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Definitive "How AT&T Next Works" Guide

What worries me the most with the NEXT program is that next year I will have to go to an ATT store to trade in my current iPhone to get that year's new release. This means that I won't be able to pre-order or go to an Apple Store on launch day which usually has the largest inventory. Not only would not getting the new device on launch day be disappointing, but trying to get the specific model you want from ATT while supply is tight for the first month or so after a new release seems challenging. Does anyone know a way around this?

It's also disappointing that if I do select the NEXT program this year, you can't pre-order and do in-store pick-up, it must be mailed to your address. To clarify, if you are starting the NEXT program you can pre-order but can not do in-store pick-up. And if you are already on the NEXT program, you can't pre-order at all and you must go to an ATT store to make your purchase. Please correct me if Im wrong.
 
bigcat said:
I am still not sure NEXT is the way to go.

For example, let's say I want iPhone 6+ 64GB. I can get it now for $399 or $42.45/month (Next 12)

Let's say I go with Next, and 12 months from now I want to get iPhone 6S. At at point, I would have paid (12x42.45 = $509.40) for a phone I have to return to AT&T (trade-in) in order to get the new one, and then start paying for the other one, etc.

If I just spend the $399 now, I could sell it in 12 months, and use that money towards the new phone, which will be at full price since I wouldn't be eligible to upgrade but it would probably cover around half the price (~$300).

So if you always upgrade when a new phone is available, it still seems to me NEXT is more money than the 2-yr contract.
Click to expand...
Things to consider, when you trade in your old phone, you don't need to pay AT&T the $340 you still owe them.

Also, if you're on MSVP 10GB or higher, you get a $25 discount with Next. That means if you go contract, you end up paying $699 ($399 + $25*12) during the 1st year instead of just $510. On the second year, the cost for the new iPhone will again be $510 ($42.50/mo). You can sell your old iPhone and buy a new one outright but that's gonna cost more still: $849 - $500 + $25*12 = $649.

If you're not getting at least a $25 per line discount, though, skip Next and go contract.
 
eagleglen said:
What worries me the most with the NEXT program is that next year I will have to go to an ATT store to trade in my current iPhone to get that year's new release. This means that I won't be able to pre-order or go to an Apple Store on launch day which usually has the largest inventory. Not only would not getting the new device on launch day be disappointing, but trying to get the specific model you want from ATT while supply is tight for the first month or so after a new release seems challenging. Does anyone know a way around this?

It's also disappointing that if I do select the NEXT program this year, you can't pre-order and do in-store pick-up, it must be mailed to your address. To clarify, if you are starting the NEXT program you can pre-order but can not do in-store pick-up. And if you are already on the NEXT program, you can't pre-order at all and you must go to an ATT store to make your purchase. Please correct me if Im wrong.
Click to expand...

I think your right and you found a big down side to the Next program. You would think a plan that allows you to upgrade every 12 months would cater to early adopters a bit better.
 
eagleglen said:
It's also disappointing that if I do select the NEXT program this year, you can't pre-order and do in-store pick-up, it must be mailed to your address. To clarify, if you are starting the NEXT program you can pre-order but can not do in-store pick-up. And if you are already on the NEXT program, you can't pre-order at all and you must go to an ATT store to make your purchase. Please correct me if Im wrong.
Click to expand...

This is seriously annoying and I am completely not understanding why you can't do in store pick up if you are doing NEXT. I'm currently not using NEXT, but plan on doing it to get the phone, and then pay it off in a few months. What the heck is the reasoning behind having to have it delivered to your home?
 
You don't have to go to a store to order or trade in. You can pay to upgrade on the att site for preorder and they will send you a prepaid shipping label to return your old phone when the i6 comes.
 
Here's my question - and I apologize if it was answered elsewhere.

I currently receive $25/off per my two lines under the 10GB Value Plan. I have two phone lines that are upgrade eligible through NEXT OR a 2-year commitment and one iPad that's purchased through their installment program.

My understanding (according to the rep I chatted with) is that I would not receive an additional $25 per line off for purchasing a phone under the NEXT program. If this is true then I believe I'd be better off just going with the 2-year commitment - from a straight cost perspective.

Is this accurate?
 
jcarlough said:
Here's my question - and I apologize if it was answered elsewhere.

I currently receive $25/off per my two lines under the 10GB Value Plan. I have two phone lines that are upgrade eligible through NEXT OR a 2-year commitment and one iPad that's purchased through their installment program.

My understanding (according to the rep I chatted with) is that I would not receive an additional $25 per line off for purchasing a phone under the NEXT program. If this is true then I believe I'd be better off just going with the 2-year commitment - from a straight cost perspective.

Is this accurate?
Click to expand...

You'll lose the $25/month discount you're receiving now.
 
Rugburn said:
Sounds good.

Can anyone who has done the next plan answer my question?

Currently my bill is exactly $140.86 after all taxes, fees, etc... If I upgrade one of the phones to next for $31.25 (next 18, 64gb 6). My bill should be exactly $172.11 correct?

