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Do those of us on grandfathered unlimited data and 2 year contracts have to move to next or can we just stay off contract and buy our phones full priced from apple? I think even the off contract plans get fan discounts on talk and data, but the next plans only get discounts on talk.
 
You really are being dishonest and habitually at that. The comment you are blathering about was not made by me. Now grow up and admit you are trolling. What is your problem?

This is bad news for perennial iPhone users. It will be a shock to them when they come to renew their plan and find out that they gotta drop close to a grand instead of $200 up front. I see more and more going the anti-Apple route as they will find that you can buy most Android phones or Windows phones that are of comparable quality/tech at full price for much much less.

While not worded properly people are swayed by seeing how much they are actually paying. Interest free financing is not the point. Before people would pay 200.00 and see no more about the price of the phone. Now even with the interest free financing they will see that they are paying close to 1000.00 on paper and whether you like it or not it will dissuade some people. If price was not an issue then why do most own android phones? Only 6% here own apple and close to 90% do not subsidize, most by from places that finance them with little or nothing down. They could buy iphones just as easily with little or nothing down, but guess what? They do not. Price, actually seeing the price regardless of how they are paying. I tried to sell my iphone but nobody wanted to buy it. I gave it to my 10 year old niece.

Your are wrong also on the phone quality. My x pure with the aluminum frame is every bit as good in my opinion and that is just as good as yours. The lcd display looks a lot better and I can see it outside . It cost under 500. with 32 internal and an expandable sd slot and android 6.0 lets you set it up as internal. I hate ios and the last couple of android versions are far better, customization with no bright white blinding me. It's a better phone at a less price and again that is subjective, but it WILL cause some to pause by seeing the price they are actually paying for the phone.

Now who is lying again? Are you man enough to admit it?

Hmmm, really?

The original statment you made:

"It will be a shock to them when they come to renew their plan and find out that they gotta drop close to a grand instead of $200 up front..."

To which I stated that you can finance, for free an iphone from any major carrier, or through Apple. So your statement that "they gotta drop close to a grand instead of $200 up front" is untrue. That was what I pointed out. The fact is under "subsidized" contracts all the subscriber is doing is financing their phone, anyway. It's simple math, and anyone who is being honest about the math, and/or has half a brain can do the math and know that's true.

And your quote about comparable quality a full price for much much less (emphasis added by me):

"I see more and more going the anti-Apple route as they will find that you can buy most Android phones or Windows phones that are of comparable quality/tech at full price for much much less."

It's in black and white. It's what you said. Did you think I wouldn't be able to go back and find it? Who, exactly is lying here?

I'm not worshipping a symbol. You are correct in saying what the user enjoys using is purely a subjective decision. If you find that the Moto X is better for your needs more power to you. I have personally owned 6 different Android phones. I have gotten rid of every one of them within two weeks. I work in IT, and have had to use Android phones for months on end as testing units. The experience sucks, IMO. Doesn't even come close to iOS for stability, security and quality of user experience, for my money.

But objectively, from a purely quality standpoint there is not a phone on the market that compares to the iPhone that costs "much much less."
 
On 2-year contracts, your monthly bill remains the same, regardless of if you upgrade at the end or not. Part of the $65 you pay every month goes towards subsiding your phone. So after two years, if you haven't upgraded to a new phone, you're still paying towards subsidizing your phone, except your phone is actually already paid for and doesn't require subsidizing anymore.
How in the universe is a $65 monthly bill "going towards my phone"?
Again, do the math.... $299 for the phone plus $65 a month for 24 months = ~$77.45 a month and I have unlimited data.... how is this more expensive than NEXT?
 
Overall I think this is a good move providing the networks don't continue to tattoo their bloatware on your handsets (applies to non-Apple phones).
This is very similar to the UK model kick started with O2 (previously Telefonica now Three Hutchinson), it means the networks make more but this will relegate them to being dumb pipes which they always should have been.
As Apple has protected the upgrades with their iPhone plan and 0% finance deals they offer annually in the UK it should not have a massive impact on them.
Carriers in the US will be forced to better compete making room for more MVNO's.
 
