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AT&T new upgrade policy
- Thread starter PharmDoc
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Ya me too. I discovered they pulled the annual upgrades when I tried to get the iPhone 5 on launch day and saw they wanted $449.
No thanks, I'll wait. My contract was up 30 days ago. Just wanting on the iPhone 5S announcement, Nexus 5 announcement, Motorola X announcement and weigh all those options against the S4 and HTC One.Another plus for T-Mobile. It's pretty easy to upgrade every year to the new iPhone if I want to. Wonder what the reasoning is for extending the upgrade period. Are they afraid churn now?
Why can't you do the same with AT&T? This is the biggest lie told by the TMo crowd.
Even if you aren't granted a full early upgrade by AT&T, pay the early upgrade price $450 (199 iphone + $250 fee) and sell your old iPhone for $450-550 and make some money. TMo actually ends up costing more because you have to pay the whole ~$600 before they let you finance the next iPhone with them.
OK let's assume you can get $550 for you year old iPhone (which most likely you can't because they have already dropped below $550 in value). $300-$350 is more realistic for most people.
You go to T-Mobile, you pay $149 upfront for the latest model, you still owe $480 on the phone. A year later you want the newer model but you still owe $240 on yours at the time. Sell your current phone for $550 and pay off the $240+$149 down for the new phone. That's about $390. Net profit $160
AT&T early upgrade $199+250 fee that's about $449. Net profit $101. How is that cheaper again?
I've never had a major issue with AT&T service but please don't act like they're cheaper when it comes to anything.
Another way to look at it (that I found easier)
AT&T with 3GB data, 450 minutes, and unlimited messaging = $90/mo
$450 for the iPhone + $90 x 12 = $1530 for the year
TMO with 2.5GB data and unlimited calls/texts = $70/mo
$630 for the iPhone + $70/mo x 12 = 1470
In both scenarios (yours and mine) you are saving roughly $60 a year with TMO. So yes, TMO is slightly cheaper, but for a whole lot lesser network. So it's up to you whether the tradeoff is worth it. $60 a year turns out to $5 per month. One fewer starbucks coffee a month buys me, personally, a whole lot better experience.
EDIT: What does get interesting with TMO is that with some handsets, they charge more if you finanace them rather than pay them off right away. On such example is the Nexus 4. Financed through TMO you end up spending over $100 MORE than retail value of the thing. Not sure why it's this way with some phones, and not others. Maybe we will see the same/similar happen with the enxt iPhone? We have already seen one price inscrease on iPhone hardware.
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I wasn't really referring to the plans as AT&T doesn't have an equivalent of the unlimited data plan. But the problem with your numbers is that you're assuming the buyer has already paid the $200 for the iPhone when they originally signed a contract with AT&T which in that case you also have to assume that the buyer has already paid the $150 down payment when they originally got their iPhone from T-Mobile and subtract it from the $630. Otherwise it would be $650 for AT&T, $630 for T-Mobile.
As far as the network, I've had them all. T-Mobile works just as well as the other two, better than Verizon since I can actually use it inside my house without going to a window. Doesn't make sense for me to go with the more expensive limited data carriers if all 3 offer a similar level of quality in my area. Of course I can only speak on my area, you guys said they're bad in Boston so I'll take that as a fact.
Don't get me wrong, AT&T worked fine when I had them. They just don't offer any decent data plans for new customers. I would've stayed if they at least had a 5GB throttled plan rather than 5GB+ overages. Cost wasn't my main motivation for switching to T-Mobile, it was the data plans. The money saved is just a convenient side benefit. I'm not some data hog who uses 20GB per month, I'm mostly in the 4.5-6GB range but have occasionally gone over 10GB and have no interest in a potential bill shock from using my iPhone as intended.
I think they charge more for the Nexus because Google is barely breaking even maybe even taking a loss selling it so cheap in the Play Store. I don't think carriers would be willing to take a loss for the phone like Google. I don't think Verizon or Sprint offered it full price for same as Google's price either. I could be wrong on that one though. As far as I know this is the only phone that T-Mobile sells higher than the manufacturer.
We went through this last year. Only a selected few (like 5% or so) were eligible for the full upgrade after about a year and the criteria were unknown so don't treat it like it was common or doable.
Doubtful. AT&T is just acting like the twin brother of Verizon and copying their non-consumer friendly moves
AT&T has to be careful though, as users can flock to T-Mobile now (if the network is good in their area)
AT&T doesn't lower your bill when your phone is paid off or let's you make payments on your monthly statement towards your phone though
AT&T also provides a network that actually works when you need it.
let's you make payments on your monthly statement towards your phone though
Why not use a credit card at that point? Basically the same thing.
AT&T also provides a network that actually works when you need it.
Why not use a credit card at that point? Basically the same thing.
Lol
The network depends on the particular location though.
There's many places in the US that Tmobile has good coverage and fast data speeds.
No, I am not assuming any such thing. An early (yearly) upgrade on AT&T is $450 flat out ($200 off retail). So the numbers I posted are spot on. I can renew my contract yearly, and get the current gen iphone for $450 out of pocket. With TMO, I would pay $630 each year, out of pocket, for the new iPhone.
