When your contract ends--as in you are no longer on contract and you are now using your own equipment basically--the discount then applies if you are on the current shared plan. I am not sure if it gets added automatically or if you might need to contact AT&T to do it then, but the discount would apply in that situation.
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Apple Store No Longer Sells iPhone With 2-Year Contract on AT&T
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Bingo! There is simply no way AT&T makes a change like this that costs them money in the long run. Why would any company do that?
You trade in it in place of the remaining amount on your financing and then if you get a new phone you start paying whatever the monthly cost of that phone is.
So here's the situation I and 50% of AT&T's subscribers are facing - we have 1 or more phones that are grandfathered unlimited. While the NEXT plan thankfully won't remove the unlimited plan, it also doesn't give us the $15-25 discount on ANY of our phone lines. So that's why in my example, NEXT ends up costing me $1200 more over 2 years than staying with the 2 year contract option.
Correct, as I and various others pointed out a number of times in the thread, Next doesn't present a better or a good option for various people, especially those on older plans. At least AT&T itself will still offer the contract option.
With the 2-year contract, you pay the subsidy + fees, and can't opt out to get the latest greatest smart phone unless you pay the termination fee. After your 2-year contract, you get to keep the phone. I get it. You can do whatever you want after the 2-year.
With the AT&T Next plan, you don't pay subsidy, but pay the phone in monthly installments. You have the incentive to TRADE in your phone after 12 months to get the latest greatest smart phone without paying a termination fee OR pay the remaining monthly installment balance to keep the phone and start a NEW AT&T Next with the new phone. From here you can keep the old one (i.e. give it to family friends, etc.) or sell it.
I believe we have some big confusion with the 2-year contract and AT&T Next plans. If you are on a 2-year contract, you don't expect to get a NEW phone anyways. You will most likely complete your contract and then get a new phone. On the AT&T Next, you have the OPTION to trade it in after the 12 months, OR you do what you do and complete the 24 or 30 month installment or just outright pay the remaining installment fee.
For those that are on the grandfather unlimited plan, it's really up to you. I was on the grandfather plan last year before I made the switch to the Next with family sharing plan. I figured I will get throttled anyways, so changed plans with a 15GB family share plan. Fortunately, during the iphone 6/6+ opening, AT&T was promoting the "Double your Data" plan and I now have 30GB family share plan and pay the same I would for a grandfather unlimited plan. I never used all of my data and have plenty each month. I would say the AT&T Next is very convenient for folks who wants the latest greatest.
With the AT&T Next plan, you don't pay subsidy, but pay the phone in monthly installments. You have the incentive to TRADE in your phone after 12 months to get the latest greatest smart phone without paying a termination fee OR pay the remaining monthly installment balance to keep the phone and start a NEW AT&T Next with the new phone. From here you can keep the old one (i.e. give it to family friends, etc.) or sell it.
I believe we have some big confusion with the 2-year contract and AT&T Next plans. If you are on a 2-year contract, you don't expect to get a NEW phone anyways. You will most likely complete your contract and then get a new phone. On the AT&T Next, you have the OPTION to trade it in after the 12 months, OR you do what you do and complete the 24 or 30 month installment or just outright pay the remaining installment fee.
For those that are on the grandfather unlimited plan, it's really up to you. I was on the grandfather plan last year before I made the switch to the Next with family sharing plan. I figured I will get throttled anyways, so changed plans with a 15GB family share plan. Fortunately, during the iphone 6/6+ opening, AT&T was promoting the "Double your Data" plan and I now have 30GB family share plan and pay the same I would for a grandfather unlimited plan. I never used all of my data and have plenty each month. I would say the AT&T Next is very convenient for folks who wants the latest greatest.
What people fail to realize is that while there may not be a significant difference between a subsidized plan TODAY and AT&T Next plan TODAY, those with grandfathered subsidized plans from YEARS AGO are much better than AT&T Next plans of today.
In other words, if I'm a first time AT&T customer and signing up for a plan, I would probably go with Next. But no plan today compares to my grandfathered plan of 450 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited text for $80 (even when you are paying that hidden subsidy). And this $80 plan lets me pay $200 for a brand new iPhone every two years.
In other words, if I'm a first time AT&T customer and signing up for a plan, I would probably go with Next. But no plan today compares to my grandfathered plan of 450 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited text for $80 (even when you are paying that hidden subsidy). And this $80 plan lets me pay $200 for a brand new iPhone every two years.
It depends, with a $25/month discount for various plans it seems that it would likely offset the subsidy, while the $15/month might be close to it. Each situation is different as far as comparing what would be better or not, and by how much, so people would need to figure it out for themselves.
I think ultimately that's the best way to go. That's what they do in Europe and elsewhere. Purchase the iPhone at full price, get a lower monthly bill for your service and sell it when you're ready to upgrade. This may even prompt Apple to lower the prices of the iPhone by 100 or 200 dollars to make it more appealing to those people who want to upgrade but don't want to use Next/Edge. I'm sure Apple will still make a healthy profit on each unit sold. I expect Verizon to do the same soon.
Yes, but that unlimited plan is the main reason I have stayed with AT&T. Verizon has better service coverage where I live.
Awesome thanks for sharing. Yes, the Ting group was true to their promise. I called them to ask some question and it was picked up under 4 rings and was speaking to a person and not machine.
