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

[JTVPRO]

Blame Apple

Is it not partially Apple's fault for making the phone only available on AT&T?

Cellar phone companies are when is it said and done all about the same. Apple should not have gone into a an exclusive contract with AT&T.
Some of the greed blame in on Apple.

Am I way off base? I think not.

 

[theelysium]

Are you calling me a "liberal nazi"?!


How dare you, you @£@$%^%$%£ *&^%$%£$£$!!!

Yes I am, I am just trying to get your goat!

I don't really mean it. Sorry if I truly offended.

 

[turleymuller]

$35 unlimited talk time is awesome, i have one as home phone!

Dude, I have always thought I would be caught dead with a chirp chirp, but that is helluva an idea. Helluva idea. Can't believe I have never thought of that. I ditched the land line years ago. And, I burn AT&T minutes during the weekday. That cricket has always been a good deal, if you aren't leaving the city.

 

[an_apple.a.day]

Indeed there are many here who feel AT&T is satans incarnation and even more so now. Give us another reason to hate them right? As many have stated already, Verizon also has ETF that are in the $350 price point. All the hustle to switch to Verizon will do is simply incur you an ETF with AT&T only to join a more expensive carrier. Since we're on the top of money here I feel it unnecessary to mention how reliable or extensive the coverage is in one place or the other.

This thread received over 500 negative responses for AT&T doing exactly what Verizon has done. Yet, the masses hypocritically state they will in a heartbeat switch to said carrier and in effect 'get back' at AT&Ts wrong doing? By all means, please switch. If any carrier thinks they can take on the load of over 30,000,000 extra subscribers solely by the doing of one device (never before done in the history of the world) without a few hiccups by all means. Go right ahead. I'd love to know that AT&T would only become better, faster, stronger with every subscriber that leaves to another carrier; finally balancing the load AT&T has been carrying for so long. AT&T has not only wisely invested in better technology, deployed more coverage, and increased already mapped 3G areas to a faster HSPA service but also has had overall better reliability since September 2009 since anytime after acquiring Cingular.

This being said by a current Verizon customer. Who has owned, at least for a few months at a time, every revision of the iPhone releases to date. I currently use a DROID and await Apple's latest invention this summer. At which point I will gladly break a 350 ETF to go back to the superior handset. At least for a few months

 

[Shanpdx]

Dude, I have always thought I would be caught dead with a chirp chirp, but that is helluva an idea. Helluva idea. Can't believe I have never thought of that. I ditched the land line years ago. And, I burn AT&T minutes during the weekday. That cricket has always been a good deal, if you aren't leaving the city.

yup, that's why i said i am using it as home phone

i think it works in the entire state of oregon, i live in Portland, OR.

 

[igot2n0]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)

Could it be that Verizon really is getting the iPhone?

 

[btrav13]

I didn't read this whole post, so excuse me if this has been mentioned. I work in wireless, and I get to see the invoice price of what my company pays for the cell phones from the manufacturers. Does anyone know what ATT pays Apple for an iPhone?

The reason phones are so "cheap" is the subsidy. The carrier will eat the bulk of the cost if you agree to stay for 2 years. The carrier begins to make money at month 18. The ETF is to recoup the cost if you leave before they get back their subsidy. At the carrier where I work, the ETF is prorated so that it goes down over time, and after we begin making money, your ETF becomes a joke to pay.

The problem in the US is that people aren't going to pay what phones are actually "worth". We give RIM about $400 for every Curve. We sell it for under $100. Why in gods name would there be no commitment from you, the consume, on a deal like that?!

In truth, it's the carriers own faults for getting consumers into the belief system that phones are "free" or "worth 99 dollars". They're not. And never have been. Subsidizing was the only way to break into the consumer market years ago when the business market was saturated.

At the end of the day, a carrier is damned if they do and damned if they don't. If they try anything to recoup costs, consumers yell. If they didn't subsidize, the consumer would yell. If they make the ETF cover their losses, the consumers will yell. Get over it folks, ATT, VZN, Sprint, T-Mo...they are FOR PROFIT, PUBLIC companies who MUST relay value and earnings to the folks who own them. If they have a problem with consumers leaving early on costlier PDA's, and they are losing money on the subsidy and ETF, then they WILL change the policy in an effort to either A) deter people from leaving before they finish their obligation or B) end up making SOMETHING after taking hundreds of dollars of losses on the hardware if people do leave early.

As an aside...I think that this could be further proof of the iPhone going to VZN in the fall. ATT knows they have a brand issue and people might defect for $175. They certainly won't do it for $350, or at least are much less likely.

 

[Black Macbook]

So, let me get this straight......

