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AT&T to Raise Early Termination Fee for iPhone and Other Smartphones to $325

moynihan123 said:
Gotta love the oligopoly that is the wireless industry in America.
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Sadly, we have little choice in the land of freedom. :rolleyes:

I hold out hope that Apple and Google, despite the public bickering, are secretly conspiring behind-the-scenes to give the telecoms the big finger in the future. If Apple and Google were quietly preparing an alternative (say some VOIP-based system) for iPhone and Android users, it would turn the entire industry on its ear overnight. I doubt that's going to happen but, hey... I can dream.
 
moynihan123 said:
Am I the only one that thinks this more so indicates Verizon may get the iPhone next year?

Think about it, if Apple announces a Verizon iPhone this year, people who plan to switch simply can let their contract run out and get the Verizon one. By changing the ETF starting with the release of the upcoming phone, they can really retain a lot of customers if a Verizon phone comes out next year.
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Naw! I posted a huge dissertation on page 10 of this thread about this topic. No one seems to have noticed. They are just worried about the cost of the ETF. Oh well....
 
bludodge said:
So let me get this right, it is only for NEW customers. And so now you are mad so you will wait until your current contract expires and "jump ship" to Verizon (if they get it, and this does seem to support that) you would then be Verizon's "new" customer, and have a higher fee for jumping ship? I just don't get it, who changes their carriers on a whim? This is crazy. AT&T only doing what others are doing, and doing it for less. At least it is retro to current customers. Only then I could see you having a reason or voting Negative. More Negative votes than Posters. I am guessing people read the header, voted and moved on to the next story. Right or wrong, surely you can at least understand why they are trying to make the customers stay.
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Forget trying to rationalize how MacRumors readers vote on an article. It's futile.
 
cvaldes said:
While this could indicate that AT&T lost their exclusivity on the iPhone (despite the fact that the ETF has been increased on all smartphones, not just the iPhone), this does not imply that Verizon will be imminently receiving the iPhone.

There are two main reasons that I can see: A.) there has been no hiring surge of CDMA engineers by Apple, and B.) the recent chattiness about iPhones from Verizon execs (and assorted Verizon rumors, most of them utterly absurd) is unusual. Typically, Apple partners tend to clam up real tight when there's a deal in the works. This has definitely not been the case with Verizon.

If AT&T were to lose iPhone exclusivity, the most logical step would be for Apple to release the handset to T-Mobile USA, another GSM carrier. The only physical change would be to include a 3G chip that supports the AWS band (1700MHz). The iPhone itself already works fine on T-Mobile's GSM network (for voice) and EDGE.

It's worth nothing that T-Mobile USA has basically fallen completely silent concerning the iPhone in recent months. Perhaps it's just coincidence, but without a doubt by shutting their mouths T-Mobile USA is behaving far more like an imminent Apple partner than Verizon is.
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Logical? Yes.
Smart business decision? Terrible.

Why go through all the trouble and expense with a carrier that can offer a fraction of the profit that somebody like Verizon does? Any R&D can be covered by a single model phone that has both radios. We're not reinventing the iPhone people, adding a radio.
 
kyleh613 said:
Cellphone companies in the U.S. seriously need to be forced into providing month to month cell phone plans. The rest of the world has this, the U.S. is the only one that doesn't. It's total crap.
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But is the cost higher? Asking because I don't know. I am getting mine for $9.99 plus the $30 because I just added a line to someones account. So My Iphone is costing me a little over $40 per month.
 
bludodge said:
But is the cost higher? Asking because I don't know. I am getting mine for $9.99 plus the $30 because I just added a line to someones account. So My Iphone is costing me a little over $40 per month.
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This isn't in the U.S. right? Last I checked, AT&T iphone plans start at $70 a month. If you buy the 8gb iphone ($99), you are really paying around $1800 with that 2 year contract.

Really when you think about it, getting out of the contract is cheaper in the long term.
 
If anything this looks bad and might make someone that was thinking about moving to an iPhone (with AT&T) to stay away. I wonder if they had to get Job's blessing because it adds more negativity to the iPhone.......however I have never signed up for a phone contract in the last 15+ years where I never intended to stay around for the length of the contract. Not breaking contract I guess is why I still have just a 3G phone, so I am excited a new one is coming (since mine won't accept all of the new OS4.0 features).
 
kyleh613 said:
Yeah and your options for what phones you get on these plans is total crap. Can you even get a data plan like this currently? In other parts of the world you can. You can't get a iphone or android phone on a GoPhone plan as far as I know.
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Yes, you can use a GoPhone plan with an iPhone.
You can use a GoPhone plan with any phone that works on AT&T's network.
You just have to buy the phone at full price... and yes, you can get data too.
 
kyleh613 said:
This isn't in the U.S. right? Last I checked, AT&T iphone plans start at $70 a month. If you buy the 8gb iphone ($99), you are really paying around $1800 with that 2 year contract.

