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iPhone Coming to U.S. Prepaid Carrier Cricket on June 22

I was planning to wait for the iphone 5 and when i did, i was going to buy it OFF CONTRACT with AT&T, 1)because i hate contracts and think they rip you off and 2) because i travel internationally ALOT and wanted the ability to pop in a sim from foreign countries when abroad

I was going to use AT&T pay as you go gophone when at home, or no service at all. I live in NYC, and there are hotspots everywhere. I use voip on my ipad and it works fine most of the time.

Anyway...i am intrigued by this cricket deal, because the no contract iphone is $150 less than retail, so if i can save some cash that way...try out the $55 a month plan for a month and just cancel anytime that would be cool.

Is Cricket unlocked like AT&T unlocked iphone where i can pop in a sim when abroad? Thanks.
 
Are they subsidizing that cost difference without a contract, or did somebody just let one slip? New iPhone June 22nd, older models drop in price....? Sounds like perfect timing with WWDC. If only we had seen an iOS 6 beta already, I'd say the cats out of the bag. What do you have up your sleeves Mr. Cook?
 
Spock said:
As a T-Mobile user in a contract, this kinda hurts. With T-Mobile refarming to 1900MhZ to offer 3G compatibility to iPhone and over a million unlocked iPhone users on there network, I'm very surprised at the lack of an official T-Mobile iPhone.
Click to expand...

yeh its embarrassing for tmobil to sit and watch all the dollar store phone companies getting the iphones and poor tmobile still relying on crappy POS androids..
 
WRP said:
Yeah, I get that. Maybe great for your kids but no adult that does any traveling will want this phone. That is unless they have crap credit and can't get a real plan for adults.
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I travel a lot for work. In the last year I've traveled to:

New York, NY
Dallas, TX
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Boston, MA
Orlando, FL
Miami, FL
Columbus, OH
Chicago, IL

These all appear to be covered on the map. How much, exactly, does one have to travel before you consider it a "real adult" amount?


WRP said:
I live in the city so technically it would probably work for me most of the time. But I like to hike and snowboard and bike and travel outside the US.
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Oh, I see. So traveling to all these cities for work is "for my kids," but snowboarding is serious adult stuff.

Got it.
 
I must say I never expected Apple to participate in the race to the bottom.

Cricket is akin to a check cashing service for the credit challenged, highly irresponsible segment of the population.

That Apple would even consider this speaks volumes about their addiction to profits first, foremost, and above all.

Yes, yes, I can imagine the responses now...

"but that's what corporations do, maximize profits".... to which I say, there _is_ a limit.

It's not like Apple is struggling desperately to survive.

This ought to be interesting. I surely wouldn't want to work in AppleCare or at the Genius bar with this type of clientele.

An all time low for Apple, once the premier company of stellar design and beautiful products.
 
ixodes said:
This ought to be interesting. I surely wouldn't want to work in AppleCare or at the Genius bar with this type of clientele.

An all time low for Apple, once the premier company of stellar design and beautiful products.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but is the entire point of your post that poor people are dirty and we shouldn't talk to them?

I can't find any other way to take this.
 
ixodes said:
I must say I never expected Apple to participate in the race to the bottom.

Cricket is akin to a check cashing service for the credit challenged, highly irresponsible segment of the population.

That Apple would even consider this speaks volumes about their addiction to profits first, foremost, and above all.

Yes, yes, I can imagine the responses now...

"but that's what corporations do, maximize profits".... to which I say, there _is_ a limit.

It's not like Apple is struggling desperately to survive.

This ought to be interesting. I surely wouldn't want to work in AppleCare or at the Genius bar with this type of clientele.

An all time low for Apple, once the premier company of stellar design and beautiful products.
Click to expand...

Just because drug dealers and terrorists will be using iPhones doesn't make them any less beautiful lol
 
b-rad g said:
So does this mean if you were going to buy one at full price, you could instead buy from Cricket with $150 off and then use on another carrier since there is no contract?
Click to expand...

Cricket uses CDMA, means that just like Sprint and Verizon, the phone only works on their networks, at least in the US.
 
ixodes said:
I must say I never expected Apple to participate in the race to the bottom.

Cricket is akin to a check cashing service for the credit challenged, highly irresponsible segment of the population.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I've been a Cricket user for three years. I pay $37/mo for unlimited calls and texts. Because I'm responsible and good credit I have to pay a "premiere" carrier more money? I'm glad I've never been foolish enough to spend money on a "texting plan". Text messaging are cell carriers greatest scam and I'm glad Cricket is around to shed some light on this.
 
ixodes said:
I must say I never expected Apple to participate in the race to the bottom.

Cricket is akin to a check cashing service for the credit challenged, highly irresponsible segment of the population.

That Apple would even consider this speaks volumes about their addiction to profits first, foremost, and above all.

Yes, yes, I can imagine the responses now...

"but that's what corporations do, maximize profits".... to which I say, there _is_ a limit.

It's not like Apple is struggling desperately to survive.

This ought to be interesting. I surely wouldn't want to work in AppleCare or at the Genius bar with this type of clientele.

An all time low for Apple, once the premier company of stellar design and beautiful products.
Click to expand...

