Err you're ignoring the value of included airtime. So, to properly compare a black market Iphone with i-value 4 (for example) you should be comparing with Value Plus 250+unlimited data plan; i.e. RM2250+ (RM349x24) = RM10,626. Vs i-value 4 (using your value) of RM9260, a user should clearly subscribe to i-value 4 vs buying a black market phone given that usage profile.

Np, I know a complete statistical analysis would take too much time =p
I only did the math for i-value 4 cos I'm actually the user in my post, I'm currently on Value Plus 250+unlimited data. i-value 4 is clearly superior for me =p

Well, that's not 100% true. Yes, SMS/MMS is included with a Value Plus Plan, but you don't get any free SMSes. You still have to pay, i.e. the cost for them still comes out of your plan.
So under Value Plus 250 your hypothesis only holds if your usage is at or under (2500-x)mins, where x is the amount of SMSes you send, given that 1min=1SMS (both at 10 sen).

Also, if you live and work in KL you'll find that you're pretty much in the constant glow of a Wi-Fi hotspot. Mobile data's pretty much only useful in the car.

Yupz, I know, mobile data is important for those outside KL. I'm just saying, for someone like me 2-3GB is way more than enough cos of wifi.
Office (KLCC) wifi, home (Bangsar) wifi, most cafes+restaurants, even my gym, wifi. That pretty much leaves car+kopitiam as places I would use mobile data =p

Really? I had the Iphone 2G for a year, and the HTC Touch HD after. Wifi speed>3G speed at most of the places I visit.
Dodgy cafes are the exception of cos, some of those places are terrible.

Nah I don't mean theoretically. As for searching around for Wifi spots, the ones I use are pretty much all the same network name, so it autoconnects.
Examples: WirelessKL, starbucks, timezone, etc.

Well as you stated the additional cost of RM590 buys you two things:
1. Additional RM50 worth of services per month; i.e. 500MB of data. However there's one caveat here: your Value Plus 50 airtime costs RM0.12 per min, which translates to 416min of airtime.
I-value 1 only provides 333min. So you're effectively losing 83min. Also, your SMSes are charged separately, unlike now where it's part of your plan.
Mathematical note: to obtain those 83min again, you have to pay 15sen per min, or RM12.45 per month. That adds another RM298.8 to your cost. Thus total cost = RM590+RM298.8 = RM888.8
2. Maxis 12 month exchange warranty.

So the question to ask yourself is 'Is it worth it to pay RM888.8 over 24 months for 12GB of mobile data + maxis exchange warranty'?

Another consideration is that your upfront cost is lower, whereas your 'upkeep' cost is higher with i-value, whereas the reverse is true with Value Plus+black market phone.

This is exactly why maxis 'won't be that good'. They take a significant financial risk with these contracts.
And who do you think pays the risk premium for unscrupulous behavior like this? Us, the consumer.

This post has been edited by zer0hour: Mar 19 2009, 03:33 PM

Yep I know. There was an earlier post of mine I think where I said that ppl with these usage profiles weren't the target market for Maxis' Iphone launch at all.
My most recent post (the one you replied to) was a mathematical comparison for timothyy between i-value 1 and VP50.

Just so happens that the math also shows that people with low usage profiles shouldn't sign up with Maxis =p

This post has been edited by zer0hour: Mar 19 2009, 06:26 PM