Sprint to Roll Out 'One Up' Frequent Device Upgrade Program on September 20

[FelixAng]

Exactly This.. I am in the exact same situation and phoned ATT to find out what I could do.. Spreading $649 over 20 months is still paying $649 for a phone that new customers are getting for $199.. Why on earth would I want to do that next Sept when I will just get the new iPhone for upgrade price then..

They are all trying to fleece us and don't care about old customers, they only want to entice the new ones to sign up. Wankers.

The NEXT program was a fail, in every way. MacRumors even ran an article from (maybe the Verge?) a few month ago on why AT&T's answer to T-Mobile's Jump was so awful.

Having an unlocked device means freedom from contracts and ease of use internationally. When you pay $199 to AT&T you also get locked into a $70 (usually more) contract per month (and they will find every way they can to jack-up your bill). When I'm in the US, I have my T-Mo prepaid: Unlimited 4G/LTE, Unlimited Texts, but 100 mins of voice..,$30 a month including taxes and fees.

That option might not be available to new joiners, but T-mo's unlimited $60 a month prepaid is also more affordable.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

All these programs are a sham.

Pay full price every year for a new phone but spread it out over 20 payments or so. If you upgrade at 12 months you owe the balance early but get a credit for your trade in. Nonetheless you are paying $649 for a new phone every year rather than $199 every other year.

I called AT&T. Since I upgraded to a 5 last Sept I am not eligible for a 5S at subsidized price. I get that, that's how it has been. Under their Next program I would get a new 5S for $649 spread out over 20 months of payments. However, I don't qualify for their Next program until next Sept. At which point I would be able to buy a subsidized phone as usual for $199. Why would I agree to pay $649 spread out at that point.

What a joke.

I'm not arguing here....just riffing on both sides of this.

If you are the type that wants to upgrade yearly (we can argue the benefits of that until we're blue in the face, so let's just go with that for the basis of this). If you get a 64GB iPhone subsidized from AT&T it is $400 ($849 unsubsidized). Current Gazelle trade in for that phone is good shape is $320, so on the unsubsidized year you'd have to come up with the additional $529 to get the new device. If you used the Next plan for one this year I'm assuming the payment would be ~$40 a month that is $480 per year. Over the course of a 2 year period the cost would be $929 vs $960.

Doesn't seem like a tremendous rip off provided that you are someone who trades up yearly.

 

[26theone]

You guys understand that that $199 price doesn't mean you ONLY pay $199 for the device right? Your monthly bill includes the $20 (or so) to pay off your device. The worst part is that even after you pay off your device, your bill doesn't shrink. That's why T-Mobiles plans are better. They stop charging you for the device once you've it paid off.


It's one of the reasons I don't understand buying an unlocked phone. Most carries include the stupid device cost in their plans so it's like your paying twice.

But who keeps their phone longer than 2 years anyway? Your plan makes sense if you keep your paid off phone for a long time. People who do that are trying to keep their costs to a minimum and are not buying the latest tech every year. These two philosophies don't mesh.... The carriers are trying to dupe people into thinking they are getting a good deal..

 

[HenryDJP]

Check your usage over the past year to see how many GB you use versus how many you think you use. In February I churned from Sprint to TMO's $30 100 minute/unlimited text/5 GB 4G, and I rarely exceed 2 GB. Part of the reason why I left Sprint is because unlimited isn't compelling when I couldn't get above 130 kbps on 3G and had no -- still don't have -- LTE in my market.

I'm well over 3GB ever month. My work entails driving to client's homes daily and that's why I use the Garmin app. It uses a good deal of data. I agree with you about the 130kbps with Sprint, it's just horribly slow. Not even sure about the 4G in my area, but it's probably spotty in many places. Wish I could leave Sprint but I'm still another year into the contract.

 

[oneMadRssn]

2) Your phone is forever, irrevocably locked to Sprint. Sprint will not unlock an iPhone for any reason, ever; Sprint? Never.

Sprint unlocked an iPhone 4S for us, have used a tmobile sim in here in the US. Sprint also unlocked my iPhone 5, used a foreign sim in it while traveling.

Basically, you're wrong on this point.