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I had this discussion with a millennial at work yesterday.... she thinks NEXT is a good deal too and that 2-year contracts are a ripoff... but as soon as I said "you're leasing your phone" she disagreed and said "I own it after its paid off".
She refuses to believe me when I tell her that she is never going to pay it off because she is going to upgrade this fall when the new iPhone is released.
Then the inevitable bad argument (logical fallacy) came out where she tried to compare her phone payment to a mortgage payment and how I'll never own my house until 30 years has elapsed but insists but her phone will be paid off in 2.
She couldn't answer when I said "a home generally raises in value or at least holds value... the phone will be worthless in 4 years."
 
Here is my problem with all of this. I am fully aware that the money I pay for my unlimited 2 year plan covers whatever AT&T loses giving me a discount on my phone every renewal. It is not some mystery, a lot of you think we are dumb and assume AT&T would just give us phones out of the kindness of their heart. The thing comes down to the subsidy/discount/whatever being a worthwhile perk if I am going to pay the same price either way. Basically, if I am going to pay lets say $80 a month w/"subsidy" + contract or $80 a month with no contract. I am not seeing how this is a positive, since everything I have read from AT&T basically suggests I am not going to get any discount for my particular plan off contract. Many of us basically could sell our phones every 2 years and generally speaking end up without having to pay extra out of pocket for a new iPhone.

TLDR: I am fine losing the subsidy if AT&T cuts off the same amount or more that I would get from getting ~$400 towards a new phone. Since it doesn't seem like they are doing that, I get annoyed when other people celebrate this as some kind of huge victory.
 
I had this discussion with a millennial at work yesterday.... she thinks NEXT is a good deal too and that 2-year contracts are a ripoff... but as soon as I said "you're leasing your phone" she disagreed and said "I own it after its paid off".
She refuses to believe me when I tell her that she is never going to pay it off because she is going to upgrade this fall when the new iPhone is released.
Then the inevitable bad argument (logical fallacy) came out where she tried to compare her phone payment to a mortgage payment and how I'll never own my house until 30 years has elapsed but insists but her phone will be paid off in 2.
She couldn't answer when I said "a home generally raises in value or at least holds value... the phone will be worthless in 4 years."
Sound more like you were projecting your opinions on this "millenial" than listening.

Think all you want that NEXT is a ripoff, but it's only a ripoff if you make poor choices and turn it in at the earliest possible moment and upgrade. Then, yes, you've thrown away all your previous payments. But why would anyone do that when after, say, 18 months of your 24 months of installments, you just make those remaining 6 payments at once, paying off the phone, and then sell it? An iPhone's worth after 18 months is still very high and one can make a substantial portion of their investment back. It's no different than paying the full price up front and then selling it in 18 months.

I don't really understand your mortgage analogy...where did 4 years come from with regards to an iPhone?

Your friend was right...she does own it when it is paid off (12-24 months) and it still has plenty of value.
 
You really are being dishonest and habitually at that. The comment you are blathering about was not made by me. Now grow up and admit you are trolling. What is your problem?



While not worded properly people are swayed by seeing how much they are actually paying. Interest free financing is not the point. Before people would pay 200.00 and see no more about the price of the phone. Now even with the interest free financing they will see that they are paying close to 1000.00 on paper and whether you like it or not it will dissuade some people. If price was not an issue then why do most own android phones? Only 6% here own apple and close to 90% do not subsidize, most by from places that finance them with little or nothing down. They could buy iphones just as easily with little or nothing down, but guess what? They do not. Price, actually seeing the price regardless of how they are paying. I tried to sell my iphone but nobody wanted to buy it. I gave it to my 10 year old niece.

