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$40 activation is 100% waived if you ask. It's not even an issue.

I'm on a two year contract, and I upgrade each year. One year I pay subsidy price, next full price. iPhones retain value like no other phone, this is why you always go with the top of the line model.
 
I just got off the phone with ATT and they cancelled my contract. I paid them $650.00 for 2 iphone 6's and the rep even said the ETF cancellation charge of $325.00 is a loophole to get the phone for $125.00 off. I truely wanted to go onto NEXT, but when I crunched the numbers paying the ETF was money in the bank.

Now I have two iphone 6's off contract and only pay the 15 line charge.

I can't afford to do that this month but I will probably do that on our phones next month
 
Called about an hour ago and switched over to mobile share 30gb (60gb under the promo) happily giving up grandfathered unlimited data on 2 of my lines. My reasoning? Historically, amongst the three smartphone lines on my account (including the two unlimited iPhones), we've never exceeded 11gb's at peak. This gives each of the three of us 20gb each (if split evenly) *and* hotspot functionality on all of our devices that I previously didn't have, *and* I shaved off $20 a month.

So, yes I lost unlimited x 2, but based on my historical usage I'm really not losing anything. The ability to now tether legitimately (and not via jb workarounds) plus the small savings was worth it to me.

are you upgrading using next tho?

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$40 activation is 100% waived if you ask. It's not even an issue.

I'm on a two year contract, and I upgrade each year. One year I pay subsidy price, next full price. iPhones retain value like no other phone, this is why you always go with the top of the line model.

How do I get $40 activation waived? Just call At&T and say please waive this fee for me?
 
Someone want to help me out?

I'm paying $180 for 450 share plan with 2 lines. Both lines have unlimited data and texting. It's an old plan but don't want to change in fear of loosing unlimited data.

I always either buy the new iPhone at subsidized price or pay the early upgrade fee.

If I were to move to the 30GB Share plan for $130 and bring in both lines and phones (an iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S) would it be $30 for both lines or $80?

If it's $80 since these phones are technically still under 2 year contract, then this share plan is not for me right? I'm trying to save money but I don't see how paying $390 for an iPhone on Next and paying $200 for an iPhone reg upgrade is smart...

help a man out
 
Someone want to help me out?



I'm paying $180 for 450 share plan with 2 lines. Both lines have unlimited data and texting. It's an old plan but don't want to change in fear of loosing unlimited data.



I always either buy the new iPhone at subsidized price or pay the early upgrade fee.



If I were to move to the 30GB Share plan for $130 and bring in both lines and phones (an iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S) would it be $30 for both lines or $80?



If it's $80 since these phones are technically still under 2 year contract, then this share plan is not for me right? I'm trying to save money but I don't see how paying $390 for an iPhone on Next and paying $200 for an iPhone reg upgrade is smart...



help a man out


You'll pay an additional $40 for each line on top of the $130 since both phones are on a contract. So yes, it's not for you. I still don't get how some claim this to be a better deal than keeping unlimited.

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are you upgrading using next tho?

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How do I get $40 activation waived? Just call At&T and say please waive this fee for me?


Yes. If they give you any crap, have them send you to the retention dpt. it never gets that far with me though. Explain that said charge is a total ripoff and doesn't make a bit of sense.
 
You'll pay an additional $40 for each line on top of the $130 since both phones are on a contract. So yes, it's not for you. I still don't get how some claim this to be a better deal than keeping unlimited.

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Yes. If they give you any crap, have them send you to the retention dpt. it never gets that far with me though. Explain that said charge is a total ripoff and doesn't make a bit of sense.

Thanks for your quick response! So how can I get value out of switching to the mobile share plans? What if I switch to mobile share plan and upgrade both lines using next??

Now that they doubled the size of mobile share, I'm looking further into switching. 30GB is enough for both lines, 15GB was not.
 
Next is a ripoff because you do not get to keep the phone at the end of the term.

With a normal 2-year upgrade, you do get to keep the phone at the end of the term.

No.

Next simply finances the phone over the number of payments you choose. You make all the payments, you own the phone. For that matter, you can pay off the balance at any time, and you own the phone.

If you terminate a 2-year contract early, you get to keep the phone, but you have to pay the ETF penalty -- effectively paying off the implicit loan you got when you bought the phone.

There's a lot of misinformation flying around on this thread. You have to do the math to figure out whether Next works for you. There are a number of factors, but the easiest way to compare is to calculate the total cost of the phone (however you buy it) and the monthly service over 24 months. Assuming you keep the phone at the end of the 24 months removes that variable.

With AT&T's current rates, you'll pay less with either Next or an outright purchase, if your dataplan is 10GB/month or higher. The difference is $150 per phone on the plan. However, if your dataplan is 6GB/month or lower, a 2-year contract is cheaper, by $90 per phone.

