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I am paying the $250 early upgrade fee to AT&T, but I got them to knock off $10/mo from my messaging plan which is worth $240. So net=$10+subsidized price.
 
I opened a new dummy line on my account, which I intend to keep beyond the length of its contract so I can be upgrade-eligible every year on either it or my main line.
 
I'm just wondering... how is everyone able to upgrade to the iPhone 5 without paying full price? Was it just a coincidence that you happened to be eligible for an upgrade with your wireless carrier so you can pay the subsidized price for the iPhone 5 instead of paying full price? It seems many people are able to do this.

Were you just waiting in anticipation for the new iPhone 5 to be released, while using an old phone? Or are you just signing up with a new carrier? Given that many people are locked into a 2 year contract, I don't see how so many people are eligible for upgrades at just the right time when the iPhone 5 comes out.

This question obviously doesn't apply to people who are buying the iPhone 5 at full price.

Please let me know, as I'm interested how so many people are eligible for upgrades with the subsidized prices instead of paying full price. If you could share what carrier you're with, and what your method is, that would be great.

I am on a family plan with my sisters and father (cheaper that way) and a lot of the time I am the only one obsessed with having the new phone so I shell out the money for the upgrade and ask if I can use one of my families upgrade s. I wont have my line available until next year this time So for now I will upgrade my families line and switch the phone to my number. Sorry if i confused you.
 
Eligible for upgrade from the 4 purchased on launch day. 64GB black+unlimited data for $30+1000 texts for $10, plus work is paying for $200 of the phone and future data cost.
 
I'm just wondering... how is everyone able to upgrade to the iPhone 5 without paying full price?......


Easy. Millions, and millions of people still have Iphone 3, 3g or 4. Many even have other phones like fliphones, etc. They just do an upgrade. Seems easy to understand.

Not sure why this is so amazing?
 
FYI, most carriers employ a 15-18 month fluctuating upgrade eligibility cycle, based on new hardware launches and other factors, this way they can get you to upgrade your device and renew your contract before you can opt out and go to another carrier.

Most launch day iPhone 4 upgraders were eligible last October for the 4S at subsidized price. Some on lower cost plans were not. If you spent at least $100 per month, they tend to upgrade your sooner.

However, since it is only 11 months later, most 4S customers are not eligible, but may get a slightly discounted 5. I've heard something like $250 plus the phone price which is cheaper than FULL price, but not by much.

My wife got her first iPhone May 2011 and is eligible for a new 5 at subsidized pricing at of late Dec 2012. So not quite the full 2 years of the contract.

And we have AT&T, but my guess is Verizon is very much the same.
 
I have two family lines. Strategically one year apart. So every year one is eligible for an upgrade. Lucky for me my fiancé not the iPhone/gadget junkie like me. Or there be war lol
 
My uprade came around right before the 4s came out so I snagged that up. Some how I was eligble again for an upgrade this year through att for the full subsidized price.. Im not sure how, maybe because Im the master line a family plan?
 
I'm just wondering... how is everyone able to upgrade to the iPhone 5 without paying full price? Was it just a coincidence that you happened to be eligible for an upgrade with your wireless carrier so you can pay the subsidized price for the iPhone 5 instead of paying full price? It seems many people are able to do this.

Were you just waiting in anticipation for the new iPhone 5 to be released, while using an old phone? Or are you just signing up with a new carrier? Given that many people are locked into a 2 year contract, I don't see how so many people are eligible for upgrades at just the right time when the iPhone 5 comes out.

This question obviously doesn't apply to people who are buying the iPhone 5 at full price.

Please let me know, as I'm interested how so many people are eligible for upgrades with the subsidized prices instead of paying full price. If you could share what carrier you're with, and what your method is, that would be great.

I bought the iPhone 4 at launch (2010) with AT&T and I've been eligible for an upgrade for many months now (AT&T allows you to upgrade at 18 months instead of 24). Was holding out for the iPhone 5.

Voila, I get the iPhone 5 at the subsidized price because I am re-signing a two year contract. Many people are in the same situation as me.
 
