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But I didn't pay anything when I walked out of the store with a new phone! The phone was free! They actually lowered the price from $199 to free! Lol


So I only pay $130 a month and get one new iPhone every year for either $199 or $299 depending on what phone I get. I can sell my existing 2 yr old phone and that covers all of the $199 and sometimes more. How am I actually paying for the $750 phone. I also have unlimited data and text messages as well as plenty of minutes. I don't see how any of their changes actually benefit me or how I am actually paying for the overpriced cost of the phones. I am paying $130 for two iPhones on unlimited data.
 
It's simple. In one case ATT pays $450 for your device up front (you pay $200) and you slowly pay them back over two years through inflated fees for wireless service.

In the other case, ATT pays $650 for your device up front and you slowly pay them back over two years through equal installments on a 0% loan.

In the latter case, ATT is out more cash at the beginning, they are loaning it to you for free in exchange for purchasing service from them.

The Next plans may or may not be a better deal than the legacy stuff dependent on individual circumstances, but the assertion that they come out way ahead by offering 0% loans on the full cost of devices is just plain silly.

Your lack of logic is funny.
Also my family plan and as many others is priced very well unlike your inflated monthly price suggestion it's way cheaper than any current mobile share plan.
Cash at the beginning or after means nothing.
You are still paying for your own phone in full. AT&T pays the interest only portion and then also charges you a $15 fee on top of that.
The other way AT&T pays $450 for you.
It doesn't matter upfront or after. What is a better deal for AT&T?
Still that hard to figure out huh?
 
I've stayed on 2-yr contracts because they have been cheaper for me than buying the iPhone for full-price.

The iPhone costs $650 retail (plus tax).
I could always sell the iPhone for about $200 at the end of the 2 year contact.
Subsidy was $450.

So doing the math, I was always breaking even after 2 years. In other words I have been getting free iPhone upgrades for the last 6 years. Coupled with Unlimited data and it was a sweet deal.

If the 2 year contracts were soo overpriced, AT&T would be making a huge profit from it and would keep them. The fact that they are getting rid of them shows that they were actually too good a value for the consumer.
I don't know about your math, but if your on a 2 year contract At&t charges $20.00 a month for 24 months that's $480.00 if you take 480+200 =680. I only pay $650 for the phone I can sell that phone anytime I want to. I see that as a better deal. But that's just me.
 
My apologies. It's 27.08 but you receive a $20 credit that you wouldn't receive on a 2 year contract.

How do you get a $20 credit? Would you happen to know what the terms are to get and keep it? I just have never heard of it on the Next plans.
 
I don't know about your math, but if your on a 2 year contract At&t charges $20.00 a month for 24 months that's $480.00 if you take 480+200 =680. I only pay $650 for the phone I can sell that phone anytime I want to. I see that as a better deal. But that's just me.
That's only for people that converted to the new mobile share unlimited talk + text, data plans. I am still on an old family plan with 1400 minutes with rollover (doesn't matter cuz mobile to mobile is free).
 
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The prices mentioned in this thread look absurd to me as a Brit. I buy my phones outright from Apple, and pay (at today's exchange rate) $22.24 for a SIM that gives me unlimited 4G data, unlimited SMS and 600 minutes a month. That's a nice grandfathered in rate, I'll admit, but even the most expensive SIM-only plan my network sells is $48.92, which gets you unlimited G4, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts and a 1 month minimum contract length.
 
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So I only pay $130 a month and get one new iPhone every year for either $199 or $299 depending on what phone I get. I can sell my existing 2 yr old phone and that covers all of the $199 and sometimes more. How am I actually paying for the $750 phone. I also have unlimited data and text messages as well as plenty of minutes. I don't see how any of their changes actually benefit me or how I am actually paying for the overpriced cost of the phones. I am paying $130 for two iPhones on unlimited data.

Under the NEXT plans, your monthly per line cost is discounted, because AT&T separates out the built-in subsidy. So let's say your monthly cost would be $100 per month, then $15 per month per phone on the installment plan, which brings you back to $130. The difference is, after two years, that $15 per phone per month falls off and it's just $100 per month until you decide to upgrade, then you go back up to $130. The unlimited plan may not be eligible for NEXT, but that's in essence how NEXT can be cheaper.