This is how it has been done in Australia, and other countries, for years and it works. The way it is here is, essentially, part of your contract payments pay for your phone, and you contribute part, so the higher plan you are on, the less you pay for your handset repayment. But then you own it outright after 2 years and are free to do whatever with it then. Kind of makes it more manageable than paying full price upfront.
Okay I found an awesome calculator on AT&T's website where you can look up your specific plan and compare it to the available options. You can try it for yourself here: http://www.myattmst.com/rate-plan-calculator.html.
Here is a comparison of my three options (I used the 15GB plan because our phones average 12GB/mo)
NEXT VS Current Plan
Current VS Mobile Share
As you can see my current plan saves me money ($200-750/24 mo) and gives me more data (unlimited vs 15GB)
Here is a comparison of my three options (I used the 15GB plan because our phones average 12GB/mo)
NEXT VS Current Plan
Current VS Mobile Share
As you can see my current plan saves me money ($200-750/24 mo) and gives me more data (unlimited vs 15GB)
So let me get this straight:
Currently:
$199 purchase price with two year contract
$199 to $250 resell price after two years
= $0 to ($50) paid for phone
Now:
$21/month x 12 months=
$252/year or
$502/year for two years just for the hardware.
How exactly does this Next program benefit anyone?
What am I missing here as this can't be this big of a scam.
$0 dollars every two years for the hardware vs. $502 with Next.
I know for a FACT that Next hurts us customers as AT&T did not come up with this program in our benefit, but for the shareholders.
Currently:
$199 purchase price with two year contract
$199 to $250 resell price after two years
= $0 to ($50) paid for phone
Now:
$21/month x 12 months=
$252/year or
$502/year for two years just for the hardware.
How exactly does this Next program benefit anyone?
What am I missing here as this can't be this big of a scam.
$0 dollars every two years for the hardware vs. $502 with Next.
I know for a FACT that Next hurts us customers as AT&T did not come up with this program in our benefit, but for the shareholders.
The price difference for my grandfathered plan and a mobile share plan is stark. I pay $120 now and with mobile share it would be 10GB for $100 + 2x($40) for $180 total. That's a 50% increase. Even if I go next its $130 but now I have to pay $450 more for each phone (whether it be lump sum or over 24 months) every two years.
You see grandfathered is better. Except I can't tether. Or SMS text (I chose to turn that feature off). Or make more than 550 minutes a month (which is more than enough for my wife and I). Other than that I love my current subsidized plan!
I pay 700 min plan+ unlimited sms, mobile to any mobile, UDP for 3 lines with discount 154 before taxes. 154*24=3696+ 3 iphones 6 128 1200= total 3696+1200=4896/24=204 per month brfore taxes. Too match my data usage I need 130 dollars 30 gb plan. After discount it will be 98.8+45= 143.8*24+ 3 iphones 128 total 6001.17 dollar/24=approx 250.04.
Simple math 2nd, may be third grade of public school. I save 250.04-204=45.96 per month+ tax on this amount.
I know share plans give you tethering, international sms and headache to manage your data usage. UDP never been throttled for me or my family with data usage around 7 gb per line.
Also I need extra dumb phone line -it is 9.99, and upgrade eligible. New plan 15 dollars
No. It is not better for all users. My bill is currently 75 bucks. 450 minutes, 1000/mo texts, and unlimited data. I haven't gone over anything in the past 5 years. Tell me how I'd benefit from the new Next plans?
When I deciding between 2 year contract or Next for iPhone 64GB
2 Year Contract: $299 + (80.00/month X 24) + $40 activation fee = $2259.00
AT&T Next: ($31.21/month + 65.00/month) x 24* + $0 activation fee = $2309.04
*Can upgrade and opt out to a new phone after 18 months
Basically Next is $50.00 more then a 2 year contract however you can upgrade your phone after 18 months
2 Year Contract: $299 + (80.00/month X 24) + $40 activation fee = $2259.00
AT&T Next: ($31.21/month + 65.00/month) x 24* + $0 activation fee = $2309.04
*Can upgrade and opt out to a new phone after 18 months
Basically Next is $50.00 more then a 2 year contract however you can upgrade your phone after 18 months
Because your paying $50 more over the 2 years to be able to upgrade early if you want. With a 2 year contract you end up paying more for your plan then Next. So 3GB of DATA plus Unlimited text and talk is $65/month while 2 year contract is $80/month.
Read my last post I broke it down
Read my last post I broke it down
On the current plans you also get a monthly discount for not being on a contract, so depending on if you are on a newer plan and how much data you are using Next can work out better. Again, it doesn't always work out better for everyone, and especially those on older plans since their subsidy is already built into the plan and they won't get a discount for being off-contract on those plans.
For all you people who are saying you are going to buy the phone for full price to keep your unlimited data. That is the worst thing that you can do.
Why?
That unlimited plan you have has the cost of a phone built into it. So you are essentially paying for two phones. If you have unlimited and do not do a two year contract you mine as well get rid of it. That is part of the goal to this on at&t's part.
Why?
That unlimited plan you have has the cost of a phone built into it. So you are essentially paying for two phones. If you have unlimited and do not do a two year contract you mine as well get rid of it. That is part of the goal to this on at&t's part.