I have been using an iPhone 4 on Straight Talk (no contract) for a while and have been pretty happy with it. I would like to upgrade to the iPhone 5 though and I have been comparing ST with AT&T. Somebody check my math here...
Straight Talk
(Unlimited voice and text, 3G data - limited to ??gb)
Unsubsidized iPhone 5 (32gb) - $800 after tax (can't preorder though)
Monthly plan - ~$50/month after taxes and fees ($1200 over 2 years)
Total 2 year cost - ~$2000
AT&T
(Individual plan, 450 minutes, 4G data - limited to 3gb/month, text not included, I will use google voice for that)
Subsidized iPhone 5 (32gb) - ~$350 with tax and activation
Monthly plan - ~75/month after taxes and fees ($1800 over 2 years)
Total 2 year cost - ~$2150
So ST is only $150 cheaper over the course of 2 years. Of course the downside of AT&T is that you are locked in to a contract. But on the other hand, with AT&T you do get to take advantage of 4G speed and you know you get 3gb of unthrottled data per month. No more playing the ST data limit guessing game and worry about them changing the rules.
Am I missing something with the AT&T numbers? I'm not that familiar with their plans. If not, I'm thinking of making the jump to AT&T.
Straight Talk
(Unlimited voice and text, 3G data - limited to ??gb)
Unsubsidized iPhone 5 (32gb) - $800 after tax (can't preorder though)
Monthly plan - ~$50/month after taxes and fees ($1200 over 2 years)
Total 2 year cost - ~$2000
AT&T
(Individual plan, 450 minutes, 4G data - limited to 3gb/month, text not included, I will use google voice for that)
Subsidized iPhone 5 (32gb) - ~$350 with tax and activation
Monthly plan - ~75/month after taxes and fees ($1800 over 2 years)
Total 2 year cost - ~$2150
So ST is only $150 cheaper over the course of 2 years. Of course the downside of AT&T is that you are locked in to a contract. But on the other hand, with AT&T you do get to take advantage of 4G speed and you know you get 3gb of unthrottled data per month. No more playing the ST data limit guessing game and worry about them changing the rules.
Am I missing something with the AT&T numbers? I'm not that familiar with their plans. If not, I'm thinking of making the jump to AT&T.