 

[davidg4781]

No thanks. With two lines on my account I can stagger 2-year plans. I don't see why anyone would want to pay more. Also, does this mean you do not own the phone and thus cant sell it at cost when the new device is rolled out?

Aren't you paying more with that 2nd line? I've thought of doing this but it's just extra $10-30/month (depending on the carrier) that I'd be paying.

 

[unplugme71]

I'll continue to upgrade every year on my own terms with AT&T as this has been the best so far.

I can usually sell my existing iPhone for the new model and just pay $100 or $200 to get the new 32GB iPhone.

I own the phone. I don't have to make extra monthly payments. It's a win win for me.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

I'll continue to upgrade every year on my own terms with AT&T as this has been the best so far.

I can usually sell my existing iPhone for the new model and just pay $100 or $200 to get the new 32GB iPhone.

I own the phone. I don't have to make extra monthly payments. It's a win win for me.

With Next you own the phone as well. You can just choose to trade it in and get a new one after 12 payments if you like.

 

[trainwrecka]

Unlimited data on the nation's most limited network.

 

[Number 41]

I've still yet to see a "deal" from any of the US carriers that makes more sense than the simple "Get a subsidized phone every 2 years."

Even T-Mobile, which everyone touts here, is telling me that I'd still pay $70 per month bringing my own phone with me.

 

[Hakone]

All these programs are a sham.

Pay full price every year for a new phone but spread it out over 20 payments or so. If you upgrade at 12 months you owe the balance early but get a credit for your trade in. Nonetheless you are paying $649 for a new phone every year rather than $199 every other year.

I called AT&T. Since I upgraded to a 5 last Sept I am not eligible for a 5S at subsidized price. I get that, that's how it has been. Under their Next program I would get a new 5S for $649 spread out over 20 months of payments. However, I don't qualify for their Next program until next Sept. At which point I would be able to buy a subsidized phone as usual for $199. Why would I agree to pay $649 spread out at that point.

What a joke.

Totally agreed. I think these new wave of 'promotions' are just a tactic for each carrier to pull customers from others so that they could increase their market share and such.

If it were me, i'd pay up front $650-$850 and just give me the data+voice package at whatever [non-subsidized] monthly rate. Keep it simple.

 

[mj1108]

Exactly This.. I am in the exact same situation and phoned ATT to find out what I could do.. Spreading $649 over 20 months is still paying $649 for a phone that new customers are getting for $199.. Why on earth would I want to do that next Sept when I will just get the new iPhone for upgrade price then..

They are all trying to fleece us and don't care about old customers, they only want to entice the new ones to sign up. Wankers.

No, you're still paying $649 for the phone even if you get it for $199 up front. You are paying back that balance over the 2 year contract, even if AT&T and Verizon don't say it, you are. The difference is that T-Mobile is telling you how much it is, while the others aren't.

 

[ibcdrew]

My thoughts exactly...

I'll just stick with my unlimited data plan with Verizon and pay for the phone upfront.

They can give me a new phone but at the end of the day, unlimited data works for me.

This is precisely what my wife and I did when we upgraded to the 5 on Verizon. We both use way too much data for it to be worth getting a subsidized phone but then spend an extra $50 or more per month than we do now for the data. Most months, I use 7-9GBs of data, while she often goes over 4GBs. A couple of times, I've gone over 12, and once I even used 25 (lots of Netflix that month).

She's happy with her 5 (and I was, too), but I already sold mine via Craigslist so I can nab the 5s on launch day. It's worth enough to me to purchase the phone full price upfront and keep my unlimited data. I'm sure the Verizon salesperson will do everything to get me back on a contract this Friday (assuming I don't get it from an Apple store). When my wife got her 5, the guy offered her a free iPad mini if she'd purchase her phone on contract. She almost caved but called me - I explained how much we'd save in the long run and how they just wanted us tied to them for another two years.

 

[1Life]

You guys understand that that $199 price doesn't mean you ONLY pay $199 for the device right? Your monthly bill includes the $20 (or so) to pay off your device. The worst part is that even after you pay off your device, your bill doesn't shrink. That's why T-Mobile's plans are better. They stop charging you for the device once you've paid it off.


