Comparison of iPhone 4S Service Plans for AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon

Don't forget though the items not mentioned that automatically get included with Sprint:

1) Unlimited calls to ANY mobile phone that do not count against your minutes (this is HUGE)
2) Nights start at 7pm instead of the other carriers 9pm (this should also count toward free minutes the others don't include)
3) Free unlimited texting that comes with our package. Why don't I see texting costs included with the other carriers

So if you were fair you would add $30 extra on the other carriers for unlimited texting, to add 7pm nights on AT&T I remember them adding an additional $10, plus free mobile to mobile ANY carrier actually would in a "real world" scenario make it comparable to at least doubling the minutes (another $20+) (who calls land-lines anymore). So Apples to Apples and iPhone single plan for Sprint is at least $60 less than the others a month. If you want no texting, rarely use your minutes, and rarely use any data then the other carriers are an option BUT if you actually plan on using your iPhone Sprint is the ONLY option.
 
Andytroyer said:
Don't forget though the items not mentioned that automatically get included with Sprint:

1) Unlimited calls to ANY mobile phone that do not count against your minutes (this is HUGE)
Click to expand...

Can't speak for Verizon, but AT&T has had the same unlimited calls to ANY mobile phone for a while now.
 
Engadget has TOTALLY opposite numbers. Who's correct?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/how-much-will-the-iphone-4s-plans-set-you-back-on-sprint-verizo/

D7l9j.png
 
I'm with VM and that exact plan makes me really consider what an iPhone is really worth. That ~700 extra a year covers a nice weekend away.

That being said I still like following Apple phone news because it does set the bar for everyone.

Hopefully some day data caps will be a thing of the past (even VM is going to start throttling the heaviest users some, but for $35 a month I can live with that). Until then all the cloud features just don't make sense.


aaronptrck said:
Virgin Mobile - $35/Month
-300 Minutes
-Unlimited Data
-Unlimited Text
-NO CONTRACT

Until the (iPhone) can beat this... I ain't buying one. :p
Click to expand...
 
KPOM said:
Are you on some grandfathered plan? The lowest priced plans I was able to find started at £25/month for a paltry 100 minutes, 100 text, and 500MB on T-Mobile UK (I'm in the US but used to live in the UK and had one of their plans). Vodafone wanted £26 for 250MB. The top of the line plans from both were £62 and included a maximum 1GB data. I get the sense that people in the UK like to think they are getting such better deals, but in reality are paying very similar prices as we are in the US and getting less data.

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Here's the fine print on that "unlimited data' from giffgaff:

Is unlimited really unlimited?
The answer is yes, we are unlimited for personal mobile use - but not for commercial and automated use. Mobile Internet allowances exclude PC use and tethering.

It's difficult to see how anyone gets to 12GB of data without tethering, so it's disingenuous to compare giffgaff to AT&T's most expensive data plan.

All the big boys in the UK (Voda, T-Mobile, o2) have gravitated toward 1GB caps or less.

According to AT&T and Verizon, 98% of users stay below 2GB, so it seems perfectly valid to me to compare AT&T, VZW, and Sprint to the main UK carriers to find ... the prices are fairly comparable.
Click to expand...

Ok, so you've just quoted the fine print which matches up with what I said - unlimited with no personal hotspot (by this I meant tethering, sorry if that was not clear).

I agree that it would be unusual for someone to get to 12GB - I mentioned this in my comparison. And yes, it is true that many networks have migrated towards capping at 1GB or so. Not giffgaff though, and they have no intention of doing so in the near future.

Going with 2GB data and 900 minutes on AT&T would cost $2718.76 (£1749.76) with a 16GB 4S. This is still £770 ($1196) more than the using giffgaff (which uses O2 network) here in the UK.

For comparing to the main providers, you can still get plans which work out under £1000 with reasonable limits on calls/texts/data.

So still cheaper -and quite a bit at that - in the UK by my calculations.

Another thing I didn't stress enough before is that as you are not tied into a 24 month contract you can jump ship if you see a better deal (I think someone mentioned this previously). You would only be required to give one months notice in most cases.

By not being tied down to a contract I will also be able to sell my 4S (as I probably will do with my 4) before it depreciates in value too much. This will slightly offset the cost of purchasing the latest revision and allow me to get it as soon as it is released.
 
Sprint I learned last night also charges a 10 buck per month "Smart Phone Fee"

So take that into consideration.

Unless I was speaking to someone who had no idea what they were talking about.
 
