Lets take a look at 16GB iPhone options over here:
#1 Plan will run you 5478Dhs for a year
#2 Plan will run you 5393Dhs for a year
#3 Plan will run you 6973Dhs for a year
#4 Plan will run you 8091Dhs for a year
Here is what I am thinking...
1. 3090Dhs for iPhone at #1 cover the cost of the iPhone. In US, at $299, it is subsidized by the service charges. So when you pay 3090Dhs, 199Dhs/month is pretty much only for 125 voice minutes, 125 SMSs and 500MB data.
2. From what I can see, on both post paid and wasel, you pay .30/minute and .18/sms. So 125 minutes @ .30 and 125 SMSs @ .18 is ~ 60Dhs. 199/month #1 plan, leaves you with ~140Dhs for 500MB of data, which is one hell of a deal, considering the separate data packages are 25Dhs/2MB, 50Dhs/10MB, 95Dhs/50MB, 195Dhs/120MB, 295Dhs/200MB and 460Dhs/10GB.
3. We will not be getting Visual Voicemail if what I read on Apple.com is correct. But then again, how many people here are actually using voice mail. In US, for example, voicemail is a must. Over here, not so much if not totally not needed, for me at least. I have enough of a hard time understanding what people are saying when I am on the phone with me. I don't need to waste hours of my time trying to decode odd messages.
4. One important piece of info we are missing is the over usage info. What will I be charged per minute and per SMS if I go over my allocated 125/125 (in case I choose #1 Plan)
5. Considering that 200MB data package cost 295Dhs, I think that after paying "full" 3090 price for the iPhone and paying 199 per month WITH 500MB/month is a great deal. Between #1 and #2 plan, #2 provides the same minutes/sms/data but will cost you about 100Dhs less for a year, which I am sure is not a deal breaker for anyone here. So my personal preference, is plan #1. Buy the phone out right for Etisalat's premium and "get access" for a sweet "package". IF the over usage charges are the same as on normal post paid or Wasel (.30/min, .18/SMS) then we have a winner. Of course, the deal is not as sweet as in US with $150/550Dhs unlimited everything plan and $299/1100Dhs iPhone but still.
6. So, to wrap this up, for people who CARE about mobile internet and other data related stuff, Etisalat provides a better deal than buying a grey import phone and adding a data package (granted the over usage rates are ~ same as normal per minute and per SMS rates). For people who just want to jump on the iPhone bandwagon, this is a horrible deal. I am sure I will be hearing a lot of "its same price as grey import unlocked phone" arguments from my friends.
7. People that have or want iPhone 3G and already paying for 10GB "unlimited" plan, you will GAIN a lot if you just go for Plan 4, where your iPhone is free and you pay 643Dhs per month. 10GB alone is 450Dhs and I really cant imagine anyone using up 10GB of mobile data. With Plan 4, you get 2GB data and 500 minutes and 300 SMSs. 500x0.3 + 300x0.18 is ~ 200DHS. So you get 443Dhs for 2GB. I think thats a no brainer, again, if you can fit within 2GB data transfer per month. You get a "free" iPhone and pay the same as you do now (assuming you spend at least 200Dhs on voice and SMSs)
8. Its 5am and I really should be sleeping, but I was waiting for this for too long to sleep.
Feel free to correct me with my math. Also remember, that while math is math, what I said here is my personal opinion backed by some simple calculations. This is by no means some universal truth and I don't want to fight with you over it. All I know is that I am getting an iPhone from Etisalat even though I have a perfectly working 1st generation 8GB model.
Wow, Mushroom, that was a lot of thinking that early in the morning. I think these plans are going to be mulled over backwards and forwards by everyone and anyone.
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Originally Posted by Abbas 
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