Verizon raised their ETF a while ago to $350.00

Now AT&T raise their ETF to $325.00

And people are complaining and are going to switch from AT&T, and switch to a company that has an ever higher ETF? Um, ok......LOL

 

[Shanpdx]

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...

just re-posting for those says here people only complaints about ATT, apple also get the blame ...

options and more options Apple please?

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Quick question.

I am thinking about buying an iPhone 4G without a contract. Does that mean my monthly payments are going to be smaller? I'm use to paying for a contract deal. Where can I read up about this?

What are the advantages of buying a uncontracted phone? Cheaper plans? I'm not looking into going to T-Mobile.

 

[turleymuller]

Is it not partially Apple's fault for making the phone only available on AT&T?

Cellar phone companies are when is it said and done all about the same. Apple should not have gone into a an exclusive contract with AT&T.
Some of the greed blame in on Apple.

Am I way off base? I think not.

This is a big misconception. It isn't greed, Carriers in exclusive and non-exclusive markets pay the same for the iPhone.

It is about power and Apple being able to provide experience it wants. Before the iPhone, carriers rules the roost. They decided what when on the phones, they redirected browsers, had own music and app services. All terrible. Oh yeah, ad revenue too.

If Apple launched at other carriers then there would be any incentive to give in to any demands. But, if exclusive then partner and work together. I think people overlook the visual voicemail, the itunes downloads, app store. That competing with AT&T's joke of offerings. Apple got AT&T to give up its potential revenue streams so that Apple could enhance the iPhone experience resulting in more customers benefiting AT&T.

VZ told them to F off, and there wasn't even wifi allowed over there until recently. And you had to use their navigation and all that.

It was a good move in this sense. I just think has taken longer to expire due to the CDMA issue w/ VZ

 

[macrazee]

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.

True, true, and true. Just remember the GoPhone Data Plans really suck. Something like $20 for a lousy 150MB or something to that effect. Best to stick to WiFi if you are going that route but yes it is quite possible. There are other drawbacks besides the poor data offerings (including less coverage) but yes, it can be done.

I'd like to make a note on this Verizon getting an iPhone thing. I don't believe it for one minute. Verizon's CDMA network doesn't support simultaneous voice/data like AT&T 3G which is a MAJOR selling point/feature of the iPhone. Also, CDMA is worthless for a world traveler. Once you leave North America you're pretty much SOL. Just my two cents, but I don't believe Verizon will EVER have the iPhone. We'll see.

 

[theelysium]

Couldn't agree with you more on the douche comment. I was rolling my eyes when I saw Calderone's extraneous post to you. Just ignore him. From reading his posts throughout this thread, he either works for, or is in bed with, AT&T. I can appreciate a logical debate from both sides, but Calderone appears to be taking legitimate criticism of his beloved a little to personally, and has now resorted to malevolent posts.

Thanks, I was just correcting myself. I miss-read it on my first read. I thought It was saying iPhone and then categorizing it as a smart phone.

I think forums are a classic case of text being taken out of context! I've even notice myself feeling defensive over responses. I also got a bit too defensive in the forum.

For me this is not just a debate of fees, but also the freedom of large business to practice their trade how they see fit. When people start talking about more corporate control and how this is an example of AT&T being in bed with the FCC I take it personally.

Corporations have been marketed as Satan's first born when in fact corporate America does a lot for consumers. Corporations are large contributors to charities and they bring a lot of innovation to us. We would not have half the luxuries we have in American if it wasn't for corporations innovating and producing the worlds greatest gadgets and gizmos.

No I'm not saying they all smell like roses! There are cases of greed and abuse of power, but that could even be said about Catholic Priests, government officials, military, teacher, etc.

It's a part of human nature!

I believe in the integrity of Apple and AT&T Wireless (just the wireless). I feel that they are honest in their endeavors and also up front about their faults.

So I'll take the $325 early term fee if that means that Apple can continue to innovate the iPhone and AT&T can sell it to me at a price I can afford.

I'm not going anywhere! I am locked into AT&T for life... my plan is that good!

(It's an older plan Nationwide 900 mins rollover $34 a month!)

Just hurry up with the Keynote, STEVE!

 

[macrazee]

I'd also like to respond to others who have noted the general antipathy and hate towards AT&T expressed here; it's almost unnatural. Sure AT&T has some bad spots but ALL carriers do. Verizon sucks the big one in several areas here as well.

I used AT&T all over the country with very few issues. It is indeed expensive and their 3G offerings leave something to be desired but overall I was happy with the network and performance -- just not $170 a month.

 

[kernkraft]

Yes I am, I am just trying to get your goat!

I don't really mean it. Sorry if I truly offended.

That's OK, I don't have a goat, anyway. I didn't mean to call you a %!$£@^$&%@ £$*%$(&%(£%$@@.

