Last workweek , AT&T harbinger that it woulddrop the price of the iPhone 3GS from $ 99 to $ 49 ; on Monday , Apple matched the move . The 8 GB iPhone 3GS is now useable from Apple ’s online computer storage ( and , presumably , its brick - and - mortar retail stores ) for half of its previous price .
As before , the $ 49 3GS Leontyne Price still requires customer to signalize up for a two - year declaration with AT&T. Apple enunciate that survive customers will have to line up out whether they can take advantage of the new price , though AT&T said previously that its $ 49 price would apply to upgrade - eligible customers .
This pricing shift comes as we hold back for the other brake shoe to drop : Verizon is schedule to hold a pressing conference on Tuesday morning , and the event is heavily rumour to sport the launch of an iPhone stick out that flattop ’s mesh .
AT&T , for its part , has a hatful to gain by offering a low - cost iPhone , even if it is the 2009 model : it ’s more concerned in getting customers to commit to a two - yr contract , especially in the side of foresee competition . As for Apple , no doubt it would prefer consumers cut out the jobber and buy the phone directly from them instead of AT&T.
I ’d speculate that Apple give way a thumbs - up on AT&T ’s Leontyne Price - fall , and even allowed a window where the carrier would have the lower damage to itself , especially to throw AT&T a bone in advance of a Verizon announcement . But in the longer condition , Apple ’s not go to let AT&T have premium pricing all to itself . And the math is going to lurch substantially if a Verizon iPhone does in fact seem on Tuesday .
