AT&T -> Verizon Questions

[Stangs55]

I plan on finally ditching the beast assuming we see LTE on both AT&T and Verizon iPhone 5's. A few questions for you guys from a lifelong AT&Ter

1. AT&T seems to allow launch day iPhone buyers to be eligible for upgrade each year even though they aren't nearing the end of their contract. Does Verizon do the same?

2. I plan on porting my two numbers to two iPhone 5's...and I also plan on preordering from Verizon/Apple the second the website goes live with the offer. Given that there's usually a week or two delay between the preorders and launch, how does that work for number porting? Are there any delays or gaps when porting through a preorder?

3. Just to make sure, Verizon LTE does allow simultaneous voice and data?

4. The new AT&T shared data plans include free tethering and hotspot; do the Verizon shared data plans also include this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[916Kev]

Hi there, indirect rep here. Verizon did away with annual upgrades. Everything is locked down to a two year contract (in less you provide your equipment then you would be month to month).
Porting a number only takes a few minutes but I'm unsure when it comes with pre orders. Sorry I can't help you there.
Verizon offers free mobile hot spot with our new shared everything. Used to be a $20 charge but now it's free for all capable devices. It would just eat into your monthly data allowance. Just a heads up: it kills battery life

Hope this helps!

 

[916Kev]

Oh and lte is simultaneous voice+data.

 

[Stangs55]

Hi there, indirect rep here. Verizon did away with annual upgrades. Everything is locked down to a two year contract (in less you provide your equipment then you would be month to month).
Porting a number only takes a few minutes but I'm unsure when it comes with pre orders. Sorry I can't help you there.
Verizon offers free mobile hot spot with our new shared everything. Used to be a $20 charge but now it's free for all capable devices. It would just eat into your monthly data allowance. Just a heads up: it kills battery life

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the reply.

The lack of a yearly upgrade path for iPhone guys may be a deal killer ;(

 

[Applejuiced]

I plan on finally ditching the beast assuming we see LTE on both AT&T and Verizon iPhone 5's. A few questions for you guys from a lifelong AT&Ter

1. AT&T seems to allow launch day iPhone buyers to be eligible for upgrade each year even though they aren't nearing the end of their contract. Does Verizon do the same?

2. I plan on porting my two numbers to two iPhone 5's...and I also plan on preordering from Verizon/Apple the second the website goes live with the offer. Given that there's usually a week or two delay between the preorders and launch, how does that work for number porting? Are there any delays or gaps when porting through a preorder?

3. Just to make sure, Verizon LTE does allow simultaneous voice and data?

4. The new AT&T shared data plans include free tethering and hotspot; do the Verizon shared data plans also include this?

Thanks in advance.

1. Neither carrier does that any more. AT&T stopped it last year. It was nice while it lasted though.
2. when preordering usually the port takes place when you receive the device and activate it with itunes.
3 I believe they do but we gotta wait for details on what the next iphone will have for hardware and how it will be used.
4. I know the AT&T shared plans do, not sure about verizons.

 

[M87]

No, Verizon won't give you upgrade eligibility until 20 months into your two-year contract. Yes, the shared plans include "free" tethering.

 

[willmtaylor]

1. I highly doubt you're going to see EITHER carrier dole out early upgrades for iPhones this year. The consensus of MR posters report that those days are behind us and that Apple has put restrictions on carriers' abilities to offer early upgrades (solely on the iPhone). Some have had luck with other phones, though.
   
2. There are also several threads that discuss this. From the thread Switching from AT&T to Verizon,
   

   I'm in the same situation. I've contacted AT&T, Verizon, and Apple. Here is what I have learned.
   
   

   • Pre-Order on Verizon's website and request to have my number ported.
   • When I attempt to activate the phone on Verizon that will start the porting process.
   • The porting process should take 4-24 hours.
   • The porting process initiates a cancellation on that line with the existing carrier.
   • If that line requires an ETF it will appear on my next (final) at&t bill.
   • The AT&T rep assured me the final bill will be prorated and I will not be forced to pay until the end of the billing cycle.