Really? So you are saying people who don't have your networth or credit history are not worthy of an iPhone? It amazes me how judgemental people are... In an instance dude you could lose your job, get sued (slip and fall? Fender bender?) and before you know it your home, assets, job security, and credit score are down the crapper. I hope then the Genuisbar employee would give you the attitude, since you will be part of 'that clientele'
 
I have 2 concerns about this. First, this little tidbit:

MacRumors said:
The iPhone will be offered in Cricket's existing core markets covering over 60 million people. The full list of iPhone markets is included on the carrier's iPhone site.
Click to expand...

When I go to that link, it lists the Coming Soon cities and I live no where near any of them. The closest is Pittsburgh but it's about a 90 min drive there. Yet when I check the Coverage Map, where I live, work, and everywhere in between is covered, and I don't travel that much so that isn't a problem. Could I order it online and still use it in my areas or since I'm not in their "market cities" I couldn't use it?

Second, I've never used Cricket, nor know anyone who does. I just wonder how good their service is (clear calls, typical 3G speeds, etc). If their data speeds are like Sprint, then I think I would pass.
 
MacRumors said:
Interestingly, Cricket appears to be offering a partial subsidy on the iPhone hardware, with the iPhone 4 priced at $399.99 and the 16 GB iPhone 4S priced at $499.99. The discounts of $150 off of Apple's standard pricing for unlocked handsets are in place even though customers are not required to sign service contracts.
Click to expand...

The only conceivable scenario... the new iPhone (iPhone 5, or iPhone 6) will become available on June 22....... lol...
 
Small White Car said:
I'm sorry, but is the entire point of your post that poor people are dirty and we shouldn't talk to them?
I can't find any other way to take this.
Click to expand...
While I most certainly did _not_ say ALL Cricket customers, if we had the statistics at hand I can assure you beyond a shadow of a doubt that well over 50% of their customers are not the type of people you have in mind.
u6crash said:
I disagree. I've been a Cricket user for three years. I pay $37/mo for unlimited calls and texts. Because I'm responsible and good credit I have to pay a "premiere" carrier more money? I'm glad I've never been foolish enough to spend money on a "texting plan". Text messaging are cell carriers greatest scam and I'm glad Cricket is around to shed some light on this.
Click to expand...
Congratulations, then you are in the top ten to fifteen percent of their demographics. Responsible and educated, you do not fit the typical Cricket customer profile.
Tiger8 said:
Really? So you are saying people who don't have your networth or credit history are not worthy of an iPhone? It amazes me how judgemental people are... In an instance dude you could lose your job, get sued (slip and fall? Fender bender?) and before you know it your home, assets, job security, and credit score are down the crapper. I hope then the Genuisbar employee would give you the attitude, since you will be part of 'that clientele'
Click to expand...
Assuming it was a judgmental post, is the same as being closed minded.
 
I was thinking this might be perfect for my son if the data plan and coverage work out, but I can barely pull up pages on their website and their coverage-map-by-zip-code page won't return any actual maps for me. :(

And that's just from the announcement.

I hope Cricket knows what they're getting themselves into...
 
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ixodes said:
While I most certainly did _not_ say ALL Cricket customers, if we had the statistics at hand I can assure you beyond a shadow of a doubt that well over 50% of their customers are not the type of people you have in mind.

Congratulations, then you are in the top ten to fifteen percent of their demographics. Responsible and educated, you do not fit the typical Cricket customer profile.

Assuming it was a judgmental post, is the same as being closed minded.
Click to expand...

So if it wasn't intended to be a judgmental post, then why are you concluding that Apple's decision to welcome this clientèle into the fold represents an "all time low"?
 
Small White Car said:
I'm sorry, but is the entire point of your post that poor people are dirty and we shouldn't talk to them?

I can't find any other way to take this.
Click to expand...

Yes, people like the person you are quoting call them "the great unwashed masses." Like my roommate who uses that phrase, sigh. :rolleyes:
 
I've been using an iPhone 3GS on AT&T prepaid smartphone + data without trouble.

And, to the imbecile who thinks "prepaid user" = "poor and unwashed": I am neither poor nor unwashed, and have likely held a steady job for longer than you've been alive. I also don't make many voice calls at all - so why would it make any sense for me to give away large sums of money, month after month, just for the "privilege" of carrying an iPhone?
 
WRP said:
Yeah, I get that. Maybe great for your kids but no adult that does any traveling will want this phone. That is unless they have crap credit and can't get a real plan for adults.
Click to expand...

What dictates an 'adult' phone?

A 'responsible' adult wouldn't pay the ridiculous plans prices that are out there...

People on these major carriers are getting screwed. $2000+ every two years for their phone...I have better ways to spend my money.
 
This is getting RIDICULOUS!!!! It's already sickening enough that practically anyone can afford an iPhone but the nations 4th largest carrier still doesn't have it???
 
ixodes said:
While I most certainly did _not_ say ALL Cricket customers, if we had the statistics at hand I can assure you beyond a shadow of a doubt that well over 50% of their customers are not the type of people you have in mind.

Congratulations, then you are in the top ten to fifteen percent of their demographics. Responsible and educated, you do not fit the typical Cricket customer profile.

Assuming it was a judgmental post, is the same as being closed minded.
Click to expand...

Wow...you really have an issue with Cricket customer base.
 
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