Really when you think about it, getting out of the contract is cheaper in the long term.
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Mine is an added line to someone elses plan, so my part I pay them is what I was talking about.
 
rjohnstone said:
Yes, you can use a GoPhone plan with an iPhone.
You can use a GoPhone plan with any phone that works on AT&T's network.
You just have to buy the phone at full price... and yes, you can get data too.
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Well news to me. I did a google search on this a few months ago and all I came across was that you use to be able to do this up until the middle of 2008 when AT&T dropped it from the iphone.

If you could point me to a link to get an iphone and set up a month to month plan, I would e-kiss you.
 
kyleh613 said:
This isn't in the U.S. right? Last I checked, AT&T iphone plans start at $70 a month. If you buy the 8gb iphone ($99), you are really paying around $1800 with that 2 year contract.

Really when you think about it, getting out of the contract is cheaper in the long term.
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How is it cheaper?
I guess if you don't want any phone service, yes it's cheaper.

The logic that it's cheaper to terminate then run the full contract is flawed in that if you terminate, you have no service. Even if you take you phone to T-Mobile, you will have a new contract and then only get sub-par service to boot (no 3G).
 
moynihan123 said:
Am I the only one that thinks this more so indicates Verizon may get the iPhone next year?

Think about it, if Apple announces a Verizon iPhone this year, people who plan to switch simply can let their contract run out and get the Verizon one. By changing the ETF starting with the release of the upcoming phone, they can really retain a lot of customers if a Verizon phone comes out next year.
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Yeah, but I really don't think that's is at all in play here. Remember, ETF currently is $175. AT&T discounts $400 for a 2yr contract. iPhone is a massive target for activating and breaking contract just to carry it elsewhere. $200 iPhone + $175 ETF + ~$75 (pro-rate & activate) = $450. That's $150 AT&T is taking in the ass. And I am sure it has happened every year. I bet they wanted to raise it, but held off in fear of backlash, being they are rented mule.

Last fall VZ and T-Mobile upped to $350, and the FCC raised questions. They explained and FCC was cool with it, so I think that remove any anxiety AT&T had about raising.
 
kyleh613 said:
Well news to me. I did a google search on this a few months ago and all I came across was that you use to be able to do this up until the middle of 2008 when AT&T dropped it from the iphone.
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They didn't "drop it", they just don't offer it as a package.
Buy an iPhone at the no contract price and then grab some POS GoPhone and swap the SIM.
Simple as that.
 
Apple do the right thing!

1) Advertise the iPhones with out contract
2) make the contract less iPhones available on the launch day
3) sell the contract less phones much cheaper (i mean reasonable)
4) contract less data plan like iPad
5) let the carrier decide whatever the price of the iPhone based on customer's monthly plan (say if a person pays $120 per month, let the iPhone be free with 2 year contract, if you pay $75 per month iPhone costs $199 or whatsoever)
6) make iPhone available even with out data plan (remember not everyone requires data plan just a phone + ipod +wifi)
7) more service providers

i think apple needs to do lots of work (do not think it is ATT's problem)

iPhone and Apple changed how the industry played by requiring mandatory data plan and 2 year commitment.

btw, i own the iPhone also...
 
rjohnstone said:
Even if you take you phone to T-Mobile, you will have a new contract and then only get sub-par service to boot (no 3G).
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T-Mobile USA has a no-contract plans; you buy phones at the full retail price. Basically, you save twenty dollars a month versus the 2-year contract with access to subsidized phones. See for yourself:

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/...ndividual&WT.z_unav=mst_shop_plans_individual

Clearly, there are people who are willing to use a hobbled iPhone on T-Mobile USA's network since there are people doing it right now.
 
AT&T are a bunch of greedy frakkin bastards I hope when iPhone goes to verizon or sprint that AT&T flops.
 
MattG said:
Anyway...if this isn't an indication that they're afraid people are going to jump ship once Verizon gets the iPhone, then I don't know what is.
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I think it will backfire. People will leave in DROVES to get away from scum like that. Some people have to terminate contracts due to financial concerns. With that kind of fee, you might as well just pre-pay your entire contract with AT&T on Day 1.
 
It is Apple not ATT to blame ...

lileoj said:
AT&T are a bunch of greedy frakkin bastards I hope when iPhone goes to verizon or sprint that AT&T flops.
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I think it is Apple not ATT

if you get the subsidy on the iPhone ATT has the right to re-coup the cost...

i think the pain comes from less options on the iPhone than on the other phones ...
 
cvaldes said:
T-Mobile USA has a no-contract plans; you buy phones at the full retail price. Basically, you save twenty dollars a month versus the 2-year contract with access to subsidized phones. See for yourself:

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/...ndividual&WT.z_unav=mst_shop_plans_individual

Clearly, there are people who are willing to use a hobbled iPhone on T-Mobile USA's network since there are people doing it right now.
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I'm aware of that.
AT&T has no contract options for less money as well.

With T-Mobile, you do sacrifice the data speeds for the $20 per month savings. You also lose some features like VVM for example.
I could see it being a viable option if you're not a heavy data user.
 
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