no problem, glad to help out. and I do play the "sell to pay for the next toy" game too... has worked out well for me during this whole smartphone era since I first bought the iPhone 3G in 2008
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Carrier New ATT Plans Feb 2, 2014
- Thread starter Diseal3
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no problem, glad to help out. and I do play the "sell to pay for the next toy" game too... has worked out well for me during this whole smartphone era since I first bought the iPhone 3G in 2008
good luck!Well, according to the original press release, you can at least pay it off early:
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=24538&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=36749&mapcode=
"The interest-free monthly device installments range from $15 to $50, depending on the device selected. For example, a customer purchasing a Samsung Galaxy® S 4 would have no down payment and pay $32 per month, in addition to the monthly wireless service plan they choose, with the option to trade in their device and upgrade after 12 payments or to keep using the device and pay off the installment plan in full after 20 months. Theres no penalty for paying off the installment plan early."
So if you want to sell the phone yourself at 12 month upgrade time, but don't want to lay down a huge sum right in the beginning, you can probably use this to basically defer buying your phone outright.
I can't imagine AT&T not letting you put money down towards the price of the phone. They really could care less as long as you finance at 20 or 26 months. Would be nice if they'd let you do 12 months after putting money down. But this wouldn't keep customers on the hook if they desired a new phone every 12 months. They would be free to switch carriers.
In terms of paying off early or putting more towards the loan. AT&T's FAQ website only says you can pay it off early, but must be paid off in full immediately. Therefore, I don't believe you can pay "more" each month towards the actual phone cost.
Something to think about in terms of paying off early versus just going the NEXT route.
Annual Out of Pocket expense for phone only (assuming $850 iPhone):
NEXT w/out flipping = $510 (12 months of payments) + $68 Taxes = $578
Flipping = $850 + $68 (tax) - $450 (flipped phone) = $468
Approximately $110 savings annually. This assumes your phone is in great condition after 12 months of use and you find a buyer amongst the flooded iPhone market at the time of upgrade AND the buyer is legit.
There is a difference. After 12 months of NEXT. You have to return the phone and continue with ur next monthly installment again. Or keep paying for another 8 months to pay off the phone.
Someone who pays outright for the phone owns it already at 12 months. If they sell it for $450-500. Whatever price. They pocket the difference. Even at $450 resell price which is on the very low end for a 64gb one year old iPhone 5S. It will only cost them $400 extra to buy iPhone 6.
Vs someone trading in a 64gb iPhone 5S after 12 months. They will have to make another 20 more monthly payments totally $850.
These carriers have you hook lined and sinked with their next, edge whatever leasing programs.
They are bad leasing deals. Very bad.
You are correct, my assumptions were concerning those that upgrade every year and NOT keep their phones longer than 1 year (hence flipping their phones after 12 months).
Regardless, you pay out right is $850 + $68 tax - $450ish resale. Wash, rinse, repeat.
If you NEXT you're out approximately $100ish more per year. Again, assuming you upgrade every year (upgrade at 12 months vice paying it off over 20 months).
Like you said (which matches my math) you have to pay $400ish dollars each year if you resell you iphone. If you NEXT you pay about $100ish more per year.
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How exactly is the next plan the 18.75 plus 33.3% interest? What exactly do you think 32.50 over 20 months is added up? It's the exact price of the iPhone 5s at full Retail. It goles people the option to buy on credit with out interest. Next is only a rip off if you give them the phone back because you have spent over 300 dollars over 12 months to give up the phone and show nothing for it. If you keep it the 20 it's yours though so in my opinion that's the better option
You can sign up for Next 12 or Next 18. Pay nothing upfront. Even save the $36 activation fee. Then at 1 year you can pay the full remainder due, sell the old phone on CL, and get a new phone through Next again. You save $36 upfront and get an interest free loan which is cheaper than cash.
Here is an option for you: Get the phone with Next 18. And keep it for 26 months instead of 24.
If you get the iphone 5C on Next 18, you save $36 activation fee. Your line charge stays at $15. You don't pay $100 upfront. And the phone payment is $21. If you get her a 5S all the same savings apply but the phone payment is $25.
Subsidized
- Iphone 5C $100 upfront
- Activation $36
- Monthly bill increase $25x24mo
- You can sell the old phone.
- You can't 'pay off' early.
Total: $736
Next 18
- Iphone 5C $0 upfront
- Activation $0
- Monthly bill $21.15x26mo
- You can sell the old phone.
- You have the option to pay off early.
Total: $550
I see no reason why anyone would pick the subsidy option over the free financing unless you don't qualify.
ok, I have read bits and pieces of the thread, but I have one simple question. I have 4 lines on a family plan, all under contract. Is there a fee for each line to switch to the new pricing ?
So can someone clarify if this is correct? If I have a family of 4, all members need a new phone (lets say for hypothetical purposes everyone is getting a 16 gb 5s). That would be $140 a month (for the plan) + an additional $130/month (each phone is $32.50 under att next). Grand total of $270 a month?
Or if all members already had a smartphone, it would just be the $140 a month? Excluding taxes and fees of course. And under this scenario, if anyone wanted a new phone, they'd have to pay either full retail outright or use ATT next?
Or if all members already had a smartphone, it would just be the $140 a month? Excluding taxes and fees of course. And under this scenario, if anyone wanted a new phone, they'd have to pay either full retail outright or use ATT next?
