It was just a matter of time. It looks like the Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 3G will be coming to Wal-Mart sometime before the end of the year, but probably after Christmas. According to the Boy Genius Report, which claims its sources are reliable and to have come across some internal Wal-Mart correspondence, the iPhone 3G will be sold in 2,500 Wal-Mart locations in about a month from now. Remember that the iPhone 3G must be activated (unlike the original iPhone), so only Wal-Mart locations that can use a specific ordering and activation system can carry the iPhone 3G. Some Sam's Club locations will also carry the iPhone 3G, but they also must use the Wal-Mart ordering and activation system in-house (several Sam's locations use a different wireless activation system). All in all, this will make the iPhone available to just about every American (well, the ones with good credit at least) as more U.S. shoppers have exposure to Wal-Mart than just about any other store.
The question is whether Apple is forsaking the iPhone cool brand allure by offering it at the largest discounter in the world. At this time, no. The iPhone 3G has been out in the world long enough for the iPhone to make its name. Offering it at Wal-Mart now won't impact its reputation nor affect Apple's cred.
Since Apple pretty much dictates pricing to its retail partners, expect the iPhone 3G to sell for a dollar or two less than the standard $199 and $299 pricing levels seen at all other retailers. Say, something like $197.48 and $297.48, as Wal-Mart is into non-standard retail pricing schemes to try and create the illusion of low prices against the competition. The presumed launch date: December 28th. Get ready.
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
11-22-2008 @ 5:45PM
kevin said...
kristina said...
Something like 90% of all the merchandise sold in Walmart comes from China. So when you shop at Walmart you are helping to increase the wealth of the Waltons and China! Why can't they sell more goods made in America? Target is 10x's better IMO and is not so ghetto.
LOL yea go to Target all their stuff comes from China too, i know i was a stocker thier a few years back, ppl need to get over the china stuff, find a store that don't find china stuff, o yea
you wont. I mean at lest have a reason not to look a store like too many ppl in thier all the time or no help, but the china thing is getting old all store's stuf comes from china you don't belive me go and unload a turck and when every box has a made in china on it, you know.
11-22-2008 @ 2:22AM
kevin said...
THERES I PHONES AND THEN THERES CELL PHONES. NOTHING ELSE EVEN COMPARES
11-22-2008 @ 2:56AM
America said...
Yeah, the wealthy do shop at walmart also. For other people. All of our good citizens that they employ and have soothingly brainwashed may soon be able to experience true American employment. But please, before you continue to squeeze the rotten orange in our eyes, know the true history of all of our forefathers and what established the ground that we walk today. Since the respect of this has been traded at the lowest rate to justify burying the backbone of pioneers everytime you walk through those doors.
11-22-2008 @ 5:15AM
cathy said...
Wake up people, Walmart is one of the major downfalls of this country.
11-22-2008 @ 6:14AM
Sally G said...
I have been an Apple user for 24 years, since my father and I bought an Apple IIc. Macs have always had a reputation for being expensive, but generally when one figures out the total package cost for a similarly equipped "PC", gthe differences weren't so great. That seems to have changed somewhat, but the quality is still impressive. That bias noted, I know nothing about cell phones, but it doesn't surprise me to read the comment about how much the iPhone includes. As for ATT exclusivity, I'm not sure how good that is. Macs began as a unique product, and only later did all peripherals (printers, monitors, etc.) become Mac- and "PC"-compatible. So the ATT exclusivity may change, too.
As for Wal-Mart, my biggest complaint, and why I prefer not to shop there, is that they take business away from local independent stores. It's not an income thing, it's about supporting local "mom-and-pop" businesses. (I used an independent pharmacist until about 6 years ago when he sold out to CVS.) I realize that, especially on higher priced branded items, not everyone has the luxury of putting politics or local economics before their personal economy. But I am also of the hippie generation, and generally anticonsumerist, and think that too great a part of our society is caught up in having the latest gadget (that goes across all income levels). My current Mac was bought just as OS X came out, and included the old Classic OS 9, as a defense against everything I owned being made obsolete. I still haven't filled all the available memory slots, so I expect to keep it for a long time to come. Bottom line for me, lowest price isn't always best value.
11-22-2008 @ 4:24PM
MIKE said...
WHO CARES ?
11-22-2008 @ 6:47PM
Jun said...
DO NOT SHOP AT WALMART they supply money to abortion/murder clinics. Let Obama shop there.
11-22-2008 @ 6:47PM
junior said...
I never shop at Walmart. Plain and simple I was adopted and that company supplies money to death clinics.
11-22-2008 @ 5:20PM
Judy Kertes said...
Go Walmart people! How many of your products were not made in China? People like you have helped to destroy the economy!
11-22-2008 @ 5:37PM
sandy said...
Stop disparaging Wal-Mart. I do alot
of online shopping there and have never
had a problem. As far as this "ghetto"
talk goes; get a life.
11-22-2008 @ 7:24PM
lISA said...
Walmart is a great place to shop, on-line or in the store itself. I always manage to make my dollar go a bit further when shooping there. I also believe a lot of people are shopping on-line to save gas and time.
11-22-2008 @ 7:28PM
Lisa said...
Everyone is intitled to their opinions, however if there is a woman who wants an abortion she will get it no matter who is funding or not funding the clinics. I am not an advocate of abortion, however if a woman wants this, it is her body. I am not going to stop shopping at one place because of who they give money to, unless they were funding terrorist groups.
11-22-2008 @ 7:48PM
Terri said...
11-21-2008 @ 2:08PM
ralph said...
I am glad that I am a senior of 75 years and have never had a desire for the iphones , ipods, and all the other gadgets that people carry around today.
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Shut up Ralph. And stop hogging the community computer just to bytch about gadgets. That makes little to no sense, does it?
11-22-2008 @ 11:17PM
RACHEL said...
WOW MY HEAD HURTS FROM ALL THE WORDS
11-22-2008 @ 11:25PM
BeyonceKnowles said...
hey as a singer its hard without a phone so get the iphone it the best phone i had in years...so what WHO cares what old people like raph(OF WHATEVER HIS NAME IS)says hes just old and dont know what a good phone is for us kids and he also dont know that a good time is! bye i love you all
-beyonce aka iphone lover.
11-23-2008 @ 2:00AM
America said...
Blessings to all of the people that work there tales off for this company. Not the corporation, "you" are all the pride of America. No matter.
11-23-2008 @ 2:24AM
America said...
Pony "tails", cockle shells, fact remains regardless of the sitcom of this corporation, Americans and the ones we love are the backbones of this organization. Bless there hearts for the contribution of there lives that they make under adverse conditions. No doubt the tactics are contriversial, but a garden of flowers for each one of these employees.
11-23-2008 @ 3:22AM
Jonathan said...
doesn't matter its all china made. I think some of you should wake up and bring back the american way of making things and doing things. Keep buying walmart you are supporting china, don't u all get it?????
Guess not, u all think cheap is better, wake up and read the bible, get closer to Jesus Christ, otherwise you may wake up in a warmer enviroment. Don't listen to me, just look around, if you can get your heads out of the sand that is.
Hoping you all see the light at the end of the tunnel, instead of darkness. Buy now or you may be in for a rude awakening. Most will not see it till its all to late. I pray for you all
11-23-2008 @ 5:44AM
chris said...
cool. if only the Iphone had a monthly plan for $50.00 or less