What I am afraid of is AT&T calculating my taxes and fees after including the $31.25 to the net total. Granted it may not be a whole lot of money, but I don't want to be double taxed... Would rather pay oop if that were the case.

If you have upgraded under NEXT did your bill only go up the exact $ you expected? Or was it a little more after increased state, local taxes, etc.
Click to expand...

I doubt it! when you do next, you do have to pay taxes upfront on the retail price of the phone. the installment you are paying every month ($31.25) goes towards the price of the phone which you already paid taxes for. So I'm sure they won't be calculating taxes of your plan including this fee.

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jcarlough said:
Here's my question - and I apologize if it was answered elsewhere.

I currently receive $25/off per my two lines under the 10GB Value Plan. I have two phone lines that are upgrade eligible through NEXT OR a 2-year commitment and one iPad that's purchased through their installment program.

My understanding (according to the rep I chatted with) is that I would not receive an additional $25 per line off for purchasing a phone under the NEXT program. If this is true then I believe I'd be better off just going with the 2-year commitment - from a straight cost perspective.

Is this accurate?
Click to expand...

you will lose the $25 discount when you do a 2 year upgrade. the only way to keep it is if you buy the phone outright. Now, when you do NEXT you do get a discount on your monthly access fee, so instead of paying $40 dollars a month, you are gonna pay $15, of course you also pay the installment for your phone, too.
 
jcarlough said:
Here's my question - and I apologize if it was answered elsewhere.

I currently receive $25/off per my two lines under the 10GB Value Plan. I have two phone lines that are upgrade eligible through NEXT OR a 2-year commitment and one iPad that's purchased through their installment program.

My understanding (according to the rep I chatted with) is that I would not receive an additional $25 per line off for purchasing a phone under the NEXT program. If this is true then I believe I'd be better off just going with the 2-year commitment - from a straight cost perspective.

Is this accurate?
Click to expand...


2 year commitment:
  • + $50 a month for 2 lines service. (you lose the $25/line discount when you do a 2 year upgrade)
  • + $80 activation fee for 2 iPhones
  • + $27.86 (taxes on 2 iPhones)
  • + $398 upfront cost for 2 iPhones (2 year commitment)
Total for 2 years: $1705.86

AT&T Next:
  • Keep $50 a month discount on service.
  • + $90.86 (taxes) upfront cost for 2 iPhones.
  • + $27.03 x 2 iPhones monthly cost.

Total for 2 years: $1388.30

In your case, you save $317.56 for going with AT&T Next.
 
Last edited:
Just to triple check:

I currently have Unlimited Data and want to do the Next option as I'm not eligible for the traditional upgrade.

Do I have to change my plan to do the Next option?
 
Gizmotoy said:
I have one NEXT question I haven't seen asked elsewhere: Does buying a device with NEXT generate a credit inquiry on your credit report if you're a current customer? They're essentially giving you a 20 or 24 month line of credit, so it wouldn't be surprising, but none of the FAQs or discussion mention it.
Click to expand...

Can anyone answer this?
 
Here's my question ---

I am an original iPhone purchaser with a grandfathered unlimited data plan. I have an iPhone 5s which I purchased 09.20.2013. Cost is approximately $100 per month.

My wife is also an original iPhone purchaser with a grandfathered unlimited data plan. She also upgraded to the iPhone 5s, although I believe she upgraded in Oct. 2013. Cost is approximately $100 per month.

My daughter has my old iPhone 4s, which I have paid for on a month to month basis via the StraightTalk Wireless plan. Cost is approximately $45 per month.

Combined - we pay $245 for 3 iPhones.

I guess there is a way that I can merge my wife's account and my account and create the mobile share account for all three of our iPhones. I realize that we lose the unlimited data - but I think I've been using about 3 GB of data a month for about 3 years, and my wife even less. (My daughter is questionable!!)

I am considering the Next plan to upgrade to the iPhone 6 - and at the same time merge our 3 iPhones into one Mobile Share plan --- is that a worthwhile idea?
 
Gizmotoy said:
I have one NEXT question I haven't seen asked elsewhere: Does buying a device with NEXT generate a credit inquiry on your credit report if you're a current customer? They're essentially giving you a 20 or 24 month line of credit, so it wouldn't be surprising, but none of the FAQs or discussion mention it.
Click to expand...

No. Existing customers who's accounts are in good standing don't need credit approval.

New customers will have their credit checked.

----------
jlblodgett said:
Here's my question ---

I am an original iPhone purchaser with a grandfathered unlimited data plan. I have an iPhone 5s which I purchased 09.20.2013. Cost is approximately $100 per month.

My wife is also an original iPhone purchaser with a grandfathered unlimited data plan. She also upgraded to the iPhone 5s, although I believe she upgraded in Oct. 2013. Cost is approximately $100 per month.

My daughter has my old iPhone 4s, which I have paid for on a month to month basis via the StraightTalk Wireless plan. Cost is approximately $45 per month.

