iPhoneMeme: where’s the family plan?

Uncategorized 1 Minute

OK, back to TechMeme, er, I mean, iPhoneMeme. It’s all iPhone all week long. Deal with it John Dvorak. You should have taken that trip to Antarctica that you were thinking about. That might be the only place to avoid iPhoneHype this week.

But, I am interested in this. I have a family of three people. Two of whom are going to get a new cell phone. My son has been saving up his allowance money and doing extra work here and there to save up his $600. He already has a cell phone that I pay for. It’s already on AT&T. I have no idea if I’ll have to pay a cancellation fee for that or not when Patrick gets his iPhone.

Maryam is tired of her TMobile service. It doesn’t work in Half Moon Bay very well. AT&T works just great. I have a full set of bars inside the house here where her TMobile phone doesn’t even work at home. Very frustrating.

So, I read all the posts about iPhone service plans and I see nothing about any discounts for families who’ll have two or three iPhones running (I probably will end up getting an iPhone too if this thing even comes close to matching 1/10th the hype). This is gonna be one expensive thing to get for all three of us. The Apple press release says numbers can be moved over from existing AT&T accounts, though. That’s good, I wonder if there’ll be a fee to do that?

Anyway, see ya in line at the Palo Alto Apple store on Thursday sometime. Hopefully I can find a power outlet.

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

Published

127 thoughts on “iPhoneMeme: where’s the family plan?”

  1. iPhone sales begin 6PM Friday, right? So lining up Thursday evening means an all-night and all-day wait. 18+ hours. Are you really up for that?

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  2. iPhone sales begin 6PM Friday, right? So lining up Thursday evening means an all-night and all-day wait. 18+ hours. Are you really up for that?

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  7. Scoble, your wining lately has gotten really annoying. First Techmeme, then T-mobile and AT&T. Think of your larger audience. I couldn’t give a rats ass if T-Mobile doesn’t work at your house.

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  8. Scoble, your wining lately has gotten really annoying. First Techmeme, then T-mobile and AT&T. Think of your larger audience. I couldn’t give a rats ass if T-Mobile doesn’t work at your house.

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  13. and i hit tab and enter on accident.

    other place is over at engadget.

    2)http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/26/how-does-the-iphone-stack-up-in-total-cost/

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  14. and i hit tab and enter on accident.

    other place is over at engadget.

    2)http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/26/how-does-the-iphone-stack-up-in-total-cost/

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  19. MacDailyNews on Dvorak:

    “The irony of venting about Apple iPhone coverage while spewing out yet another Apple iPhone article obviously escapes the bloated gasbag.”

    A bit harsh, but spot on…

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  20. MacDailyNews on Dvorak:

    “The irony of venting about Apple iPhone coverage while spewing out yet another Apple iPhone article obviously escapes the bloated gasbag.”

    A bit harsh, but spot on…

    Like

  21. I need some cheese with all this whining lately Scoble.

    My wife’s phone doesn’t work. booo hooooo

    My son mowed the yard so I’ll give him a phone. That is going to be expensive!

    Who cares?

    When you stop writing all about “ME” maybe I’ll read some more.

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  22. I need some cheese with all this whining lately Scoble.

    My wife’s phone doesn’t work. booo hooooo

    My son mowed the yard so I’ll give him a phone. That is going to be expensive!

    Who cares?

    When you stop writing all about “ME” maybe I’ll read some more.

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  23. AT&T / Cingular’s Family Share plan is actually pretty good. My girlfriend and I just put my two daughters on the plan which costs an additional $10 per phone per month. We upgraded our SMS plan to unlimited across the board for another $20 (not per phone, for the entire plan) per month.

    I’m also starting to see that the iPhone might have licensed ActiveSync from Microsoft. I hope that is the case.

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  24. AT&T / Cingular’s Family Share plan is actually pretty good. My girlfriend and I just put my two daughters on the plan which costs an additional $10 per phone per month. We upgraded our SMS plan to unlimited across the board for another $20 (not per phone, for the entire plan) per month.

    I’m also starting to see that the iPhone might have licensed ActiveSync from Microsoft. I hope that is the case.

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  25. SteveO: what fun is a blog if you can’t whine?

    My son doesn’t mow yards. He has other ways of making money. It involves Salesforce.com, though, so you wouldn’t understand.