It's one of the reasons I don't understand buying an unlocked phone. Most carries include the stupid device cost in their plans so it's like you're paying twice.

This is only true for T-Mobile customers if you live in the US. The other major wireless providers do no lower your monthly fee after you have completed the contract (and essentially paid off the phone). That is why it makes no sense for most of us not to upgrade when our contract ends. I would switch to T-Mobile if their coverage wasn't so crappy in my area.

 

[roblarosa]

Please don't switch to Sprint!

I switched to Sprint about two years ago and they are absolutely the worst. Dropped calls, slow or NO data. It's been extremely frustrating with Sprint, always the same story when you call customer service; A tower outage or upgrade. Really? For a year?!

I finally paid the early termination fee just to get rid of them. Please do yourself a favor, don't get Sprint!

 

[MrXiro]

The NEXT program was a fail, in every way. MacRumors even ran an article from (maybe the Verge?) a few month ago on why AT&T's answer to T-Mobile's Jump was so awful.

Having an unlocked device means freedom from contracts and ease of use internationally. When you pay $199 to AT&T you also get locked into a $70 (usually more) contract per month (and they will find every way they can to jack-up your bill). When I'm in the US, I have my T-Mo prepaid: Unlimited 4G/LTE, Unlimited Texts, but 100 mins of voice..,$30 a month including taxes and fees.

That option might not be available to new joiners, but T-mo's unlimited $60 a month prepaid is also more affordable.

You get LTE with the $30 a month Prepaid? I thought you only got HSPA+...

 

[bflowers]

I don't know if this has been pointed out yet, but when I checked prices on Sprint's site on Saturday, they were offering the 5C free on contract, and the 5S is 'coming soon' for $99. Though you can also still order the 5 for $99.

 

[pilot1226]

They have to do something like this. Otherwise, they risk being left out of the 5S launch day frenzy for people on two year contracts from a 4S purchase, since the 4S came out less than two years ago.

Also, for those of you complaining about their coverage, I switched to Sprint two years ago from AT&T, and I've had significantly fewer dropped calls. Sure, the 3G isn't as fast, but at least I can make phone calls. It's also your only option if you want unlimited data and want to leave AT&T.

This is not entirely accurate.

Sprint's upgrade cycle is NOT 24 months. It's 20 backdated to the first day of the calendar month.

I upgraded in late January 2012 (the 29th?) to the iPhone 4S. I am eligible September 1, 2013 for upgrade. So I'm going to get the 5S on Friday.

I have Sprint, I came over about 4 years ago from Verizon on a price point.

I will certainly agree that the data speed is abysmal but I will say that it's unlimited and worth it's price.

I stream audio on my way to work which often puts me between usage of 2-3 GB per month.

From a price point, Sprint has been the way to go for my family's 4 lines. We pay just over $210 a month (around 213 or so after taxes). We get unlimited mobile-to-any-mobile, unlimited nights & weekends starting at 7 PM, unlimited data and texting. We have 1500 minutes for landline calls.

We've never "policed" ourselves trying to avoid using our cells to landline calls and we're comfortably around 900 minutes a month total.

I'm upgrading first - ahead of the rest of my family - on Friday to check the 4G speed. We live outside of the NYC metro area so we're in the coverage area since the Network Vision deployment, we're just waiting on an actual number.

Since the NV update I'm getting around 1.5 Mbps down and 0.5 Mbps upload, which is much better than the pre-NV update for 3G.

I figure if I can get around 5 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up over LTE I'll be satisfied.

If I can't get LTE I'll probably return the phone to the store and cancel the account shortly and move back to Verizon with a shared data plan.


In reference to pricing as discussed above:

We bought our 4S when it was the latest model for $199 under contract.
Best Buy has a promotion in February every year where you register your phone number and get a $50 gift card when you upgrade by the end of the year.
I'm selling my existing 4S to Gazelle for $170.
I'm $20 in the green towards the new iPhone, though I have to buy another charger or two and a new case because of the form factor change.

I plan on repeating the process in another 2 years... but the main reason I am upgrading is because of 4G.

