You are comparing apples to oranges. He is comparing at&t with at&t because he is using at&t before and after.
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AT&T to Stop Offering Two-Year Phone Contracts Starting January 8
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You are comparing apples to oranges. He is comparing at&t with at&t because he is using at&t before and after.
Everybody's situation is different, but I just left AT&T for Verizon a few months ago because their mobile share plan prices are pretty much the same now. What at&t is doing is dirty and if you're going to give up the unlimited for Next, at least take a look at VZ on principle. They usually have switching promos too. I got $220/line plus $300 off an iPad.
I don't see how if someone is buying the phone outright and not on contract. I thought all phones bought outright were unlocked anyway.
You can almost guarantee what I looked at? Really?
You aren't making any sense. I compared the monthly fee for my old legacy plan (which obviously included the hidden subsidy) with the monthly fee I pay now for the mobile share plan plus what I would pay for Next if I hadn't bought the phone outright. The resale value of the phone after 2 years is irrelevant for this comparison, since it's the same whether you get it subsidized, via Next, or purchase it outright.
No matter what you believe, for some people the mobile share plans are a better deal than the old plans. And comparisons with grandfathered unlimited data plans are completely irrelevant for me, since they haven't been available for years, lack features that I want, and are too expensive for what I need anyway.
For some people the mobile share might be better. For me not so much, in my case (2 lines) it means that for the money I pay for a 2 year contract under a old family talk plan (including a phone every 2 year) I can upgrade my phone every 3 years under the new family share plan, and I go from 3GB to 2 GB data. On the other hand if I keep my old phone for 4 years I will make money on the new plan compared to the old talk plan.
I think you have it the wrong way around. It is more likely that AT&T will raise the price on the line access fee (or data plans) since there is no competition from the 2 year contracts anymore.
The only silver lining here is that maybe the price of phones will start to come down. But that's a big if.
Thanks to this thread, I was able to upgrade early and was able to get full subsidized price for a 6S and 6S plus 64GB, my contract was to expire in Nov 2016. My plan is pretty good when subsidy is included and I didnt want to give that up. I am good to go for another 2 years. One can always go to MSV during the contract if needed but cannot get the subsidy once the 2 years contracts are gone.
You did pay for your new phones via the hidden "subsidy" fee (in addition to the initial $199 or whatever). How is this "savings"? The only difference to Next is that you don't know how much you really paid for the phones, since the hidden fee for the "subsidy" is not shown separately on your bill.
This has to be the most illogical sentence in this already confused thread. Just in case you really don't understand this: with Next you can keep the phone and sell it too.
How did you upgrade early if your contract ends in November 2016? You didn't have to pay a fee?
Pretty sure this is normal with MSV. The monthly access charge is different with 2-year contract vs. month-to-month. There's no free lunch with anything. That's how they recoup the subsidy from you when you pay the $199.
To be more clear, with the Next plan you can keep your phone AFTER its paid in full. This means that if you opt for the 12 month plan and DO NOT trade it in, you are contractually obliged to pay the monthly payment ($32.50 for a 16GB 6s) for 20 months ($650) which ends up being more than buying the phone full priced to begin with. It's like a car lease which is one of the worst ways to "buy" a car.
Also...if you DO trade it in at 12 months, you still pay for that phone until the 20 months period is over, even though you no longer have it.
I've been with ATT since 2006 and have never had a bill increase when upgrading an added family line.
Luckily I don't need unlimited data because I'm always around wifi. At most I need 2GB a month on mobile data. I feel sorry for you since your needs are so damn high that you need unlimited data, and you're paying for it.
Of course. Just like you can keep a phone on a subsidized plan AFTER paying the subsidy for the full term of the contract.
I'm not following. 20*$32.50 is exactly the full price of $650 in this example.
It's not a lease. It's a zero-interest installment plan.
No, that's not true. If you return the phone the residual value is effectively used to pay off the remaining installments. You then start a new installment plan for the new phone.
And how long are you going to be paying that $20/month for? I pay $0/month for my iPhone 5S. I will keep it as long as it still works well (and it will since it is 64bit A7), and will continue paying $0/month for the foreseeable future.
I guess. This thread seems full of people who are currently on AT&T plans that were priced out back in 2007/2008. So that's 7-8 years that AT&T has let those plans roll without having made any changes to them. I can't think of any other business that hasn't had a price increase over the last 7-8 years.
The phone is "yours" (to keep/sell/trade) on the Next plan as soon as you get it in your hot little hands, just like how the phone was "yours" on the 2-year contract as soon as you got it. You could go out and sell it immediately -- nobody cares, because it's your phone.
