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I've done the math many times on these forums. But just as a clue, there never was, nor is there now any such thing as "free subsidizing." The carriers have always built the price of the "subsidization" into the monthly cost of your service. As is proven by the fact that Verizon will now lower your monthly access fee by $25 if your phone is off contract, or you buy your phone through Apple instead of them.

If you do a simple calculation of that $25 times 24 months ($600) plus the $200 they charge for down payment on a 64GB iPhone you will see that the $800 you pay for a $750 phone is more than the $750 you would pay for it by financing the full price phone through Verizon ($31.24 per month).

And I will make you this deal: If you apologize immediately for the personal name calling attack and for calling me a troll, I won't turn you into the mods for violation of forum rules.

There may no such thing as "free subsidizing", but I can tell you this... My non-free subsidizing plan is cheaper than any plan in existence with ATT today. I'm keeping it.
 
What $200 down payment for a 64 GB iPhone? I've never put money down on a phone.... Plus, my post says that my bill would not fall by more than $12-16 per month. So I don't even know where the $25/mo. reduction in bill comes from... that's not how much MY bill goes down under the new, no contract plans. Multiple people have voiced that the contracts and subsidizing of the phones is a better deal than going "off contract". If it wasn't -- do you really think (presumably) VZW (et al.) would be doing away with contracts? They got tired of making money? Decided to give a little back?

I understand what subsidizing means and that the cost of the subsidy has been traditionally part of the monthly bill, just not itemized as such. That only matters if we're recouping the FULL difference in bill price between subsidizing and not. ...and depending on your contract, not all of us are.

You've proven nothing except your first reply to me was, in fact, a trolling response adding zero value to the discussion. In fact, scrolling back through the thread, it wasn't the first time you were called out as such in that very thread.

NOW, you're going to blackmail me and threaten to tattle on me to the mods because you can't emotionally handle being referred to in the same company as what the collective internet would call a troll by some strangers on a forum?(twice in one thread --as if you might actually have been trolling!?) That's laughable. What are you, 6 years old?

Do it...

stay classy

You've never put money down on a phone? LOL. Okay, it's easy to make the numbers work out for you when you make stuff up. Have a great day, Rockefeller.
 
A premier rep told me im on an iru acct.....with a fan.....that means individual responsible user acct....employees of big companies like coke. Pepsi..ups..delta air...have iru accts....and he sez after jan 8th we aill lose our 2 year contract upgrade option and subsidies.......but he said new line activations will still get a 2 yr contract subsidy......a cru....or corporate responsible user ...is an employee of a big company..like maybe a supervisor...who is given a phone to use by his company....those types of users will still get to keep their 2yr contract subsidies......he told me even hes gonna lose his subsidies from att.
 
If I were to dump my ATT contract and go with something like Cricket pre-paid... can I keep my same number? I also travel and use the ATT LTE for GPS Google maps, hotel reservations, etc. Do you think I'd have as much coverage with a pre-paid?

Yes, you can port your same phone number over to Cricket and keep the number.

Cricket uses AT&T's network. It is essentially the same as you use now and you most likely won't notice any difference. Set up auto-pay with your credit card and it is $35/$45/$55 per month "all inclusive" including all taxes and fees depending on how much data you want. Extra Gb's are $10. This is something I'm considering doing as well since I have just a single line (myself).
 
Actually, you don't know what you really paid for the service and the subsidy, because it was all lumped together in your bill.

Actually, if we assume that either way we are hosed things get a lot easier. We are here to earn money to tithe to the already rich so they can stay rich.

Sorry, I'm, just burned out from the 'family political talk/fight' from the holidays.

Trump this, Sanders that, Clinton/Cruz/Huckabee, but but but...

We are the people that allow the rich to be rich. WE are the 'they' that keep the country running.

Enjoy... :rolleyes:
 
It's still a cost out of your pocket, and you can sell the phone that you pay over the term without "subsidies" too. If you're going to compare apples to apples on non-"subsidized" versus buying the phone outright (and financing it) you have to calculate all of your costs.
That doesn't change anything.

Subsidy + FamilyTalk: 650 (new iPhone) - 450 subsidy = 200 out of pocket cost - 200 selling old iPhone = 0 out of pocket cost + 45 upgrade fee = 45 out of pocket cost.

NEXT + Mobile Share Value: 650 (new iPhone) = 650 out of pocket cost - 200 (selling old iPhone) = 450 out of pocket cost + 15 upgrade fee = 475 out of pocket cost.