 

[theelysium]

Indeed there are many here who feel AT&T is satans incarnation and even more so now. Give us another reason to hate them right? As many have stated already, Verizon also has ETF that are in the $350 price point. All the hustle to switch to Verizon will do is simply incur you an ETF with AT&T only to join a more expensive carrier. Since we're on the top of money here I feel it unnecessary to mention how reliable or extensive the coverage is in one place or the other.

This thread received over 500 negative responses for AT&T doing exactly what Verizon has done. Yet, the masses hypocritically state they will in a heartbeat switch to said carrier and in effect 'get back' at AT&Ts wrong doing? By all means, please switch. If any carrier thinks they can take on the load of over 30,000,000 extra subscribers solely by the doing of one device (never before done in the history of the world) without a few hiccups by all means. Go right ahead. I'd love to know that AT&T would only become better, faster, stronger with every subscriber that leaves to another carrier; finally balancing the load AT&T has been carrying for so long. AT&T has not only wisely invested in better technology, deployed more coverage, and increased already mapped 3G areas to a faster HSPA service but also has had overall better reliability since September 2009 since anytime after acquiring Cingular.

This being said by a current Verizon customer. Who has owned, at least for a few months at a time, every revision of the iPhone releases to date. I currently use a DROID and await Apple's latest invention this summer. At which point I will gladly break a 350 ETF to go back to the superior handset. At least for a few months

Agreed! However Cingular/SBC acquired AT&T everything!

 

[azazel-]

So wait...

Lot of people in here are outraged and threatening to switch to Verizon...when Verizon has had this policy in place and the same ETF for awhile now.

How does that even make sense..?

Grass is always greener guys. I had Verizon for years, and stuck with them for so long because of the horror stories I heard about AT&T. Bit the bullet and switched about 4 months ago, and I've never been happier. I have coverage at my work, and my wife can actually make calls from inside our house now...unlike with Verizon. Not to mention our bill is lower. So whatever floats your boat, I guess.

 

[macrazee]

So wait...

Lot of people in here are outraged and threatening to switch to Verizon...when Verizon has had this policy in place and the same ETF for awhile now.

How does that even make sense..?

It doesn't. There's a lot of feigned incense and outrage from (I suspect) mostly Verizon fanboys who have some pipe dream that Verizon will be getting an iPhone...

Unfortunately, perception is reality many times. AT&T takes a bad rap, many times undeservedly so.

 

[turleymuller]

I'd also like to respond to others who have noted the general antipathy and hate towards AT&T expressed here; it's almost unnatural. Sure AT&T has some bad spots but ALL carriers do. Verizon sucks the big one in several areas here as well.

I used AT&T all over the country with very few issues. It is indeed expensive and their 3G offerings leave something to be desired but overall I was happy with the network and performance -- just not $170 a month.

I agree
I don't even know how VZ coverage is around here, nobody really has them. In greater metro memphis there are 7-8 VZ stores, 20-30 Sprint and close to 60 I think AT&T stores. AT&T is most popular in the South. As I understand it, Verizon had big lead up North and on the east coast.

I haven't heard anyone around here bitch about wireless in probably at least 5 or more years.

 

[bwillwall]

hmm bad move at&t

Now there gonna make everybody so mad that as soon as there contract ends they will be pro verizon and at&t will be screwed.

 

[azazel-]

Now there gonna make everybody so mad that as soon as there contract ends they will be pro verizon and at&t will be screwed.

Sure, until all those people flock to Verizon, see the service is no better, and are stuck with an even higher ETF.

 

[the vj]

We will punish you because we cannot do better

Instead of improving our servicess.

 

[Matt-M]

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.

Actually, you can just buy a GoPhone card - the SIM pops out of the card and right into your iPhone. That and a $99 refurb iPhone is what I use for app development.

FYI - This works fine if the phone always lives at your desk on WiFi, but take it anywhere and the data access will chew through your prepaid card minutes at lightning speed.

 

[splashnader]

Yep , VZW's is 350 dollars. People need to wake up and realize that the Grass is not always greener on the other side. I imagine that when and if VZW gets the iPhone.

There will be threads of people complaining about VZW's service as well. And before anyone says it. No one on this board knows how VZW's network will handle the iPhone. It could easily have problems as well.

If people actually woke up and actually read the story, it would take all of the fun out of their outrage.

 

[kingtj]

Yes, but can they retroactively do this to people??

I would think that when I signed my 2 year AT&T iPhone contract for my 3G last year, the $175 early termination fee was part of that contract.

Even if AT&T decides that as of June 1, they're going to up that fee -- I wouldn't think it could legally apply to me, or to any of the millions like myself who are part way through existing contracts?

So if I want to defect to Verizon, what's stopping me except that $175 (probably pro-rated by this time, even, in my case)?

As an aside...I think that this could be further proof of the iPhone going to VZN in the fall. ATT knows they have a brand issue and people might defect for $175. They certainly won't do it for $350, or at least are much less likely.