The comparisons I made with plans were pretty fair (2.5 vs 3 gb), both unlimited texts. AT&T had limited minutes, but unlimited nights and weekends and of course rollover. You really have to compare cost of service and ownership, not just the device, otherwise it is a completely useless comparison.
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Lol
The network depends on the particular location though.
There's many places in the US that Tmobile has good coverage and fast data speeds.
Sadly, that place doesn't include Boston, which is absurd, if you ask me. The point is, you get what you pay for. If your ('universal your' lol) little chunk of the map gets good reception, great. That isn't even the case for all major cities. As mentioned, TMO is roughly a $60 a year savings, unless you are a heavy data user (in which case it gets better the more data you use, obviously). For a savings like that, it's basically a no brainer for me.
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Lol
The network depends on the particular location though.
There's many places in the US that Tmobile has good coverage and fast data speeds.
Sadly, that place doesn't include Boston, which is absurd, if you ask me. The point is, you get what you pay for. If your ('universal your' lol) little chunk of the map gets good reception, great. That isn't even the case for all major cities. As mentioned, TMO is roughly a $60 a year savings, unless you are a heavy data user (in which case it gets better the more data you use, obviously). For a savings like that, it's basically a no brainer for me.
True, but they seem to be moving fast with deployment of HSPA+ and some new LTE places.
Way better than Sprint that's for sure
True, but they seem to be moving fast with deployment of HSPA+ and some new LTE places.
Way better than Sprint that's for sure
Eh. In Boston, their HSPA+ map states it is everywhere. I shouldn't be seeing edge, ever. Instead, I am seeing edge (or no service) all the time when inside. When outside, it will drop to edge randomly right after 3+ bars of HSPA. Makes no sense.
Fact is, I gave TMO a try 5 years ago and it was unbearable. I gave them a try again starting almost two weeks now, and it's still unbearable. Just can't do it.
And I keep going back to the money savings. People are painting TMO to be this savior that will save hundreds of dollars a year. Sure they will, if you are using hundreds of gigs a year. I am fortunate in that I have the unlimited plan, but even if I didn't, I could keep my data use easily under 3G per month.
Don't even get me started on Sprint. I tried them (before they got the iPhone), and while I quite liked the phone (EVO), service was God awful. I did get to experience some wimax (LOL) before it went the way of the dodo in the chicagoland area though.
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You're math is off. Here is my point. There is not an additional $150 on top of the downpayment of the new phone and the balance of the old one due at the one year mark to get the new iPhone. You've already be making $20/month payments for 12 months. $240 (remaining balance of the old phone) + $150 (down payment on the new phone) is due. This adds up to $390 every 12 months to get a new iPhone. Every year over and over again. Every 12 months you're going to keep paying $390 at that mark.
So your AT&T plan, $90 x 12 plus $450 = $1530
Your T-Mo plan, $80 x 12 plus $390 = $1350
Still not a major difference but more than $60 and no worry of overages. I'm sure I could find something better to do with $180 than give it to a phone carrier.
Your numbers included the $150 due when signing up for the initial service on T-Mo. While you didn't include the $200 due when signing up for the initial service on AT&T. Also the 2.5GB T-Mobile plan is $80/month when you add in the monthly phone payments, not $70. That's how you came up with $60.
For a new customer it would be
AT&T: $200 upfront, $90 x 12, plus $450 at the 12 month mark = $1730
T-Mo: $150 upfront, $80 x 12, plus $390 at the 12 month mark = $1500
You're math is off. Here is my point. There is not an additional $150 on top of the downpayment of the new phone and the balance of the old one due at the one year mark to get the new iPhone. You've already be making $20/month payments for 12 months. $240 (remaining balance of the old phone) + $150 (down payment on the new phone) is due. This adds up to $390 every 12 months to get a new iPhone. Every year over and over again. Every 12 months you're going to keep paying $390 at that mark.
So your AT&T plan, $90 x 12 plus $450 = $1530
Your T-Mo plan, $80 x 12 plus $390 = $1350
Still not a major difference but more than $60 and no worry of overages. I'm sure I could find something better to do with $180 than give it to a phone carrier.
Your numbers included the $150 due when signing up for the initial service on T-Mo. While you didn't include the $200 due when signing up for the initial service on AT&T. Also the 2.5GB T-Mobile plan is $80/month when you add in the monthly phone payments, not $70. That's how you came up with $60.
For a new customer it would be
AT&T: $200 upfront, $90 x 12, plus $450 at the 12 month mark = $1730
T-Mo: $150 upfront, $80 x 12, plus $390 at the 12 month mark = $1500
Why would there not be an ideational $150 down payment? Of course there is one... It's part of the price of the phone. At 12 months you want to buy a new phone, you still have 12 months left on the first phone you bought, therefore you are responsible for the next 12 months of payments ($240) plus another $150 for the next phone as a down payment.
Do you have a new iphone 5 that's compatible with their 3G bands?
Cause I know the old ones only got Edge for data and 3G in only refarmed areas with little coverage.
I do (I walked into the Salem store, told them I needed a "TMO phone", and they swapped it out for me no problems lol), and I also purchased a Lumia 521 (which is going back tomorrow) sold (and branded) directly for TMO.
That sucks then.
At least you tried though
Yeah. There was another user that tried before me, but he didn't chime in until the night I ordered the sim cards. Awwwwww shucks!