Staying w/ ATT for years, Not Going Intl - why would I buy a phone outright?

[kevink2]

You aren't missing anything, that is exactly how Next works. I honestly don't understand how Next is a ripoff, to me the Subsidized plan is a rip off, I sign a contract and pay an extra $25 per month even AFTER the phone is paid for, how is that a better deal? At least under the Next Program, once the device is paid for, it is paid for.

To an extent this is true. If you are someone who keeps a phone for over 2 years, the fact that once your phone is paid off your payment goes down is a plus.

I am currently under contract with ATT. If I don't buy the next iPhone when it comes out, I'm paying extra to ATT.

However, I've had the same account for 20 years, through a succession of acquisitions, so I don't plan to change.

And, with MY usage pattern, ATT Next would cost me about $8.75/month more for a new phone every 2 years. I would only make it up by keeping my phone longer. I wouldn't use "unlimited" talk/text. I gave my previous phone to an in-law so they could go on a pre-paid plan. My current phone will be given to another. I have a spare unlocked Android phone I tried 2 years ago to verify that, for me, the iPhone is a better choice. If I needed an unlocked phone for international travel, I could use that. But, even then, I don't know whether I would even bother. For vacation use, it may be worth it to just pay the roaming fee for texts, etc. It would be a minor portion of the overall trip anyway.

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i would also add that it depends too on what your current plan is.

i'm grandfathered into a 450min plan and rarely use txts so am thinking of getting ride of my $5/mo text plan. coupled with a 2gb plan for $25 and a FAN discount, my monthly charge, under contract is only $52+ a month. that adds an extra incentive to stick with the 2 year contract model.

You obviously have a better FAN discount than mine. I have your plan (except for the $30/3GB data when I lost the 2GB plan last year on vacation), and I pay $73/month including taxes.

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It's a pity to see so many people here declare they're NOT going to travel internationally. Putting aside the phone for a moment, the one thing I'd *strongly* recommend more Americans do is travel abroad. I really think that would fix a lot of the issues America has these days.

You might be surprised at how many people never even leave the state they are in. I was talking to a clerk recently, and except for a church camp trip years ago to NYC, he hadn't left his home state in the midwest.

I've at least been to western Canada. With tentative plans to visit Australia and western Europe in the next 3-4 years. By then, my next phone would be out of contract and unlocked. And my current unlocked phone would be hopelessly out of date.

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If you do the pricing, it is more expensive to be on contract vs next, over time.

Depends on your current plan. The next plan, assuming a new premium iPhone, is more expensive for me. By about $100/year.

Now, if I was using a $200 unsubsidized midrange or less Android phone, I wouldn't be getting the $450 subsidy for my contract extension.

If I was willing to bother selling old phones, then I could save more.

 

[freediverdude]

I saw this on their FAQ.


http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/next.html#fbid=NLFZm_rIF0_

I hope you don't also have to give back your phone in that deal, I'm assuming not. But anyway prepaid is still a much better deal over these plans.

 

[rockyroad55]

Also for those on mobile value plans, a NEXT device saves you money per line than a contract phone. I believe it is a $15 discount.

 

[rui no onna]

Also for those on mobile value plans, a NEXT device saves you money per line than a contract phone. I believe it is a $15 discount.

$15/mo if less than 10GB
$25/mo on plans with 10GB or more

The subsidy route is usually better for plans under 10GB.

 

[aristobrat]

I hope you don't also have to give back your phone in that deal, I'm assuming not. But anyway prepaid is still a much better deal over these plans.

The only time you have to give back your phone is if you want to do an upgrade before you've paid off what you owe on the phone.

If you pay off the balance, then you own the phone, and do not have to give it back (ever).

 

[Derek87]

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You obviously have a better FAN discount than mine. I have your plan (except for the $30/3GB data when I lost the 2GB plan last year on vacation), and I pay $73/month including taxes.