You're just as obligated to pay for your phone on Next as you were for paying for your phone on a 2-year contract. The only different is that with Next, you're free to pay off that phone at any time and get another on Next (for $0 down). With 2-year contracts, you had no option. You had to wait until the 2 years were up otherwise you were paying full MSRP ($649+) for a new phone.
No. If you choose to trade the phone in to AT&T, you stop paying for it.
You know what else you can do? You can sell your Next phone yourself (at anytime during the plan) on eBay/Craigslist - for likely more than what you owe AT&T for it. Use that money to pay off your Next contract (keeping the extra money for yourself), and then you're free to go buy another using Next's 0% APR. So many options with Next...
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Starting on January 8, 2016, AT&T plans to introduce a "pricing simplification effort" that will see the end of device subsidies and two-year contracts. According to an internal training document shared by Engadget, new and existing AT&T customers will only be able to purchase a smartphone at full price or with an AT&T Next payment plan going forward.
As outlined in the document, the new rules apply to all of the phones that AT&T sells, including smartphones and more basic devices, which will be paid for using new installment plans. More information on how AT&T will handle corporate accounts and non-smartphone devices like tablets and wearables will become available after an official announcement from AT&T, but it appears certain corporate users will be able to continue making two-year contract purchases.
The shift away from two-year contracts and iPhone subsidies began with T-Mobile in 2013, when the company introduced its Un-carrier payment plans uncoupling device costs from plan costs. Verizon followed suit in August of 2015, debuting new smartphone rate plans and eliminating its subsidized two-year contract option for new users.
Existing Verizon customers can still renew their two-year contracts, but AT&T's no-contract implementation is more extreme and will not offer existing customers the option to keep their contracts once they expire.
AT&T has already been working on shifting away from two-year contracts by pushing its Next plans. In June of 2015, AT&T forced Apple and other third-party retailers to remove the option to purchase AT&T phones with a two-year contract, leaving customers with AT&T Next or a full-priced smartphone as their only third-party purchase options.
Update: AT&T has confirmed its plans to stop offering two-year contracts in a statement given to Re/code.
Article Link: AT&T to Stop Offering Two-Year Phone Contracts Starting January 8
I'm completely confused. I recently decided not to upgrade to the iPhone 6s since my iPhone 5 had been replaced with a new one. Everything fresh and I really didn't feel a need to upgrade.
So I'm still grandfathered in but my 2 year contract was over some time ago. Paying $85/mo using an iPhone 5 that's out of contract. I have unlimited data 350 rollover voice, and 200 text messages. The mostly goes up to $90 in Feb.
I don't have a burning desire to upgrade to an iPhone 6s... was just going to wait for the 7, but since it's the 4th and I could technically run to an ATT store to get in on a new subsidized 6s and new 2yr contract before Jan 8th... is that what I should do?
I checked my average data usage and I was better off keeping the unlimited data.
So I'm still grandfathered in but my 2 year contract was over some time ago. Paying $85/mo using an iPhone 5 that's out of contract. I have unlimited data 350 rollover voice, and 200 text messages. The mostly goes up to $90 in Feb.
I don't have a burning desire to upgrade to an iPhone 6s... was just going to wait for the 7, but since it's the 4th and I could technically run to an ATT store to get in on a new subsidized 6s and new 2yr contract before Jan 8th... is that what I should do?
I checked my average data usage and I was better off keeping the unlimited data.
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I have a FAN account, would I be able to continue with the two year contracts? The rep I chatted with seemed unhelpful as she wasn't sure.
What plan do you have then? I have FamilyTalk 700 and just upgraded my mother's line to get the 6s on 2-year contract without a bill increase.
Only if you're a Custom IRU or CRU. Most FAN customers are regular IRUs.
I was finally able to get in touch with someone who could answer my question and the rep that I chatted with said that my account did qualify for me to continue getting 2 year contracts. Here is a transcript of out chat, account sensitive info is edited out.
Me : Hello this is Jared my wireless account number is XXXXXXX94. The passcode on my account is XXXX. I've been made aware that within a couple of days that AT&T will do away with 2 year contracts. My question is I have a FAN account and was wondering if those of us on FAN accounts would still be able to get 2 year contracts?
Mibsar : Hello, this is Mibsar with AT&T! I'll be happy to help you today. May I ask who I have the pleasure of chatting with?
Me : Jared
Mibsar : Hi Jared,I will be more than happy to help you with that right away
Mibsar : No the 2 year year contract will be no longer with us, I apologize for this issue
Me : https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...r-phone-contracts-starting-january-8.1947582/
Mibsar : May i please connect you with our specialist so they can solve this for you
Me : According to the link I sent you it says the following: Can custom IRU and CRU (with FAN) customers purchase a new smartphone/QMD/Basic device on a two year agreement?