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  26. SteveO: what fun is a blog if you can’t whine?

    My son doesn’t mow yards. He has other ways of making money. It involves Salesforce.com, though, so you wouldn’t understand.

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  28. Robert, just to check… $599/phone isn’t an issue, but $59/mo is too much? Huh? Considering most other phones out there are FREE, it’s a lot no matter how you look at it, rate plan nonwithstanding…

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  29. Robert, just to check… $599/phone isn’t an issue, but $59/mo is too much? Huh? Considering most other phones out there are FREE, it’s a lot no matter how you look at it, rate plan nonwithstanding…

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  31. Jeremy: my son has the $600. Not sure he’s going to have the income to cover the cell phone service over the year. I’ll probably just pick it up to make him happy and make him the coolest kid on the playground this fall.

    Remember, my son is an Apple freak. He’s very dedicated to getting money for buying Apple products (he paid for his own MacBookPro too, we kicked in a bit cause he got good grades but it’s amazing how much cash kids can save these days).

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  32. Jeremy: my son has the $600. Not sure he’s going to have the income to cover the cell phone service over the year. I’ll probably just pick it up to make him happy and make him the coolest kid on the playground this fall.

    Remember, my son is an Apple freak. He’s very dedicated to getting money for buying Apple products (he paid for his own MacBookPro too, we kicked in a bit cause he got good grades but it’s amazing how much cash kids can save these days).

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  33. Robert, are you a little too hot on the trigger these days? There are family plans, and they’re not badly priced. They’re on the apple website, you need to click on the “Family Rate Plans” tab.

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  34. Robert, are you a little too hot on the trigger these days? There are family plans, and they’re not badly priced. They’re on the apple website, you need to click on the “Family Rate Plans” tab.

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  35. #4 (Shannon) & # 11 (SteveO) – Robert’s whining doesn’t annoy me. What annoy’s me is people whining about roberts whining…lol. The cool thing about blogs are they’re not mandatory reading to graduate. They’re like a radio station …if you don’t like it, you don’t have to listen (in this case…read).

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  36. #4 (Shannon) & # 11 (SteveO) – Robert’s whining doesn’t annoy me. What annoy’s me is people whining about roberts whining…lol. The cool thing about blogs are they’re not mandatory reading to graduate. They’re like a radio station …if you don’t like it, you don’t have to listen (in this case…read).

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  41. I have no idea what any of that means.

    All I know is I want one!

    All I know is that I live in the 3rd World and as a result I won’t see one until 2008.

    All I know is that I am sad 😦

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  42. I have no idea what any of that means.

    All I know is I want one!

    All I know is that I live in the 3rd World and as a result I won’t see one until 2008.

    All I know is that I am sad 😦

    Like

  43. I don’t care about the whining, I care about his unwillingness and/or inability to read. Family Plans are standard with +$29 per iPhone. May be cheaper for individual plans. (Of course, with these finer deals, a little bit of patience and actually talking to/activating at AT&T may be advisable over Apple Store with activation online. But Scoble won’t wait 3 or 4 days.)

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  44. I don’t care about the whining, I care about his unwillingness and/or inability to read. Family Plans are standard with +$29 per iPhone. May be cheaper for individual plans. (Of course, with these finer deals, a little bit of patience and actually talking to/activating at AT&T may be advisable over Apple Store with activation online. But Scoble won’t wait 3 or 4 days.)

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  45. @5, Engadget family plan calculation is wrong. Engadget does not realize that for $69, the family plans come with two line. Therefore Engadget is getting $10 discripancy.

    iPhone’s plans are exactly the regular ATT plan, with one difference. iPhones plans come with free 200 Text SMS and Visual Voicemail feature. This is an additional $5 value per month per plan (not per line).

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  46. @5, Engadget family plan calculation is wrong. Engadget does not realize that for $69, the family plans come with two line. Therefore Engadget is getting $10 discripancy.

    iPhone’s plans are exactly the regular ATT plan, with one difference. iPhones plans come with free 200 Text SMS and Visual Voicemail feature. This is an additional $5 value per month per plan (not per line).