An example: with 1 phone and 6GB/month, you pay $3,079 under a 2-year contract, and $3,169 under no contract or Next. But with 1 phone and 10GB/month, you pay $3,559 under a 2-year contract, and $3,409 under no contract or Next.
 
can't find anywhere to upgrade my plan, ATT keeps suggesting a 10GB plan and doesn't give me the option to go higher...

If you login and go to change your plan, it should give you an option that shows your current plan on the left, and a choice to change your plan on the right. Click the arrow to the right and it will give you the costs of the new plan... bumps to 30GB instead of 15GB

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No.

Next simply finances the phone over the number of payments you choose. You make all the payments, you own the phone. For that matter, you can pay off the balance at any time, and you own the phone.

If you terminate a 2-year contract early, you get to keep the phone, but you have to pay the ETF penalty -- effectively paying off the implicit loan you got when you bought the phone.

There's a lot of misinformation flying around on this thread. You have to do the math to figure out whether Next works for you. There are a number of factors, but the easiest way to compare is to calculate the total cost of the phone (however you buy it) and the monthly service over 24 months. Assuming you keep the phone at the end of the 24 months removes that variable.

With AT&T's current rates, you'll pay less with either Next or an outright purchase, if your dataplan is 10GB/month or higher. The difference is $150 per phone on the plan. However, if your dataplan is 6GB/month or lower, a 2-year contract is cheaper, by $90 per phone.

An example: with 1 phone and 6GB/month, you pay $3,079 under a 2-year contract, and $3,169 under no contract or Next. But with 1 phone and 10GB/month, you pay $3,559 under a 2-year contract, and $3,409 under no contract or Next.

The only time you don't keep the phone is if you choose to upgrade on the 12 month/18 month mark. Basically trading it in for the new phone. Also of note, if you're on a Mobile Share plan, it knocks $25 a month off the device cost on the plan.
 
Keep your plan, it doesn't make sense for you. For me with 7 lines it made sense to switch earlier this year to shared data, since 3 of them barely use any.

450 share plan, unlimited (really 10GB) = $180 + down payment every 2 years
Mobile Share 30GB = $210 + down payment every 2 years
Mobile Share 30GB = $160 + full price of 2 phones all at once or spread 2 years

If you upgrade EVERY YEAR and have the money the best way is just buying the phones outright, but that could be nearly $2000 for 2 top of the line phones, although you own them and can sell them in a year... with next you turn them in after 12 months so you are paying half but you could sell them for more than half.
 
If you login and go to change your plan, it should give you an option that shows your current plan on the left, and a choice to change your plan on the right. Click the arrow to the right and it will give you the costs of the new plan... bumps to 30GB instead of 15GB

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The only time you don't keep the phone is if you choose to upgrade on the 12 month/18 month mark. Basically trading it in for the new phone. Also of note, if you're on a Mobile Share plan, it knocks $25 a month off the device cost on the plan.
When I did this on Sunday the only options I had to choose from on the website was 10GB and lower.
I was able to change it on the iOS app with zero problems.

1st page post #16 I said I was able to change from 30GB to 60GB with no issues on the app.
The website, for me, ONLY showed current plan and compare to plan, the compare to plan only showed suggested data of 10GB and less and hitting the + sign would not go higher than 10.
 
Just to double check -as someone who plans to switch to T Mo- does T Mob officially throttle customers who has unlimited Lte data plan?
 
Incorrect. In fact, a study was just completed that explains the whole thing.

In short, you drive 6000 miles a year. 99% of people drive 15,000 miles a year. I drive 60,000 miles a year. Me and the other folks making up the "60,000 mile a year club" are not hogging up the road. If you took ALL of us off the road at 5:15pm on Friday, you would STILL have traffic congestion.
....

Not going to agree on that. Take all the heavy users off the interstate, and traffic will go down. Simple stuff. Put a few thousand/million like my wife on the interstate and nobody will even notice (she drives 4,000 a year).

Why is it so hard for people to understand that all data transfer has limits?
 
FACT: AT&T wants your $$$

FACT: "Unlimited" data isn't really unlimited, it's 5GB, then .5Mb(b!)ps

FACT: "Power Users" aren't true "Power Users" if they think they can "Power Use" at .5Mbps.

In then end, this is about how people cling to something they perceive to have value, even if they can't justify it.

Sure, there will be a handful of "Power Users" that claim the 20GB or so they use throttled is a "great deal", but for the same costs (maybe a bit more or less depending on family/situation), I get to scream through 40GB of pure unthrottled LTE goodness.

And if you can't afford it, you aren't a "Power User" either lol...

This is the opportunity to jump off "unlimited" and get back to enjoying one of the best features of LTE: SPEED.