Your are wrong also on the phone quality. My x pure with the aluminum frame is every bit as good in my opinion and that is just as good as yours. The lcd display looks a lot better and I can see it outside . It cost under 500. with 32 internal and an expandable sd slot and android 6.0 lets you set it up as internal. I hate ios and the last couple of android versions are far better, customization with no bright white blinding me. It's a better phone at a less price and again that is subjective, but it WILL cause some to pause by seeing the price they are actually paying for the phone.

Now who is lying again? Are you man enough to admit it?

Ooops, you're right. You were not the one who made the original statement. My apologies for the confusion.

However, you did chime in, and my original statement stands. The new, financing paradigm will not cost people any more upfront than the old contract method of paying for the phone. People who were willing to pay for a more expensive phone before will still be willing to do so, given the fact that their out of pocket costs do not increase. Especially since the experience of the iPhone OS is a superior one. On this we will just have to agree to disagree. As far as the hardware is concerned, it's objectively true that the iPhone is superior.

Happy New Year to you, and enjoy your substandard smartphone experience. ;-)
 
Awesome!

I just looked closer into the employer monthly service discount and according to their website they no longer offer a monthly discount. Now they offer you a $25 gift card every time you buy a new device through T-Mobile :( It looks like this change started in April of 2014.

I'm going to call that department directly tomorrow and see what they say.
If you are thinking about switching to T-Mobile check out this map:https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zYsWXH8QR36Q.k_csKbu63eVk&hl=en_US

Areas with 700 Mhz should get better service. However I just found out today that only iPhones 6S and 6S+ supports Band 12. Even the iPhone 6 is too old.
 
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Let me know if I got this right. For people with unlimited data like me the window to remove ETF has already started and ends in February? Can I remove the ETF but not cancel the line until I transfer the the number?
 
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Let me know if I got this right. For people with unlimited data like me the window to remove ETF has already started and ends in February? Can I remove the ETF but not cancel the line until I transfer the the number?

No, the window hasn't even started yet.
You have 60 days from the time your unlimited data plan increases in February to call in, switch away from unlimited data and get your etf waived. You can then cancel and port your number any time. You can continue to use AT&T with a tiered data plan and no contract commitment until you're ready to switch. It doesn't have to be that exact day and time.
 
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Just take the hit on loss of the subsidy and dont pay full price for an iphone..either out of pocket or thru next payments...instead of payin 399 plus tax for that subsidized iphone 6a plus 64 gigger just pick up a brand new nexus 6 for 249 full price..or some other cheap closeout android....or look for a refurbished phone....you will still be ahead cuz yor paying even less than the 399 subsidized ....or just dont upgrade you phone and keep it for as long as it holds up. get the insurance for 8bucks...then if it breaks then get another one from insurance for 99 bucks or 199.. But dont give up yor unlimited plans...Hang on to those forever...cuz cant buy them anymore for att network..these plans are like gold....data usage is gonna keep goin up and up....
 
Here is my problem with all of this. I am fully aware that the money I pay for my unlimited 2 year plan covers whatever AT&T loses giving me a discount on my phone every renewal. It is not some mystery, a lot of you think we are dumb and assume AT&T would just give us phones out of the kindness of their heart. The thing comes down to the subsidy/discount/whatever being a worthwhile perk if I am going to pay the same price either way. Basically, if I am going to pay lets say $80 a month w/"subsidy" + contract or $80 a month with no contract. I am not seeing how this is a positive, since everything I have read from AT&T basically suggests I am not going to get any discount for my particular plan off contract. Many of us basically could sell our phones every 2 years and generally speaking end up without having to pay extra out of pocket for a new iPhone.

TLDR: I am fine losing the subsidy if AT&T cuts off the same amount or more that I would get from getting ~$400 towards a new phone. Since it doesn't seem like they are doing that, I get annoyed when other people celebrate this as some kind of huge victory.

