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Carrier AT&T Next vs. Apple iPhone Upgrade Program
- Thread starter Razorhog
- Start date
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Back on topic, I think the Apple Upgrade program and the AT&T Next program are identical except for a few (probably minor) factors.
NEXT Pros -
No hard credit pull if already an AT&T customer
Apple Upgrade Pros -
No One Time Activation fee ($40) from AT&T (some FAN accounts don't get charged anyway)
Otherwise, both methods can be used to pay for the full price of the phone divided into payments. Both methods can be fully paid off at any time to buy out the phone and make it yours for reselling purposes. Both methods can be used to trade in the phone to start payments on the newest iPhone in 2017 if so desired. Did I miss anything?
NEXT Pros -
No hard credit pull if already an AT&T customer
Apple Upgrade Pros -
No One Time Activation fee ($40) from AT&T (some FAN accounts don't get charged anyway)
Otherwise, both methods can be used to pay for the full price of the phone divided into payments. Both methods can be fully paid off at any time to buy out the phone and make it yours for reselling purposes. Both methods can be used to trade in the phone to start payments on the newest iPhone in 2017 if so desired. Did I miss anything?
1. So if you choose the Apple upgrade program when ordering tonight you can only pick it up at the Apple store vs having it shipped to you?
2. Doesn't Att give a $25 discount per month when you on the Next plan?
2. Doesn't Att give a $25 discount per month when you on the Next plan?
Actually you misunderstand Next. You get the same discount for Next as you do for BYOD.
IUP is unlocked from the beginning. Which is a huge pro for a lot of people.
So of I go with Next ill pay 42 a month minus a $25 discount. Now that my phone is paid of via next if I choose the 7 on the Apple upgrade plan I will pay 42 a month and loose the $25 discount from ATT.
If this is the case then next seems like a no brainer then.
If this is the case then next seems like a no brainer then.
No. you'll get the $25 discount no matter what assuming you are on a mobile share plan. It doesn't matter if it's via Next or Apple. As long as you are not part of a 2 year contract you get the "discount".
I didn't misunderstand. If you bring your own phone via Apple Upgrade program, your Monthly Access charge will be $20. If you use Next to purchase your phone through AT&T, your Monthly Access charge will be $20. If you can somehow get a rep on the phone to subsidize your purchase of the phone outright from AT&T and thus have to sign a new two year contract (not very likely anymore but the old subsidized way), your Monthly Access charge will be $40. That is the so called 'discount'. Your AT&T bill when using Next will only be reduced once your phone is paid off because it no longer includes payments toward the phone; your cell service fee will remain unchanged.
You don't get a $25 discount on your next installment. You get it a discount off of your line access fee of $40 per line.
My wife, best Buy manager, just pointed out to me that screen deductibles will be $29 from Apple now (or was it $25?). Anyway, that is more reasonable and makes the service make a lot more sense IMO.
Thanks for the clarification. Looks like the Apple plan is a no brainer as the phone is unlocked.
Also when I order using the Apple upgrade do I have to pick up at the store or can it be shipped?
Also when I order using the Apple upgrade do I have to pick up at the store or can it be shipped?
Last year it was in-store only. This year it hasn't really been announced if there will be a way to ship it for launch day.
One thing I've read about the AUP is that when you go through Apple, the iPhone is one of the true unlocked models that can be freely taken to any carrier and work. If you go through Next, it's not the same model number as the true unlocked iPhone model (sorry I don't have the model numbers in front of me). Just one point to consider, when you go through AUP you are free to swap carrier SIMs as much as you want and don't have to worry about paying off the device first.
What do you mean you are moving to the Next plan, but what to buy the phone outright? Are you looking to get 2 devices?
Well I have always been doing the 2 year which they don't do anymore and I am moving but att said to wait until billing cycle ends. Which is on the 23rd.
But I want to buy the 7/7plus and will buy them at Full price.
It shouldn't mess anything up by buying them now.
Just buy it full price from Apple and you will be fine. I'm a little confused on the moving/23rd/end of billing cycle thing. If you are planning on buying full price, you don't even need to concern AT&T or Next.
It will save me money moving to the NEXT Plan.
25gig for 110
And moving my 5 lines to it go from 40/month to 15/month on the next plan
And I don't want to pay monthly
So I will buy the 2 iPhones tonight/early morning
Thanks.
I think you are getting Mobile Share and Next confused. Next is the upgrade plan, has nothing to do with your service itself.
No, you cannot put a down payment on IUP. If you did and decided to upgrade after 12 months, you would lose half of your downpayment. Thats why when you trade in a fully paid off device, they give you a return credit to your credit card instead of reducing monthly payments. Because you would end up losing half of the trade in credit if you upgraded after 12 months.