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  47. How about just going to AT&T’s website and doing some research? I know that there are family calling plans. But why should you have a discount because you have 3 of the same phone? Mass quantity purchase? Please. My husband and I both have high end phones, and we have a family plan, and a data plan and can afford it. Do your research. It really is best to shop around for what meets your needs. I really do not see AT&T cutting anyone a break for buying the IPhone. And as for getting a replacement phone, you better be sure that your son will be paying the cancellation penalty. That is the rule. Out early, pay up, unless he can get someone to take over the contract, and I know that there is a website that has information on stuff like that if you Google it.

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  48. How about just going to AT&T’s website and doing some research? I know that there are family calling plans. But why should you have a discount because you have 3 of the same phone? Mass quantity purchase? Please. My husband and I both have high end phones, and we have a family plan, and a data plan and can afford it. Do your research. It really is best to shop around for what meets your needs. I really do not see AT&T cutting anyone a break for buying the IPhone. And as for getting a replacement phone, you better be sure that your son will be paying the cancellation penalty. That is the rule. Out early, pay up, unless he can get someone to take over the contract, and I know that there is a website that has information on stuff like that if you Google it.

    Like

  49. $600 for a phone. A phone. According to the CIA World Fact Book that is the per capital GDP of four nations (Solomon Islands, Comoros, Somalia, and Malawi). Assuming you buy the phone ($600) and pay one year’s worth of service (12*59.99=$719.88), you will pay $1319.88 to own a convenience item. $1319 is more than the per capita GDP of 27 nations.

    What a shame. I am not advocating some kind of charity push (I own plenty of tech items myself) – but honestly it is this kind of complete separation from the reality of the rest of the world that consistently paints us as Americans in a poor light. $1319 for something that will be in the tech waste basket in 2 years. No lasting benefits. None. (How many of you own phones more than 2 years old? How old is the N95 Robert?)

    Did you know that $1319 could provide food, education, and basic community care for a child in the third world for almost 44 months?

    Perhaps, every once and a while, we should stop and consider how marketing (in this case Apple’s) has played to our desires and spun us into an ethically indefensible place (overpaying for items by ridiculous amounts simply because we can). When saving to buy something, when encouraging our children to save, consider stopping for a moment and asking yourself what the lasting value of the purchase is. If you buy a reasonably priced item perhaps the money you keep could be used to actually do something of lasting value.

    Like

  50. $600 for a phone. A phone. According to the CIA World Fact Book that is the per capital GDP of four nations (Solomon Islands, Comoros, Somalia, and Malawi). Assuming you buy the phone ($600) and pay one year’s worth of service (12*59.99=$719.88), you will pay $1319.88 to own a convenience item. $1319 is more than the per capita GDP of 27 nations.

    What a shame. I am not advocating some kind of charity push (I own plenty of tech items myself) – but honestly it is this kind of complete separation from the reality of the rest of the world that consistently paints us as Americans in a poor light. $1319 for something that will be in the tech waste basket in 2 years. No lasting benefits. None. (How many of you own phones more than 2 years old? How old is the N95 Robert?)

    Did you know that $1319 could provide food, education, and basic community care for a child in the third world for almost 44 months?

    Perhaps, every once and a while, we should stop and consider how marketing (in this case Apple’s) has played to our desires and spun us into an ethically indefensible place (overpaying for items by ridiculous amounts simply because we can). When saving to buy something, when encouraging our children to save, consider stopping for a moment and asking yourself what the lasting value of the purchase is. If you buy a reasonably priced item perhaps the money you keep could be used to actually do something of lasting value.

    Like

  53. T-Mobile and Cing… I mean AT&T share the same network so they should get the same coverage. That’s pretty much straight from a T-Mobile rep. And, on my T-Mobile phone, I can choose which network to use. BUT, I have seen a significant difference. In my house (in NY), we have a Nokia 6030 and Moto Razr and both Cing… I mean AT&T and T-Mobile. I have unlocked both phones and swapped services. My finding is that AT&T (got it right that time) has better coverage and that the Nokia 6030 has better reception. Both by wide margins. Just my two cents. Though, in Texas, T-Mobile coverage was excellent. And T-Mobile has served me well for many years, but the reception is a deal breaker, so when my latest contract is up, it will be over.

