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Gadgets Apple Employees to Get Free iPhones
Marcus Yam (Blog) - June 29, 2007 8:28 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 59 comment(s) - last by DeepBlue1975.. on Jul 3 at 8:19 AM
Apple to give free 8GB iPhone to all full-time employees

Every job has its perks, but the perk from Jobs for Apple employees will soon be making many outsiders green with envy. Apple CEO Steve Jobs said at a company town hall meeting that all full-time employees, and part-time employees with the company for at least a year, will receive a free 8GB iPhone, reports Think Secret.

While the phone launches today, Apple employees will have to wait until the rabid consumer demand is satisfied. The free iPhones will not be delivered until late July. According to Apple’s last annual report, the company employs 17,787 full-time workers.

Getting a $600 phone for free is a sweet pick-up, though it is unclear if the deal comes with any strings attached. Consumers looking to own an iPhone will have to sign up for a two-year rate plan at a minimum of $59.99 a month – plus other fees – tagging on over $1,400 in additional charges over the cost of the hardware itself. Apple employees have not yet been informed on what service contract requirements, if any, must be tied to their free iPhones.

Think Secret also reports that Apple will offer its extended two-year “AppleCare” warranty service for the iPhone for $69. The AppleCare plan for iPhone will not be available in time for launch, but owners may opt for the extra coverage any time while the iPhone is still under its original warranty.

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i fail to see the point
By Gul Westfale on 6/29/2007 8:49:53 AM , Rating: 1
if you work at apple you just got a free phone, good for you.

i don't see the point of this device though: if you are a mobile professional then surely you have a PDA-like device or a small laptop, and most other people have an ipod, or better yet, a hacked PSP.

the disadvantage of cramming more functionality into a phone is obviously that if you actually use all that stuff (especially teh media playback), then battery life will suffer. and if you conserve power by not using that stuff (so that you can actually make phonecalls) then why pay for a movie/musicplayer/PDA?

i'm sticking with my simple, "no-camera or other crap but great battery life" phone, and my PSP.




RE: i fail to see the point
By Griswold on 6/29/2007 8:57:56 AM , Rating: 3
Funny reasoning. I too stick to my SE K800i though, that lasts roughly one week with heavy mp3/radio use, lots of web browsing and randomly taking pictures with its pretty good 3MP camera - oh yes, I do make alot of phone calls with it too.

The more fucntions the better.


RE: i fail to see the point
By gradoman on 6/29/2007 9:16:05 AM , Rating: 1
And the Apple iPod Video has issues with the battery life.

Although today's the day the iPhone's launched, and that's what we're talking about, but have you used either device? How could you say he has funny reasoning? From my experience, the iPod Video has issues staying alive when viewing pictures, with the brightness up slightly, while listening to music.

I haven't read reviews -- I will as soon as I finish this, but hopefully the battery life on the phone is better than that.

More functions used = less up time. Your didn't mention if you could view video on that phone of yours or if you browse through pictures while listening to music; it's not even an Apple product that you're talking about.


RE: i fail to see the point
By TomZ on 6/29/2007 2:48:14 PM , Rating: 2
These issues are put in the iPhone on purpose, so that Jobs can make a PR announcement in a few weeks announcing a new firmware update that "greatly enhances the iPhone experience for customers" and therefore sounds like a hero.

(I'm being sarcastic, I think.)


RE: i fail to see the point
By Komrade Chaos on 6/30/2007 1:37:01 AM , Rating: 2
I too rely on my K800i for most of my daily uses.
At the time I thought $400 was too much for a phone, but compared to the iPhone it's a bargain, plus I can use it with any gsm carrier.


RE: i fail to see the point
By hiscross on 6/29/2007 9:01:46 AM , Rating: 5
Many people don't understand the point of great engineering. That is why companies like Microsoft make billions.


RE: i fail to see the point
By TomZ on 6/29/2007 2:53:37 PM , Rating: 5
The story with the iPhone is not about great engineering, it's about great marketing. The early reviews indicate the engineering is only just "so-so," but of course the early product demand is incredibly strong.

You have to figure 99% of the people plunking down cash for this thing over the next week have never had a demo or an opportunity to evaluate it themselves, nor have read a single review. They don't know if it works well or not, and they probably don't care. Now that's what I call great marketing!


RE: i fail to see the point
By Oregonian2 on 6/29/2007 5:22:09 PM , Rating: 2
Someone here the other day claimed that it didn't allow music ringtones. I haven't looked to see if the claim was true, but if it is, the iPhone would be an idiot Savant.


RE: i fail to see the point
By TomZ on 6/29/2007 5:48:55 PM , Rating: 5
There are a dozen missing features like that, features that people would have expected. Jobs will add them in later, and be trumpeted as a hero for doing so.

Reality distortion field is a term coined by Bud Tribble at Apple Computer Inc. in 1981, to describe company co-founder Steve Jobs' charisma and its effects on the developers working on the Mac project. Later the term has also been used to refer to perceptions of keynote observers and devoted users of Apple computers and products.