Combined - we pay $245 for 3 iPhones.

I guess there is a way that I can merge my wife's account and my account and create the mobile share account for all three of our iPhones. I realize that we lose the unlimited data - but I think I've been using about 3 GB of data a month for about 3 years, and my wife even less. (My daughter is questionable!!)

I am considering the Next plan to upgrade to the iPhone 6 - and at the same time merge our 3 iPhones into one Mobile Share plan --- is that a worthwhile idea?
Click to expand...

You will save a TON! Wife and I are dumping our unlimited plan and my daughter who only had 200MB a month will now get 1GB, 5 times what she has been use to.

We are doing the 10GB value share plan and I will have my daughter monitor her data with the AT&T app and turn her data off at 1GB. Wife and I use about 6GB combined so that still leaves 3GB of cushion!

Our plan will be about $140 with taxes and fees, not counting cost of phones.
 
jcarlough said:
Really? Do you know why that is? None of my phones were ever purchased under the Next plan. I'm just simply at the end of my last 2 year contract.
Click to expand...

It was a "gift" AT&T gave to existing customers when they rolled out the new Mobile Share plans last February. Any lines already under contract prior to that date got the discount by switching to one of the new plans. Going forward, if you want to keep that discount when upgrading, you need to pay for the phone in full or go with NEXT. Getting a subsidized device with a new 2 year commitment eliminates that discount.
 
duaneu said:
Going forward, if you want to keep that discount when upgrading, you need to pay for the phone in full or go with NEXT. Getting a subsidized device with a new 2 year commitment eliminates that discount.
Click to expand...

Here's my problem: I have NEXT and want to pay for my phone in full, upfront. Apparently there is no option to do this, at least online. It looks like I will be ordering the T-Mobile model, unless someone can figure out a different way to do this.
 
rnizlek said:
Here's my problem: I have NEXT and want to pay for my phone in full, upfront. Apparently there is no option to do this, at least online. It looks like I will be ordering the T-Mobile model, unless someone can figure out a different way to do this.
Click to expand...

The other alternative is to just buy it through NEXT. You can pay it off in full after a month or two. It's 0% interest and no extra fees.
 
Dandrews524 said:
Lets say you bought a iphone 5 at launch two years ago. Now this year you are on a 10gb msvp, since you signed a 2 year contract for the iphone 5 before 02/14, the line fee for your iphone on the 10gb msvp is $15 instead of the standard $40 for any smart phone. When you sign a 2 year contract and get the phone at a subsidized price that $15 line fee turns back into $40 to help recoup the money ATT lost subsidizing the phone. The new mobile share value plans have not been around for 2 years so I cant say with any certainty what happens to the $40 line fee after a 2 year contract has expired. I would assume if you call ATT and let them know your contract is up they would make sure you recive the $25 credit towards your $40 line fee.
Click to expand...

rui no onna said:
On the new Mobile Share Value plans, they do now. You get a $15-25 discount per line that's not on contract depending on your data bucket.
Click to expand...

My contract on an iPhone 5 is over next week. I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan for 2 lines and 750 nationwide family. My bill comes out to $150 after tax every month. I was thinking about switching to 10 or 15GB mobile shared because of how often I get throttled. But not sure yet.
 
Cpnyc88 said:
My contract on an iPhone 5 is over next week. I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan for 2 lines and 750 nationwide family. My bill comes out to $150 after tax every month. I was thinking about switching to 10 or 15GB mobile shared because of how often I get throttled. But not sure yet.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind losing the unlimited data the mobile share plans are the way to go. are you going to upgrade with the next plan or 2 year contract?
 
duaneu said:
The other alternative is to just buy it through NEXT. You can pay it off in full after a month or two. It's 0% interest and no extra fees.
Click to expand...

At that point is it permissible to unlock it? That is really what I care about - for overseas travel.

Also, will buying through NEXT run a credit check? While I normally wouldn't care, I may be applying for a mortgage in the next six months or so, and would prefer to keep my credit report inquiries to a minimum.
 
You pay taxes at point of sale and therefore the taxes won't be added on the bill for the next installment plan.


Rugburn said:
Sounds good.

Can anyone who has done the next plan answer my question?

Currently my bill is exactly $140.86 after all taxes, fees, etc... If I upgrade one of the phones to next for $31.25 (next 18, 64gb 6). My bill should be exactly $172.11 correct?

What I am afraid of is AT&T calculating my taxes and fees after including the $31.25 to the net total. Granted it may not be a whole lot of money, but I don't want to be double taxed... Would rather pay oop if that were the case.

If you have upgraded under NEXT did your bill only go up the exact $ you expected? Or was it a little more after increased state, local taxes, etc.
Click to expand...
 
Dandrews524 said:
If you don't mind losing the unlimited data the mobile share plans are the way to go. are you going to upgrade with the next plan or 2 year contract?
Click to expand...

I was going to buy outright or do next. I pay about $75 per month for each line right now give or take a couple of dollars. Hard to beat.
 
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