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Carrier AT&T 2yr contract or NEXT?

richard371 said:
Thanks. Just hope ATT only taxes the base of my bill each month then and not the $42 each month since I will be paying tax up front.



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I wonder with Next since its off contract if the phone will be unlocked like when buying it at full price?
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Based on this AT&T Next support article, the monthly charges are separate from the rest of your service on your bill and are NOT subject to additional fees or taxes.

No clue about unlocking, but I wouldn't expect it to be unlockable until you have paid it in full.
 
So it seems the general consensus is that, if you have an unlimited data plan still, the best bet is to stick with the 2-yr contract and not do Next + mobile share?

I have a 5S and an iPad Air on the same account, but obviously two different data plans (the iPad has 3GB plan). I am eligible for the partial upgrade price, like $649 for the 6+ 64GB.
 
pazzo83 said:
So it seems the general consensus is that, if you have an unlimited data plan still, the best bet is to stick with the 2-yr contract and not do Next + mobile share?

I have a 5S and an iPad Air on the same account, but obviously two different data plans (the iPad has 3GB plan). I am eligible for the partial upgrade price, like $649 for the 6+ 64GB.
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I'm wondering the same thing.

1 line, unlimited data. Eligible for upgrade.

I was leaning towards next, but after reading this thread I'm thinking I should stick with another 2-year contract.

I don't come close to needing unlimited data, but I'm over2 GB per month here and there.

Edit - Just read in another thread that I should be able to keep my unlimited data even if I go with next to purchase the new phone. All part of that "next has nothing to do with your plan" thing. So my bill would stay the same, but it would add the monthly next fee for the phone cost.
 
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apple.snapple said:
I'm using the Next program.

- I always get the newest iPhone. Period. It's a habit I haven't been able to break for 7 years now. Before, I would have to list my phone on ebay, wait for it to sell, ship it, hope the buyer is pleased/doesn't return and use that money TOWARD getting the latest and greatest. It was always a money pit and a time sink. Using Next 12, I'll never have to go through that. I'll just give them the phone, scratches, dings, etc (I think they'll take any abuse, minus screen cracks) and get my brand new 6S, 7, etc.

- Speaking of scratches, dings, etc. 2 years is simply too long to keep a phone going these days. My iPhone 4 home button was starting to fail when I sold it. Same with my 5C. They've all had at least one or two issues around the one year mark (poor battery life, scuffs, scratches, dings, dents, you name it). With the Next program, I'll just give them the phone and they'll give me a brand new one. So easy. I wish they had this back in 2007.
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You have summed up EXACTLY what I have been thinking regarding NEXT. It is exhausting selling a phone every year and with NEXT, I know I will get a new one. Have to have latest and greatest! :cool::p;)
 
I'm not a frequent upgrader (still have the 4S) but I'm looking at the Next 18 plan. Simply because it's easy financing for 24 months. My initial monthly cost will be higher, but after 24 months the phone cost drops from the bill, and I own the phone.

Makes it a much easier choice for me since I don't have to plunk down the $499 on day one.
 
Contract pricing here. I'm still on my unlimited plan so not eligible for the value plans = no point in Next.
 
I upgrade every two years at most (though my old 90s flip phone lasted me four years). I plan on getting the 6 with a two year contract. I'll probably keep it at least three years before upgrading to the 8 or 9. The fact that I'm trading an 8gb 4 with 3.2gb available tells me the 64gb is going to last me a long time.
 
My iPhone 5s has it's first anniversary in few days and to celebrate this I am considering get the 6+ 64gb. I am in a 2 years contract with family shared plan under 10gb.
Is it worth to jump into the Next plan to save $15 p/month on my data plan and trade in my current 5S? I might skip the next version after the 6+ and keep for 24 months.
 
I was going to get the two year contract and suddenly I started doing some numbers.

The phone that I want is the IP6+ 128G. Full cost $949

Price with contract and taxes in Orlando (6.5%): $499 + $32.44 = $531.44 plus upgrade fee ($40) + installments

Price with Next: 0 + $61.69 Tax.

Then I was thinking, I can save the initial $499 + tax, the upgrade fee will be $0 using "Next" and that will offset a little the taxes of the full price IP6+ ($61.69-$40 = $21.69).

Next month, when I get the bill I will go to the store and use the $531.44 that I saved by not going the "contract" route, and just pay the difference. ($417.56)

$949 - $531.44 = $417.56

No contract and the phone is mine and will request to be unlocked. I already call AT&T and was told that I can pay it off anytime.

Now, I understand this may not be economically viable for everyone, but maybe some people may think this way too.

Disclaimer, I was drinking some wine. My mind is not that clear now, I hope that the calculations accurate. Correct me is I am wrong. :)

You all have a great evening.
 
I think with the 2 year contract if you could do the upgrade swap every year and sell the old iphone is the best option. You would pay 299 up front and sell it for 350-400 in a year and then do cross upgrade again and pay 299 so you would be up some money depending on how much you sell your old iphone for.
 
iZollo said:
I think with the 2 year contract if you could do the upgrade swap every year and sell the old iphone is the best option. You would pay 299 up front and sell it for 350-400 in a year and then do cross upgrade again and pay 299 so you would be up some money depending on how much you sell your old iphone for.
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Umm...

Now I have doubts again. You are making sense to me.

I do qualify for a full upgrade. I always upgrade every two years, but this is something I will now think about it. I have until 3:01 am tomorrow to decide.

Thank you for your information.
 
nandopr said:
Umm...

Now I have doubts again. You are making sense to me.

I do qualify for a full upgrade. I always upgrade every two years, but this is something I will now think about it. I have until 3:01 am tomorrow to decide.

Thank you for your information.
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Your welcome . I do this every year because I have lines of family members who do not care about the upgrade. So If you can upgrade every year with a upgrade swap from a family member I think that is the way to go.
 
