In Australia, we have an advantage over other countries in that we have several networks offering the iPhone. Of course, the downside of this is that there is a lot more information to try and digest before you make the decision of where your money should be spent.
Fortunately, reader Andrew has come up with an incredibly awesome iPhone plan calculator. Simply slide the scales to your approximate usage, and you’ll be given a solid guide of which plans will suit you in your iPhone purchase, including the monthly cost and the total cost of ownership.
If Pythagoras was alive today, this is exactly the kind of practical mathematics he would spend his time working on. If you’re looking for an iPhone, make sure you check this out before you empty your wallet.
[Numbers in a flash - Thanks Andrew!]
Late last month iSuppli, the authority on gadget teardowns, released a virtual teardown estimate that the 8GB iPhone 3G cost US$173 to manufacture–only a hair away from the figure of US$174.33 they have arrived at as their official estimate. This figure does not include additional costs like software development, shipping and distribution, packaging and miscellaneous accessories included with each phone. However, it does represent nearly a US$52 drop over the cost of the original 8GB iPhone. [iSuppli]
Soon after the iPhone Mark 1 launch last year, we brought you an estimate of its manufacturing cost, and now the same analysts have looked at the iPhone 3G. Portelligent thinks that this time Apple may pay as little as $100 for the components, down from $220 for the original. The saving’s made in engineering advances and Apple’s buying power: the extra 8GB in the 16GB version may cost as little as $20, but you’ll pay $100 for it. “But we’re only paying $199 for the phone, so Apple make less!” you may point out. True, but Apple may be charging AT&T as much as $400 for each unit. And with 70 countries eager to buy iPhones, the analysis suggests it might be Apple’s most profitable device yet. [EETimes via Yankeegroup via Fortune]
The Cost Controller power strip lets you hook up eight gizmos, protects them against voltage spikes, and also shows you how much power they’re drawing so you can worry about your electricity bill well ahead of time. It actually shows consumption in kilowatt hours along with the frequency and voltage characteristics of your power line, if you’re into that sort of data. At least watching those usage digits mount up on its LCD display might prompt you into eco-friendly behaviour, like not leaving stuff on standby. Available now for US$99.99. [Computer Gear via Red Ferret]
Businessweek and teardown experts Portelligent quote the hardware cost of the iPhone at $US220. They’re following up iSuppli’s price teardown, and Semiconductor.com’s video. [Business Week] More »