    Like

  54. T-Mobile and Cing… I mean AT&T share the same network so they should get the same coverage. That’s pretty much straight from a T-Mobile rep. And, on my T-Mobile phone, I can choose which network to use. BUT, I have seen a significant difference. In my house (in NY), we have a Nokia 6030 and Moto Razr and both Cing… I mean AT&T and T-Mobile. I have unlocked both phones and swapped services. My finding is that AT&T (got it right that time) has better coverage and that the Nokia 6030 has better reception. Both by wide margins. Just my two cents. Though, in Texas, T-Mobile coverage was excellent. And T-Mobile has served me well for many years, but the reception is a deal breaker, so when my latest contract is up, it will be over.

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  55. Don’t get your confusion about the family plans. They have made it ridiculously clear with the least mumbo jumbo I’ve ever seen.

    @25 Read the first reviews. Looks like the iHype was on iTarget. Awesome software & UI, so-so phone and lousy EDGE. I’m afraid I will be with Robert in the iLine even though I’d prefer 3G.

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  56. Don’t get your confusion about the family plans. They have made it ridiculously clear with the least mumbo jumbo I’ve ever seen.

    @25 Read the first reviews. Looks like the iHype was on iTarget. Awesome software & UI, so-so phone and lousy EDGE. I’m afraid I will be with Robert in the iLine even though I’d prefer 3G.

    Like

  59. Mr. Scoble – Tulsa, 29th, new Apple Store THAT DAY. New product (or so I hear) that day too. Wonder if we’ll have a VIP in the house for the blessed event?

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  60. Mr. Scoble – Tulsa, 29th, new Apple Store THAT DAY. New product (or so I hear) that day too. Wonder if we’ll have a VIP in the house for the blessed event?

    Like

  61. How about a video-walking (like photowalking) outside the Palo Alto Store? Maybe not for ScobleShow..though if there are enough geeks….

    Might be a good way to pass time in a long line. Just a suggestion

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  62. How about a video-walking (like photowalking) outside the Palo Alto Store? Maybe not for ScobleShow..though if there are enough geeks….

    Might be a good way to pass time in a long line. Just a suggestion

    Like

  65. “I have no idea if I’ll have to pay a cancellation fee for that or not when Patrick gets his iPhone.”

    Hey, Scoble. There’s this new thing called the internet. And what’s nice about it is that most companies have this thing called a web site where you can go and find out a lot about the kinds of products and services those companies offer. You might want to give it a try.

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  66. “I have no idea if I’ll have to pay a cancellation fee for that or not when Patrick gets his iPhone.”

    Hey, Scoble. There’s this new thing called the internet. And what’s nice about it is that most companies have this thing called a web site where you can go and find out a lot about the kinds of products and services those companies offer. You might want to give it a try.

    Like

  67. Scoble,
    I just have to start by saying I do not have any kids yet (though my wife is due in Nov), so maybe I’m just completely out of the loop on how to raise kids and obviously can’t really suggest how to raise your kids.

    So this is all just what I would imagine I would when I have my own kids.

    I am happy to see that your son has the ambition to work hard to earn the money to buy the things he wants, I know so many kids who have no motivation at all, which is really quite sad.

    However, personally if it was my kid and he wanted to purchase such an expensive phone when I would assume is under 16 years old? I’d make them pay for any service fees, taxes, cancellation costs of an older phone, etc. If he wants it, he pays for it.

    There are certainly PLENTY of other phone options out there that are much more affordable, if you can pay for it you shouldn’t have it. That’s exactly the reason so many people are up to their eyeballs in debt and end up filing for bankruptcy. Paying for his cancellation fees and possibly some of his service plans in MY mind is setting an odd example.

    I certainly would not pay for part of his service to make him “happy” and/or to make him the “coolest” kid on the playground (which I have seen you say before I believe as well). Aren’t we supposed to be teaching our kids that it’s not what they have that makes a person cool or popular, it’s how they act and treat others around them that makes them the good people they should be?

    Why does your son even need a phone as powerful as an Iphone? I simply don’t understand, outside the “coolness” factor. Frankly there is a lot more to live than being cool.

    I agree with a lot of other people, I’m so sick of hearing about the IPhone, it’s an overly expensive phone that is overly hyped for a product that has much less functionality than most smart phones already out there. It’s such a sad state that so many people are going to fork over so much money for a phone when that money could be used in so many other important areas, Education for one.

    Ok, enough from me, just wanted to give my 2 cents.

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  68. Scoble,
    I just have to start by saying I do not have any kids yet (though my wife is due in Nov), so maybe I’m just completely out of the loop on how to raise kids and obviously can’t really suggest how to raise your kids.