Unthrottled? Sure, no brainer. But it is, and it cripples "Power Using" lol.
 
Not going to agree on that. Take all the heavy users off the interstate, and traffic will go down. Simple stuff. Put a few thousand/million like my wife on the interstate and nobody will even notice (she drives 4,000 a year).

Why is it so hard for people to understand that all data transfer has limits?

Yes, it's true that the heavy driver has a LARGER impact than your wife, but that in NO way means that thousands/millions of "average" drivers will have less impact OVERALL than the "heavy" users, when it comes to congestion. If you can't understand that, you probably work for AT&T.

It's about $$$. AT&T isn't making the money they want from the "Unlimited" crippled plan any longer, and wants people OFF without having to kick them off (for fear of losing them as customers).

Kudos to AT&T for giving me an excellent alternative (this).

I gladly relinquish my crippled "Unlimited" plan. Now I can stop arguing with idiots who think I actually cause more congestion because I stream, and stream TWICE AS MUCH as usual =P.
 
Not going to agree on that. Take all the heavy users off the interstate, and traffic will go down. Simple stuff. Put a few thousand/million like my wife on the interstate and nobody will even notice (she drives 4,000 a year).

Why is it so hard for people to understand that all data transfer has limits?

No it wouldn't because u still have millions of non heavy users. What happens if these millions like your wife are out on the interstate at the same time? traffic jam. All this is a money grab, ATT figured out how to scam its users of millions while making them think they are providing them a better deal.
 
Someone want to help me out?

I'm paying $180 for 450 share plan with 2 lines. Both lines have unlimited data and texting. It's an old plan but don't want to change in fear of loosing unlimited data.

I always either buy the new iPhone at subsidized price or pay the early upgrade fee.

If I were to move to the 30GB Share plan for $130 and bring in both lines and phones (an iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S) would it be $30 for both lines or $80?

If it's $80 since these phones are technically still under 2 year contract, then this share plan is not for me right? I'm trying to save money but I don't see how paying $390 for an iPhone on Next and paying $200 for an iPhone reg upgrade is smart...

help a man out

Hi. Sorry, I'm catching up to this post. I believe you and I are on the same type of plan. I actually inquired about this yesterday. As long as your two year agreement was signed BEFORE Feb 2, 2014, then you qualify for the $15 "smartphone access" fee. The $40 kicks in if you decide to opt to go back onto the 2-year plan. Reason I've been really considering this is because I would love the hotspot at my work since my hospital doesn't have wifi. I think 30GB would be plenty for my wife and I. Combined we're pushing 14GB/mo so I was really hesitant to get on the 15GB plan but since it doubled now I think we'd be more than ok. I just hate my speed slowing down once I reach that 5GB limit on my unlimited plan. I have a month to make up my mind and hopefully the wife will agree too.
 
So I am one of the lucky ones who still has the *original* mobile share plans. It is 10GB for $120/month and $30 per line. I have 7 iPhones. Ignoring the FAN discount that is $330 per month. (I always get $40 "activation" fee waived).

Each iPhone gets upgraded every 2 years with the subsidy. Each subsidy is $450 per phone. Switching to Next (or off-contract) would reduce my plan to 10GB for $100 and $15 per line. Same ignoring FAN discount is $205 per month.

So over 2 years I would save $125/month = $3,000

But now I am paying an extra $450 per line (plus $40 extra in tax on phones) (by buying the phone in full or on Next) each 2 years. $490 * 7 phones = $3,430.

$430 more over 2 years is not much more (actually a bit more when you add in the FAN discount b/c bigger discount on higher plan). But no real incentive to go away from the subsidy model at this time. If I was at $40/line/month it would change things.

Am I wrong? I think I've thought of everything.
 
So I am one of the lucky ones who still has the *original* mobile share plans. It is 10GB for $120/month and $30 per line. I have 7 iPhones. Ignoring the FAN discount that is $330 per month. (I always get $40 "activation" fee waived).

Each iPhone gets upgraded every 2 years with the subsidy. Each subsidy is $450 per phone. Switching to Next (or off-contract) would reduce my plan to 10GB for $100 and $15 per line. Same ignoring FAN discount is $205 per month.

So over 2 years I would save $125/month = $3,000

But now I am paying an extra $450 per line (plus $40 extra in tax on phones) (by buying the phone in full or on Next) each 2 years. $490 * 7 phones = $3,430.

$430 more over 2 years is not much more (actually a bit more when you add in the FAN discount b/c bigger discount on higher plan). But no real incentive to go away from the subsidy model at this time. If I was at $40/line/month it would change things.

Am I wrong? I think I've thought of everything.
What model/size iPhone are you referring to? Your subsidized/unsubsidized prices don't exactly correspond to AT&T's pricing.

