Carrier Sprint and ATT?

[andrewxie]

Hi guys! Most of you probably know about Sprint's new $50 unlimited plan and the iphone for life deal. I have been a ATT user for awhile now, everything was great until I moved to Seattle. ATT LTE is SO slow here! I know Sprint has lower coverage in the nation compare to ATT. I checked out my friends Sprint 5c, it was so much faster.
So my question is, Can I get a Sprint Iphone 6 at first, then later if I do not like their service, maybe I can unlock the phone and switch back to ATT?
Thanks a lot guys!

 

[JohnApples]

As far as I know, you can not unlock Sprint phones, not yet anyway. However, they do offer a 14-day satisfaction guarantee, I believe. If you don't like the service after 14 days, you return the phone and they refund you. You'd still have to pick up an ATT phone if you were to return to them though.

EDIT: The amount you get refunded depends on some variables, so here's the link so you can read it yourself: http://www.sprint.com/landings/returns/

 

[eyoungren]

Oh boy, you might have a small misunderstanding of the iPhone for life program here…

Essentially, what you are doing is leasing the phone. You do not own it. Sprint is not paying a subsidy and if you break it or sell it you are responsible for the total cost of the device. Get insurance if you get on this plan.

Should you complete the term of the lease Sprint is giving you the opportunity to pay $200 to keep the phone. If not, you MUST turn it in in order to get the next upgrade.

There is no ETF, because this is not a contract on a phone you are buying. Again, it's a lease.

Even if you could unlock it (which you can't) Sprint would then go after YOU for the total cost of the phone. Depending on the model you chose that could be anywhere from $500-1000. The phone is NOT subsidized. I'll bet ETF looks pretty good right about then.

Again, the payments are a LEASE. You are not paying for the phone. The payments you make are simply to lease it and do not count as paying anything toward purchasing the device.

 

[andrewxie]

As far as I know, you can not unlock Sprint phones, not yet anyway. However, they do offer a 14-day satisfaction guarantee, I believe. If you don't like the service after 14 days, you return the phone and they refund you. You'd still have to pick up an ATT phone if you were to return to them though.

EDIT: The amount you get refunded depends on some variables, so here's the link so you can read it yourself: http://www.sprint.com/landings/returns/

Thank you JohnApple! That is why the Sprint counter person told me as well. I want to get my hands on the new iPhones asap, so I am planning to stand in line to get the iPhone in the next few days. There is no going back once I choose Sprint, like you say, it won't work with other US carriers.

----------

Oh boy, you might have a small misunderstanding of the iPhone for life program here…

Essentially, what you are doing is leasing the phone. You do not own it. Sprint is not paying a subsidy and if you break it or sell it you are responsible for the total cost of the device. Get insurance if you get on this plan.

Should you complete the term of the lease Sprint is giving you the opportunity to pay $200 to keep the phone. If not, you MUST turn it in in order to get the next upgrade.

There is no ETF, because this is not a contract on a phone you are buying. Again, it's a lease.

Even if you could unlock it (which you can't) Sprint would then go after YOU for the total cost of the phone. Depending on the model you chose that could be anywhere from $500-1000. The phone is NOT subsidized. I'll bet ETF looks pretty good right about then.

Again, the payments are a LEASE. You are not paying for the phone. The payments you make are simply to lease it and do not count as paying anything toward purchasing the device.

Thanks eyoungren! I asked the Sprint rep tonight, she told me that I somehow can buyout the phone after 30days, and possibly unlock it for international use. She told me she does not know it will work on other US carriers (At this point, it probably won't).
Yes, it is a lease, the rep also said that I would have to buy insurance on it, she told me after two years, I would get a new iPhone with 0 down, which I am not sure it will be free or something else...
Man, thats a lots of things need to figure out here. The bottom line is, once I choose Sprint, there is no going back to other carriers. I would have to think think hard to make a decision.

 

[powerstrokin]

I've been with Sprint for awhile and switched to the iPhone for life plan this time around. I had (and have) no intention of leaving Sprint unless something drastic happens, so I'm not worried about ETF's or anything like that. In my case switching to this new plan along with ordering the 64GB iPhone 6 comes out to the same monthly charge I've been paying since 2008, even if I end up purchasing the phone for $200 at the end of it. I'm cool with that.

Everyone's situation is different. If Sprint works well where you live then great! Get off the beaten path though and they tend to drop off and the 3G data is typically worthless. I've got an Airave in my house and the 5 miles between here and town having crippled data isn't an issue for me. I work over the road and on major highways the service is usually good. All carriers have good and bad service areas.

 

[andrewxie]

I've been with Sprint for awhile and switched to the iPhone for life plan this time around. I had (and have) no intention of leaving Sprint unless something drastic happens, so I'm not worried about ETF's or anything like that. In my case switching to this new plan along with ordering the 64GB iPhone 6 comes out to the same monthly charge I've been paying since 2008, even if I end up purchasing the phone for $200 at the end of it. I'm cool with that.

Everyone's situation is different. If Sprint works well where you live then great! Get off the beaten path though and they tend to drop off and the 3G data is typically worthless. I've got an Airave in my house and the 5 miles between here and town having crippled data isn't an issue for me. I work over the road and on major highways the service is usually good. All carriers have good and bad service areas.

Thank you powerstrokin! The whole iPhone for life deal does seem pretty sweet! Especially you pay $50 for everything after sign up. However, the point is if Sprint phone won't work with other carriers, then I won't be able to sell it for a decent price. Plus I do want to own the phone, not borrow it.

 

[powerstrokin]

Thank you powerstrokin! The whole iPhone for life deal does seem pretty sweet! Especially you pay $50 for everything after sign up. However, the point is if Sprint phone won't work with other carriers, then I won't be able to sell it for a decent price. Plus I do want to own the phone, not borrow it.

It's $50 for the service... and $20 for a 16GB iPhone 6 on top of that per month for a total of $70 per month. Prices for phone go up for other iPhone capacities or for iPhone Plus.

This price I think is still pretty good even if you purchase the phone at the end of it, because for say $70 you're getting a brand new phone for $0 down and unlimited everything. If you were to do it subsidized and pay that $200 up front through the other carriers I don't think they can match the monthly prices for unlimited. Make sense?