What service plans were offered for the original iPhone in the US?

On June 26, 2007, Apple unveiled the service plans for the iPhone in the US and formally announced that activation would be conducted via iTunes.

Plans started at US$59.99 a month for 450 minutes, 5000 night and weekend minutes, 200 text messages, unlimited mobile to mobile minutes, and unlimited data with a two-year service plan. There also was a US$36 activation fee.

What are the differences between the AT&T Wireless voice/data plans for the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G?

Apple proclaims that the iPhone 3G is "twice as fast at half the price" of the original. 3G networks are generally twice as fast as the EDGE standard supported by the original model and the original iPhone was introduced with 4 and 8 GB of storage for US$499 and US$599 (and cost US$399 and US$499 for 8 and 16 GB when discontinued), compared to the iPhone 3G with 8 or 16 GB of storage for US$199 or US$299. However, the plans from AT&T Wireless for the iPhone 3G are more expensive than those offered with the original iPhone.

The least expensive plan for the original iPhone provided 450 daytime minutes, unlimited data, and 200 text messages, for US$59.99 a month whereas the least expensive plan for the iPhone 3G provides 450 daytime minutes, no data, and no text messages for US$39.99 a month. Adding unlimited data costs US$30 a month and 200 text messages costs US$5 month. One conceivably might not be interested in text messaging, but most interested in the iPhone 3G probably will want to purchase 3G network access rather than relying exclusively on Wi-Fi.

Assuming that one wants to purchase a data plan and text messaging, the least expensive total contractual cost-of-ownership over a two year period for the original iPhone and iPhone 3G in the US is as follows. Both include 5000 night and weekend minutes and unused daytime minutes "rollover" from month-to-month:

* When discontinued, the original 8 GB iPhone was US$399. It was introduced for US$599, but Apple dropped the price to US$399 on September 5, 2007, a mere two months after it shipped.

† Please note that this does not include taxes or other applicable fees, which can be quite substantial.

Ultimately, owning an iPhone 3G in the US and using it on AT&T Wireless costs US$160 more than the original iPhone over a two year period if the original iPhone was purchased on September 5, 2007 or later.

More information regarding the iPhone 3G voice/data plans are available direct from AT&T.

What company is the exclusive iPhone carrier in Canada? What plans are offered?

After more than a year of rumors, on June 9, 2008, Apple and Rogers formally announced that Rogers would be the exclusive carrier for the iPhone 3G in Canada when released on July 11, 2008. Complete details regarding the plans and terms are available direct from Rogers. It is worth noting that the plans offered by Rogers are considerably more expensive than those offered in the US, and this has upset some Canadian consumers.

What companies provide, or will provide, iPhone service in Europe and Asia? Are the carriers "exclusive" in these markets?

Outside of the US, service for the original iPhone was provided first by O2 in the UK, T-Mobile in Germany, and Orange in France and starting on March 14, 2008, Apple quietly released the iPhone with O2 in Ireland and T-Mobile in Austria.

On June 9, 2008, to correspond with the introduction of the iPhone 3G, Apple announced that more than 70 countries would be covered by local carriers, 22 starting on July 11, 2008 -- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US -- with many others to follow.

For more details, please refer to the official list from Apple as well as a comprehensive guide from the always excellent iLounge.