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to clarify, my FAN discount is 18%. i was off by a buck in my previous post now that i looked at the actual numbers

$39.99 for 450min
$25 for data
=64.99/mo - 18% = $53.29 + taxes

right now i pay about $62.06/mo including taxes which alsoincludes a $5 txt plan which i am planning to soon drop. which will put me at $57/mo after taxes.

as long as i can stay grandfathered to these plans, i think i am well ahead of the Next Plan. but as you suggest, if i were to stay with AT&T and not get a new phone, my effective cost will start climbing.

in the past, i've sold my old iPhone at the 2 year mark to cover the cost for a new one, but this year, i'm giving my iphone5 to my wife to use on Cricket Prepaid. their $35/mo should work well for her needs.

two years from now, as long as i'm still happy with my iPhone 6 and my wife doesn't need a new phone either, i may also jump off of the postpaid train. but who knows what will be in the offering as far as service goes 2 years from now. things change pretty rapidly. let's just hope it ends up being for the better for the consumer. (not holding my breathe though)

 

[goofy1958]

i wonder if att is going to do early upgrades again. I do not plan to leave att and adding the cost of a 64gb iphone to my bill every month will suck. id much rather pay the $399 + $250 or whatever then sell my 5s to recoup most of it and my bill stay the same.

They have stopped allowing early upgrades for contract users, and it is doubtful they will offer them again, since they now have the Next plans.

You can upgrade early if you switch over to Next. The only line I have still on contract doesn't expire until June of 2015, but we can use Next right now to get an upgrade.

 

[titans1127]

They have stopped allowing early upgrades for contract users, and it is doubtful they will offer them again, since they now have the Next plans.

You can upgrade early if you switch over to Next. The only line I have still on contract doesn't expire until June of 2015, but we can use Next right now to get an upgrade.

Apple store website looks to still allow it. I guess I will know for sure next month. I don't mind going that route and signing another contract vs paying full price since I don't plan on leaving AT&T at all. I still have unlimited data and get great coverage here on Long Island. Only thing I don't have is mobile hotspot but my use for it is so rare that it isn't a deal breaker.

 

[nostresshere]

They have stopped allowing early upgrades for contract users, and it is doubtful they will offer them again, since they now have the Next plans.

You can upgrade early if you switch over to Next. The only line I have still on contract doesn't expire until June of 2015, but we can use Next right now to get an upgrade.

Yea, but the next plan is cheaper than a contract.

 

[aneftp]

Right now interest rates on everything (car loans, mortgages etc) are dirt cheap.

Let's see how generous these 0% financing gimmicks are once the Feds start raising the rates.

Something tells me if the central bank rates go up to 4-6% (which means prime rates are 7-9%) that ATT and Verizon won't be so generous offering 0% financing.

 

[Chocolatemilty]

The OP makes a point that shows why carriers will continue to offer the 2-yr contract model a little while longer. Here's why we're going to stay with it.

We currently have the Nation 700 4-line family plan w/ family messaging and individual data plans (two $30/unlimited, two $25/2GB data plans) with a very nice FAN discount. We're all currently off-contract, and we were able to get our bill below $160 with some strong-arming of AT&T (they REALLY don't want a 20+ year customer leaving like my mother, and with good bill paying, they'll bring out all the stops from the Retentions dept. to keep you from going elsewhere). With these savings, we're now paying $38/month each for service. Frankly, there's nothing else that will beat this sweetheart of a deal we've got going on. Because of that, and because AT&T will not take away this plan with an upgrade, we all plan to go ahead and re-up on contract for iPhone 6's (my father is really excited, he's using a 3GS!). All of our current iPhones are unlocked, and I plan on dropping new batteries in all of them and we'll keep them as travel phones (we'll be going to Europe next summer in celebration of my Master's completion).

This was a big undertaking that took many calls and pushing and prodding of AT&T to happen, but we made it happen. Because of this, it makes no sense for us to go with Next now.

 

[CrAkD]

Apparently there is no way around an extra $35 a month. but i guess if I just grit my teeth and pay it I won't have to worry about selling my iphone every year or coming up with the $600 for the early upgrade until I sell. but I like my $98 phone bill with unlimited data....they should give you a disount on NEXT regardless of what plan you have because subsidies were built into these old plans and on next your no longer on contract.

 

[nostresshere]

The OP makes a point that shows why carriers will continue to offer the 2-yr contract model a little while longer. Here's why we're going to stay with it.

We currently have the Nation 700 4-line family plan w/ family messaging and individual data plans (two $30/unlimited, two $25/2GB data plans) with a very nice FAN discount. We're all currently off-contract, and we were able to get our bill below $160 ...