I'll use my own situation as one more example:

5 lines. Old cost $290 per month with 10 GB of shared data, would get 16GB or 64GB iPhones for everyone, let's say 3 "free", one $99 phone and one $199 phone. Every two years that is approx $300 in new phone costs, plus the $290 per month (works out to $90 for the plan and $40 per line).

Under NEXT, it's $100 for 15GB, and $15 per line, totaling $175. Add in $15-20 per line per month for each iPhone installment plan, and we're right back around $290, but it's actually cheaper because that $300 in upfront costs is gone. After two years each phone is paid off and owned, therefore can be sold, and if we want to keep a phone for longer, then the plan is that $15-20 cheaper per month because the phone is paid off already. No interest, no hidden cost.
 
I don't know about your math, but if your on a 2 year contract At&t charges $20.00 a month for 24 months that's $480.00 if you take 480+200 =680. I only pay $650 for the phone I can sell that phone anytime I want to. I see that as a better deal. But that's just me.

Where you come up with that?
People on 2 year contracts pay $20 extra a month? Where?
Lol craziness in this thread. The koolaid flows:D
 
Wow, this looks like an awesome deal! Thanks for posting this deal. I see that it is unlimited 4G data, but a cap of 6GB on LTE data per phone. I also see 4 lines for $120, does the $180 you stated include tax?
there are two different deals.

One is 6gb on each line.
The other one is unlimited on each line.

T-Mobile has a softcap of 21GB on unlimited plans.
AT&T has a 22GB cap on unlimited plans.

I think I will probably switch over to T-Mobile once i get my February Bill.

The prices mentioned in this thread look absurd to me as a Brit. I buy my phones outright from Apple, and pay (at today's exchange rate) $22.24 for a SIM that gives me unlimited 4G data, unlimited SMS and 600 minutes a month. That's a nice grandfathered in rate, I'll admit, but even the most expensive SIM-only plan my network sells is $48.92, which gets you unlimited G4, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts and a 1 month minimum contract length.
The UK is about the size of California alone. So we need a lot lot lot lot more towers over here.

Under the NEXT plans, your monthly per line cost is discounted, because AT&T separates out the built-in subsidy. So let's say your monthly cost would be $100 per month, then $15 per month per phone on the installment plan, which brings you back to $130. The difference is, after two years, that $15 per phone per month falls off and it's just $100 per month until you decide to upgrade, then you go back up to $130. The unlimited plan may not be eligible for NEXT, but that's in essence how NEXT can be cheaper.

I'll use my own situation as one more example:

5 lines. Old cost $290 per month with 10 GB of shared data, would get 16GB or 64GB iPhones for everyone, let's say 3 "free", one $99 phone and one $199 phone. Every two years that is approx $300 in new phone costs, plus the $290 per month (works out to $90 for the plan and $40 per line).

Under NEXT, it's $100 for 15GB, and $15 per line, totaling $175. Add in $15-20 per line per month for each iPhone installment plan, and we're right back around $290, but it's actually cheaper because that $300 in upfront costs is gone. After two years each phone is paid off and owned, therefore can be sold, and if we want to keep a phone for longer, then the plan is that $15-20 cheaper per month because the phone is paid off already. No interest, no hidden cost.
You are confusing NEXT with Mobile Share Plans.
 
Don't really know what pricing is like in the US but I just picked up what I think was a fantastic deal here on O2. Was initially planning to buy my iPhone outright and get a SIM only contract but 64GB 6S for £75 upfront, £31/month, unlimited calls and texts, 3GB 4G on O2. Take out the cost of the iPhone from this and I'm basically paying £8.33 a month for the service.
 
Your lack of logic is funny.
Also my family plan and as many others is priced very well unlike your inflated monthly price suggestion it's way cheaper than any current mobile share plan.
Cash at the beginning or after means nothing.
You are still paying for your own phone in full. AT&T pays the interest only portion and then also charges you a $15 fee on top of that.
The other way AT&T pays $450 for you.
It doesn't matter upfront or after. What is a better deal for AT&T?
Still that hard to figure out huh?

Don't go full derp when you don't have all the info.

In the classic case, ATT "loans" you $450 under terms they don't disclose. You have no idea how much you're "paying back" because the terms of the contract are opaque. You think you aren't "paying for your own phone in full" under the previous terms? This is the perfect example of the sort of delusion that can take hold when the terms of the actual deal aren't disclosed.

