Movistar bilks Colombian iPhone customers?
updated 11:30 am EDT, Fri August 22, 2008
iPhone Columbia
With the release of the iPhone 3G in Colombia, Movistar has finally announced its pricing plans, leading some customers to call them unfair and overpriced. Movistar did not release any pricing information until half an hour before the official launch; this meant customers who lined up early were unsure as to what the cost would be when they walked up to the counter. One customer reports he was so outraged with the pricing that he walked away without the device he just spent time waiting in line for.
The base iPhone package offered costs COL$74,900 ($40) a month and gives users 250 minutes of network talk, 100 minutes of talk to other networks, 100 SMS messages and 250 MB of data. For users looking to purchase this plan they will pay COL$906,818 ($487) or COL$1,128,251 ($605) for the 8GB and 16GB devices respectively. Another option for customers is a package at COL$149,900 ($80) per month; this gives users 800 minutes of network talk, 300 minutes of talk to other networks, 200 text messages and 500 MB of data. The device on this plan will cost COL$659,930 ($354) or COL$917,363 ($492) for the 8GB and 16GB iPhones respectively. The final option costs COL$278,900 ($150) per month and offers 1800 minutes of network talk, 500 minutes of talk to other networks, 300 text messages and 1 GB of data. On this plan the 8GB and 16GB phones will cost COL$485,042 ($260) and COL$706,475 ($380) respectively. Each of these plans require a two year commitment.
It's Colombia
08/22, 01:42pm reply
It's Colombia, a country in South America, not Columbia a University in NY (or the District of).
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
Idiots
08/22, 05:17pm reply
Wow, you'd think that guy made some kind of stand at Tianimum Square or something. He was so outraged, he LEFT! And without buying it, either! Wow!
So they stand in line not knowing what it is going to cost? That's what you get for standing in line, I guess. Guys look out the window, see the demand, and say "Hey, there's high demand, thus we can charge higher prices!" (you know, standard economics c***.
Think of all the time they would've saved if they just waited until launch day. And then the plans might've been cheaper, because they would've seen no demand, thus kept the price down.
And, if not, what's the worse thing that happens? You don't buy an iPhone. The horrors of it all!
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
One year...
08/23, 12:20pm reply
The article states incorrectly that each plan requires a 2 year commitment, this is not true. Those prices are for a one year contract.
There's another cellular provider, Comcel, which is offering worse plans, but at better prices, however, they do require 2 year commitment plans. In that company, a 8Gb iphone with a ~U$70 monthly plan will cost you around U$100.
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
What did you expect?
08/26, 07:05am reply
Of course. Movistar is a rip off, in every country they are. I think bilking customers must be in their mission statement or something :-)
But then, doesn't that happen with all mobile operatores, everywhere? This offering is not the worst of the bunch, not by any means.
Do you know of a good iPhone deal, anywhere? And I'm not meaning one deal you are willing to go through, because you want an iPhone anyway. I mean a good deal, one you feel is fair for what you get. Do you?
I thought so. Cheers! :-)
absurd
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Joined: Aug 2008