    So this is all just what I would imagine I would when I have my own kids.

    I am happy to see that your son has the ambition to work hard to earn the money to buy the things he wants, I know so many kids who have no motivation at all, which is really quite sad.

    However, personally if it was my kid and he wanted to purchase such an expensive phone when I would assume is under 16 years old? I’d make them pay for any service fees, taxes, cancellation costs of an older phone, etc. If he wants it, he pays for it.

    There are certainly PLENTY of other phone options out there that are much more affordable, if you can pay for it you shouldn’t have it. That’s exactly the reason so many people are up to their eyeballs in debt and end up filing for bankruptcy. Paying for his cancellation fees and possibly some of his service plans in MY mind is setting an odd example.

    I certainly would not pay for part of his service to make him “happy” and/or to make him the “coolest” kid on the playground (which I have seen you say before I believe as well). Aren’t we supposed to be teaching our kids that it’s not what they have that makes a person cool or popular, it’s how they act and treat others around them that makes them the good people they should be?

    Why does your son even need a phone as powerful as an Iphone? I simply don’t understand, outside the “coolness” factor. Frankly there is a lot more to live than being cool.

    I agree with a lot of other people, I’m so sick of hearing about the IPhone, it’s an overly expensive phone that is overly hyped for a product that has much less functionality than most smart phones already out there. It’s such a sad state that so many people are going to fork over so much money for a phone when that money could be used in so many other important areas, Education for one.

    Ok, enough from me, just wanted to give my 2 cents.

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  73. Hey Robert, if people shouldn’t be whining about your whining then you shouldn’t be whining about Dvorak’s whining. As for the iPhone, it sure looks cool but after seeing your photos taken with the Nokia N95, I would have to go with that. I can’t imagine that the Apple’s photos are going to look that nice. Of course since I’ve avoided a cell for this long I’ll probably try to hold out. Though as it becomes more feature laden it’s starts to seem handy…..

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  74. Hey Robert, if people shouldn’t be whining about your whining then you shouldn’t be whining about Dvorak’s whining. As for the iPhone, it sure looks cool but after seeing your photos taken with the Nokia N95, I would have to go with that. I can’t imagine that the Apple’s photos are going to look that nice. Of course since I’ve avoided a cell for this long I’ll probably try to hold out. Though as it becomes more feature laden it’s starts to seem handy…..

    Like

  77. Do you guys really not get it? Robert COULD do his own research on family rates for the iPhone or anything else. BUT, he knows that if he plays dumb his commenters will do the work for him.

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  78. Do you guys really not get it? Robert COULD do his own research on family rates for the iPhone or anything else. BUT, he knows that if he plays dumb his commenters will do the work for him.

    Like

  81. I’m looking at techmeme right now, it’s almost all mainstream media, corporate blogs (that’s the new corporate press release) and A-list media (journalists who just happen to use blogs as tools)

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  82. I’m looking at techmeme right now, it’s almost all mainstream media, corporate blogs (that’s the new corporate press release) and A-list media (journalists who just happen to use blogs as tools)

    Like

  83. First off, Pogue and Mossberg giving relatively glowing reviews of the iPod was expected. I mean, they didn’t even need the phone to put together those reviews. I could have written those reviews a couple of weeks back, and the result would have been just the same.

    In regards to your son, I think it is commendable that he saves and buys things that he wants through his own hard work. That is how I grew up. However, there also should be limits to this, and spending $600 on cell phone seems to me to be above those limits.

    Part of working hard when you are a kid is not only to see that hard work can get you something, but also helps you see the value of things. The iPhone is hardly a value proposition, no matter how much it does. At the end of the day, you really just need a phone to make and receive phone calls. Him wasting $600 sets a bad precedent. Yes, I said wasting. What real benefit will he derive, as a kid, by having yet another electronic gadget to tune out the rest of the world? You know, like real human interaction? If you don’t stop this behavior now, he’ll be hitting you up for a 3 Series when he gets old enough to drive, which he won’t be able to pay on his own. Better get that wallet greased up.

    Just like Micah, my 2 cents.

    Like

  84. First off, Pogue and Mossberg giving relatively glowing reviews of the iPod was expected. I mean, they didn’t even need the phone to put together those reviews. I could have written those reviews a couple of weeks back, and the result would have been just the same.

