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tx2005

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 20, 2013
133
101
Looks like AT&T Next is finally cheaper for me (or nearly a wash). I currently on an old 450 anytime minutes with unlimited text and 3 gb of data for about $90. With overages on data (I usually go over a gig or two) my bills run around $110-120.

Looks like I can get 5 gb on a mobile share plan for $50 plus the $25 smartphone fee. Add on the $30-40 for whatever phone I get on Next and I'm sitting around the same price, without having to wait two years to upgrade.

Looks like I might just get the 6s+ from Apple with a Next upgrade rather than stick to my old plan. Anybody think I'm off on my ideas about switching to Next?
 
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pokerplayer73

macrumors 6502
Aug 18, 2011
259
59
Florida, USA
Looks like AT&T Next is finally cheaper for me (or nearly a wash). I currently on an old 450 anytime minutes with unlimited text and 3 gb of data for about $90. With overages on data (I usually go over a gig or two) my bills run around $110-120.

Looks like I can get 5 gb on a mobile share plan for $50 plus the $25 smartphone fee. Add on the $30-40 for whatever phone I get on Next and I'm sitting around the same price, without having to wait two years to upgrade.

Looks like I might just get the 6s+ from Apple with a Next upgrade rather than stick to my old plan. Anybody think I'm off on my ideas about switching to Next?
Yep, Mobile Share Plan is the better option for you.
 

throwthedice

macrumors 6502
Aug 27, 2015
267
87
Looks like AT&T Next is finally cheaper for me (or nearly a wash). I currently on an old 450 anytime minutes with unlimited text and 3 gb of data for about $90. With overages on data (I usually go over a gig or two) my bills run around $110-120.

Looks like I can get 5 gb on a mobile share plan for $50 plus the $25 smartphone fee. Add on the $30-40 for whatever phone I get on Next and I'm sitting around the same price, without having to wait two years to upgrade.

Looks like I might just get the 6s+ from Apple with a Next upgrade rather than stick to my old plan. Anybody think I'm off on my ideas about switching to Next?

$100+ for a month is still insanely expensive! Why not look for T-mobile if they have a decent coverage where you live/places you frequent?
 
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pokerplayer73

macrumors 6502
Aug 18, 2011
259
59
Florida, USA
If I were to get away from my 2-yr contract, I would either go to Cricket or ATT GoPhone. Same coverage for lot less money. T-Mobile doesn't work well in my area so that is out.

Mobile Share Plan is still expensive. It is better than OP's current situation, but expensive.
 
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mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,738
6,109
Looks like AT&T Next is finally cheaper for me (or nearly a wash). I currently on an old 450 anytime minutes with unlimited text and 3 gb of data for about $90. With overages on data (I usually go over a gig or two) my bills run around $110-120.

Looks like I can get 5 gb on a mobile share plan for $50 plus the $25 smartphone fee. Add on the $30-40 for whatever phone I get on Next and I'm sitting around the same price, without having to wait two years to upgrade.

Looks like I might just get the 6s+ from Apple with a Next upgrade rather than stick to my old plan. Anybody think I'm off on my ideas about switching to Next?

A serious Question? Have you considered outright buying your phone and going prepaid. ATT has a $60 ($55 after auto-pay) plan. It includes 4GB of roll-over data. After your initial iPhone purchase you could upgrade every year, selling your old iPhone for cheaper than the next route.

$55 x 12 months + 64gb iPhone6 = $1410 - $whatever you sell the phone for.

$120 x 12 months = $1400
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,461
Looks like AT&T Next is finally cheaper for me (or nearly a wash). I currently on an old 450 anytime minutes with unlimited text and 3 gb of data for about $90. With overages on data (I usually go over a gig or two) my bills run around $110-120.

Looks like I can get 5 gb on a mobile share plan for $50 plus the $25 smartphone fee. Add on the $30-40 for whatever phone I get on Next and I'm sitting around the same price, without having to wait two years to upgrade.

Looks like I might just get the 6s+ from Apple with a Next upgrade rather than stick to my old plan. Anybody think I'm off on my ideas about switching to Next?
Are you sure you can do Next before you are done with your contract?
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,740
Are you sure you can do Next before you are done with your contract?
Yes, but if they worked it like VZW, your "contract" is still in place. I was on contract with VZW but opted for a new phone on their Edge program. I was still tied to them for another year because of my contract, i.e., I'd still have to pay the ETF. Kind of crazy I know but the edge program did not replace the signed contract.

I don't know if ATT is doing this or not, but I'm throwing it out there.
 

zachlegomaniac

macrumors 6502a
Sep 20, 2008
806
370
A serious Question? Have you considered outright buying your phone and going prepaid. ATT has a $60 ($55 after auto-pay) plan. It includes 4GB of roll-over data. After your initial iPhone purchase you could upgrade every year, selling your old iPhone for cheaper than the next route.

$55 x 12 months + 64gb iPhone6 = $1410 - $whatever you sell the phone for.

$120 x 12 months = $1400

So it sounds like prepaid is the way to go by far if you don't mind paying outright for your phone(s). Correct? If so I might look into it for my wife and I. Thanks.
 

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,738
6,109
So it sounds like prepaid is the way to go by far if you don't mind paying outright for your phone(s). Correct? If so I might look into it for my wife and I. Thanks.

Yes. Prepaid is much cheaper than post-paid if you do not need a ton of data. t-mobile and sprint offer good unlimited data plans for post-paid. Sprint is $60 for unlimited.

Most post paid charge you the price of the phone, and then some other fee to upgrade yearly. You end up paying $60ish for the plan, then $30 for the phone, and then $10 to upgrade yearly.
 

Aibocyrus

macrumors 6502a
May 26, 2015
906
847
Orlando, FL
Prepaid is cheaper for sure. Honestly the best option anyone could make is just buying their phones for the full retail. Two year contracts no matter what, you're still laying the full retail, if not more, after all the additional fees that come with a two year contract. The reason you sign on for two years in the first place is because it takes that long for the company to make back the full price of the phone. No matter what, you pay for the phone for full retail.
Now, especially if you like to get the new iPhone every year, pretty much every carrier now has the option to do an installment agreement and upgrade yearly.
 
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