Yes. CRU accounts on a FAN agreement may purchase a smartphone on a new two year agreement from AT&T Retail and Authorized Retail.
Meriam : ah! got that! Please bear with me as I check articles that would support an answer to your questions so we can be accurate
Meriam : Thank you for that information.
Me : since my account is a FAN account...how will it effect me
Meriam : Please hold for me while I look into this further.
Meriam : Perfect!
Meriam : Thank you!
Me : welcome
Meriam : It shows that this does not impact CRU customers. Here's another article found:
Two-year agreements will be limited for participating National Retailers to the att.com referral process.
AT&T customers still have the option to purchase a new smartphone on a two-year agreement over the phone via Customer Service.
IRU customers also may purchase a new smartphone on a two-year agreement contract via the Premier Web Site.
At a COR location or via att.com, with the exception of Las Vegas, Mid-Atlantic Markets, and Greater Midwest Region.
Me : does my account currently meet any of those qualifications?
Meriam : Yes it does qualify
Me : do I have to access the att premier website in order to be able to still get the two year contract? Is there a direct link to the website from the myatt page?
Meriam : Premier customers are being directed automatically to premier website once that you process and upgrade online.
Me : okay
Meriam : I see you have just reached the premier page. Under a business account. Cool!
Meriam : Will there be anything else that I can help you with today, Jared?
Me : no thank you
Meriam : It has been a great pleasure to help you and be chatting with you in this beautiful day!
Glad we have resolved all your concerns today! May it be a better day and please keep safe! Happy 2016 Jared! Meriam : When you are ready, please click on the CLOSE button found on this chat room to end the chat. Thank you!
I was finally able to get in touch with someone who could answer my question and the rep that I chatted with said that my account did qualify for me to continue getting 2 year contracts. Here is a transcript of out chat, account sensitive info is edited out.
Me : Hello this is Jared my wireless account number is XXXXXXX94. The passcode on my account is XXXX. I've been made aware that within a couple of days that AT&T will do away with 2 year contracts. My question is I have a FAN account and was wondering if those of us on FAN accounts would still be able to get 2 year contracts?
Mibsar : Hello, this is Mibsar with AT&T! I'll be happy to help you today. May I ask who I have the pleasure of chatting with?
Me : Jared
Mibsar : Hi Jared,I will be more than happy to help you with that right away
Mibsar : No the 2 year year contract will be no longer with us, I apologize for this issue
Me : https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...r-phone-contracts-starting-january-8.1947582/
Mibsar : May i please connect you with our specialist so they can solve this for you
Me : According to the link I sent you it says the following: Can custom IRU and CRU (with FAN) customers purchase a new smartphone/QMD/Basic device on a two year agreement?
Yes. CRU accounts on a FAN agreement may purchase a smartphone on a new two year agreement from AT&T Retail and Authorized Retail.
Meriam : ah! got that! Please bear with me as I check articles that would support an answer to your questions so we can be accurate
Meriam : Thank you for that information.
Me : since my account is a FAN account...how will it effect me
Meriam : Please hold for me while I look into this further.
Meriam : Perfect!
Meriam : Thank you!
Me : welcome
Meriam : It shows that this does not impact CRU customers. Here's another article found:
Two-year agreements will be limited for participating National Retailers to the att.com referral process.
AT&T customers still have the option to purchase a new smartphone on a two-year agreement over the phone via Customer Service.
IRU customers also may purchase a new smartphone on a two-year agreement contract via the Premier Web Site.
At a COR location or via att.com, with the exception of Las Vegas, Mid-Atlantic Markets, and Greater Midwest Region.
Me : does my account currently meet any of those qualifications?
Meriam : Yes it does qualify
Me : do I have to access the att premier website in order to be able to still get the two year contract? Is there a direct link to the website from the myatt page?
Meriam : Premier customers are being directed automatically to premier website once that you process and upgrade online.
Me : okay
Meriam : I see you have just reached the premier page. Under a business account. Cool!
Meriam : Will there be anything else that I can help you with today, Jared?
Me : no thank you
Meriam : It has been a great pleasure to help you and be chatting with you in this beautiful day!
Meriam : When you are ready, please click on the CLOSE button found on this chat room to end the chat. Thank you!
You didn't ask if you're in fact a Custom IRU. Some FAN customers have called AT&T to ask about this and were informed they weren't eligible, indicating that Custom IRU is different from regular IRU.