    In regards to your son, I think it is commendable that he saves and buys things that he wants through his own hard work. That is how I grew up. However, there also should be limits to this, and spending $600 on cell phone seems to me to be above those limits.

    Part of working hard when you are a kid is not only to see that hard work can get you something, but also helps you see the value of things. The iPhone is hardly a value proposition, no matter how much it does. At the end of the day, you really just need a phone to make and receive phone calls. Him wasting $600 sets a bad precedent. Yes, I said wasting. What real benefit will he derive, as a kid, by having yet another electronic gadget to tune out the rest of the world? You know, like real human interaction? If you don’t stop this behavior now, he’ll be hitting you up for a 3 Series when he gets old enough to drive, which he won’t be able to pay on his own. Better get that wallet greased up.

    Just like Micah, my 2 cents.

    Like

  87. Robert, does this mean that you are so fed up with Microsoft products that you don’t use Exchange anymore?

    I really don’t see how anyone would not want to use the best email/pim solution which happens to work best with Windows Mobile!

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  88. Robert, does this mean that you are so fed up with Microsoft products that you don’t use Exchange anymore?

    I really don’t see how anyone would not want to use the best email/pim solution which happens to work best with Windows Mobile!

    Like

  89. @33 “Aren’t we supposed to be teaching our kids that it’s not what they have that makes a person cool or popular, it’s how they act and treat others around them that makes them the good people they should be?”

    Amen! But see, in the geek world that’s not the case. Because of their low self esteem they compensate by acquiring the “coolest gadgets” and subscribing to the latest geek services. It’s what defines them.

    And unfortunately in this day and age more parents would much rather be their child’s friend than their parent.

    Like

  90. @33 “Aren’t we supposed to be teaching our kids that it’s not what they have that makes a person cool or popular, it’s how they act and treat others around them that makes them the good people they should be?”

    Amen! But see, in the geek world that’s not the case. Because of their low self esteem they compensate by acquiring the “coolest gadgets” and subscribing to the latest geek services. It’s what defines them.

    And unfortunately in this day and age more parents would much rather be their child’s friend than their parent.

    Like

  91. I heard on the radio early this morning that in San Francisco, people are actually selling real estate space on the sidewalk so that people who want the iPhones can make sure they’ll be walking away with one. That’s pretty outrageous. Personally, I plan on waiting for about 6 months when all the stuff that’s going to break gets fixed. Then I might be interested. But good luck with your new phones. Hope they kick you down a family plan.

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  93. I heard on the radio early this morning that in San Francisco, people are actually selling real estate space on the sidewalk so that people who want the iPhones can make sure they’ll be walking away with one. That’s pretty outrageous. Personally, I plan on waiting for about 6 months when all the stuff that’s going to break gets fixed. Then I might be interested. But good luck with your new phones. Hope they kick you down a family plan.

    Like

  95. Pingback: Positive Marketing « Ashish Kuriakose’s Blog

  96. I just had to buy more hard drives from Tiger. I bought Seagate SATAs.
    Does anybody know what the best phone you can get that works in Canada is?
    http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3025379&sku=N529-1102
    Tiger Canada has the N95, but I am afraid of receiving 1000+ phone bills from Rogers.
    Does anybody know if there are phones out there for Canada that do compression better so we don’t get screwed?
    http://www.thomaspurves.com/2007/04/09/canada-worse-than-3rd-world-countries-when-it-comes-to-mobile-data-access/
    Basically, anything beyond text messaging and regular phone here tacks on a $50-100 surcharge plus transfer.
    I have a moto razr now, but the LCD is getting really bad.
    Thanks for any info.

    Like

  97. I just had to buy more hard drives from Tiger. I bought Seagate SATAs.
    Does anybody know what the best phone you can get that works in Canada is?
    http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3025379&sku=N529-1102
    Tiger Canada has the N95, but I am afraid of receiving 1000+ phone bills from Rogers.
    Does anybody know if there are phones out there for Canada that do compression better so we don’t get screwed?
    http://www.thomaspurves.com/2007/04/09/canada-worse-than-3rd-world-countries-when-it-comes-to-mobile-data-access/
    Basically, anything beyond text messaging and regular phone here tacks on a $50-100 surcharge plus transfer.
    I have a moto razr now, but the LCD is getting really bad.
    Thanks for any info.