I was working in finance for a mobile phone retailer in the UK and when O2 and Tesco announced the 'refresh' tariffs which people thought was a victory (great marketing BTW), one thing I know for sure was profits were expected to grow as customers would pay the full price for the tariffs and extra for the handset (think reverse subsidy).
i.e.
Rose Gold Iphone 6s 128gb from Apple £798.00
Rose Gold IPhone 6s 128gb from O2 refresh £859.99
The only benefit I can see is maybe in the US it will force the networks to compete on tariff's until then you're right and effectively you will be paying more for less.
 
No, the window hasn't even started yet.
You have 60 days from the time your unlimited data plan increases in February to call in, switch away from unlimited data and get your etf waived. You can then cancel and port your number any time. You can continue to use AT&T with a tiered data plan and no contract commitment until you're ready to switch. It doesn't have to be that exact day and time.
Let me know if I got this right. For people with unlimited data like me the window to remove ETF has already started and ends in February? Can I remove the ETF but not cancel the line until I transfer the the number?

You can cancel the contract without changing your pla, as per the contract we signed you have 30 days to notify them to cancel the contract. Of corse, they never cancel your contract when you call them even retention. You have to open a billing dispute, like it was in 2013 when At&t implemented 61 cents fee per line masking it as a government mandatory fee. There was the same contract that days. May be Atts' lawyers are really busy calling back customer (who tried to advise their CEO) and have no time to create a new contract?

All this BS about 60 days, changing plan etc is not written under the contract. BUT after you off the contract At&t has all the rights to transfer you whenever they want.

Here is the link from 2013:

http://slickdeals.net/f/6047432-get-out-of-a-post-paid-at-t-contract-etf-free-ymmv

But I think that the cancelation of the subsidy , 5 dollars UDP increase are just the first 2 steps of pressure on UDP customers.
John Legere has a vision that his company needs clients, they don't want to loose clients and try to lure more and more new clients. Att CEOs just officially said that they not going to chase every other customer.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/atts-lurie-were-focused-high-end-wireless-customers/2015-12-09

They feel that they can survive with car connection and overpriced DirectTV. I give them a flag to carry, but give my money to Legere's company this February.

BTW: I just called t-mo 180 dollars+ taxes all unlimited 4 lines+ free Canada, Mexico LTE. The only thing I worry about if T-mo can handle all the customers switch to the ?
 
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You can cancel the contract without changing your pla, as per the contract we signed you have 30 days to notify them to cancel the contract. Of corse, they never cancel your contract when you call them even retention. You have to open a billing dispute, like it was in 2013 when At&t implemented 61 cents fee per line masking it as a government mandatory fee. There was the same contract that days. May be Atts' lawyers are really busy calling back customer (who tried to advise their CEO) and have no time to create a new contract?

All this BS about 60 days, changing plan etc is not written under the contract. BUT after you off the contract At&t has all the rights to transfer you whenever they want.

Here is the link from 2013:

http://slickdeals.net/f/6047432-get-out-of-a-post-paid-at-t-contract-etf-free-ymmv

But I think that the cancelation of the subsidy , 5 dollars UDP increase are just the first 2 steps of pressure on UDP customers.
John Legere has a vision that his company needs clients, they don't want to loose clients and try to lure more and more new clients. Att CEOs just officially said that they not going to chase every other customer.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/atts-lurie-were-focused-high-end-wireless-customers/2015-12-09

They feel that they can survive with car connection and overpriced DirectTV. I give them a flag to carry, but give my money to Legere's company this February.

BTW: I just called t-mo 180 dollars+ taxes all unlimited 4 lines+ free Canada, Mexico LTE. The only thing I worry about if T-mo can handle all the customers switch to the ?

You shouldnt have to open a billing dispute or fight retentions to have them cancel your contract.
This is what their email to all UDP customers says:

If you choose to cancel your unlimited data plan and you're under a two-year service contract, we'll waive your early termination fee.Just cancel your unlimited data plan line(s) within 60 days after the price increase first appears on your bill. Cancellations made after that time will be subject to the usual early termination fee.

https://www.att.com/esupport/articl...rce=1215_pcup_nat_a_udat#!/wireless/KM1064176
 
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You can cancel the contract without changing your pla, as per the contract we signed you have 30 days to notify them to cancel the contract. Of corse, they never cancel your contract when you call them even retention. You have to open a billing dispute, like it was in 2013 when At&t implemented 61 cents fee per line masking it as a government mandatory fee. There was the same contract that days. May be Atts' lawyers are really busy calling back customer (who tried to advise their CEO) and have no time to create a new contract?

