At the time, we had to pay an EXTRA $4.95 for 200 SMS text message capability!! This was in addition to the $39.99 data plan which I could only have as part of the $9.99 family plan extra line (which I basically use to call only family or friends whom I can actually understand).

After a year, this past fall 2007, we received a call saying that AT&T was shuffling their $39.99 data plan to INCLUDE 1500 text messages for free, and they’d drop the $4.95 rider for 200 text messages. I rarely used my 200 except one month when I went over by about 50 text messages (USD $.10 cents each whether I sent them or received them). So I did that – and net result is I have “unlimited” text because I basically never get anywhere near 1500 text mails.

I might come close to it this past month, because one of my friends just upgraded from SK2 to the SK LX and T-Mobile is apparently bombed with new subscribers – so they aren’t keeping up real well with the @tmail.com mail service (emails take days to send or receive) and frequently the only way I can contact friends, in a time-sensitive quick way, is through SMS text.

So next year, when my 2 year contract is up?? I may tell AT&T to get a data only plan or I’m rolling the entire family over to T-Mobile!!

Unfortunately, those people who wrote that they are just think and assume. They are not official and even admit to that in the article you sent. The comments of that very article reflect the error with reading “news” sites or rumor sites even such as this… No hard facts. Can you produce a real document that shows a month to month payment? Websites where an end user has the place to comment are often going to have person “feeling” not fact! Apple may get some money over the cost of the phone but does not earn the kind of profit you seem to think. The bottom line even if they get any money Apple has no control over the plans from ATT. Many times I have called and I get different stories from ATT people who say they think Apple does and many times they say it is up to ATT corporate. The truth is from all I can find and the normal for phones in the cell industry only ATT has that power. They have admitted before to it and if it was in Apple’s control it would have better support for the Deaf as Apple is very concerned with taking care of its customers. Take a moment and write Apple a nice letter and ask them to help you with TAP and I am sure you will find that it is something they tell you ATT will have to do as it is outside the control of them.

You’re wrong. Apple has nothing to do with TAP and phone plans, not make money from AT&T. Apple is NOT controlling over the phone plan, Apple is only selling iPhone. AT&T is one who controlling the phone plan and everything. [/quote]

to Johnathan, can you prove me that i am wrong ? apple does earn the revenue share with the at&t plans and at&t gets apple’s permissions to develop the plans.

check this http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9803657-37.html
or you can google yourself how they earn the revenue shares from iphones and the plans.

Because this promotion cannot be made on AT&T official website is because it is based on agreement between myself (on behalf of the deaf community) and my local AT&T store where they will be willing to reduce voice plan on top of unlimited data plan so it will make the plan more affordable and appealing to the Deaf Community. In light of this agreement, I was allowed by the my local AT&T management to develop a website, flyer, or even poster, outside AT&T site/store, for the purpose to spread the word on this awesome deal. It is for DEAF community!

Tonight, I have started a new forum on http://www.iphone4deaf.com so that you and others can communicate with me and find out to see if another people will be willing to share with their experience with the promotion. Go ahead and sign up on that forum and you will be able to see more and more people who like to share their experience with iPhone and promotion.

You see, this promotion is very new and I am working hard to promote the deal this week. Luis, a supervisor at AT&T, will be the one who will take your information for ordering and ship your iPhone. Not me. Also, soon, we will have online form where you can place an order and the information will go directly to Luis’ AT&T address and you will be taken care of. :-)

I am working for the next few days to keep update and tweak http://www.iphone4deaf.com with all the information you might want to read more about.

Remember, Luis is ready to accept your order now by calling 970-297-8544 (preferable during busines hours) or email him at luis.salgado@att.com.

Thanks for your patient.

Erik

I, who is also deaf, do understand your concerns. Chad has verbally verfied with me and Luis who is a supervisor at AT&T store. We assured Chat that the promotion that I helped set up does exist! This has to do nothing with AT&T headquarter (or need their approval) since I was told that Luis’ AT&T store can do whatever it wants with their voice plan to help deaf community!

While the ‘kick off” event will be on December 2nd in Fort Collins, Colorado, you do have the opportunity to place the order and take advantage of $27.99 NOW until December 31st, 2007 ;-)

Erik

How can your store offer the special price? How can we be assured that AT&T won’t bill us the regular rate after we purchase the iPhone? Why are you using a Gmail email address and not a regular AT&T email address? Why is the website a non AT&T site? How do we know this is legit?

Thanks!

(Response to DeafNYC) Because of relationship agreement between Apple and AT&T (as far as USA is concerned), the iphone will not used with T-mobile, Sprint, etc. Only AT&T. This might change in the future, who knows.

Beside, the special promotion for $27.99 a month (with new purchase of iphone) isn’t a bad idea. I have iphone myself and it works awesome. AT&T service is good. You can have instant messaging (AIM, Yahoo, etc.) that works with relay services. Check out the website, http://www.iphone4deaf.com

Thanks,
Erik Diamond