    Like

  98. Sam,
    Interesting read, though you could say a lot of that same “witchery” type stuff about the Wii I would imagine.

    But the one thing I hadn’t thought about though was the things a child will have access to on the Iphone, MS built in some great “Child proofing” components into Vista to protect children from porn sites, usage amounts, etc.

    Encouraging a child (by legal defintion of a child) to purchase an IPhone or any smartphone in general that provides such easy access to any porn sites, news sites, chatrooms, etc. without any control by the parents is extremely scary in my opinion.

    I can see all the headlines now of children getting kicked out of school for the things they happen to have on their phones.

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  99. Sam,
    Interesting read, though you could say a lot of that same “witchery” type stuff about the Wii I would imagine.

    But the one thing I hadn’t thought about though was the things a child will have access to on the Iphone, MS built in some great “Child proofing” components into Vista to protect children from porn sites, usage amounts, etc.

    Encouraging a child (by legal defintion of a child) to purchase an IPhone or any smartphone in general that provides such easy access to any porn sites, news sites, chatrooms, etc. without any control by the parents is extremely scary in my opinion.

    I can see all the headlines now of children getting kicked out of school for the things they happen to have on their phones.

    Like

  102. Robert, you should really talk out your little son of spending all his money (jeez, $600) for THE phone.

    Does he already have copies of all volumes of Proust’s recherche? some Criterion dvds?, or something?

    We dig Apple stuff as much as anybody, but you have to get the priorities right, okay?

    Like

  103. Robert, you should really talk out your little son of spending all his money (jeez, $600) for THE phone.

    Does he already have copies of all volumes of Proust’s recherche? some Criterion dvds?, or something?

    We dig Apple stuff as much as anybody, but you have to get the priorities right, okay?

    Like

  104. iPhonememe he he..i like that.

    Its incredible that Apple is able to generate buzz from the bloggers, by basically ignoring them. It set the conversation tone with reviews from the leaders, but did not really bother to send out a iPhone to any of the big “gadget” blog.
    Microsoft tried this with Ferrari laptop and it didn’t end up looking so good.
    Did any of the bloggers receive an iPhone to play with ?

    Like

  105. iPhonememe he he..i like that.

    Its incredible that Apple is able to generate buzz from the bloggers, by basically ignoring them. It set the conversation tone with reviews from the leaders, but did not really bother to send out a iPhone to any of the big “gadget” blog.
    Microsoft tried this with Ferrari laptop and it didn’t end up looking so good.
    Did any of the bloggers receive an iPhone to play with ?

    Like

  108. 13 year old kids should not be walking around with 600 dollar phones. You should teach him something about priorities in life.

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  109. 13 year old kids should not be walking around with 600 dollar phones. You should teach him something about priorities in life.

    Like

  112. Oh, and by the way, this is a kid that has all A’s on his report card, can hold down a conversation and be respectful with tech leaders from around the world, and who has a love for life and love of learning. So he wants a few expensive things to improve his life and is willing to work and save up for them. I’m not going to stand in his way. Other hids his age are starting to get into drugs or chasing girls. I’ll take a few expensive gadgets over that kind of behavior any day of the week.

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  113. Oh, and by the way, this is a kid that has all A’s on his report card, can hold down a conversation and be respectful with tech leaders from around the world, and who has a love for life and love of learning. So he wants a few expensive things to improve his life and is willing to work and save up for them. I’m not going to stand in his way. Other hids his age are starting to get into drugs or chasing girls. I’ll take a few expensive gadgets over that kind of behavior any day of the week.

    Like

  114. If your kid is realizing his goal of owning an iPhone – more power to him!

    He’s going to learn a lesson himself; either it was a great idea and can do something if he puts his mind to it – or it was a mistake, but not the end of the world and he’ll be wiser for it. Don’t listen to the dream smashers!

    I hope he enjoys the fruits of his labors. You are right to be proud of him.

    Rock on!

    Like

  115. If your kid is realizing his goal of owning an iPhone – more power to him!

    He’s going to learn a lesson himself; either it was a great idea and can do something if he puts his mind to it – or it was a mistake, but not the end of the world and he’ll be wiser for it. Don’t listen to the dream smashers!

    I hope he enjoys the fruits of his labors. You are right to be proud of him.

    Rock on!