 

[NightFox]

It's one of the reasons I don't understand buying an unlocked phone. Most carries include the stupid device cost in their plans so it's like you're paying twice.

That's where we in Europe have it so good, we have the option of SIM-only plans where you're not paying a premium to subsidize a phone. £15 ($24) a month for truly unlimited data, 5000 texts and 2000 minutes? Thank you very much.

 

[pilot1226]

I don't know if this has been pointed out yet, but when I checked prices on Sprint's site on Saturday, they were offering the 5C free on contract, and the 5S is 'coming soon' for $99. Though you can also still order the 5 for $99.

This is because if you are a NEW customer only, Sprint will give you a $100 credit for porting a new number to Sprint. This discount is NOT available to existing customers.

 

[kazmac]

agree with the No thanks Sprint comments

Even if they were the only carrier for the iPhone I would not deal with them. Awful across the board.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Sprint unlocked an iPhone 4S for us, have used a tmobile sim in here in the US. Sprint also unlocked my iPhone 5, used a foreign sim in it while traveling.

Basically, you're wrong on this point.

Interesting that you were able to get Sprint to unlock your iPhone 4S for local GSM networks. I also had a iPhone 4S with Sprint and when it was time for my contract to end, Sprint refused to unlock my iPhone 4S so that I could that phone any GSM network like AT&T or T-Mobile. I jumped the Sprint ship and now am happy to be with T-Mobile. Sold the iPhone 4S and bought the iPhone 5 on T-Mobile. Recently I had to travel outside the US and requested T-Mobile to unlock my iPhone 5. Even though my interest free loan with T-Mobile was not paid off they unlocked my iPhone 5 and now I can use the phone on any local GSM or international carrier of my choice. I do plan to stay with T-Mobile though even though I could sell it and pay off the remaninding amount.

Good for you for getting Sprint to unlock your iPhone 4S which is very surprising considering all the top level Sprint customer service managers, that I spoke with, told me they do not unlock the iPhone for anything other then international travel. Now I did not try having my iPhone 4S unlocked for international travel and then try a AT&T or T-Mobile sim in it for use in the US.

 

[musicianm]

All of these early upgrade plans are a ripoff!

First year: On Contract (199-399) depending on capacity
Second year: Purhcase new phone (649-849) depending on capacity. Sell old phone on ebay (250-350) depending on capacity and condition.
Third year: On Contract (199-399), sell old phone (250-350) on ebay.

THIS is the least expensive way to do it, since you're paying for two years worth of subsidy on your contract anyway.

-199 buy new
+300 sell old
-649 buy new
+300 sell old
-199 buy new

So at year three you've only spent $447 on top of your monthly. With no early term fees or anything additional from your carrier. Obviously this is dependent on you keeping your phone in good condition, but even iPhones with broken screens sell well on ebay.

Orrrr....
You have joint account with one or more people who don't care about tech.
And you upgrade each phone year after year.

 

[spicynujac]

All of these early upgrade plans are a ripoff!

First year: On Contract (199-399) depending on capacity
Second year: Purhcase new phone (649-849) depending on capacity. Sell old phone on ebay (250-350) depending on capacity and condition.
Third year: On Contract (199-399), sell old phone (250-350) on ebay.

THIS is the least expensive way to do it, since you're paying for two years worth of subsidy on your contract anyway.

-199 buy new
+300 sell old
-649 buy new
+300 sell old
-199 buy new

So at year three you've only spent $447 on top of your monthly. With no early term fees or anything additional from your carrier. Obviously this is dependent on you keeping your phone in good condition, but even iPhones with broken screens sell well on ebay.

I haven't checked ebay, but used iphones are awy more than $300 here. $400 is the going rate for an iphone 5. Which shocked me, but that's what they go for. I will gladly buy your iphone 5 for $300 though PM me.

 

[MrXiro]

This is only true for T-Mobile customers if you live in the US. The other major wireless providers do no lower your monthly fee after you have completed the contract (and essentially paid off the phone). That is why it makes no sense for most of us not to upgrade when our contract ends. I would switch to T-Mobile if their coverage wasn't so crappy in my area.

How bad is it in LA? I live in LA myself and am thinking of switching to T-Mo.