New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Having Trouble Signing New Carriers Because of iPhone Subsidy and Minimum Purchase Requirements

Monday May 6, 2013 11:24 am PDT by Jordan Golson
ApplelogoApple is missing the opportunity to reach 2.8 billion wireless customers because of their stringent requirements around minimum purchases of iPhones and price subsidies, according to a report from Bloomberg.

In order to carry the iPhone, Apple has strict requirements for carriers. One such requirement relates to minimum purchase agreements, which regional U.S. postpaid carrier Cricket has had some trouble meeting this year.

Some smaller carriers, especially those in emerging markets, have difficulties paying the pricey subsidies that Apple's $600 iPhones require. The rumors about a cheaper, plastic iPhone could address some of these issues, especially for those countries where subsidies are nearly unheard of and customers routinely pay for their phones up front.
For smaller wireless-service providers, teaming up with Apple can be a double-edged sword. U.S. Cellular signed on last week to offer the phone after agreeing to sell $1.2 billion worth of handsets over three years. The company had long said that the handset costs too much; yet, not having the iPhone was costing it customers. Telefonica Czech Republic dropped the iPhone because it couldn’t afford the subsidy.

Apple is rumored to be designing a lower-cost iPhone with a colored plastic shell, with one analyst expecting the device to be released this fall. This correlates somewhat with hints about future products that Apple CEO Tim Cook gave during his Q2 2013 earnings call last month.

Related Roundup: iPhone 6s
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 8 (Don't Buy)
[ 263 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
Stella
69 months ago

In other news, Tiffany & Co. is missing out on 200 billion consumers who cannot afford their high priced gold, silver and diamond jewelry.


Apple is not a luxury brand.
Rating: 30 Votes
Avatar
bbeagle
69 months ago
In other news, Tiffany & Co. is missing out on 200 billion consumers who cannot afford their high priced gold, silver and diamond jewelry.
Rating: 25 Votes
Avatar
Shrink
69 months ago

Apple is not a luxury brand.


Really!?

In the field of phones, laptops, tablets,etc., if Apple isn't a luxury brand, who is?:confused:
Rating: 25 Votes
Avatar
lazard
69 months ago

Really!?

In the field of phones, laptops, tablets,etc., if Apple isn't a luxury brand, who is?:confused:


if you can buy it at Walmart, it's not a luxury brand.
Rating: 23 Votes
Avatar
GoCubsGo
69 months ago
Requiring a minimum purchase seems silly to me. Having the iPhone set up with an exclusive carrier made since until the 2nd iPhone was released. After that, it is just a douche move by a major corporation. Apple should really drop the minimum purchase requirement and allow the iPhone on all carriers as long as the current hardware supports said carrier. What would the harm be in doing that?
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
Stella
69 months ago

Really!?

In the field of phones, laptops, tablets,etc., if Apple isn't a luxury brand, who is?:confused:


iPhones are priced consistently with other high end phones.

Apple computers inners are made of standard components. Its laptops are based around the same price as gaming laptops ( but without the graphics - and less hard disc space ).

In 2013 Apple is a consumer brand. Not a luxury brand.

Does there need to be a luxury brand?
Rating: 16 Votes
Avatar
Stella
69 months ago

I think it is.


OK. You and others are of course are very welcome to think what you are thinking.

I would call Apple 'high end'.. definitely not luxury.

We will agree to disagree.

So every tablet/smartphone manufacturer has its own boutique style store with a huge employee to customer ratio and 10 minute paperless device replacement process?

Apple is absolutely everything one would expect when it comes to a "luxury brand".


I had to wait two weeks to get my MacBook pro fixed at an Apple Store due to the volume.

Waiting two weeks to get a battery / logic board replaced is not luxury treatment.
Rating: 11 Votes
Avatar
samcraig
69 months ago

I think it is.


if you can buy it at Walmart, it's not a luxury brand.


Exactly.
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
samcraig
69 months ago

Adam Satariano writes nothing but negative articles about Apple.

I wouldn't be surprised if his paychecks were signed by Samsung.


Because someone couldn't just write negative articles about Apple without being on Samsung's payroll :rolleyes:
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
apolloa
69 months ago

Because someone couldn't just write negative articles about Apple without being on their payroll :rolleyes:


haha those were exactly my thoughts too. Everyone that has a negative opinion on Apple is paid by Samsung or Google, apparently.
Rating: 8 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]