4 Lines = $160
If you bring your own phones it will be $160 plus taxes
NEXT X 4 phones at $32.50= $130
AT&T insurance with a $199 deductible is $6.99 per month per phone. Something else to consider in costs.
If you plan to trade at 12 months you have to give the phone back. If you break the phone on month 3, you are still responsible for all payments.
yeah but the 21% discount only applies to the data part at $100, not the overall bill. still better than nothing.
i think the point some are trying to make is under the old plan it would actually be cheaper to subsidize instead of under this new plan.
There's little doubt that for 2 line plan on the old 450 minutes (especially with the periodic 6 month free texting & rollover minute bonuses), it's more cost effective to subsidize a new iPhone at $199.
Depending on one's usage, it may not be "better," but it's certainly less costly, especially if ATT keeps the early upgrade, where in 12 months one can sell the phone at approximately $400 - $500.
Phr0ze, appreciate you crunching those numbers for me. I'll be honest when the AT&T rep mentioned Next I was actually put off by it. She made it seem like the point is for you to keep trading in your device for the next latest and greatest phone. So are you saying if we went with Next and kept her e.g. iPhone 5c for say 26 months, we would only pay $21 and as long as we kept service this whole time after this duration she would be paid off free to cancel service, unlock her phone or do whatever she wants with it? It would be hers now correct? She plans to keep it this long anyway so trying to see what the disadvantages are of Next over a subsidized agreement...lots of folks were bashing it earlier in this thread.
As I said before after every couple years we usually sell our old subsidized devices unlocked after we fulfilled our contracts then put that toward a next gen. If we can do this with Next and pay only $21 instead of $40 with just an additional two months at 26/months instead of the 2/year plan then it's a no brainer. I feel like there's some catch though.
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After 26 months, the phone is yours. No more payments, and you're free to cancel service, free to unlock it (AT&T should unlock it once it's paid off), free to sell it, free to drop it off a building, free to flush it down the toilet, you get the idea
After 18 months, you can trade it into AT&T and begin a payment plan on a new phone.
After 26 months, the phone is yours. No more payments, and you're free to cancel service, free to unlock it (AT&T should unlock it once it's paid off), free to sell it, free to drop it off a building, free to flush it down the toilet, you get the idea
After 18 months, you can trade it into AT&T and begin a payment plan on a new phone.
But, can you use it to make calls?
As someone with grandfathered unlimited data, I'm certainly tempted to switch. It's tiring not being able to tether and use FaceTime over cellular among other things. It would also save about $10 per month. However, despite being comfortable with unsubsidized pricing I'm reluctant to give it up.
Here's the hitch though; my buddy (a Verizon customer) warned that very little notice was given when Verizon changed their terms to restrict grandfathered plans from subsidized pricing. I may be content with my paradigm now, but what guarantee do I have that it will still exist in 6 months, let alone two years? Clearly AT&T is moving away from that model and Apple has even mentioned that this new carrier strategy will greatly influence product plans.
Should I give up the battle and take my savings while I can?
Here's the hitch though; my buddy (a Verizon customer) warned that very little notice was given when Verizon changed their terms to restrict grandfathered plans from subsidized pricing. I may be content with my paradigm now, but what guarantee do I have that it will still exist in 6 months, let alone two years? Clearly AT&T is moving away from that model and Apple has even mentioned that this new carrier strategy will greatly influence product plans.
Should I give up the battle and take my savings while I can?
Jailbreak your iPhone to tether. In my case I will not switch...it costs the same but at least I get to keep my unlimited data on 2 lines.
but isn't your "unlimited" data limited at 5GB? that's what it was back a few years ago when I made the switch to mobile share. I made the switch because I wanted tethering too and jailbreaking isn't always an option when Apple closes the exploit and/or your have to get another phone due to hardware issues, etc.
EDIT: NM, I see you might be on Verizon which is truly unlimited. AT&T forced their unlimited users to a cap of 5GB a while back if I'm not mistaken.
Carriers can detect that and will immediately charge you for tethering, without asking you about it.
Yes..it's throttled..but I have the luxury of not paying an overage fee $15/Gb. Why do I use a lot of data...I stream Netflix & You Tube. Even after I reach 5GB..watching video is tolerable.
Ive been tethering since the iPhone 4. On average I use more than 20GB a month. Never ever had a problem. Now that I use iTunes radio, I'll even use more data.
.Ive been tethering since the iPhone 4. On average I use more than 20GB a month. Never ever had a problem. Now that I use iTunes radio, I'll even use more data.
I am looking at the AT&T rate plan calculator here. Here's what we would want but is this the catch, why is there a monthly installment plans edit option on top of the $120 total? Is this optional aside from the Next $25 charge incase we wanted to get out of her contract earlier than 26 months?After 26 months, the phone is yours. No more payments, and you're free to cancel service, free to unlock it (AT&T should unlock it once it's paid off), free to sell it, free to drop it off a building, free to flush it down the toilet, you get the idea
After 18 months, you can trade it into AT&T and begin a payment plan on a new phone.
Note: the Next charge is $25 for the line and not $15 because we will be on the 2GB Mobile Share value plan and if you're under the 10GB plan it goes up from $15 to $25. The other phone under contract you see there is my iPhone 5 that I've got a few months left on so I'll pay $40 until its off contract. So will we really be looking at $120 before taxes or is there some other monthly payment we'd need to make going this route?
Thanks guys!!