3. The short answer is "yes, probably" the long answer involves lots of acronyms, speculations, and potential features on the new iPhone.
   
4. Yes, all of the new VZW "Share Everything" plans include free tethering/hotspotting.

Hope this helps,
will

 

[Stangs55]

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

In regards to early upgrades....I've bought every generation of iPhone through AT&T on launch day (including the 4s). I've never paid anything but the lower price with a contract extension....In additionI just checked my upgrade eligability and I'm eligable for an upgrade already...

Sooo....not sure if I'm lucky, or what....

 

[orangebluedevil]

I've upgraded every year on ATT also, and also considering Verizon. And I'm in Houston too.

Anyway, I think you've been eligible each year because your bill has been over a certain amount ($150?) and you are the primary account holder. Or because you use a corporate FAN discount. I would bet the other iPhones on the account aren't eligible.

Even if we don't know exactly WHY, we can say that going forward it's going to be very rare to get a discount sooner than every 2 years. On att or Verizon.

 

[Stangs55]

I've upgraded every year on ATT also, and also considering Verizon. And I'm in Houston too.

Anyway, I think you've been eligible each year because your bill has been over a certain amount ($150?) and you are the primary account holder. Or because you use a corporate FAN discount. I would bet the other iPhones on the account aren't eligible.

Even if we don't know exactly WHY, we can say that going forward it's going to be very rare to get a discount sooner than every 2 years. On att or Verizon.

True. My bill is over $150/month and I've got a premiere corporate discount....but I didn't realize that made a difference on AT&T... Does it matter on Verizon as well?

(the other iphone is eligable, but it wasn't upgraded a year ago so I can't really compare)

 

[SR71]

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

In regards to early upgrades....I've bought every generation of iPhone through AT&T on launch day (including the 4s). I've never paid anything but the lower price with a contract extension....In additionI just checked my upgrade eligability and I'm eligable for an upgrade already...

Sooo....not sure if I'm lucky, or what....

That's odd, the yearly iPhone upgrades ended on AT&T a while ago. You are definitely lucky lol.

 

[scaredpoet]

The one thing keeping me on AT&T are those horrible mandatory Verizon "Share everything" plans. I'd be paying about $15 more per month with Verizon because of it, compared to what I pay now with AT&T.

They make sense, I guess, if you have 2 or more devices on one account that you're sharing data with, but if you want to be in charge of your own, individual account, it's not worth it.

 

[Dwalls90]

I just want to spit out there that AT&T will still randomly move forward some upgrades. My family all got the 4S and their upgrades were pushed to May 2013 instead of October of 2013.

 

[Applejuiced]

I just want to spit out there that AT&T will still randomly move forward some upgrades. My family all got the 4S and their upgrades were pushed to May 2013 instead of October of 2013.

Mine shows may 2013 also.
But I dont think that'a s pushed up upgrade.
If you got the 4S around release date in October or 2011 then around 20 months later would be May 2013 to renew your contract.

 

[willmtaylor]

True. My bill is over $150/month and I've got a premiere corporate discount....but I didn't realize that made a difference on AT&T... Does it matter on Verizon as well?

(the other iphone is eligable, but it wasn't upgraded a year ago so I can't really compare)

Just make sure that you're reading it right and that it's a FULL early upgrade and not just a discounted upgrade. (which is about $250 more on top of the fully-subsidized price). AT&T has been giving those out a lot more generously than the fully-subsidized "real" upgrades.

I'm not saying it's not possible, I'm just saying make sure.

 

[ixodes]

True. My bill is over $150/month and I've got a premiere corporate discount....but I didn't realize that made a difference on AT&T... Does it matter on Verizon as well?