    Like

  120. Robert, in response to your post 57, thats a cop out and you know it. You just don’t want to discipline him, because you know he’ll give you sh*t about it, and will succumb to the peer pressures of his “friends” that have iPhones, Louis Vuitton, etc.

    Character does not come from a device. It comes from inside. As a youngster, the iPhone will not improve his life. Be careful when you say that he shouldn’t be chasing girls. Dealing with a device doesn’t give you the social skills that he will need later in life, but you can bet that chasing girls actually will.

    I agree with being happy that he is keeping away from drugs. However, with or without the iPhone, he should be avoiding that anyway, so using this reasoning is simply not good enough.

    Not to sound old or irrelevant, but I didn’t have nearly as much as kids have these days. No cell phones or devices outside of the Walkman. No laptops. No texting. How did I survive? In fact, I used to walk 5 miles to school, in ice, uphill BOTH ways. Our phones consisted of a tin cup and string. Music was played on big round black disks.

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  121. Robert, in response to your post 57, thats a cop out and you know it. You just don’t want to discipline him, because you know he’ll give you sh*t about it, and will succumb to the peer pressures of his “friends” that have iPhones, Louis Vuitton, etc.

    Character does not come from a device. It comes from inside. As a youngster, the iPhone will not improve his life. Be careful when you say that he shouldn’t be chasing girls. Dealing with a device doesn’t give you the social skills that he will need later in life, but you can bet that chasing girls actually will.

    I agree with being happy that he is keeping away from drugs. However, with or without the iPhone, he should be avoiding that anyway, so using this reasoning is simply not good enough.

    Not to sound old or irrelevant, but I didn’t have nearly as much as kids have these days. No cell phones or devices outside of the Walkman. No laptops. No texting. How did I survive? In fact, I used to walk 5 miles to school, in ice, uphill BOTH ways. Our phones consisted of a tin cup and string. Music was played on big round black disks.

    Like

  122. @61 I think I know what you mean, but kinda mind twister…

    “In fact, I used to walk 5 miles to school, in ice, uphill BOTH ways”

    BOTH ways? You must be going higher and higher everyday…

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  123. @61 I think I know what you mean, but kinda mind twister…

    “In fact, I used to walk 5 miles to school, in ice, uphill BOTH ways”

    BOTH ways? You must be going higher and higher everyday…

    Like

  124. T Man – too harsh…we all spoil our kids in different ways. And he has been saving money for this. As I mentioned above my two kids want individual copies of Harry Potter book 7, want to see movie at least twice etc. With their friends. I wish they had saved us some money for that.

    I tell my kids I used to have 2 toys growing up – one that broke in half. And they refuse to believe me. Different generation – but what the heck. Kids are meant to be spoilt. Small price for the joy – and heatburn – they bring…

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  125. T Man – too harsh…we all spoil our kids in different ways. And he has been saving money for this. As I mentioned above my two kids want individual copies of Harry Potter book 7, want to see movie at least twice etc. With their friends. I wish they had saved us some money for that.

    I tell my kids I used to have 2 toys growing up – one that broke in half. And they refuse to believe me. Different generation – but what the heck. Kids are meant to be spoilt. Small price for the joy – and heatburn – they bring…

    Like

  126. As sexy as the phone is, its way too much money for a cell-phone/ipod. I don’t consider it a browser, because I don’t live in a wired city with WiFi at every corner and surfing the “real internet” on an EDGE connection is like passing a kidney stone. I’ll wait for 3G release and $100+ price drop, in about 2 years (unless the rumors are true about the European version being 3G in which case eBay may be the way to go). BTW, the only place most people have wireless is at home and at the office, um, where they already have a computer with 17″+ screen and a *real* browser and mail client. Oh and good luck trying to POP or IMAP through your corporate firewall.

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  127. As sexy as the phone is, its way too much money for a cell-phone/ipod. I don’t consider it a browser, because I don’t live in a wired city with WiFi at every corner and surfing the “real internet” on an EDGE connection is like passing a kidney stone. I’ll wait for 3G release and $100+ price drop, in about 2 years (unless the rumors are true about the European version being 3G in which case eBay may be the way to go). BTW, the only place most people have wireless is at home and at the office, um, where they already have a computer with 17″+ screen and a *real* browser and mail client. Oh and good luck trying to POP or IMAP through your corporate firewall.

    Like

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