If I am mistaken please let me know but it is my understanding for Individual Responsibility User (IRU) accounts that are sponsored through CRU agreements and negotiations, you can still sign up for a two year equipment discount only if the phone number in question is out of contract? If it is under contract, then your only option is an installment plan; there is no longer an option to upgrade into a 2 year contract to get a subsidized price?
My frustration is now that AT&T has gone away with this option, the subsidized costs incorporated into the plans you would think result in lower plan costs but from what I am seeing this is hardly the case. Currently I have a FT plan with an IRU discount through my employer and pay approximately $190.xx Mo.. After reviewing through the current plans, it is my understanding the Mobile Value Plan would be $100 for the base charge, $15.00 per phone not under installment assuming 4 phone = $160.00 + tax $10.00 approximately per Mo. $170.00 + $2,599.96 for 4 iphones.
2 years total cost under MVP $4,080.00 + $2,599.96 = $6,679.96
2 years total cost under current FTP $4,560 + $799.96 (199.99 per phone) = $5,359.96
Now I am very intrigued by the Google Fi project with a $20.00 UVP & UTP with tiered data cost of $10.00 each tier. While through the service uses Sprint & T-Mobile as the core backbone, I am curious how this will take off and impact once they allow iPhones; Android is just not for everyone. Although I've see workarounds allowing to activate the device then putting their sim card in an iPhone, this is just not feasible for me.
Because of this shift, it is suggested the MVO/prepaid market continue to grow as equipment costs continue to rise; as an example is:
http://www.globalrewardsolutions.co...le-Top-up_Wireless-Market-Statistics-2015.pdf