2009 Back to School promotion to include iPhone?
updated 11:45 am EDT, Mon May 25, 2009
Back to School iPhone?
Apple's upcoming Back to School promotion may include the iPhone as option, anonymous sources claim. As with last year, students and teachers may typically be eligible for a free 8GB iPod nano with a new Mac, or else an 8GB iPod touch. An 8GB iPhone could become a third option, though only partly for free, as American owners would still be required to sign up for a two-year AT&T contract.
The promotion could launch as soon as next Tuesday, which would closely mirror the window of last year's deal, which began June 3rd. Back to School sales -- in combination with hardware refreshes -- have helped to boost sagging Mac numbers in the past. It is uncertain though how the announcement of a next-generation iPhone might affect the promotion, since the 8GB option could be made obsolete in favor of 16 and 32GB capacities as soon as June 8th.
It has however been rumored that Apple may be introducing a cheaper, secondary iPhone, which could retain 8GB of memory while suffering some other minor irritations. Few if any details have surfaced in recent weeks.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2007
move 'em out
For the last several years, Apple has used the BTS promotion to move nearly-EOL product, and introduced new iPods right as it was ending.
I wouldn't be surprised to see them include the iPhone 3G to help clear inventory before a new phone ships later in the summer.
I don't think we'll see the new phone during or close to WWDC. I think that will be an all-software event. Yes, feel free to rub this in my face if I'm wrong.