WannaGoMac said:
haha, get some non-nerd friends. I don't know anyone who goes over 2gb. Unless you stream all the time, you're hard pressed to go over that in a month.

Most non-nerd friends of mine end up being under 250mb/month
Click to expand...

There are lots of people here who go over 2GB per month, it is easy to do with:
Cloud Services
Streaming Audio
Netflix
Email (This alone can do it to some of the people here in the matter of 3 days to a week).

----------
aaronptrck said:
Virgin Mobile - $35/Month
-300 Minutes
-Unlimited Data
-Unlimited Text
-NO CONTRACT

Until the (iPhone) can beat this... I ain't buying one. :p
Click to expand...

Can't beat it, but can come close with H2O wireless or straight talk.

Boost should work now with the unlocked version, since they have switched to Sprint's network as well and eventually ends up at $35 per month for unlimited everything if you stay with them long enough.
 
pbrooks said:
I read this post and called AT&T just to be sure. AT&T said people with unlimited plans are grandfathered in. YOU WILL NOT LOSE YOUR UNLIMITED plan, as has always been the deal. Why do people post such bulls--t?
Click to expand...


I called and that was what the AT&T rep told me. That was why I asked for confirmation from others.
 
Last edited:
Tiggs said:
Surprised Sprint's plan isn't more competitive. Still, at least it has some price advantage.
Click to expand...

How much more competitive can they be? They're the only ones offering true unlimited data without throttling. See my previous post:

baummer said:
eye said:
I was hoping Sprint would undercut the price fixing giants, but I was wrong. Are we all aware what a complete and utter rip off these plans are?

But hey, I'll pay just like you will. I think that one day I might just say forget it and buy a pre paid dumb phone.
Click to expand...

Sprint's offerings are the better deal, even with the stupid $10/mo. premium fee. For $79.99/mo. ($69.99 base + $10 smartphone fee) you can get:

  • 450 landline minutes
  • Free cell phone minutes (any call placed from your cell to another cell phone does not deduct from your minutes)
  • Free minute periods after 7pm weekdays and full weekends for no additional charge
  • Unlimited data (no throttling, no caps, free gps, etc.)
  • Unlimited messaging (including text and MMS)
  • Corporate discounts on base plan rates ranging from 10%-30% (call and see if your company qualifies)

There's simply no comparison to other carrier based on what they give you and what they charge you. Now network coverage and speed is highly subjective and depends on your location, but as far as overall value, Sprint can't currently be beat.
Click to expand...
 
I still don't know who to go with, I am in the metro DC area so coverage isn't an issue but I have never had a smart phone so I can't see me using more than 2GB a month in data and I share 550min w/ my wife and never go over.
 
Is the Hotspot free for Verizon and AT&T customers?

I see in the 2nd paragraph below the chart it says, "Mobile hotspot functionality is included in higher-level data packages (4 GB and above) from AT&T and Verizon, while it is a separate $29.99 per month add-on for Sprint's unlimited data service."

Does that mean it is included free with those plans? I have a grandfathered-in Unlimited package, does that qualify if they are indeed free?

I also noticed during checkout at Verizon it says "Smartphone Data Packages
You must select an option below
To connect up to 5 wifi-enabled devices right from your iPhone 4 & iPhone 4s - go to Settings > General > Network > and set up "Personal Hotspot" "
 
azentropy said:
This points out the TRUE cost of owning a smart phone. I always think it is pretty funny when people make a big deal about a phone now being $99 or Free and how it makes it sooo much more affordable. This shows what a very small percentage of the cost of the phone to the overall cost is with the subsidized model.

Bottom line: spend a bit more and get the current phone!
Click to expand...

People look at me funny when I ask what their payment plan is on their fancy phone. There's a roughly $20 per month payment on most of these high end ones built into the service cost. I'm glad someone else finally is doing some of the math.

Saying you got an iphone for $99 is like coming off the car lot and saying you got a new car for $1000. You're just talking about the down payment.

Most people if you asked them if they could afford a $2500 smartphone they would say no. But they can afford $110 a month and a $199 down payment oh yeah!
 
These weren't the AT&T rates I was offered when I pre-ordered this morning.

I'm grandfathered to Unlimited Data and on FamilyTalk so my rate structure was very different.
 
What about text messages?

Great chart, but the Sprint plan includes unlimited text messaging, which is like a $20 add on with other carriers.

Also, Sprint has an $80 plan with unlimited texting, data, and mobile to mobile minutes with any carrier.

