They should buy a iphone 4s for $199+sign two year contract, sell it for $650, buy a used 3gs for $200 or like new one for $250, now they are $200 to $250 more money left in the pocket than the one who buy free 3gs with two year contract.
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AT&T Seeing "Tremendous Demand" for Free iPhone 3GS
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Makes sense, but I don't think people would understand that. Could really lower the resell value of the 4 too if I lot of people did that.
I just came back to the iPhone. I had a 3G ages ago, but it was pretty woeful.
I got a used 3GS for next to nothing, installed iOS5 on it, and I'm very, very happy with it. I've spent $60 on a complete new rear and front cases for it, which is basically giving me a brand new 3GS for a little under $200.
I got a used 3GS for next to nothing, installed iOS5 on it, and I'm very, very happy with it. I've spent $60 on a complete new rear and front cases for it, which is basically giving me a brand new 3GS for a little under $200.
Exactly. Most don't understand that a lot of our road services etc depends on the fact that you have a cell phone. They don't build highways with call boxes anymore. Also rural traffic lights etc use a cellular chip to communicate while cities have the luxury of running fiber.
In fact they just rolled out a new text message/mobile web based next bus system here in Phoenix, text your stop # and the server will use gps to figure out where your bus is and how long it'll take to get there.
This article is hogwash. ATT isn't even advertising the 3GS as a free phone. In fact, when I tried a few days ago I couldn't even use their website to pick up a free 3GS (additional line). The only way I could get one was to visit an Apple retail location. Apple's website wasn't even selling them, they would redirect you to a retail store.
What the article should explain is, there is a huge demand for the 3GS, but they're difficult to get because ATT isn't pushing them. Instead they are advertising other free on contract phones.
And before some 'tard chimes in, the 3GS is perfect for my kids. In a family of 5, I was forced to pick up one last 'new' phone because it didn't fit into my trickle down plan for used phones (4s, 4, 4, 3GS, 3GS). Every year we add the newest phone to the lineup, and pass down.
What the article should explain is, there is a huge demand for the 3GS, but they're difficult to get because ATT isn't pushing them. Instead they are advertising other free on contract phones.
And before some 'tard chimes in, the 3GS is perfect for my kids. In a family of 5, I was forced to pick up one last 'new' phone because it didn't fit into my trickle down plan for used phones (4s, 4, 4, 3GS, 3GS). Every year we add the newest phone to the lineup, and pass down.
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For you it may be terrible, most of them won't care. Most of them also don't care about your opinion.
stainlessliquid said:
For you it may be terrible, most of them won't care. Most of them also don't care about your opinion.
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Could we all stop assuming we know what's best for everyone else?
Could we all stop assuming we know what's best for everyone else?
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The cost of applications I buy is completely seperate from the cost of the phone. Like any other software purchase they have their own value/cost consideration.
shartypants said:Its only "free" if you don't buy any apps or music or video. The crack starter kit is free
The cost of applications I buy is completely seperate from the cost of the phone. Like any other software purchase they have their own value/cost consideration.
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I get great service from AT&T. I spend 4 to 6 hours a week on conference calls and have had a call dropped less than 5 times in the last 5 years. It's portant for me to be able to use the Internet while I'm on these calls.
I'm not leaving AT&T contract or no contract so why shouldn't I take advantage of phone subsidies to get a better phone every two years?
ipoddin said:I don't understand all this subsidized/unsubsidized business.
My plan costs the same whether I paid $649 for an unlocked phone, or $199 for a 16GB 4S, or $0 for a 3GS.
Does everyone else live in America, or just me?
The difference being by paying $649 for the phone, you can walk away from ATT at any time with no early termination fee.
I get great service from AT&T. I spend 4 to 6 hours a week on conference calls and have had a call dropped less than 5 times in the last 5 years. It's portant for me to be able to use the Internet while I'm on these calls.
I'm not leaving AT&T contract or no contract so why shouldn't I take advantage of phone subsidies to get a better phone every two years?
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Everyone who can't afford to pay full price up front for a good phone should just do without so you can get the carriers to behave the way you want them too?
