Apple's New iPhone 3G - More, Not Less Expensive

Next Friday morning the new iPhone 3G will go on sale at Apple and AT&T stores beginning at 8 am. While Apple's announcement made the new phone seem like a 50% price reduction from the first generation, that's not the case. Payments are just shifting from the cost of the phone to higher monthly payments. The net result is we'll be paying more over the life of the contract.

Data will cost an extra $10 per month and texting will add $5 for 200 messages where it used to be free. $15 more per month adds up to $360 over the life of the contract. Yes, you do get 3G data speeds, which should make visiting Web sites about three times faster. And all phones, old and new will get the improved software at no cost.

The biggest disappointment is that there's still no all-you-can-use data plan for international use as there is for the BlackBerry. That's a huge disappointment and a key advantage for BlackBerry.

Nevertheless, I'll likely be in line with thousands of others, willing to pay what it takes to keep up to date!