Digit Online reports on an uncommissioned survey by online market firm Compete, Inc. which hints that (a) the iPhone as it is is simply too expensive (well, (sarcasm deleted)), but (b) if the price drops, they would gladly switch to Cingular and AT&T (which owns Cingular) to get one. It's not that "maybe it's a fake survey" survey - different marketing firm, but as it's uncommissioned, it's got nothing to do with Cingular/AT&T or Apple, either.

Still, everyone seems to be testing the waters these days for the iPhone.

While 379 people across the US surveyed doesn't exactly constitute a statistically representative pool, most of these 379 people were aware of what the iPhone was, and have shopped for an iPod before. Only 1% of this pool was willing to lay down US$ 500 for the low-end iPhone. 42% said they'd likely buy the phone if the price dropped to US$ 200 to US$ 299.

In a potential signal to competitors, 60% said they'd be willing to switch to Cingular/AT&T if they purchased an iPhone. Okay, so 60% isn't exactly a landslide in terms of the cellular market, but other cellular providers might be thinking of talking things over with Apple for a small slice of the pie, too, despite (or probably after) the Cingular exclusivity. Especially if the product goes 3G.