*technically there is tax as well but it's the same for both phones.

Sure you can sell your new iPhone on NEXT or outright but it doesn't change that you are still paying full price and losing the subsidy if you convert from FamilyTalk to MSV. And like I said previously, the removing of the subsidy in MSV doesn't equal the value lost; AT&T is actually increasing their button line.
 
Yes, you can port your same phone number over to Cricket and keep the number.

Cricket uses AT&T's network. It is essentially the same as you use now and you most likely won't notice any difference. Set up auto-pay with your credit card and it is $35/$45/$55 per month "all inclusive" including all taxes and fees depending on how much data you want. Extra Gb's are $10. This is something I'm considering doing as well since I have just a single line (myself).

I checked out cricket's site. Looks like something I may move to... only I just learned that cricket is actually owned by ATT. Man I hate this company. This isn't new either. I got fed up and left them several years ago. Was hoping I'd never have to deal with them again. I switched to Cingular... and then a couple years later, ATT acquired them and I was back in the ATT cesspool again. :(
 
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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.

I'd like to find out more details on this also.
I'm on a popular companys FAN discount but not really sure if that will allow me to continue with subsidies via the premier site or not.
 
Anyone on a current ATT contract with upgrade due this year (before December) live chat or call 611, ask for retention specialist and have them do an early upgrade on your account. This is if you are happy with your plan and want a new 6s(+).

If the first person refuses or informs they can't, call or chat with someone else. Eventually, you'll get someone who will do the early upgrade.

Confirmed that this works right now before the 8th.

Don't forget to ask for the upgrade fee to be waived ($45)!
 
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I'd like to find out more details on this also.
I'm on a popular companys FAN discount but not really sure if that will allow me to continue with subsidies via the premier site or not.

Same here. I asked my sister who's an Apple Store manager about it the other day and she was under the impression that all FAN customers could still renew on 2-year contracts after January 8th through the Premier store. However, when I showed her the FAQ screenshot indicating that only Custom IRUs and CRUs are eligible, she didn't know what to say. Hopefully we'll get a concrete answer regarding this (before anyone cancels for the wrong reason).
 
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Same here. I asked my sister who's an Apple Store manager about it the other day and she was under the impression that all FAN customers could still renew on 2-year contracts after January 8th through the Premier store. However, when I showed her the FAQ screenshot indicating that only Custom IRUs and CRUs are eligible, she didn't know what to say. Hopefully we'll get a concrete answer regarding this (before anyone cancels for the wrong reason).
It's pretty simple. AT&T renegotiates the FAN deals with each individual company. So some of those will still be able to do 2 year contracts. Eventually those contracts will expire and when renegotiated, the 2 year contract will be removed. So eventually everyone will lose the ability to get 2 yrs.

As for right now, my gut feeling says that most people even with FAN discounts will be SOL. AT&T will probably not make a list of co that still have 2 yr contracts so everyone will need to call in and confirm if they are eligible.
 
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It's pretty simple. AT&T renegotiates the FAN deals with each individual company. So some of those will still be able to do 2 year contracts. Eventually those contracts will expire and when renegotiated, the 2 year contract will be removed. So eventually everyone will lose the ability to get 2 yrs.

Except you don't have inside information that they're removing the 2-year contract at the next renegotiation for the time being. That may come later down the line as they've made a blanket statement in the FAQ that Custom IRUs and CRUs are still eligible, which would not be possible if they're actively renegotiating some businesses' contracts to remove it on a rolling basis as we speak.

Alternatively, they may elect to keep the 2-year contracts only for Custom IRUs and CRUs as part of the deal in addition to FAN discounts (although this is wishful thinking).

My personal opinion is AT&T isn't that generous and most FAN customers (who are regular IRUs) aren't eligible, although it'd be nice if I'm wrong.
 
Except you don't have inside information that they're removing the 2-year contract at the next renegotiation for the time being. That may come later down the line as they've made a blanket statement in the FAQ that Custom IRUs and CRUs are still eligible, which would not be possible if they're actively renegotiating some businesses' contracts to remove it on a rolling basis as we speak.

Alternatively, they may elect to keep the 2-year contracts only for Custom IRUs and CRUs as part of the deal in addition to FAN discounts (although this is wishful thinking).