I wasn't going to get the 5 since I have the 4S and AT&T won't let me get the full discount until May of 2013. I have a friend who lost her 4S last week at a bar (she used find my iPhone but the theft was smart enough to reset it within 30 min of her checking). We both can get the 5 but have to each pay the $250 early upgrade fee if we want one. So I am selling her my 4S for $250 and just paying the $200 for the 5. This way we can both get the phone we want and only each pay around $250!
 
i bought the 4S when it came out last year and new price, here it is a year later i bought the 5 with early upgrade which was new cust price $299(32g) plus $250, came up to like 576 or something. Doing the samething next year too.
 
I'm just wondering... how is everyone able to upgrade to the iPhone 5 without paying full price? Was it just a coincidence that you happened to be eligible for an upgrade with your wireless carrier so you can pay the subsidized price for the iPhone 5 instead of paying full price? It seems many people are able to do this.

Were you just waiting in anticipation for the new iPhone 5 to be released, while using an old phone? Or are you just signing up with a new carrier? Given that many people are locked into a 2 year contract, I don't see how so many people are eligible for upgrades at just the right time when the iPhone 5 comes out.

This question obviously doesn't apply to people who are buying the iPhone 5 at full price.

Please let me know, as I'm interested how so many people are eligible for upgrades with the subsidized prices instead of paying full price. If you could share what carrier you're with, and what your method is, that would be great.


Hom any times does it need to be said? Upgrade your phone every year and you will getaway upgrade pricing in the end every year.


Since 2007 I and many others have been EASILY been able to sell there current iPhone before or after the release of the new iPhone for $400 or more. Use this $400 towards a full retail price phone and in the end you are paying upgrade price.

I don't understand hats so complicated that people can't figure out lol
 
I'm switching to Verizon as I wasn't due for an upgrade with AT&T. Instant cheap phone. Until the dual ETF AT&T bill comes in the mail. Whatever. Life is short. Get what you want. Also seems like lots of places paying good money for old iPhone 4Ss. I might do that.
 
Iphone 2g to iphone 5. Tried out the htc evo inbetween. Sprint network to slow would gladly take 3b over unlimited 56kb. Also gives me another new toy to develop on
 
Every year I'm eligible for the discounted iphone price which is $450 plus tax so what I do is sell the previous iphone and add a little extra. I did the same with the 3gs, 4, 4s and now the 5. I sold my 4s September 2nd for $400 net and it cost me only $85 more to get the 5. I will do the same with the 5s, 6 and so on. The key is to sell the old one before the announcement date is announced!. Afte that it loses a big chunk of it's value.
 
I got the iPhone 4 with AT&T when it came out. My contract ended in July of this year so I've been waiting since then. I'm actually switching to Verizon but I would have got the subsidized price either way.
 
Hom any times does it need to be said? Upgrade your phone every year and you will getaway upgrade pricing in the end every year.


Since 2007 I and many others have been EASILY been able to sell there current iPhone before or after the release of the new iPhone for $400 or more. Use this $400 towards a full retail price phone and in the end you are paying upgrade price.

I don't understand hats so complicated that people can't figure out lol

This. I've had every model of iPhone and excluding the 3Gs that I kept as backup and eventually gave to my son to use as an iPod, have sold every iPhone for more than I paid for it. That, coupled with the fact that AT&T used to offer early upgrades and I end up paying very little more to upgrade annually, if at all. This is the first year I haven't had a full subsidy so I'm getting my 64GB iPhone 5 for $650+ tax. Since I used my wife's partial subsidy this year, I'll have a full subsidy for myself next year if I so choose.

I understand this isn't for everyone--I'm fortunate to be able to afford spending a little extra if needed and as gadgets are my only significant vice, so to speak, my wife puts up with it. :D
 
Family plans are great...having 4 lines that all upgraded at various times through out a 2 year period means that every few months I have another upgrade available. Plus I always take my upgrade pretty soon after its available to make sure its ready again in 2 years...
 
I used an upgrade on another line. I don't plan on getting a new iphone next year; I'm pretty sure it isn't going to be a big update, but regardless I will be eligible for full discount by then.
 
I live outside the US so I pay less for my plan if I don't get it with a phone.

So I do buy the phone at full price and still get a better deal than with the phone "subsidised".
 
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