Brien said:
Contract pricing here. I'm still on my unlimited plan so not eligible for the value plans = no point in Next.
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I was at an AT&T store today, and they said I could keep the unlimited data plan but still go to Next. I'm on the $70 or so 450 min, 250 text (mostly irrelevant thanks to iMessage) and unlimited data.
 
roland.g said:
Contract also charges you $40 activation fee.

And Next allows you to upgrade every year. It also gives them back a handset to sell.

I'm in favor of contract but Next does have some advantages, depending on your plan and cost. Make sure with Next you are on the 15GB plan to get the $25 per month savings. 10GB plans only save $15 per month and that definitely makes a difference over 2 years.
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10GB saves $25 per phone
 
I am debating Next but can't decide. Can someone help?

I have unlimited data. My bill averages $75 a month.
My wife has the 2gb(I think) plan, her bill averages $61 a month.
We both have work discounts, which is how our bills are this.

My problem is I average about 6GB data usage per month, so I am getting throttled. I JUST started managing this because I didn't realize my usage was so high. So if I use work WiFi, I can probably cut down usage some. My wife uses less than 1GB per month of data.

So combined, my wife and I pay $136 per month.
With our discount of 20% and the 10GB family share plan, the monthly charge would be $110 for both of us (please check my math $1200 base x .80 = 960 + ($30x12 = 360) = $1320 / 12 = $110 (before taxes).

The advantage of giving up my unlimited data is that I will no longer be throttled after 5GB and my wife and I will now have unlimited text (my family LOVES to family text and some of us don't have iMessage, wife goes over her 250 texts every month). The disadvantage is giving up my unlimited data, which is somewhat moot since I go over the 5GB and get throttled to death.

I don't think I NEED the ability to upgrade after a year. I've gotten used to upgrading every 2 years. Knowing all this, what should I do?

EDIT: The (30x12) is 2 phones at $15 access fee.
 
iZollo said:
I think with the 2 year contract if you could do the upgrade swap every year and sell the old iphone is the best option. You would pay 299 up front and sell it for 350-400 in a year and then do cross upgrade again and pay 299 so you would be up some money depending on how much you sell your old iphone for.
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I was doing that for years too , but now on the Mobile Share plan. If I was on a single line contract I'd still be doing this possibly. Getting 20% off my bill with a FAN discount is a bonus too.

I've decided to go the Next route. I have a mint 64gb 5s ready to hit the net once I get the 6 plus. Will have the new phone paid off within a few months, and will be ready again for next year.

Thanks to all who contributed real helpful info
 
Im doing the next plan. I did the math one time and TCO for two years between buying outright, buying on the Next-12 and buying on 2 year contract.

Next plan only costed $1 more overall than buying outright

The 2 year contract was over $300 more overall.
 
dugbee said:
I was at an AT&T store today, and they said I could keep the unlimited data plan but still go to Next. I'm on the $70 or so 450 min, 250 text (mostly irrelevant thanks to iMessage) and unlimited data.
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What I mean is that I don't get the $25 a month discount so there isn't any incentive to do Next.
 
It seems like a 2 year contract would be cheaper monthly for me. Can anyone look this over and make sure I'm making sense?

I want the 6+ 64 GB. Currently I am on the 6 GB Mobile Share with 2 lines and I have the per line discount currently.

6 GB Mobile Share - $80
Line 1 Access Charge - $40
Line 1 Discount - ($15)
Corporate Discount 17% - ($13.60)
= $91.40.

Now if I throw the Next 18 pricing on there, add $35.42 = $126.82

Here's how I calculated it out for the 2 year contract.

6 GB Mobile Share - $80
Line 1 Access Charge - $40
No Line 1 Discount - $0
Corporate Discount 17% - (13.60)
TOTAL = $106.40

Am I missing something here? Yes, I have to pay $400 up front, plus $40 for the upgrade (I'll ask to have it waived), but the upgrade seems to be a better deal. I don't mind signing a 2 year contract - I'm jumping ship to T-Mobile as soon as they have LTE in my neighborhood.
 
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DoubleSh0t said:
It seems like a 2 year contract would be cheaper monthly for me. Can anyone look this over and make sure I'm making sense?

I want the 6+ 64 GB. Currently I am on the 6 GB Mobile Share with 2 lines and I have the per line discount currently.

10 GB Mobile Share - $80
Line 1 Access Charge - $40
Line 1 Discount - ($15)
Corporate Discount 17% - ($13.60)
= $91.40.

Now if I throw the Next 18 pricing on there, add $35.42 = $126.82

Here's how I calculated it out for the 2 year contract.

6 GB Mobile Share - $80
Line 1 Access Charge - $40
No Line 1 Discount - $0
Corporate Discount 17% - (13.60)
TOTAL = $106.40

Am I missing something here? Yes, I have to pay $400 up front, plus $40 for the upgrade (I'll ask to have it waived), but the upgrade seems to be a better deal. I don't mind signing a 2 year contract - I'm jumping ship to T-Mobile as soon as they have LTE in my neighborhood.
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That $440 up front works out to $18/month over the 24 months, plus you're getting only 6GB of data vs 10GB per month, you'll pay higher up front sales tax with Next, but still be cheaper with Next factoring in the data difference, also the discount is $25 not $15 at 10 GB.
 
Jus711 said:
That $440 up front works out to $18/month over the 24 months, plus you're getting only 6GB of data vs 10GB per month, you'll pay higher up front sales tax with Next, but still be cheaper with Next.
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Well, the other side of that is I can sell my 32 GB 5 for around $200-250, which reduces that upfront cost as well. I could still switch to the 10 GB plan on either scenario with a small increase in my monthly cost.
 
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