I do not have a FAN discount, but we have 4 phones, 10gb data shared, tethering to 3 ipads all for $160. No strong arm. Just their normal contract/deal. (we had 2 unlimted and had some overage on the 2gb phones - but no longer)

 

[Chocolatemilty]

I do not have a FAN discount, but we have 4 phones, 10gb data shared, tethering to 3 ipads all for $160. No strong arm. Just their normal contract/deal. (we had 2 unlimted and had some overage on the 2gb phones - but no longer)

That works well for your family, and I'm glad there's choices for folks so there's variety in the marketplace. For us, however, in wanting to both keep our unlimited data plans (we haven't been throttled except for me after two weeks in NYC, but wasn't throttled after coming back home) as well as not have to either pay full price for the new iPhone or go on Next, this works out well for us. Those were the big stipulations in wanting to stay on the contract path. We all collectively did not want another payment for the phone or pay $650+ upfront for each new iPhone.

 

[jkel777]

I actually just posted a whole new thread on this topic before seeing this... Whoops

I'm considering going with Next for the iPhone 6, since I plan on getting every iteration of the iPhone each year. I'm also on a 15GB Mobile Share Value Plan (with 5 lines), which means we'll save $25 off the plan.

Am I missing something here? Why wouldn't I go with Next? I guess the only downside would be that I don't get to keep/own the phone, but it makes it a hell of a lot easier upgrading each year.

 

[CrAkD]

I actually just posted a whole new thread on this topic before seeing this... Whoops

I'm considering going with Next for the iPhone 6, since I plan on getting every iteration of the iPhone each year. I'm also on a 15GB Mobile Share Value Plan (with 5 lines), which means we'll save $25 off the plan.

Am I missing something here? Why wouldn't I go with Next? I guess the only downside would be that I don't get to keep/own the phone, but it makes it a hell of a lot easier upgrading each year.

If you have mobile share its a no brainer. The $25 you save is almost the whole payment for the phone! I have unlimited data.....so I'm screwed haha

 

[jkel777]

If you have mobile share its a no brainer. The $25 you save is almost the whole payment for the phone! I have unlimited data.....so I'm screwed haha

Bummer man!

You're right; it's $37.50 for a 32 GB iPhone 5s right now on AT&T Next 12 (749/20). So technically, I'd only be paying $12.50 a month for the phone (someone correct me if I'm wrong here?).

 

[Chocolatemilty]

I actually just posted a whole new thread on this topic before seeing this... Whoops



I'm considering going with Next for the iPhone 6, since I plan on getting every iteration of the iPhone each year. I'm also on a 15GB Mobile Share Value Plan (with 5 lines), which means we'll save $25 off the plan.



Am I missing something here? Why wouldn't I go with Next? I guess the only downside would be that I don't get to keep/own the phone, but it makes it a hell of a lot easier upgrading each year.

For folks already on Mobile Share plans, it makes the most sense to utilize Next. For those with grandfathered plans, like the unlimited data plans, the subsidy model is still a worthwhile option to look into this go-around. Frankly, I believe this'll be the last contract for me. I'll be ready for the iPhone 7 or whatever it'll be known as in '16, and/or maybe even switching to T-Mo if they continue the ETF-payment switch. Their network should be ready to compete on a bigger scale in '15 and that may get more people thinking about a switch then. For now, though, this route would still suit some customers well.

 

[jkel777]

For folks already on Mobile Share plans, it makes the most sense to utilize Next. For those with grandfathered plans, like the unlimited data plans, the subsidy model is still a worthwhile option to look into this go-around. Frankly, I believe this'll be the last contract for me. I'll be ready for the iPhone 7 or whatever it'll be known as in '16, and/or maybe even switching to T-Mo if they continue the ETF-payment switch. Their network should be ready to compete on a bigger scale in '15 and that may get more people thinking about a switch then. For now, though, this route would still suit some customers well.

Yeah definitely. I think I'm going to go with Next for the iPhone 6. One question about the discount though (and this goes out to anyone who knows):

We have a 15 GB Mobile Share Value Plan with unlimited talk/text between 5 lines. So let's say our monthly bill is $200. The discount for me using Next to purchase the iPhone 6 is $25, bringing the bill down to $175? Is that correct? And then obviously, add $37.50 per month for the installment plan, which brings it back up to $212.50. Is that right or am I missing something?

