Actually, I was thinking T-Mobile, not AT&T. They seem more likely to try a radical change to the existing pricing models. And to some extent, they do something vaguely like this, where after you exceed your bandwidth cap, you aren't cut off or charged more, but reduced to EDGE speeds (I'm hoping at the very least after they're done with the LTE rollout that the reduction would be to 3G speeds, but we'll see what happens), so it's not entirely unreasonable for them to consider the idea of this kind of concept.
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T-Mobile Launches New Ad Calling AT&T's 'Next' Upgrade Program 'Calculating, Sneaky, and Underhanded'
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Actually, I was thinking T-Mobile, not AT&T. They seem more likely to try a radical change to the existing pricing models. And to some extent, they do something vaguely like this, where after you exceed your bandwidth cap, you aren't cut off or charged more, but reduced to EDGE speeds (I'm hoping at the very least after they're done with the LTE rollout that the reduction would be to 3G speeds, but we'll see what happens), so it's not entirely unreasonable for them to consider the idea of this kind of concept.
jump
Wife & I were on T-mo for years. Really liked it. When it looked like it was going to be at least another year before T-mo was going to get the iPhone I went ahead and took the bAiTT. Getting really tired of the MB cap though. I get it that T-mo's the underdog and they're having to "try harder", but they probably get you in the end like they all do. I'm willing to go back & find out though.
Wife & I were on T-mo for years. Really liked it. When it looked like it was going to be at least another year before T-mo was going to get the iPhone I went ahead and took the bAiTT. Getting really tired of the MB cap though. I get it that T-mo's the underdog and they're having to "try harder", but they probably get you in the end like they all do. I'm willing to go back & find out though.
Here's my experience with T-Mobile:
- Tried their service for 8 days. I live in the Washington, DC area. They have great coverage outdoors, but just about every building I walked into, I would get EDGE or No Service on my iPhone.
- A few weeks later, I receive a bill for the ENTIRE month of service. Not 8 days, but the FULL MONTH. I called TMO Customer Care, and they claim that this is part of their terms & conditions that I signed when I got the phone. Spoke with many supervisors, went back to the store, etc. Couldn't get it changed - I had to pay for a full month. That's how they work.
AT&T may be greedy, but I don't think T-Mobile is any better as a company. Give me better coverage with Verizon or AT&T anyday.
AT&T Next is a huge scam no doubt about it, but TMO Jump is nearly as bad.
Math doesn't lie. Using Jump to trade in your phone every year costs you ~$200 more every year than ebay/craigslist.
Changing iPhone every year with Jump costs you $510/yr, while it costs you $250 if buying new/sell old on CL.
TMO has been using a lot of the communication strategy of French operator Free, only difference is that Free provides these two plans in France:
- ~$3/month for 120min/unlimited text
- ~$25/month for unlimited everything
TMO claims to have disrupted the US market in similar ways with their uncarrier plans, but their plan is ~10-20% cheaper than the other guys while their coverage is much worse.
I am on TMO btw, although I don't mind bashing the other providers, I think they're very misleading in their approach.
Math doesn't lie. Using Jump to trade in your phone every year costs you ~$200 more every year than ebay/craigslist.
Changing iPhone every year with Jump costs you $510/yr, while it costs you $250 if buying new/sell old on CL.
TMO has been using a lot of the communication strategy of French operator Free, only difference is that Free provides these two plans in France:
- ~$3/month for 120min/unlimited text
- ~$25/month for unlimited everything
TMO claims to have disrupted the US market in similar ways with their uncarrier plans, but their plan is ~10-20% cheaper than the other guys while their coverage is much worse.
I am on TMO btw, although I don't mind bashing the other providers, I think they're very misleading in their approach.
The best part about this is the quote from the verge. It is great to see The Verge has become in such little time a dependable source for high quality technology journalism. They've been quoted by Apple at their conferences, T-Mobile is quoting them in Ads. I think it's fantastic.
The reality is - all of the carriers (at least in the US) are "greedy" and just market themselves differently.
As for these early upgrade plans - they are targeted to those that can't BARE to think of not having the latest device on launch day.
No thanks. I'm content paying my $199 or less for a new phone and then upgrading when my contract is at an end. If I don't upgrade - then I am overpaying (I'm on ATT) given that the subsidy is long over.
