AT&T ETF cheaper than non-upgrade price?

[econoar]

So many of us who are early iPhone 4 adapters aren't getting offered an upgrade eligible price. The price for a 32GB is $549. However, doing some simple math something doesn't add up.

AT&T's policies state this:

If your Service Commitment includes the purchase of certain specified Equipment on or after June 1, 2010, the Early Termination Fee will be $325 minus $10 for each full month of your Service Commitment that you complete. (For a complete list of the specified Equipment, check att.com/equipmentETF). Otherwise your Early Termination Fee will be $150 minus $4 for each full month of your Service Commitment that you complete. The Early Termination Fee is not a penalty, but rather a charge to compensate us for your failure to satisfy the Service Commitment on which your rate plan is based.

Now, the iPhone 4 came out in June '10 so for most of us we'd fall into the $325 ETF minus $10 for every month of service we've paid.

$325 - (17*$10) = $155 to terminate a line early.

Then, you go get the 32GB $299 price with a new 2 year contract. So, all in you're at $454 versus $549. Am I missing something?

 

[GoCubsGo]

Nope it is just like that. However, I don't know if you can carry your number over to the new contract.

 

[supervelous]

So many of us who are early iPhone 4 adapters aren't getting offered an upgrade eligible price. The price for a 32GB is $549. However, doing some simple math something doesn't add up.

AT&T's policies state this:



Now, the iPhone 4 came out in February '10 so for most of us we'd fall into the $150 ETF minus $4 for every month of service we've paid.

$150 - (19*$4) = $74 to terminate a line early.

Then, you go get the 32GB $299 price with a new 2 year contract. So, all in you're at $373 versus $549. Am I missing something?

Is this serious? The Iphone 4 came out in June 2010, not February

 

[BamaATL]

I don't recall the iPhone 4 coming out in Feb 2010.

ATT version came out in Jun 2010.
Verizon version came out in Feb 2011.

 

[econoar]

Is this serious? The Iphone 4 came out in June 2010, not February

You're right...read Wiki wrong.

 

[BamaATL]

Verizon was June. AT&T was Feb.

Nope. You've got that dead wrong.

 

[econoar]

I don't recall the iPhone 4 coming out in Feb 2010.

ATT version came out in Jun 2010.
Verizon version came out in Feb 2011.

Still cheaper though. ETF would be $135 now. 299+135 = 434 instead of 549.

 

[supervelous]

Verizon was June. AT&T was Feb.

No, I have AT&T, I got my iphone on day 1, actually the day before it was released in stores in the mail.

You have it mixed up, the ATT iphone was released in June 2010, and the Verizon Iphone was released in February 2011

Edit: See someone beat me to it....

 

[rockyroad55]

Mine would be 185+199=384, which is still cheaper than 449.

 

[supervelous]

Still cheaper though. ETF would be $135 now. 299+135 = 434 instead of 549.

Well 325 minus 10 for each full month, 16 months = 160. 325-160 = $165, so I'm not sure where $135 is coming from..but yes it could potentially be cheaper than paying full retail.

 

[Menel]

Yes, but then you'd be on another 2yr contract, and you'd be screwed again when iPhone 6 comes out which will likely be the major 'tock' form factor heavy update.

3GS -> 4 kind of transition.

However; if you pay retail, and don't renew contract, when iPhone 6 comes around, you'll be able to do renew contract then at the standard low rate.

 

[econoar]

Yes, but then you'd be on another 2yr contract, and you'd be screwed again when iPhone 6 comes out which will likely be the major 'tock' form factor heavy update.

3GS -> 4 kind of transition.

However; if you pay retail, and don't renew contract, when iPhone 6 comes around, you'll be able to do renew contract then at the standard low rate.

The $549 requires a new contract though. It's $749 for unlocked, no contract.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Then, you go get the 32GB $299 price with a new 2 year contract. So, all in you're at $434 versus $549. Am I missing something?

As someone else said, you'll lose your number. Also I've seen posts stating that AT&T won't allow you to open a new account for 30 days after terminating early, but I can't find a policy to that effect in writing on their website so I can't vouch for its accuracy.

 

[Wicked1]

Nope it is just like that. However, I don't know if you can carry your number over to the new contract.

Went thru this with my sons line as he went on his own plan, if you terminate your contract via ETF you lose the number, also you will be required to go thru a new Credit Check as well, it is like you were moving from one carrier to another, you start ALL OVER again, no way around it.

 

[troop231]

Went thru this with my sons line as he went on his own plan, if you terminate your contract via ETF you lose the number, also you will be required to go thru a new Credit Check as well, it is like you were moving from one carrier to another, you start ALL OVER again, no way around it.

This.

IMO, it's not worth it to jump through hoops and lose your number. Especially the part of having to go through the credit check/$500 deposit again.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Nope it is just like that. However, I don't know if you can carry your number over to the new contract.

You can't.

 

[BamaATL]

Makes sense. If you could save money by terminating and then opening a new account with the same number, everyone would do it.

You best bet is to call and say you are considering canceling because it is cheaper to move to Verizon. Plus you could take your number with you. They may give you a break to make it worth staying.

 

[blevins321]

You could change carriers to get the discounted rate and keep your number. You'd pay the ETF then sign a new contract with Sprint or Verizon.

 

[Crager724]

Would anyone happen to know how much the 16GB iPhone 4S will cost, non-upgrade price?

 

[econoar]

You could change carriers to get the discounted rate and keep your number. You'd pay the ETF then sign a new contract with Sprint or Verizon.

You can keep your # if you go from AT&T to Verizon?

 

[AnthroMatt]

Went thru this with my sons line as he went on his own plan, if you terminate your contract via ETF you lose the number, also you will be required to go thru a new Credit Check as well, it is like you were moving from one carrier to another, you start ALL OVER again, no way around it.

If you can have a multi-line account, why not just add a new line, port out the number you want to keep to a prepaid carrier, then port the number back to replace the number on the new line you just added?

Will AT&T not permit this? With Sprint that was never an issue.

 

[asleep]

You can keep your # if you go from AT&T to Verizon?

Absolutely ... and save money.

 

[Wicked1]

Would anyone happen to know how much the 16GB iPhone 4S will cost, non-upgrade price?

Should be $549.00 if Apple sticks with the current model for an outright purchase with no contract attachment.

I am wondering if Apple will sell unlocked 4S as they currently do with the 4 which is sold at full price $549.00

 

[maximus96]

you can port your number to google voice and have it ring whatever new number you get. people call your old number, your new iphone rings...dial out from the google voice app and your old cell number would appear in the caller ID...its a $20 fee to port tho' i believe...

 

[dccorona]

terminating your contract early usually means either porting your number to a new service or losing it. If you want to terminate and continue with the new service provider and a new phone, things get VERY tricky. I suppose you could port to a gophone and then port back...confusing stuff

the cheapest option would really be to add a line as a family plat (+$10/month) and use that to get the new phone, then throw the sim in a dumbphone and call and cancel the data plan. THen you can upgrade every year