Sprint and Tmobile offer unlimited data plans. No slowdown. (Well sprint is always slow when not on LTE)
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
If You had to buy iPhone for $600 would you do it?
- Thread starter BluAffiliate
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Sprint and Tmobile offer unlimited data plans. No slowdown. (Well sprint is always slow when not on LTE)
That's a wrong statement as there are subsidies in other countries, better than what you get in the US. Vodafone uk will give you the iPhone 5 free on a two year contract worth about $75 a month. That's better than anything in America.
I bought mine at 729C$ with taxes as I needed a factory unlocked phone because I shuttle between India and Canada-I also had a factory unlocked 4 and 4S before it (still have them).
Anyone who buys it in India actually pays even more than this (lots of people now do buy them).
Anyone who buys it in India actually pays even more than this (lots of people now do buy them).
AT&T CEO has suggested we move away from subsidy but that 600 the vendor let u pay it off in 12 months like many merchandise, as long as ur credit good.
Already did with O iPhone.
For those of you saying paying outright for the phone is cheaper how you say? IF you plan on switching carriers for sure it is but if you don't plan on going anywhere why not get subsidized? You'll pay the same monthly either way so why not let them cover some of the cost?
For those of you saying paying outright for the phone is cheaper how you say? IF you plan on switching carriers for sure it is but if you don't plan on going anywhere why not get subsidized? You'll pay the same monthly either way so why not let them cover some of the cost?
Because you can get cheaper plans from prepaid MVNO providers that rent their network from a big carrier. These plans can be so much cheaper than the contract plans that you end up spending less money over the course of the 2 year contract period even including an expensive full-priced iPhone purchase.
Probably, yes. I'm still on an iP4, which bought for, I think, 650 euros back in 2010. It's still fully functioning, and if you divide the price through the numbers of days I've used the phone, it's really a negligible amount per day and absolutely worth it.
bought 4 for $710.xx (after tax), same for 4s, and 5. didn't want to be tied down to a contract.
----------
*knocking on wood* but been using StraightTalk since 2010/2011 and haven't had any issues regarding voice, text or data with the exception of MMS. But I don't really use MMS since I use apps like viber, whatsapp and wechat.
----------
*knocking on wood* but been using StraightTalk since 2010/2011 and haven't had any issues regarding voice, text or data with the exception of MMS. But I don't really use MMS since I use apps like viber, whatsapp and wechat.
It depends on the country and the plans and networks available.
In the USA, carriers have pushed family plans the past 6-7 years. Carriers are now a victim of their own success in trying to brag with carrier has the "most customers".
Over 60% of Americans are on family plans. 88% of Americans are on a family plan or have a discount from employer.
So the single line users are the real ones getting ripped off with the post paid carriers like Verizon or ATT. But single line users are the minority these days.
That's why Verzon decided to change their corporate earnings report 2 quarters ago to reflect "revenue per account" rather than "revenue per line".
Lines 2-5 generate less in profits to the post paid carriers....but lines 2-5 mean savings to the general public.
There has got to be some give and take with subsidized phones with carriers.
Which one blinks first if they try to lower the iPhone subsidy? Verizon and ATT can collude together to lower the subsidy and start charging $399 for the iphone on 2 year contract.
But they know the federal regulators will figure it out quickly and those duoploies will be disbanded quickly just like the original AT&T in 1984.
So the answer to who would pay $600 for an iPhone. Not many people on post paid plans would pay $600 for an iPhone if they are getting zero discount in terms of post paid pricing plans.
USA post paid carriers know that. Why do you think T-Mobile USA has failed so badly the past 2-3 years losing customers. Americans aren't as dumb as you think. They know family plans means savings.
I have 4 lines (2 smartphones with unlimited data (throttled with ATT). Unlimited text, 700 minutes with rollover and A-line. I pay $155 total and that's with a subsidy. Many people with family plans are in a simliar boat as me (24% discoutn also).
I would never pay full price for an iPhone. What I'll do is sell my 5 when the 5S comes out, and pay the difference. Then move on to the 6, etc. Yes, you are eventually paying more than $600 total over time, but it's not 1 big hit at once and you get to have the latest and greatest.
People already do this.
iPhone 16GB: $649
iPhone 32GB: $749
iPhone 64GB: $849
iPhone 64GB w/ AppleCare+: $1049
So not only do people buy an iPhone "for $600", they spend way more than that, as well.
If I could buy the phone outright and have a lower cost for data and voice, I would absolutely do it.
Unfortunately, there's no such option in the U.S. You can still buy the phone outright, but you'll still pay the same price for the plan as if you bought the phone subsidized.
T-Mobile is supposed to be announcing something like that next week. I can only hope that the other U.S. carriers at least offer the option.
Unfortunately, there's no such option in the U.S. You can still buy the phone outright, but you'll still pay the same price for the plan as if you bought the phone subsidized.
T-Mobile is supposed to be announcing something like that next week. I can only hope that the other U.S. carriers at least offer the option.
So they can use as much data as they want without worrying about being slapped with overage fees.
Fortunately, there are such options in the U.S. You just need to look at prepaid carriers instead of the big postpaid ones. The prepaid carriers with the best plans also rent their network capacity from the big carriers.
Some people need a reliable service, that works everywhere. Thus they are stuck on att, Verizon, and sprint. I pay att $90 a month for my service. Tmobile is not available in my area, and ST carries too many risks. I've read of people losing their ported number due to customer service mistakes, service being cut off mid month because of abuse etc.
I haven't heard any of those Straight Talk issues in a long time, just people getting throttled on the fake unlimited plan. It doesn't mean that companies like Page Plus, Airvoice, and Ting are like that.
Given that I regularly use around 90GB of data from Verizon, the $30 unlimited data plan I'm on is a steal.
I've been doing it for the last year and no throttling and no texts or letters from them. I heard it has something to do with the LTE spectrum they bought from the government, and somehow they are barred from throttling. I'm not sure of the details; all I know is that I've never had any problems.
If I had to come up with the money up front? I probably wouldn't. Not all of us are rich apple fan bois 