I'm getting it.
I was just saying I wasn't planning on switching anyway.
Been with them for over 12 years.
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AT&T Raising exit fees on smartphones, Timing?
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I'm getting it.
I was just saying I wasn't planning on switching anyway.
Been with them for over 12 years.
I'm sure it has to do with AT&T's CEO's confidence that no one will want to go through the hassle of switching carriers.
I agree completely. there are people out there who try and screw AT&T that way. I think it's a business decision. An attempt to curb losses.
A few months ago I was sure that there would be no iPhone on another network for years to come...
but now it's seeming more like a reality.
but now it's seeming more like a reality.
I also agree. The MSRP on the 8GB iPhone 3G is $499 and the 3GS is $599 and $699 respectively. Im sure AT&T is not paying Apple much less if any than these retail prices, so when they sell them for $99, $199, and $299 under contract they are selling the device at a $400 loss and recouping the loss over 24 months. Why wouldn't they increase their ETF on more expensive devices to keep the ETF more in line with their loss on the device. The cheap phones they sell have also gotten cheaper over the years so AT&T is reducing the ETF on these phones also to reflect smaller losses on those devices.
This is just to prevent people from getting the phone at the upgrade price ($200) then canceling with ETF ($175). Essentially getting the phone for $375 and then easily reselling on ebay for $600 if not more.
But not only did they increase the ETF to recoup the subsidy they also require a data plan if you decide to honor the contract. Basically once they have you, you're screwed six ways from Sunday. One way or another you are going to pay mega $$$. Way more than AT&T deserves to make off of you.
I'm thinking it might mean the opposite. Perhaps AT&T made a deal with Apple to subsidize the iPhone by an extra $150 in order to maintain exclusivity. If that were the case, this fee increase could just be to adjust their fees to the new pricing. $49 for the new iPhone perhaps? $149 for the white 64gb model? Imagine the sales...
I doubt this means anything. Verizon has had theirs at these levels for a while. I still won't believe iPhone to Verizon until I see it. I just saw a Verizon commercial with Verizon|Google together. They seem to be aligning themselves with Google, and it would be a big 180 if they also cozied up to Apple 6 months later. It just doesn't make sense anymore. T-Mobile may get it.
Everyone keeps saying they are aligning themselves with Google, yet they loaded Bing as the default search engine on all of their phones.
They have many business partners for differing reasons. Just because they have and advertise Android phones doesn't mean they can't have an iPhone. Doesn't AT&T have Android phones?
But back on the subject...yeah, Verizon did this a while ago as well. I think they should be forced into a a plan where the subsidy paid matches the "ETF" and it's all prorated to equal $0 by the end of the contract. So $375/24 = $15.63/month.
I also think this is another way to get around the government mandated prorating of the ETF. They found a loophole.
This is exactly what I was thinking earlier today. The ETF shouldn't be a set amount for everyone, it should be the amount of subsidy they got. The 'contract' would just be an incentive for you to get a cheaper phone.