Self centered much?
tasset said:
Everyone who can't afford to pay full price up front for a good phone should just do without so you can get the carriers to behave the way you want them too?
Self centered much?
Remember, this is catered to someone who would normally get a flip phone or a feature phone of some type. Now why would you for that when you can have an iPhone for nothing upfront....considering how most feature phones start at $29, and an iphone is $0.
The "free" 3GS will be worthless after two years. So the $99 difference between it and the 4 will be even smaller since you will be able to sell the 4 after the contract is over.
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The phone is $0 with a two year contract. You do understand contracts?
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The phone is $0 with a two year contract. You do understand contracts?
I'd like to know how many of you paid full price for the phone to avoid a contract (here in the States)? I don't mean paid full price while in a contract just because you wanted a new phone, that doesn't count.
ALL these types of analysis are completely idiotic. If a customer plans on having and using a cell phone during those two years, then they (in the US anyway) will be paying around $50 to $100 per month regardless of which cell phone they are using. Especially if they want that phone to be reasonably convenient at also allowing them to access their email, take a few photos once in a while, have some reminders in a calendar, use a few basic apps, play a few games when waiting, to some elementary web browsing...
Unless you can suggest how they can use a cellular service on the go for FREE (not some wifi voip part time device hack) then the ONLY thing left for them to consider is the price of the phone. Not surprisingly, if someone is going for a free phone by the carrier they used before and don't have any intention of switching and one of the free phones being offered is an iPhone, a lot of people will jump to have one.
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Which seems silly to me.
Free + $1680 over the two year contract for the cheapest voice+data plans.
Chip in an extra $100 or $200 to get a 4 or 4S.
But then most people never calculate how much that 2 year contract costs them for their 'free' phone.
What on Earth are you talking about? You mean you can buy the phone for $375 and never have to pay a cent for service, texts, apps, etc???? WOW amazing. Because we all know that it doesn't cost anything to operate a telecom company right?
Obviously people who are buying an 8gb 3gs are in most cases a prime example of the ideology of poverty. It's funny actually.
The consumer who gets a "free" 3GS with a full plan, is to put it bluntly, stupid.
The total cost would be at least $1320. That's 93% of the total cost for an iPhone 4 (and that's not including the resale value that's a lot higher for the iPhone 4.)
The $99 that consumer would be saving, that's less than two months of the plan.
Stupid. It's as simple as that.
That's fine but you will pay extra for that especially if you never change providers to take advantage of not having a contract.
Basically, if you are relatively sure you're happy with a company and want to take a small gamble that nothing will change, you get paid to go into a contract because they'll subsidize the phone. It's BS to say that they are charging you for the phone through monthly charges cause those monthly charges are the same regardless of if you bought your phone fully out of pocket or it was subsidized.
So if you end up staying with the same provider for 2 years, you end up paying more for no benefit at all (you might as well have signed the contract and gotten your phone subsidized).
Personally, I have no issues signing a two year contract with my cellphone provider seeing as I've been with them for almost 10 years now and been totally happy. So why wouldn't I sign a contract and get my phone for cheaper when I have seen no reason in 10 years to want to change? If they suddenly do go bad in 2 years then I'll be able to change in 2 years, but judging by the history I have with them I don't foresee it.
It's a good thing you don't make decisions for big companies like AT&T and Verizon, you would sink the company in a day.
If people making decisions at AT&T or Verizon would chose to pay 93% for something like the 3GS instead of paying 100% (That's 7.5% more than what you pay for the 3GS) for something like the 4, they would get fired. That's just bad decision making.
Now, to AT&T or Verizon, more people signing up for at least an $1320 plan, that's good for them. Still makes the people picking a 3GS over a 4 stupid for a full plan stupid.
You notice the difference? In the first case AT&T or Verizon would lose by making a bad decision, in the second case, they win when other people make bad decisions.
I want the hardware more than anything else. I just slapped my prepaid SIM with minutes that I keep rolling over for the pitance I pay year to year and walk away. Without the SIM it is still at iPod Touch level functionality. Though the included GPS alone makes it a better value.
I am quite happy not shelling out money every month for a service I would barely use.
I will see you in May 2012 when I spend another $30 to keep this thing rolling.