I guess I'm just wondering what they mean by the "$25 discount" for Mobile Share users.

 

[C DM]

Yeah definitely. I think I'm going to go with Next for the iPhone 6. One question about the discount though (and this goes out to anyone who knows):

We have a 15 GB Mobile Share Value Plan with unlimited talk/text between 5 lines. So let's say our monthly bill is $200. The discount for me using Next to purchase the iPhone 6 is $25, bringing the bill down to $175? Is that correct? And then obviously, add $37.50 per month for the installment plan, which brings it back up to $212.50. Is that right or am I missing something?

I guess I'm just wondering what they mean by the "$25 discount" for Mobile Share users.

Yes, you have that basically right (assuming you aren't already getting the discount and factoring that into the base price from the beginning).

 

[rui no onna]

We have a 15 GB Mobile Share Value Plan with unlimited talk/text between 5 lines. So let's say our monthly bill is $200. The discount for me using Next to purchase the iPhone 6 is $25, bringing the bill down to $175? Is that correct? And then obviously, add $37.50 per month for the installment plan, which brings it back up to $212.50. Is that right or am I missing something?

I guess I'm just wondering what they mean by the "$25 discount" for Mobile Share users.

You're already getting the NEXT/BYOD discount. The price of the 15GB plan is as follows:

2-Year Contract
Base 15GB: $130
5 smartphones: $40 * 5 = $200
Total: $330/mo + taxes

NEXT/BYOD
Base 15GB: $130
5 smartphones: $15 * 5 = $75 ($25 discount per line vs contract)
Total: $205/mo + taxes

If you get a NEXT phone on one of the lines, you just add the monthly device payment to your plan. You don't really get any additional discounts on top of the one you're already getting.

 

[jkel777]

Yes, you have that basically right (assuming you aren't already getting the discount and factoring that into the base price from the beginning).

You're already getting the NEXT/BYOD discount. The price of the 15GB plan is as follows:



2-Year Contract

Base 15GB: $130

5 smartphones: $40 * 5 = $200

Total: $330/mo + taxes



NEXT/BYOD

Base 15GB: $130

5 smartphones: $15 * 5 = $75 ($25 discount per line vs contract)

Total: $205/mo + taxes



If you get a NEXT phone on one of the lines, you just add the monthly device payment to your plan. You don't really get any additional discounts on top of the one you're already getting.

None of our lines have used Next to purchase phones, so I don't understand... We do have a FAN discount I believe.

But you may be right.

 

[kilcher]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but I have a quick question about NEXT.

I plan on buying my next phone outright. I do NOT want to finance it, even at 0%. If I buy the phone outright I believe AT&T is going to charge an upgrade fee of around $30-40, right?

And if I buy the new phone using NEXT they won't charge an upgrade fee, right?

So if I do buy using NEXT to avoid the upgrade fee could I just come back in a few days later and pay off the remaining balance?

 

[rui no onna]

None of our lines have used Next to purchase phones, so I don't understand... We do have a FAN discount I believe.

But you may be right.

BYOD = Bring Your Own Device

Basically, as long as you're off-contract with AT&T, you get the discount regardless of whether or not you have a NEXT phone. In Feb/Mar 2014, I believe AT&T allowed subscribers on contract before Feb 2014 to switch to the new plans right away and take advantage of the discount even if they're technically still on contract.

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I plan on buying my next phone outright. I do NOT want to finance it, even at 0%. If I buy the phone outright I believe AT&T is going to charge an upgrade fee of around $30-40, right?

And if I buy the new phone using NEXT they won't charge an upgrade fee, right?

So if I do buy using NEXT to avoid the upgrade fee could I just come back in a few days later and pay off the remaining balance?

No they're not supposed to charge you an upgrade fee if you buy outright. However, to avoid any fees AT&T might levy, just buy the phone factory unlocked straight from Apple. NEXT, I seem to recall reading somewhere about needing to wait 60 days before you can pay it off.

 

[mostlydave]

Is the $25 per line? I'm already on family share with 2 iphones for 10GB a month. I had no idea about the $25 discount and if it's per line I'm thinking I may go for it instead of contract.