In the new world, the terms are easy to understand, printed out for you on simple to understand disclosures, and completely separate of any fees paid for service. There's no way where that isn't a GoodThing(tm) for the consumer.

That's lovely that your five-years-ago family plan is less money than the current offerings. It also couldn't possibly be less relevant. Times change, prices change. Discussions about what used to be are pointless.
 
Solution: go to an Apple Store and sign up for the iPhone Upgrade Program. Btw, 2 year contracts were rip offs anyway. Good riddance.
 
So if I'm reading this right, if we have a FAN discount, that we can still qualify for the 2 year contract?
 
Don't go full derp when you don't have all the info.

In the classic case, ATT "loans" you $450 under terms they don't disclose. You have no idea how much you're "paying back" because the terms of the contract are opaque. You think you aren't "paying for your own phone in full" under the previous terms? This is the perfect example of the sort of delusion that can take hold when the terms of the actual deal aren't disclosed.

In the new world, the terms are easy to understand, printed out for you on simple to understand disclosures, and completely separate of any fees paid for service. There's no way where that isn't a GoodThing(tm) for the consumer.

That's lovely that your five-years-ago family plan is less money than the current offerings. It also couldn't possibly be less relevant. Times change, prices change. Discussions about what used to be are pointless.
Look if the old planes were good for AT&T and they were screwing us with obaque terms then they would 100% most definitely keep that around.

The truth is AT&T thought they would do just that HOWEVER they didn't predict two things. 1. Is the massive resale value of the iPhone. 2. The amount of data streaming (YouTube, Pandora, Spotify) services would use. These 2 factors made the old unlimited plans + subsidized phones much much more expensive for AT&T.

This is why every year or two AT&T was increasing the upgrade fee on 2 yr contact users. I rmb when it was like $20 and now it's up $45 i believe. It's also why by default AT&T takes back the iPhone on NEXT, so they can tap into those second market profits.

For a lot of us ppl that knew what we were doing i.e. selling our old phones on craigslist, the old 2 yr plans were much cheaper.

So if I'm reading this right, if we have a FAN discount, that we can still qualify for the 2 year contract?

Only until your employeer renegoatates your contract.
 
Don't go full derp when you don't have all the info.

In the classic case, ATT "loans" you $450 under terms they don't disclose. You have no idea how much you're "paying back" because the terms of the contract are opaque. You think you aren't "paying for your own phone in full" under the previous terms? This is the perfect example of the sort of delusion that can take hold when the terms of the actual deal aren't disclosed.

In the new world, the terms are easy to understand, printed out for you on simple to understand disclosures, and completely separate of any fees paid for service. There's no way where that isn't a GoodThing(tm) for the consumer.

That's lovely that your five-years-ago family plan is less money than the current offerings. It also couldn't possibly be less relevant. Times change, prices change. Discussions about what used to be are pointless.
Thanks for the laugh.
 
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Don't go full derp when you don't have all the info.

In the classic case, ATT "loans" you $450 under terms they don't disclose. You have no idea how much you're "paying back" because the terms of the contract are opaque. You think you aren't "paying for your own phone in full" under the previous terms? This is the perfect example of the sort of delusion that can take hold when the terms of the actual deal aren't disclosed.

In the new world, the terms are easy to understand, printed out for you on simple to understand disclosures, and completely separate of any fees paid for service. There's no way where that isn't a GoodThing(tm) for the consumer.

That's lovely that your five-years-ago family plan is less money than the current offerings. It also couldn't possibly be less relevant. Times change, prices change. Discussions about what used to be are pointless.

You still don't get it.
They disclose the monthly price. That's more than enough disclosure to figure out if my old plan is cheaper or not compared to any available mobile share plans. My monthly payment is not delusion, it's reality and simple math can show the comparison easily. It's thousands of dollars cheaper over the same mobile share plan.
These changes and your statement of new world terms only benefit one side of the equation. The carrier, not the customer.
It's not pointless to me and millions of other subscribers that stuck with AT&T since the original iPhone release and mandatory unlimited iPhone data plans and 2 year contracts.
If you don't want to participate in this discussion or think it's pointless then you shouldn't be posting in this thread.
 
