IPhone 3GS Drops to $97 at Wal-Mart: Making Room for IPhone 4G?

In a blockbuster announcement on May 23 2010, Wal-Mart will drop their price for a new iPhone 3G on the 26 of May. One of the better ones, too, with 16GB of storage; it now only costs just $97. Of course, the purchase requires a two-year contract will AT&T, just as it does at the Apple Store. However, with the difference of a $102 discount, where do you think people will flock to get one?

Buy the 3GS or Wait for the 4G?

There is no doubt that this is a sign that Apple is on the verge of releasing the fabled iPhone 4G and Wal-Mart is looking to clear out the shelves in anticipation of that fact, just as they do every time Apple releases a new item. Nevertheless, the real question is "...Do I wait or do I go now?" Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. First, if you are a fan of the iPhone platform then you will be lusting after the upcoming new goodies. If you have been considering an iPhone in general, then the time to go is twenty minutes ago, as this is sure to not last and you'll hate yourself in the morning when its gone.

However, in either case, do you need a 4G iPhone? Is there such a thing? The reality is that all of the hype regarding 4G is a little premature. The technology that is coming is the first phase of 4G's development and not true 4G service. Nevertheless, Steve Jobs is reportedly planning his announcement of the official iPhone 4G at the upcoming WWDC on June 7 2010.

Who Really Wants a 4G, it's Just Video Chat & Camera

OK, let us forget that for a moment. What about the phone itself? Do you need a front-facing camera? This is one of the biggest touted new goodies and is intended to allow mobile video chat. OK, so do you really need to see your brother-in-law when you tell him you cannot lend him any money? Beyond that, most of the other goodies are related to video display and camera resolution. Nice stuff but...

Well you get the idea, right? If you simply have to have an iPhone or, more importantly, your teenager is crying the "...everybody's got one 'cept lil'old me!" blues, then is the video chat really that important? This sounds like an opportunity to make the kids happy and ease wallet pain at he same time. Regardless of your personal feelings regarding the iPhone, anytime that market forces cause something that is priced because of the amount of hype over it, then drops all of a sudden to a price designed to move them off the shelves, we all should let our friends know that it is out there.