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So what's a G1 iPhone worth now?

Posted on June 9, 2008 by Jeremy Toeman

As all humans across the planet are now aware, there’s a $199 3G iPhone (with GPS) available come June 11th.  John Biggs observes, that’s with a 2-year contract, but I don’t really feel that makes a difference since most typical consumers are re-upping contracts as they buy phones anyway.  $199 is an amazing price point, one sure to help get Apple to hit their previously-hard-to-reach volume numbers.  Let’s look at what you get for $199 now:

  • Arguably the best phone on the market, at a very competitive price to all “trendy” phones, making it affordable to non-professionals alike.
  • A GPS device.
  • A 3G mobile Internet + email device.
  • An 8GB MP3 and video player.
  • Access to a fairly big supply music, movies/TV shows, and now games and other applications.

All in all, not too shabby.  I’m still not running out to buy one (no Verizon, still want a keyboard, etc.), but I’m more tempted than ever.  It’s exactly the right price point to move large volumes of phones (here you can compare it to other top-priced AT&T phones.  Yes, that IS a RAZR in the mix, wow!).  It’s the same price as a Treo (shudder).  Incidentally, looking back a year I was about half-right on my G1 and G2 phone predictions.  Oh well, live and learn.

After some random, informal, and ridiculously unscientific polling, my hunch is a lot of first-generation iPhone users are going to wait until about 12:03am on the 11th to buy the 3G iPhone.  But what are they gonna do with the old ones?

Can’t really resell em (unless they’re unlocked) for any real value.  Again, I don’t view the 2-year contract as any kind of deterrent, and therefore it won’t help spur sales at near price points ($179, $149, even $99).  They’re still listed above $300 on eBay, but that will definitely change in the near future.  My hunch is the price settles in somewhere right around $80.  This makes an all-in early adopter program run a grand total of $718 ($599 + $199 – $80), not to mention the $100 iStore coupon.

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4 thoughts on “So what's a G1 iPhone worth now?”

  1. Chris Weiss says:
    June 9, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    Yes, but these are early adopters we’re talking about. So they’ve already dropped ~$1000 on at least two GPS units previously, plus have probably had at a minimum 3 previous smart phones and are likely on their 4th iPod. So you’re already talking ~$3k into having the perfect nav/comm/media device. Another $718 is a drop in the proverbial bucket.
    I’m thinking 1st gen unlocked iPhones will still fetch >$200 after Jul 11.

    Reply
  2. Michael Markman says:
    June 9, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    a G1 iPhone is worth $10 to $25 / month. The price drop is illusory. Steve never got around to his “one more thing” today. That think is a big bump in the monthly data plan from ATT.

    ATT is charging $20/ mo for EDGE data plan. They’ll charge $30 for consumers and$45 / for business users for a 3G data plan.

    That charge runs in perpetuity (or at least until ATT sees fit to lower the rates).

    I’ve got 3 iPhones on my account. We’re not upgrading.

    Reply
  3. tivoboy says:
    June 10, 2008 at 4:28 am

    I think the current G1 iphones will continue to have domestic and international appeal, but especially when unlocked. Some places and networks just won’t get them, and users will always want a solid quality working version. If one is tech savy, I think getting 250-300$ is going to last well into the end of the year. I’ll do a little test come July 12. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Scott Berry says:
    June 10, 2008 at 4:48 am

    Jeremy,

    Hey, I *LIKE* my Razr! 🙂

    I’m with you, I’m not switching to AT&T just for a phone, but if Verizon gets it…

    Reply

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Jeremy Toeman is a seasoned Product leader with over 20 years experience in the convergence of digital media, mobile entertainment, social entertainment, smart TV and consumer technology. Prior ventures and projects include CNET, Viggle/Dijit/Nextguide, Sling Media, VUDU, Clicker, DivX, Rovi, Mediabolic, Boxee, and many other consumer technology companies. This blog represents his personal opinion and outlook on things.

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