Nevertheless, there is one crucial thing you're missing, which is the tax/fees added to your bill. That is around 14-17% (depending on where you live) on top your mobile share plan and 7 lines. Calculate this along with your FAN discount and you'll find it's about the same, if not, cheaper for going to Next or buying outright.

Subsidized iPhones: $450 * 7 = $3150
$330 + 17% tax/fees = ~$385 * 24mo = ~$9240 + $3150 = ~$12390 (2 years)

Unsubsidized iPhones: $940 * 7 = $6580
$205 + 17% tax/fees = ~$240 * 24mo = ~$5760 + $6580 = ~$12340 (2 years)
 
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Hi. Sorry, I'm catching up to this post. I believe you and I are on the same type of plan. I actually inquired about this yesterday. As long as your two year agreement was signed BEFORE Feb 2, 2014, then you qualify for the $15 "smartphone access" fee. The $40 kicks in if you decide to opt to go back onto the 2-year plan. Reason I've been really considering this is because I would love the hotspot at my work since my hospital doesn't have wifi. I think 30GB would be plenty for my wife and I. Combined we're pushing 14GB/mo so I was really hesitant to get on the 15GB plan but since it doubled now I think we'd be more than ok. I just hate my speed slowing down once I reach that 5GB limit on my unlimited plan. I have a month to make up my mind and hopefully the wife will agree too.

Thanks for your response. So I just essentially signed a new 2yr agreement when I got my iPhone 6. So how much would I be paying on my line a month if I switch to mobile share? The second line upgraded last year during iPhone 5S launch so that's well before Feb 2 2014.
 
Thanks for your response. So I just essentially signed a new 2yr agreement when I got my iPhone 6. So how much would I be paying on my line a month if I switch to mobile share? The second line upgraded last year during iPhone 5S launch so that's well before Feb 2 2014.


$40 extra for that iPhone 6 line.
 
What model/size iPhone are you referring to? Your subsidized/unsubsidized prices don't exactly correspond to AT&T's pricing.

Nevertheless, there is one crucial thing you're missing, which is the tax/fees added to your bill. That is around 14-17% (depending on where you live) on top your mobile share plan and 7 lines. Calculate this along with your FAN discount and you'll find it's about the same, if not, cheaper for going to Next or buying outright.

Subsidized iPhones: $450 * 7 = $3150
$330 + 17% tax/fees = ~$385 * 24mo = ~$9240 + $3150 = ~$12390 (2 years)

Unsubsidized iPhones: $940 * 7 = $6580
$205 + 17% tax/fees = ~$240 * 24mo = ~$5760 + $6580 = ~$12340 (2 years)

It doesn't matter which iPhone model/size you get, the subsidy is $450 for all of them. So by going to Next you are paying an additional $450 per phone + extra tax.

For example, the 64GB iPhone 6 is $299 + tax = $325 w/ subsidy or $749 + tax = $815 on Next or buy outright. ($490 diff)
The 16GB iPhone 5s is $99 + tax = $108 w/ subsidy or $549 + tax = $597 on Next or buy outright. ($489 diff)

But you are right, the taxes equalize the equation. At a 19% tax rate (my current bill), the subsidy plan costs an extra ~ $23/month in taxes. Over 2 years that is $552 which equalizes out the difference. Will have to look into this more. Thanks.
 
$40 extra for that iPhone 6 line.

What if I upgrade using next on my new iPhone 6 line? Reason why it's available for next upgrade is because I did an upgrade swap using a diff line (3rd dummy line on the account) to upgrade my iPhone 6 line.
 
FACT: AT&T wants your $$$

FACT: "Unlimited" data isn't really unlimited, it's 5GB, then .5Mb(b!)ps

FACT: "Power Users" aren't true "Power Users" if they think they can "Power Use" at .5Mbps.

In then end, this is about how people cling to something they perceive to have value, even if they can't justify it.

Sure, there will be a handful of "Power Users" that claim the 20GB or so they use throttled is a "great deal", but for the same costs (maybe a bit more or less depending on family/situation), I get to scream through 40GB of pure unthrottled LTE goodness.

And if you can't afford it, you aren't a "Power User" either lol...

This is the opportunity to jump off "unlimited" and get back to enjoying one of the best features of LTE: SPEED.

Unthrottled? Sure, no brainer. But it is, and it cripples "Power Using" lol.

That's my problem. I have been running speed tests the last couple days. At .2 Mbps up and down right now. That is BS and makes the 'unlimited' plan the 'useless' plan. I have 1 day left in my cycle, so that should confirm when it resets. I'm leaning towards just getting the 30GB shared so I don't have to worry about my wife or I going over and get to use all the data unthrottled. Right now, I have a brand new iPhone 6 and mapping and some of the other stuff isn't even usable because of the throttling. Might as well not even have a smart phone after 5GB then...
 
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