Wal-Mart To Drop iPhone Price To $97

[Obama 2012 1,714]

http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/24/technology/Walmart_iPhone_price_cut/index.htm?hpt=T2

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, plans to slash the price of Apple's 16GB 3GS iPhone to $97 beginning Tuesday.

Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) is widely expected to unveil a brand-new iPhone next month, and could be working with retailers to clear out its remaining inventory of the about-to-be-outdated model.

At the new price, customers will save $100 on Apple's smart phone, which currently sells for $199. The deal requires that the phone be purchased with a two-year contract from AT&T, the iPhone's exclusive service provider.

"It is our commitment to always lead on price," Mehrdad Akbar, Wal-Mart's (WMT, Fortune 500) senior category director for wireless, in a prepared statement about the price change.

Apple sold 8.3 million iPhones last quarter, more than twice the amount sold during the same period a year ago.

Wal-Mart's pre-Memorial Day price whack comes as technology giants such as Google (GOOG, Fortune 500), Research in Motion (RIM) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ, Fortune 500), which recently snapped up Palm, vie for top dog status in the smart phone market. Industry analysts say that worldwide smart phone sales topped 54 million units in the first quarter, up nearly 49% from a year ago.

At $97, Wal-Mart's price slightly undercuts the $99 price tag several analysts anticipated for the remaining iPhone 3GS stock. When consumers get sight of a new iPhone model on the horizon, sales of the existing model typically falls off sharply.

In the furor surrounding last month's theft of a new iPhone prototype, Apple filed legal documents claiming that leaked details of the new model would be "immensely damaging" to the company because "people that would have otherwise purchased a currently existing Apple product would wait for the next item to be released."

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Cool . . . could have saved me a chunk of money as I just upgraded to the 3GS phones in December. But the big hitter remains the monthly charges of roundabout $230 for 3 phones, that's $2,700 per year for the privilege to use it. That's something I wish they would reduce.

[Jenn! 918]

My phone doesn't even take pictures.

[IndigoSkies 168]

Oh my feature-phone (as they are called) makes calls and sens text message. Never needed anything else. Won't get a smartphone unless someone gives me one for free.

[rsn 135]

Now all they need is a decent network to use the iPhone on.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I will keep my HTC thank you!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

This is the best phonw ever!!!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

They're dropping the price because the iPhone 4G is being released very soon.

[ally and moh 3]

I do cell phone connections for wal-mart! You wouldn't believe the calls I got today!

Personally, I would take the verizon droid over the iphone.

[Mithra 1,185]

LOL! I've had the same phone for the past 3 years. It does the basics. I can't justify paying all that money for features I'll rarely use. I'm old school, for me phones are meant for making phone calls.

My phone doesn't even take pictures.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I do cell phone connections for wal-mart! You wouldn't believe the calls I got today!

Personally, I would take the verizon droid over the iphone.

There are better phones coming with Android in the near future. The Motorola Shadow or whatever it will be called when it is released, Sprint has the HTC EVO 4G coming in about 2 weeks. The recently released HTC Incredible on Verizon is another high end Android device.

[rsn 135]

There are better phones coming with Android in the near future. The Motorola Shadow or whatever it will be called when it is released, Sprint has the HTC EVO 4G coming in about 2 weeks. The recently released HTC Incredible on Verizon is another high end Android device.

Problem: Motorola phones are garbage. In fact, Motorola electronics in general are not particularly high-quality. Google would be wise to steer clear of Kyocera & Motorola what manufacturers to do business with. Just my two cents.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Problem: Motorola phones are garbage. In fact, Motorola electronics in general are not particularly high-quality. Google would be wise to steer clear of Kyocera & Motorola what manufacturers to do business with. Just my two cents.

Motorola phones generally offer the best rf of any phones available on Verizon. If you need reception in a fringe area, Motorola has been tops for many years now. They may not be the pretties, but they work where others will not.

[rsn 135]

Motorola phones generally offer the best rf of any phones available on Verizon. If you need reception in a fringe area, Motorola has been tops for many years now. They may not be the pretties, but they work where others will not.

I guess you've had more luck than me. Every Motorola device I've ever owned has been unreliable, poorly designed, and fragile: 4 different phones & 2 DVRs (that I can remember).

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I guess you've had more luck than me. Every Motorola device I've ever owned has been unreliable, poorly designed, and fragile: 4 different phones & 2 DVRs (that I can remember).

I'm not claiming that they are cutting edge design, but at least on Verizon, they get the best reception of any phone available. Two things they excel at are call quality and signal retention. Other brands have better user interface, menus etc.