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no-commitment price $699?

troop231 said:
Can someone post a link to the un-subsidized price for the iPhone 4? I really don't want a contract :D
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you need to do the math. Since AT&T gives you no discount on your rate plan for buying unsubsidized, finanicially it makes no sense. It's better to take the subsidy and if you decide to cancel later, pay the ETF.
 
elephunkman said:
It would still apply because there are those that want to cancel their old line, pay the ETF, and buy the new phone at a subsidized price of 199/299 by adding a new line
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But that doesn't save you any money, right? You're still stuck with another 2 year contract and a $325 ETF for that new phone. Am I missing something? :confused:
 
Geckotek said:
you need to do the math. Since AT&T gives you no discount on your rate plan for buying unsubsidized, finanicially it makes no sense. It's better to take the subsidy and if you decide to cancel later, pay the ETF.
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I will have a Sears discount though for my plan...
 
Geckotek said:
you need to do the math. Since AT&T gives you no discount on your rate plan for buying unsubsidized, finanicially it makes no sense. It's better to take the subsidy and if you decide to cancel later, pay the ETF.
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That's true, but he said he didn't have a credit history, thus he won't be eligible for the subsidy anyway. ;)
 
troop231 said:
I will have a Sears discount though for my plan...
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You'll have that either way, so that's not a factor.

pika2000 said:
That's true, but he said he didn't have a credit history, thus he won't be eligible for the subsidy anyway. ;)
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I don't think the credit check is for the subsidy, it's for the account. If you are approved w/ a deposit, you have to pay the deposit subsidy or not IIRC.

troop231 said:
Please answer my question about deposit if I go with the no contract option.
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Pretty sure you have to pay it either way. How long ago did you try? Perhaps things have changed?
 
numbersyx said:
Steep stuff indeed.... I'll wait out my contract and buy the next or later incarnation. The video feature really is awesome, though.
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It is "steep," but not too far off from the competitors. Nexus One unlocked with 4GB SD card is $530. Sony Ericsson is selling their Satio with 8GB SD card for $650.
 
Geckotek said:
You'll have that either way, so that's not a factor.



I don't think the credit check is for the subsidy, it's for the account. If you are approved w/ a deposit, you have to pay the deposit subsidy or not IIRC.



Pretty sure you have to pay it either way. How long ago did you try? Perhaps things have changed?
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So what should I do? Pay the $299 for 2 yr contract and then pay the $250 deposit? :(
 
Not taking a subsidy to avoid signing a contract is like walking by 3 $100 bills in the street and just ignoring them because it requires bending over to pick them up. I don't understand why people do this.

troop231 said:
So what should I do? Pay the $299 for 2 yr contract and then pay the $250 deposit? :(
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That would be the cheapest thing to do. You get the $299 + interest back eventually. At least that's how it worked when I paid a deposit many years back.
 
Buying the iPhone 4 with the no-commitment price does not mean it is unlocked as far as I know. To use it with another carrier you still have to unlock the phone by third party means. This phone would still be locked to AT&T, you just don't have to buy a contract.

If I'm wrong, somebody correct me :)
 
Zach23 said:
Buying the iPhone 4 with the no-commitment price does not mean it is unlocked as far as I know. To use it with another carrier you still have to unlock the phone by third party means. This phone would still be locked to AT&T, you just don't have to buy a contract.

If I'm wrong, somebody correct me :)
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Unfortunately, you're correct, at least for any previous iPhones. I'm still hoping that Apple would have a backbone and stand up against provider-locking in the US, but it's very unlikely.
 
troop231 said:
Anyone know if a deposit is required if you pay the no contract price? Last time I checked I had to pay a $250 deposit since I have no credit history, so I ended up not buyin' one. If a no contract price doesn't require any deposit, I'm game. Thanks in advance.
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They wanted a deposit from me as well for the 3GS so I bought it with the no contract price and stuck in a pre paid SIM with unlimited data. I'm going to do the same for the iPhone 4.
 
Carlos E said:
They wanted a deposit from me as well for the 3GS so I bought it with the no contract price and stuck in a pre paid SIM with unlimited data. I'm going to do the same for the iPhone 4.
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If you're gonna go pre-paid, I can see why you would go no contract. But even this seems like a bad decision financially. Isn't pre-paid more expensive per minute? Why wouldn't you take that extra money you paid for the no-contract price and just pay the deposit? You get the deposit back, you don't get the money for the no-contract price back.


davelanger said:
When they say I can early upgrade for a $18 fee, is that $18 plus the subsidized price?
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yup..the $18 is the upgrade fee.
 
For people who are not upgrade eligible this year, AT&T will probably offer a higher discounted price - something in between the $199/$299 and $599/$699 prices. My guess is $200 more, $399/$499 for the 16gb and 32gb respectively (provided you extend your service for 2 more years).

The question is when will they let people nab the iPhone 4 at those prices? There may be a waiting period but I'm not sure. Hopefully there isn't and people not eligible for the lowest prices can still upgrade at a premium.
 
Carlos E said:
They wanted a deposit from me as well for the 3GS so I bought it with the no contract price and stuck in a pre paid SIM with unlimited data. I'm going to do the same for the iPhone 4.
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How do you do that? Which prepaid plans? I thought AT&T doesn't allow iPhones on the go-phone plans.
 
Geckotek said:
For some accounts they waive the $18 fee, but I have no idea how they make that decision.
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I think it depends on how much money you spend per month and how long you are in the contract. People with higher monthly plans seems to be more likely to be eligible with the fee waived. I'm on the cheapest possible iPhone plan, and I am eligible for upgrade, but have to pay the $18 fee.
 
Considering that it's on a store by store basis (I've been laughed out of the Lawrence and Cherry Hill AT&T stores and refused at the Cherry Hill Apple store trying to buy a no commitment 3GS not three months ago), I'd take any word of no contract pricing with a grain of salt until you can check at your local Apple/AT&T store, especially on a new release...
 
I have 2 questions: when you cancel your contract, all you have to do is pay the ETF right? and AT&T lets you go, you get to keep your phone and do what you will? Also, how does non-commitment pricing work for someone who has NEVER been an AT&T customer?
 
Keep in mind, if you cancel your current contract and pay the ETF so you can buy an iPhone 4 subsidized, you won't be able to keep the unlimited data plan.
 
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