AT&T Announces 'Next 24' Payment Plan, Allowing 30 Months to Pay Off Devices

[koa]

Agreed. HKenneth may be a self-proclaimed mathmetician, but doesn't have much sense. AT&T now gives $150 bill credit when you add a NEXT line to your plan. I doubt his CC company is giving him $150.

Somehow, he thinks NEXT is supposed to be cheaper than buying outright, but that is not what NEXT is. It's the same price as buying outright, plus you can trade in early and get a new phone. At no time are you paying more than buying outright. It's just a zero interest payment plan. (and now, with $150 bill credit).

Also, NEXT is NO CONTRACT, also. He's just completely wrong on all counts.

Is the $150 credit for a additional new Next line or also for using Next to buy a phone for an existing line?

People are talking about selling their phone vs turning it in. You can pay off the Next phone anytime during the period it is financed for and sell it.

 

[baller1308]

Hmmm. Maybe it is worth it. Here are my yearly estimates with a new device ($299 w/ contract; $750 NEXT):
Current Plant: $1158
NEXT 12: $1139 (37.50/month for device)
NEXT 18: $1064 (31.25/month)
NEXT 24: $989 (25/month)
Non-NEXT: $1038

1 Line:
2 Year Contract:
Phone: $300
Plan: $80 per month for 24 months plan
=====
$2220 over 2 years

Next 18:
Phone: $31.25 x 24 monthly payments
Plan: $65 per month plan
------
$96.25 per month for 24 months
=====
$2310 over 2 years

2 Lines
2 Year Contract:
Phone: $300 x 2
Plan: $150 x 24
=====
$4200

Next 18:
Phone: $31.25*2 x 24
Plan: $120 x 24
=====
$4380

3 Lines
2 Year Contract:
Phone: $300 x 3
Plan: $220 x 24
====
$6180

Next 18:
Phone: $31.25*3 x 24
Plan: $145 x 24
====
$5730

As you can see, once you reach 3 lines is when you start saving money. These numbers assume you pay off your phone and not upgrade. It is possible to save money buy buying out your phone and then selling it and reupping on Next.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Is the $150 credit for a additional new Next line or also for using Next to buy a phone for an existing line?

People are talking about selling their phone vs turning it in. You can pay off the Next phone anytime during the period it is financed for and sell it.

I believe it is for a new 1st line or for an additional line added to an existing account.

 

[iSee]

The "next plan" is a joke. Anyone with elementary mathematics skill would find out after the 30-month period, it costs as much as if you purchase the phone directly off contract. Plus if you purchase the phone off contract, 1. you can get cash-back from major credit card companies so it is actually cheaper; 2. it is off contract which means you can switch to different wireless providers whenever you want, particularly useful if you travel a lot across continents.

And some with post-elementary mathematical skills would be able to calculate the value of a 2.5 year interest free loan. It's around $10 depending on prevailing interest rates and which phone you buy. About the same as the potential cash back you mention.

 

[e-coli]

I'm confused by your comment. NEXT is 0% interest, but not $25 extra per month...it's $15/mo just like buying outright. And, you're not on contract with NEXT. You can quit before you pay the phone off, you just have to keep making your NEXT payments.

The cost of the phone is the same for NEXT vs buying outright.

There is NO DIFFERENCE between buying it outright vs. NEXT, except one empties your wallet all at once and NEXT makes it affordable for those that don't want to drop $1000 on a top of the line 6+, for instance and paying over time costs nothing.

I'd revisit that math if I were you. On top of it being incorrect, you're leasing your phone (which you could sell if you owned it).

 

[baller1308]

I'm confused by your comment. NEXT is 0% interest, but not $25 extra per month...it's $15/mo just like buying outright. And, you're not on contract with NEXT. You can quit before you pay the phone off, you just have to keep making your NEXT payments.

The cost of the phone is the same for NEXT vs buying outright.

There is NO DIFFERENCE between buying it outright vs. NEXT, except one empties your wallet all at once and NEXT makes it affordable for those that don't want to drop $1000 on a top of the line 6+, for instance and paying over time costs nothing.

It depends on how many lines you have. It's $25 a month for NEXT with 2 or fewer lines while 3 or more lines it's $15 per phone.

 

[mercuryjones]

I'd revisit that math if I were you. On top of it being incorrect, you're leasing your phone (which you could sell if you owned it).

You are buying for your phone monthly no matter how you do it, unless you buy it outright.
Stop with the leasing, because subsidized is much closer to "leasing" the phone.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I'd revisit that math if I were you. On top of it being incorrect, you're leasing your phone (which you could sell if you owned it).

Do you even know the definition of a lease? If so, please explain how you figure NEXT is a lease.

Let me help...

1) A lease is a contract. NEXT has no contract.
2) You don't own anything with a lease. With NEXT, the phone is yours to do what you want. If you want to sell it, just pay it off first, then sell it...it's your phone after all.
3) When you've made your last payment, you get to keep the phone.

I don't understand how you and so many others think of NEXT as a lease?

 

[koa]

I'd revisit that math if I were you. On top of it being incorrect, you're leasing your phone (which you could sell if you owned it).

Everything he said was accurate. What "incorrect math" are you referring to?

Give an example of a lease that requires nothing down, no interest, no prepayment penalty and the product/services is the same price as everyone pays.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Everything he said was accurate. What "incorrect math" are you referring to?

Give an example of a lease that requires nothing down, no interest, no prepayment penalty and the product/services is the same price as everyone pays.