In essence, RDF is the idea that Steve Jobs is able to convince people to believe almost anything with a mix of charm, charisma, exaggeration, and marketing. RDF is said to distort an audience's sense of proportion or scale. Small advances are applauded as breakthroughs. Interesting developments become turning points, or huge leaps forward. RDF focuses less on outright deception and more on warping the powers of judgment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_Distortion_Fi...


RE: i fail to see the point
By spluurfg on 6/30/2007 6:25:04 PM , Rating: 2
I think I have to give them more credit than that. I think some solid engineering and concepts go into the iPhone... not that I am deluded into thinking that Apple developed the touchscreen technology themselves (they simply are no longer afraid to license technologies from other firms -- read cover story of Economist I think three weeks ago). The iPhone does have a higher resolution display than most, and it is a great way of bringing a smartphone (though it doesn't have 3rd party apps) to popularity in America. Finally people will stop thinking that RAZR phones are so damn cool -- I think it does set a new standard for build quality and design, and I think people will start to demand more from their phones and the industry will follow suit.

I'm still getting a Nokia N95 or E61i though...


RE: i fail to see the point
By Locutus465 on 7/1/2007 1:35:06 AM , Rating: 2
Your average PPC phone is more useful and flexable than an iPhone... It's not just 3rd party apps, it's lack of 3G, lack of custom musical ring tones list goes on and on and on....


RE: i fail to see the point
By spluurfg on 7/1/2007 3:35:01 AM , Rating: 4
True, but I know loads of people who bought 3g smartphones just because they wanted the latest gadget, then never installed an application or used their high speed data network. The average smartphone is still far more than the average user needs, and still often more capable than the network is attached to.

The iPhone forces people to buy a package with internet -- so that newbies will actually use it on their phone. It also gives them features that the average consumer will want, like an intuitive interface and a music player they're used to. It also sounds like it'll have a good battery life.

It's not just about the technology alone -- though the iPhone has a decent share of it -- but also marketing direction and understanding consumers. Make no mistake, the iPhone is a consumer electronic device. Not a business device. This is where it can fill a gap that many smartphones and less-than-smart feature phones leave empty.


RE: i fail to see the point
By UsernameX on 7/2/2007 12:15:42 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
You have to figure 99% of the people plunking down cash for this thing over the next week have never had a demo or an opportunity to evaluate it themselves, nor have read a single review. They don't know if it works well or not, and they probably don't care. Now that's what I call great marketing!


The reason a lot of people are "plunking down" their cash for this thing is because of their history with the ipod. Tell me that wasn't great engineering...


RE: i fail to see the point
By EarthsDM on 6/29/07, Rating: -1
RE: i fail to see the point
By Gul Westfale on 6/29/2007 9:28:01 AM , Rating: 2
thank you mr. spelling nazi. :)

my keyboard is either too slow or my fingers are too fast.


RE: i fail to see the point
By EarthsDM on 6/29/2007 9:44:36 AM , Rating: 1
Gul,

You're welcome! :D I didn't mean to 'nazi' your grammar, just introduce you to the wonderful work that is teh favorite of mine. By the way, I respectfully disagree with your assessment of the iPhone. I'm looking for unity, ease, and elegance; the iPhone has all three. The reviews of the iPhone that I've read so far say that while it's not perfect, it is likely the best cellphone. That said, simplicity often turns out to be the better virtue in tech, so your views are not unfounded.

-EarthsDM

P.S.

Did a friendly debate just happen on the internet? Someone should stop us, quick!


RE: i fail to see the point
By mxzrider2 on 6/29/2007 9:08:52 PM , Rating: 2
too bad its 2.5g. what a joke. i was hoping for 4g phones to get to the states quick, and this a just a relic of near failure. my opinion anyhow


RE: i fail to see the point
By Xenoterranos on 6/29/2007 10:13:27 AM , Rating: 2
From the wiki entry:

This contrasts with the use of the in English to construct mass nouns (substantives) from adjectives, as in "blessed are the meek," where the meek denotes a class of people who are meek, or perhaps teh humble.

teh lol.


RE: i fail to see the point
By Rollomite on 6/29/2007 11:50:19 AM , Rating: 2
People act like it's such a pain in the ass to plug into a charger. Gimme a break.

Rollo


RE: i fail to see the point
By gradoman on 6/29/2007 12:51:03 PM , Rating: 2
LOL DUDE!

PORTABLE!!

Not tethered. Once again, I hope it's got a decent battery.


RE: i fail to see the point
By michael2k on 6/29/2007 3:25:47 PM , Rating: 1
The point:
1) You aren't a mobile professional and want a nice "smart" phone.
2) You are a Mac user who doesn't get decent smart phone support on your Mac.
3) You really, really, like the internet in your pocket.
4) You like that the iPhone has 8 hours talk time or 24 hours play time
5) You want a widescreen video iPod
6) You hate your current phone

Evidently you aren't one of those six.