Want to own one of the most popular smartphones in the world today? You’re certainly going to pay a heavy price for it if you do, and not just at the moment of acquisition. According to a new report from CIRP, owning an Apple iPhone is pricey endeavor over the long haul.
The latest industry data shows that the average monthly carrier bill of an iPhone user is, indeed, the highest in the entire smartphone market.
All Thins D got received an advance peek at the report, which suggests iPhone owners spend more on wireless fees than owners of a rival Android, BlackBerry or Windows Phone.
Almost 60 percent of the iPhone users CIRP polled during October-December 2012 spent more than $100 per month on their wireless plan, with 10 percent spending $200 or more. Just 6 percent spent $50 or less; for Android users in that category, the percentage was double. And only 53 percent of Android users fell into the “over $100 per month” category, with 7 percent landing in the “over $200 per month” category.
The logical question then becomes: why do iPhone owners spend so much more than owners of competing smartphones?
“We think it has to do with their data plans and carriers, rather than their usage habits,” says CIRP co-founder Michael Levin. “They are all on expensive data plans, unlike Android users, some of which are on prepaid or unsubsidized plans with regional carriers.”
Do you think you pay too much for your iPhone coverage and data? Please weigh in with a thought or comment below.