All this BS about 60 days, changing plan etc is not written under the contract. BUT after you off the contract At&t has all the rights to transfer you whenever they want.

Here is the link from 2013:

http://slickdeals.net/f/6047432-get-out-of-a-post-paid-at-t-contract-etf-free-ymmv

From link:
AND YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT PAYING AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE OR RETURNING OR PAYING FOR ANY PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, PROVIDED YOUR NOTICE OF TERMINATION IS DELIVERED TO US WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST BILL REFLECTING THE CHANGE.

It specifically says 30 days after the first bill reflecting the change. In our case, we have 60 days after the first bill reflecting the $5 increase.
 
Next is not a service plan it's the branding of atts installment plan. Next is essentially paying full retail for the device over a period of time. These installment plans are the reason Apple launched their own. You can do next for your device purchase and at this moment still keep your unlimited data. Whatever current fan discounts apply will continue to apply.

You are thinking of the mobile share value plans. That's the plan that discount only apply to the main rate plan.


Do those of us on grandfathered unlimited data and 2 year contracts have to move to next or can we just stay off contract and buy our phones full priced from apple? I think even the off contract plans get fan discounts on talk and data, but the next plans only get discounts on talk.
 
Update!

In typical ATT Sh!tshow fashion, they are lost and confused. After reading this post that the 2yr deals would discontinue on 8 Jan, yesterday I logged on to ATT.com to indeed, confirm I was eligible to upgrade and still select the 2yr plan. I decided I would do it today. However, when I signed in today, I found that the option for the 2yr contract had vanished overnight.

I then called ATT and was told that that I could still do it online (she was wrong, I can NOT), but advised I should go into the store. Made an appt this morn and went into the store and told them what I wanted to do. After about 5 minutes, the agent told me "just so you know, I can't help you with a 2yr contract...nor can my manager..." I was like BS, ATT told me to come into the store....so I asked him to get his mgr. His mgr then came out and tried to talk to me as if I was an 18yr old girls and tech stupid (Im 48yr old male). He tried to tell me that it was probably due to a caching issue on my browser that the 2yr deal showed up yesterday. B!S!

He then tried to sell me on why I should drop my unlimited plan...blah blah blah.

I explained that the only reason Im still with ATT was the unlimited plan I had grandfathered....

So there was nothing he could help me with...

Got home and called ATT directly again and was told that I either had to do it online (which again, does NOT work), or another option is she could transfer me to the store and I could do it over the phone. ONly problem is the store is closed today (which I told her). She then said she would transfer me to "customer retention" and they could do it as well....only to find that that dept too is closed today....


long story short, see ya later ATT. Hello Verizon...what a joke ATT is!
 
I know full-priced phones aren't cheap, but contracts are so ****ing overpriced that they need to get removed eventually.

Are they though? I put this chart together a while ago out of curiosity.
V8UwpIY.png
 
Update!

In typical ATT Sh!tshow fashion, they are lost and confused. After reading this post that the 2yr deals would discontinue on 8 Jan, yesterday I logged on to ATT.com to indeed, confirm I was eligible to upgrade and still select the 2yr plan. I decided I would do it today. However, when I signed in today, I found that the option for the 2yr contract had vanished overnight.

Something is off. I'm grandfathered on unlimited and still showing as eligible to renew on a 2-year contract. Do you happen to have FAN and if so, you must do it through the online AT&T Premier site rather than the normal AT&T site or physical stores?

AT&T employees are also known to drive grandfathered customers away from unlimited so don't listen to them.
 
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