Bottom line, no one can come anywhere near Sprint on price. Service and other factors may be another story, but Sprint is by far the cheapest. If you have a family plan you'll save even more, especially when factoring in texting. I have one plan with 5 lines, and another family plan with 3 lines on Sprint. Switching to VZW or ATT would make my bill almost double. Glad I can finally get an iphone, even if it's not an iphone 5.

----------

If you're on a family plan with multiple lines Sprint is even cheaper.


Andytroyer said:
Don't forget though the items not mentioned that automatically get included with Sprint:

1) Unlimited calls to ANY mobile phone that do not count against your minutes (this is HUGE)
2) Nights start at 7pm instead of the other carriers 9pm (this should also count toward free minutes the others don't include)
3) Free unlimited texting that comes with our package. Why don't I see texting costs included with the other carriers

So if you were fair you would add $30 extra on the other carriers for unlimited texting, to add 7pm nights on AT&T I remember them adding an additional $10, plus free mobile to mobile ANY carrier actually would in a "real world" scenario make it comparable to at least doubling the minutes (another $20+) (who calls land-lines anymore). So Apples to Apples and iPhone single plan for Sprint is at least $60 less than the others a month. If you want no texting, rarely use your minutes, and rarely use any data then the other carriers are an option BUT if you actually plan on using your iPhone Sprint is the ONLY option.
Click to expand...
 
Pay for texting? It's free on Google Voice

Google Voice text is free and works great on my iPhone. I cancelled my AT&T text feature when I got about 15 spam texts. Do you really want to text with people who are unable to use your Google Voice number to text you? Perhaps they are the people who are willing to pay $20/mo for texting.
 
C.Calthrop said:
Google Voice text is free and works great on my iPhone. I cancelled my AT&T text feature when I got about 15 spam texts. Do you really want to text with people who are unable to use your Google Voice number to text you? Perhaps they are the people who are willing to pay $20/mo for texting.
Click to expand...

dude. people don't care about theoretical possibilities.

who has Wi-Fi everywhere so they can do that?
 
Here's what I came up with using the Sears Roebuck & Co. discount. Which carrier would you choose?

Verizon
Line #1
Nationwide 700: $60 ($48 - 20% discount)
250 Text: $5
Data 2GB: $30 ($24 - 20% discount)

Line #2
Nationwide 700: $9.99
250 Text: $5
Data 2GB: $30 (only discounts primary line)

$121.99/month, $1,463.88/year, $2,927.76/2yr contract

Pros: Reliable network, $2.70/month cheaper
Cons: limited text (typically stay under bet it gets close), no voice & data at once, potentially slower data speeds?
--------------------------------------------
AT&T
Line #1
Nationwide 700 w/ rollover: $60 ($46.20 - 23% discount)
Data 2GB: $25 ($19.25 - 23% discount)
Unlimited Family Text: $30

Line #2
Nationwide 700 w/ rollover: $9.99
Data 2GB: $25 ($19.25 - 23% discount)
Unlimited text: paid above

$124.69/month, $1,496.28/year, $2,992.56/2yr contract

Pros: unlimited texting, rollover minutes, voice & data at once, potentially faster data speeds with HSPA+ on GSM, a truer world phone?
Cons: Less reliable network, $2.70/month more
 
Kid Red said:
But most important, which allow voice and data at the same time? I'll stick with AT&T.
Click to expand...

For me this is irrelevant. I can't think of a time where I was using voice where I needed to also use data. Some people, like yourself, may have had such a need.
 
How bad would it be to get a 3GS? I have never had a smartphone, I mainly want to be able to check email, surf the web, and take photos at random.
 
Kid Red said:
But most important, which allow voice and data at the same time? I'll stick with AT&T.
Click to expand...

Only useful if you can keep a signal, which on AT&T is a crap shoot

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bad03xtreme said:
How bad would it be to get a 3GS? I have never had a smartphone, I mainly want to be able to check email, surf the web, and take photos at random.
Click to expand...

Stupid stupid move. I have a 3gs, it runs iOS v4 so-so, v5 is going to get worse. You're going to spend $~2400 on the service, why cheap out on $200?
 
aaronptrck said:
Virgin Mobile - $35/Month
-300 Minutes
-Unlimited Data
-Unlimited Text
-NO CONTRACT

Until the (iPhone) can beat this... I ain't buying one. :p
Click to expand...

Looks like they use the Sprint network - can you buy an unlocked iPhone and use it with their service?
 
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