and customer feedback on the device is very good."
The iPhones touch-sensitive screen may also be just the ticket for enterprise workers who are deaf or have a hearing or speech disability. AT&T recently announced a new text-accessibility plan that gives disabled subscribers unlimited text messaging, Web browsing and e-mail access for $40 a month.
Even better, AT&T has introduced a mobile magnifier for enabling visually impaired subscribers to zoom in on the screen. AT&T also now offers a mobile speak feature that will automatically read the handsets menu options out loud.
Some industry observers have questioned whether AT&T would find it profitable to offer the 3G iPhone at a steep $200 discount. However, the 3G iPhone is clearly part of AT&Ts plan to drive its wireless revenue growth.
Wireless data now accounts for 21.5 percent of AT&Ts wireless-service revenues "and its still in the early part of its growth trajectory," Lindner explained. "At this point we have only 11 million 3G devices in service and only 16 percent of AT&Ts postpaid subscribers have integrated devices."
Currently the least expensive iPhone is the 8GB model for $399, which could make the price $199 with the subsidy.
AT&Ts strategy, Fortune said, is to use a discounted 3G iPhone to entice subscribers away from rivals Verizon and Sprint. AT&T CFO Rick Lindner recently told investors that AT&T continues to see users flocking to the iPhone. "Over 40 percent of those customers are new to us," he said.
Lindner also said AT&T had not seen any slowdown in demand for the original iPhone in advance of the carriers impending release of a 3G version. "Through the first quarter, it was pretty stable," he said.
A POTENTIAL OPENING
According to Fortune, AT&Ts introduction of a new 3G Blackberry from Research In Motion is being delayed by several months from its original June delivery date. This would appear to provide Apple with a potential opening to make inroads at AT&T in both the consumer and enterprise markets.
Still, some industry observers think Apple still has a long way to go before it can challenge the Blackberrys supremacy in the enterprise. "For enterprises, its really about typing and the keyboard," said Brownlee Thomas, a principal analyst with Forrester Research.
"The iPhone gives a wonderful user experience for viewing photos or looking up a phone number," Thomas observed, but its touch-sensitive screen "is not something you can type a long e-mail on." And it will probably take Apple "a couple more generations before that is refined," she said.
The Blackberry is far more advanced right now than the iPhone in this respect, Thomas noted. "Having slightly raised keys gives users a lot of tactile feedback," she said.
THE PROFITABILITY QUESTION
Enterprises are also very concerned about product reliability and longevity, Thomas noted. RIM conducts very extensive tests on its Blackberry units to ensure the highest level of quality control, she said.
On the other hand, sources told Fortune recently that AT&T had concerns about the call quality of RIMs 3G Blackberry. Moreover, Lindner says the iPhone "continues to be very popular with customers, and customer feedback on the device is very good."
The iPhones touch-sensitive screen may also be just the ticket for enterprise workers who are deaf or have a hearing or speech disability. AT&T recently announced a new text-accessibility plan that gives disabled subscribers unlimited text messaging, Web browsing and e-mail access for $40 a month.
Even better, AT&T has introduced a mobile magnifier for enabling visually impaired subscribers to zoom in on the screen. AT&T also now offers a mobile speak feature that will automatically read the handsets menu options out loud.
Some industry observers have questioned whether AT&T would find it profitable to offer the 3G iPhone at a steep $200 discount. However, the 3G iPhone is clearly part of AT&Ts plan to drive its wireless revenue growth.
Wireless data now accounts for 21.5 percent of AT&Ts wireless-service revenues "and its still in the early part of its growth trajectory," Lindner explained. "At this point we have only 11 million 3G devices in service and only 16 percent of AT&Ts postpaid subscribers have integrated devices."
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