But I also have a FAN discount. My monthly bill is around $70 and I still have unlimited data.
So for me - none of these upgrade paths make sense for me.
And if you MUST have a new device whenever you "want" - then of course there's going to be a premium or strings attached. Only someone who feels completely "entitled" would think that they should pay the same for being able to upgrade whenever they want.
As for these early upgrade plans - they are targeted to those that can't BARE to think of not having the latest device on launch day.
No thanks. I'm content paying my $199 or less for a new phone and then upgrading when my contract is at an end. If I don't upgrade - then I am overpaying (I'm on ATT) given that the subsidy is long over.
But I also have a FAN discount. My monthly bill is around $70 and I still have unlimited data.
So for me - none of these upgrade paths make sense for me.
And if you MUST have a new device whenever you "want" - then of course there's going to be a premium or strings attached. Only someone who feels completely "entitled" would think that they should pay the same for being able to upgrade whenever they want.
Quoting the Verge? This can impossibly be the same T-Mobile we have here in Germany.
Which is best known for its Digital Paraplegia.
Funktional Kaputt
Which is best known for its Digital Paraplegia.
Funktional Kaputt
I am with you, but at least T-Mo is the cheapest, also, they offer FREE insurance, which was $7 on its own
This kind of thing makes me really appreciate using an iPad mini w/ skype instead of an iPhone. I can buy & sell & upgrade whenever the hell I want, do whatever I want with it, not get raked over the coals with "cancellation" fees, and use it thousand of dollars cheaper than an iPhone.
The difference a couple inches of screen, & not calling it "phone", makes.
The difference a couple inches of screen, & not calling it "phone", makes.
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Or how about buying the full-price iPhone, and owning it, and being able to buy another one whenever you want. When big corporations own the things that you use, they get to tell you how you're going to use it, and for how long. Just save up for a few months and buy a full priced device, and I'm sure you'll also appreciate the phone much more and you won't want to upgrade every time Apple releases a new one.
Might as well. Either way you're paying for it. That way you'd not only pay less for it, but can do what you want with it, plus, it's worth considerably more when you do sell someday down the road.
...but, the illusion of "pay less right now" is strong.
AT&T charged me a whole month of service for 4 days of service when I dumped them. But you live you learn; when I left Sprint, I made sure to leave within the last 4 days of my monthly cycle.
But you are right, the 14 day trial period rule does not seem to apply to T-Mo.
Network
When are these companies going to realize they are nothing more than a network. I don't care who/what is in charge just let me pay my bill conveniently and have a rockin ass network. Dump every single dime you can into your network and forget advertising for a little while. I view att like the death star or the emperor from star wars. They are truly evil but until someone else has the speed and coverage where I live I will be staying on the dark side. My whole life job/personal is run thru my iphone.
When are these companies going to realize they are nothing more than a network. I don't care who/what is in charge just let me pay my bill conveniently and have a rockin ass network. Dump every single dime you can into your network and forget advertising for a little while. I view att like the death star or the emperor from star wars. They are truly evil but until someone else has the speed and coverage where I live I will be staying on the dark side. My whole life job/personal is run thru my iphone.
It is actually HSPA+ and AT&T does the same thing. AT&T has their "4G" phones and they have their "4G LTE" phones. Their "4G" phones are just HSPA+ devices, just like T-Mobile. And if you look at any of the speed tests done on T-Mobile's "4G", depending on where you are, they do just as good as AT&Ts LTE and sometimes better.
Not exactly true now after all the T-Mo's ongoing expansion. AT&T can be crap depending where you are too. And consistently crap for always being too sneaky and too expensive.
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It looks like it is the accepted industry standard convention now as they have the separate term for LTE as the 4G LTE.
Okay, then allow me to amend that poster's statement:
For me personally in the Washington, DC area: T-Mobile's service indoors is utter crap. It is almost nonexistent - as if a cell phone only works outside. Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon all work indoors in most buildings.
I'm a real estate agent who shows a lot of houses throughout the year, so I have the opportunity of being inside a lot of different buildings. Yeah, T-Mobile inside is crap.
For me, a God-awful, cringe-worthy, business-halting network. For you, if it works, T-Mobile is a great deal. Go for it! That's why they have test periods/return policies.
However, if you live in Washington, DC or the surrounding areas: you better love WiFi calling.