My personal opinion is AT&T isn't that generous and most FAN customers (who are regular IRUs) aren't eligible, although it'd be nice if I'm wrong.
That's because they are locked into those contracts UNTIL they are expire and it's possible to renegotiate them.

Once those contracts are expired, then they'll renegotiate them to remove 2 yr. I don't have inside information but it's obvious that will happen because the entire industry is moving away from subsidies.
 
That's because they are locked into those contracts UNTIL they are expire and it's possible to renegotiate them.

Once those contracts are expired, then they'll renegotiate them to remove 2 yr. I don't have inside information but it's obvious that will happen because the entire industry is moving away from subsidies.

What if some businesses' CRU contracts are set to expire on January 7th? Obviously not being renegotiated to remove it for the time being if after January 8th, all CRU customers are still eligible.
 
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Same here. I asked my sister who's an Apple Store manager about it the other day and she was under the impression that all FAN customers could still renew on 2-year contracts after January 8th through the Premier store. However, when I showed her the FAQ screenshot indicating that only Custom IRUs and CRUs are eligible, she didn't know what to say. Hopefully we'll get a concrete answer regarding this (before anyone cancels for the wrong reason).

The FAQ is cut off though. If you notice, there are bullet points after the FAN question, but only one bullet point is listed...
 
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The FAQ is cut off though. If you notice, there are bullet points after the FAN question, but only one bullet point is listed...

Good catch, but I don't think it matters because the first screenshot is pretty clear that "AT&T Next and no-commitment (full-retail price) will become the only smartphone purchase options available for new and existing Consumer, standard Individual Responsibility Users (IRU)."

Only Custom IRU and CRU customers remain eligible. This unfortunately rules out most FAN customers, who are standard IRUs.
 
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.

Heh, I kinda feel sorry for you since you seem to not get out much and also are so judgmental about other people's needs. But you never answered my question about where I can get a less expensive reliable 7GB+ data package in the U.S. I'm now paying.
 
You've never put money down on a phone? LOL. Okay, it's easy to make the numbers work out for you when you make stuff up. Have a great day, Rockefeller.

Yeah, I think we're done here. Obviously you aren't grasping that not everyone's experience in phone purchasing, contracts, etc. is the same as yours. It's like somehow convincing me that it is "...SO MUCH CHEAPER (OMG)" to go off contract is going to give you that much needed self-confidence boost for the day. That small reminder that you ARE a winner, dang it! So much so that you'll argue it with me and others in this same thread until you get that little esteem nugget you're after.... that, or we tire of the game and give up trying to point out that there are different situations that suit others in different ways. Quite frankly, I don't care if you get it. I'm doing what's best for me and my family and I have confidence in myself that it's the right decision. I don't need to try to show some stranger on the internet WHY or HOW... especially someone who refuses to see two sides of a coin.

stay ignorant
 
Yeah, I think we're done here. Obviously you aren't grasping that not everyone's experience in phone purchasing, contracts, etc. is the same as yours. It's like somehow convincing me that it is "...SO MUCH CHEAPER (OMG)" to go off contract is going to give you that much needed self-confidence boost for the day. That small reminder that you ARE a winner, dang it! So much so that you'll argue it with me and others in this same thread until you get that little esteem nugget you're after.... that, or we tire of the game and give up trying to point out that there are different situations that suit others in different ways. Quite frankly, I don't care if you get it. I'm doing what's best for me and my family and I have confidence in myself that it's the right decision. I don't need to try to show some stranger on the internet WHY or HOW... especially someone who refuses to see two sides of a coin.

stay ignorant

If you only knew how many contracts, phones, carriers and plans I deal with in any given week. LOL.

But that's okay. You have some "special" time/space warp that nobody else lives in that makes math rules bend a different way for you. More power to you.

BTW: I never said that getting a phone off contract is "so much cheaper." What I said, which is true is that there was never, ever any such thing as a "subsidized" phone. Period. You always, always, always paid for the phone. You just did it in a bundled and non-transparent way that, in almost all cases costs more in the long run.

And yeah, we're done here.
 
If you only knew how many contracts, phones, carriers and plans I deal with in any given week. LOL.

But that's okay. You have some "special" time/space warp that nobody else lives in that makes math rules bend a different way for you. More power to you.

BTW: I never said that getting a phone off contract is "so much cheaper." What I said, which is true is that there was never, ever any such thing as a "subsidized" phone. Period. You always, always, always paid for the phone. You just did it in a bundled and non-transparent way that, in almost all cases costs more in the long run.