(the other iphone is eligable, but it wasn't upgraded a year ago so I can't really compare)

I have AT&T as well as Verizon, both are corp accounts, AT&T has always been flexible. Verizon on the other hand never varies. They have not allowed any exceptions despite the fact that I'm a long time account holder with several lines.

 

[WesCole]

This is kind of off-topic, but do any of you know if I can pre-order the new iPhone on a line in my family plan on AT&T that is eligible for an upgrade and then just swap the sim in my iPhone 4S to the new iPhone? Or do I have to go through the hassle of going to the AT&T store?

 

[Dwalls90]

Mine shows may 2013 also.
But I dont think that'a s pushed up upgrade.
If you got the 4S around release date in October or 2011 then around 20 months later would be May 2013 to renew your contract.

I guess that's true

Wouldn't August technically be 20 months, though?

 

[dontwalkhand]

The iPhone is no longer special enough to warrant early upgrades like when the iPhone was still "the new thing"...now it is treated by the carriers as just another smartphone. Remember when it used to say iPhone plan on the data portion of your bill? Now it just says Smartphone-Data Pro 2GB etc...

 

[Applejuiced]

I guess that's true

Wouldn't August technically be 20 months, though?

Not sure, by doing my calculations with the calendar I get June. Since october 2011 till October 2012 would be 24. 4 months before October is June. But pretty close either way.

The iPhone is no longer special enough to warrant early upgrades like when the iPhone was still "the new thing"...now it is treated by the carriers as just another smartphone. Remember when it used to say iPhone plan on the data portion of your bill? Now it just says Smartphone-Data Pro 2GB etc...

I know, I dont feel special no more

 

[jaysen]

Hi there, indirect rep here. Verizon did away with annual upgrades. Everything is locked down to a two year contract (in less you provide your equipment then you would be month to month).
Porting a number only takes a few minutes but I'm unsure when it comes with pre orders. Sorry I can't help you there.
Verizon offers free mobile hot spot with our new shared everything. Used to be a $20 charge but now it's free for all capable devices. It would just eat into your monthly data allowance. Just a heads up: it kills battery life

Hope this helps!

Not to steal OP's thread, but can you comment on how FAN discounts work - I'm a government employee and I believe I receive a whopping 15% discount...

If I decide to do two iphones, or i do iphone/android, and one dumb phone + an ipad, what does the discount apply to?

I am soo confused but haven't had time to stop in a store and find out.

 

[NM08SRT8]

Hi there, indirect rep here. Verizon did away with annual upgrades. Everything is locked down to a two year contract (in less you provide your equipment then you would be month to month).
Porting a number only takes a few minutes but I'm unsure when it comes with pre orders. Sorry I can't help you there.
Verizon offers free mobile hot spot with our new shared everything. Used to be a $20 charge but now it's free for all capable devices. It would just eat into your monthly data allowance. Just a heads up: it kills battery life

Hope this helps!

20 months, not 2yrs.. FYI mr indirect rep.

----------

That's odd, the yearly iPhone upgrades ended on AT&T a while ago. You are definitely lucky lol.

There is a whole several page thread that states otherwise..

 

[Applejuiced]

20 months, not 2yrs.. FYI mr indirect rep.

The contract is for 2 years/24 months.
They usually let you upgrade and sign a new contract around 20 months to lock you in again before you contract expires
But if you do try to cancel you are tied in for the full 2 years from the day you singed the contract.

 

[NM08SRT8]

The contract is for 2 years/24 months.
They usually let you upgrade and sign a new contract around 20 months to lock you in again before you contract expires
But if you do try to cancel you are tied in for the full 2 years from the day you singed the contract.

I'm aware, but they do upgrades at 20 months, not 24 like he stated. Thats the end of your contract at the very minimal.

 

[Applejuiced]

I'm aware, but they do upgrades at 20 months, not 24 like he stated. Thats the end of your contract at the very minimal.

Correct.
But he didnt say 24 months for upgrade he just said you're locked down to a 2 year contract.
But kinda confusing since we are talking about upgrades