A number of retailers and phone carriers have dropped the price on iPhones as the iPhone 5 release approaches. Apple may now follow suit.
Up until now Apple has continued to maintain the standard pricing model for the iPhone 4S ($199/$299/$399) iPhone 4 ($99) and the iPhone 3GS (free). A source has revealed to MacRumors that Apple’s retail stores have been given the go ahead to match the discounts give by approved major retailer and carriers. These discounts are not sale discounts, but price matching discounts.
By request of the consumer, Apple will discount their phones by $49.01. The consumer will likely have to cite the source offering the lower price to have the Apple retailer match it. Use the image above to help. Though if you are getting the phone on Sprint it is best to get it from them as they are waving the $36 activation fee.
This applies only to physical Apple locations and not to their online retailer.