AT&T And Verizon Both Release New Prepay Plans, Prepaid iPhone Coming?

One of the more nebulous rumors surrounding the next round of iPhones is that Apple might be eyeing up releasing a low-cost, prepaid iPhone to better tap international/low-cost markets. Sure, buying an iPhone might not be too expensive, but a two-year commitment at $75 or so a month ends up with you giving thousands of dollars to your carrier. Now, just weeks before we’re expecting Apple to announce a new iPhone of some description, both AT&T and Verizon have announced new prepay plans.

Verizon is planning a $50 per month href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110913-711153.html">unlimited talk/text/data prepay tier, allowing you unlimited use of your device for $50 — which is still href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/09/14/verizon_att_introduce_new_prepaid_plans_ahead_of_iphone_refresh.html">higher than some competitors, like MetroPCS’ $40 unlimited, or Sprint Boost’s $35 version (for some).

AT&T, on the other hand, is offering href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/atandt-announces-25-monthly-gophone-plan-beginning-september-18th/">$25 per month for 250 anytime minutes and unlimited messaging; $10 international long distance package with 250 minutes; and Canada roaming for $.39 per minute and $.25 per message sent.

Now, there’s no solid evidence that these have anything to do with a prepay iPhone, perhaps a heavily modified iPhone 4. However, the timing is nothing if not interesting, so this should at the very lest make you perk up your ears.