Tue May 19, 2009 8:14 am
AT&T is considering offering cheaper data plans with limited Web surfing as early as late May in hopes of significantly boosting iPhone sales.
The possible price cut -- to $60 a month, a $10 reduction off the current low-end price -- reflects the back-and-forth negotiations between AT&T and Apple as they hammer out whether and under what terms the provider would remain the iPhone's exclusive U.S. carrier.
The lower-cost plans could also help AT&T ward off rival Verizon Wireless, which is also in talks with Apple to bring the iPhone to its network.
As the cost of touch screens, the most expensive component in the device, has declined by more than 30 percent in the past year, Apple plans to introduce a new, cheaper iPhone in June.
Analysts have speculated that AT&T could reduce the up-front price of the new iPhone to $100.
Apple is even toying with the possibility of releasing a prepaid iPhone, opening up the device to even more consumers.
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