And yeah, we're done here.
And that is where you are wrong. Look at this thread. We have people on single individual plans to people on 5 line family plans, like me, all complaining that the new plans/next cost more.

"Baked in subsidy" is a half-truth. Half true because yes it exists. But false because it was actually cheaper. People like you buy into this marketing spin because you miscalculate the math to not include the subsidy cost in your service.
 
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Good catch, but I don't think it matters because the first screenshot is pretty clear that "AT&T Next and no-commitment (full-retail price) will become the only smartphone purchase options available for new and existing Consumer, standard Individual Responsibility Users (IRU)."

Only Custom IRU and CRU customers remain eligible. This unfortunately rules out most FAN customers, who are standard IRUs.

Didn't see that -- even better catch

Looks like this is an end of an era for many of us UDP folks
 
And that is where you are wrong. Look at this thread. We have people on single individual plans to people on 5 line family plans, like me, all complaining that the new plans/next cost more.

"Baked in subsidy" is a half-truth. Half true because yes it exists. But false because it was actually cheaper. People like you buy into this marketing spin because you miscalculate the math to not include the subsidy cost in your service.


It really will boil down to each individuals situation. For example:

5 Line family with unlimited data. Family uses 10 gigabytes combined (Remember, this is an example, as an individual situation... I use this example because it is the same exact way my cousin's family plan was).

700 Min Family Talk Plan, Unlim TXT, 5 lines w/ unlimited data, through att. 20% employer discount.

Family Talk 700 Plan

$60 ($48 after discount) - Talk for first line
$40 - Partner lines ($10 per)
$30 - Text
$30 ($24 after discount) - Data (x5 = $120)
---
$238 + Taxes/Fees

$271 after est. taxes and fees


Phones (Phones vary, for this purpose I'll use 64GB iPhone 6s' as examples since they got varying gb iPhones and I can't remember which ones)

$299 w/ 2yr + 5.5% sales tax (varies per state, obv) = $316.49 x 5 = 1582.45
$45 Renewal fee x 5 = $225

Total One Time Fees = $1807.45, or $75.31 per month if spread over 24 months

$271 (service) + $75.31 (equipment monthly from 1 time costs) = $346.31

(Add an estimated $28.5 after taxes/fees per month after unlimited data plan increase, and you'll get to $374.81 per month)


---------------

Mobile Share Value 15gb Plan


$100 ($80 after discount) - Talk/Text/Data plan
$75 line fees ($15 out of contract per)
-----
$155 + Taxes/Fees

$176.7 after est taxes and fees


Phones(Phones vary, for this purpose I'll use 64GB iPhone 6s' as examples since they got varying gb iPhones and I can't remember which ones)

$749.99 over 24 months (Next 18) = $31.25/mo x 5 = $156.25
$15 Renewal fee x 5 = $75
$41.25 5.5% sales tax (varies per state, obv) x 5 = $206.25

Total One Time Fees = $206.25 taxes + $75 upgrade fees = $281.25

One time fees spread over 24 months to match 700 min plan for fairness = $11.72 /month

Total Monthly phone fees from above = $156.25


$176.7 service fees + $156.25 phone fees = $332.95 /month
Add $11.72 from one time fees and you get = $344.67



---

Conclusion and notes:

700 Min Plan BEFORE unlim price increase = $346.31
700 Min Plan AFTER unlim price increase = $374.81
15gb Mobile Share value w/ Next 18 = $344.67



Now a couple things

If the family on the 700 min plan DOES NOT (Did not) upgrade every 2 years, the bill stayed at the original service fees of $271 per month, no matter what. With a mobile share value plan, the plan has the chance to go all the way down to $156.25 service fees because the phones are paid off. There are a lot of people who DIDN'T upgrade exactly every two years. Families like to do hand me downs, people keep phones for longer because they still work, waiting for whatever random new phone to be released etc etc. So this is just an example, and this is an example used from my cousin's family plan. In any case, they come out a few bucks ahead every month over the course of 24 months with the 15gb MSV, and more than a few bucks ahead after the unlimited price increase. They don't use more than 10gb a month, so for THEM this worked. Not all families work out like this. Not all families have employer discounts (in which case the MSV works out even better in situations like this).


Bottom line, is every single customer needs to do what is right for them, not what is right for some random someone on Macrumors forums.









 
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