And, don't forget, NO CONTRACT. Every lease is a contract. Lease a car, lease an apartment...you are stuck in the lease for the agreed upon time. It's not your car or your apartment...you can't sell them, etc. You are renting for an agreed upon timeframe. NEXT is NOTHING like that.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

It depends on how many lines you have. It's $25 a month for NEXT with 2 or fewer lines while 3 or more lines it's $15 per phone.

Maybe it depends on your plan, because on the ATT Mobile Share Value plan, it's based on your data package. 10GB or more, it's $15/line. 2 phones, 10GB = $130/month.

 

[Sukach]

As you can see, once you reach 3 lines is when you start saving money. These numbers assume you pay off your phone and not upgrade. It is possible to save money buy buying out your phone and then selling it and reupping on Next.

That makes sense. What the hell was wrong with my math? Going to have to double check when I get home.

 

[Glideslope]

So, I can take the money that I would have paid for the phone and invest it in Apple stock for 30 months. I think I could get more than $75..

I'd wait till the Apple/GT Documents are unsealed.

 

[JrFreak]

What's AT&T doing to keep current customers? Nothing. I've been with AT&T since day one and have only gotten the shaft... especially with my unlimited data (should be re-named the 5gb plan).

I guess I'll be switching to Verizon for the $150 x 4 lines.

 

[mercuryjones]

What's AT&T doing to keep current customers? Nothing. I've been with AT&T since day one and have only gotten the shaft... especially with my unlimited data (should be re-named the 5gb plan).

I guess I'll be switching to Verizon for the $150 x 4 lines.

Unlimited data is fine, until you realize that you are really using less than 8GB a month at the very most. Switching to the mobile share plan for my family has been the best thing. Plus, we were able to get in on the double data deal, so now we have 30GB of data to share a month.

 

[JrFreak]

I missed the double data deal with Verizon. Tougher decision now. 30GB for price of 15GB with ATT or $150 x 3 lines credit and the 15GB plan for price of 10GB...

Hmmmm....

 

[oneMadRssn]

1 Line:
2 Year Contract:
Phone: $300
Plan: $80 per month for 24 months plan
=====
$2220 over 2 years

Next 18:
Phone: $31.25 x 24 monthly payments
Plan: $65 per month plan
------
$96.25 per month for 24 months
=====
$2310 over 2 years

2 Lines
2 Year Contract:
Phone: $300 x 2
Plan: $150 x 24
=====
$4200

Next 18:
Phone: $31.25*2 x 24
Plan: $120 x 24
=====
$4380

3 Lines
2 Year Contract:
Phone: $300 x 3
Plan: $220 x 24
====
$6180

Next 18:
Phone: $31.25*3 x 24
Plan: $145 x 24
====
$5730

As you can see, once you reach 3 lines is when you start saving money. These numbers assume you pay off your phone and not upgrade. It is possible to save money buy buying out your phone and then selling it and reupping on Next.

Don't forget the $40/line activation fee when on a 2-year contract, which is waived with Next.

Also, the math comes out even better when doing the Next 24 plan.

 

[mercuryjones]

Don't forget the $40/line activation fee when on a 2-year contract, which is waived with Next.

Also, the math comes out even better when doing the Next 24 plan.

Also, don't forget the activation fee of $36 per line for upgrades. Also, the tax on the handset. Both of which are waived on NEXT - the activation fee each time and the tax every time you turn in a device for a new device.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Also, don't forget the activation fee of $36 per line for upgrades. Also, the tax on the handset. Both of which are waived on NEXT - the activation fee each time and the tax every time you turn in a device for a new device.

Also true, but you should clarify that the monthly service tax on the monthly portion of your bill that goes to the handset does not apply with Next, not the sales tax.

 

[bradl]

I just did the math on mine. I'm currently on the 15GB plan that was doubled to 30GB, at BYOD (brought our two iPhone 4Ses to the plan). If we bought an iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+, both at 128GB, here's how it would break down.

NEXT 24:
(130 * 15% FAN discount) = 110.50
15.00 (iPhone 6 on the network)
15.00 (iPhone 6+ on the network)
13.98 (insurance)
28.33 (iPhone 6, 128GB, on NEXT 24)
31.67 (iPhone 6+, 128GB, on NEXT 24)
-------
214.48 per month

214.48 * 24 (paying off in 24 months) = 5147.52
214.48 * 30 (paying off in 30 months) = 6434.40


NEXT 18:
(130 * 15% FAN discount) = 110.50
15.00 (iPhone 6 on the network)
15.00 (iPhone 6+ on the network)
13.98 (insurance)
39.59 (iPhone 6, 128GB, on NEXT 24)
35.42 (iPhone 6+, 128GB, on NEXT 24)
-------
229.49 per month

229.48 * 18 (paying off in 18 months) = 4130.82
229.49 * 24 (paying off in 24 months) = 5507.76

None of this includes sales tax, which would be $150. I'd have to pay that up front to walk out the door with the phones.

NEXT 18 would still be the better deal for me, as I'd be paying more, but less often than compared to NEXT 24. The only way I'd be able to get anything better out of it would be to get the phones on NEXT 24, and pay them off after 18 months. Then my monthly bill would drop back to 140.50.

NEXT 24 and paying off in 18 would be ideal, followed by NEXT 18 paying off in 18.. Ideally, the best would have been that now-discontinued 20GB plan with NEXT 24.

BL.