Actually, that's exactly what AT&T does - they lower the bill. I'm on a family plan with 5 lines and every line on a NEXT plan has a monthly discount. It's actually cheaper to have 5 NEXT lines than 5 two-year contracts. Even with payments for 5 iPhones. The discount for using NEXT makes the plan quite comparable, and if you keep the phone longer than two years (aka paying it off in full) then it gets even cheaper per month.

If you're on an unlimited plan, that's a different story, but for family plans, I don't see where NEXT is more expensive...

Not for people on the old family talk plan. There's no discount for having a non contacted phone or if there is a contracted phone there's no extra charge. The discounts are for the data shared plan. This move by att is another way to get people off the unlimited plan.

On my account i have 2 smartphones and 2 dummy phones for the parents. The dummy phone is only $10 a month each. Att has the shared upgrade program so I can upgrade my smartphone to the latest smartphone using the dummy phone's upgrade. The dummy phone will still be $10 a month but just a new 2 year contract.

My wife and I basically can upgrade anytime we want since there's always one available upgrade on a phone.

Now I have to use the available upgrades and sell the phones on Craigslist. I'm turning off my wifi and max out my unlimited data cap. F*ck u att! This is what you do to your loyal customers of +15 years? Raise prices and cut off benefits?!
 
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If you can't pay for something up front then do without - it's that simple. That is the way I was brought up and it's served me well during my lifetime.

The phones are not subsidised anyway - there's no such thing as a free lunch. Companies were/are getting it back through the cost of the contract. Certainly in the UK it is cheaper to buy a phone up front and get a SIM only deal.

Buying on instalments is a mugs game.
Or you can keep that money in the bank earning interest or applying it elsewhere in your life, while you take advantage of an interest free loan from your carrier. Doing NEXT doesn't automatically equal not being able to afford it.
 
Actually, it has nothing to do with renting or leasing. Next is a zero-interest, zero-down installment plan. You can either pay the phone off normally, or trade it for a new one after a certain number of installments. If you pay it off it's yours to keep.

They are hoping you take advantage of their "upgrade" options. Most will, therefore you are simply renting an iPhone, the only thing changing is the model number. Add to that insurance and for the low price of about $175.00/mo. you too can own an iPhone.
 
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You still don't get it.
They disclose the monthly price. That's more than enough disclosure to figure out if my old plan is cheaper or not compared to any available mobile share plans. My monthly payment is not delusion, it's reality and simple math can show the comparison easily. It's thousands of dollars cheaper over the same mobile share plan.
These changes and your statement of new world terms only benefit one side of the equation. The carrier, not the customer.
It's not pointless to me and millions of other subscribers that stuck with AT&T since the original iPhone release and mandatory unlimited iPhone data plans and 2 year contracts.
If you don't want to participate in this discussion or think it's pointless then you shouldn't be posting in this thread.

You continue to conflate your old plan which isn't offered any more with the cost of a device and how you pay for it.

The comparison is irrelevant. Completely. They are two totally separate issues.

You have the right to be angry that ATT has changed the way they do business since five years ago when they sold the plan you have now. You even have the right to cancel your service with them because they have chosen to move on and no longer offer terms you liked from five years ago that don't make sense in the current market. But they don't owe you anything. You don't have the right to keep paying what you used to pay in perpetuity, regardless of changes in the market.
 
You continue to conflate your old plan which isn't offered any more with the cost of a device and how you pay for it.

The comparison is irrelevant. Completely. They are two totally separate issues.

You have the right to be angry that ATT has changed the way they do business since five years ago when they sold the plan you have now. You even have the right to cancel your service with them because they have chosen to move on and no longer offer terms you liked from five years ago that don't make sense in the current market. But they don't owe you anything. You don't have the right to keep paying what you used to pay in perpetuity, regardless of changes in the market.
Tool Confirmed.

If you want to see how AT&T does business today then check this out: http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...network-affects-sba-american-tower/2015-02-27

AT&T has the absolute lowest spending on upgrading towers in years. AT&T is trying to squeeze more profit. I don't see how a sane person can defend a blatant money grab.

And where would you go? No one else offers 2 year contracts anymore...
while not as good. The T-Mobile unlimited data plan is the closest best option. 90 a month for 1 line. 180 a month for 4 lines.

I'll most likely switch over in February.
 
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