T-Mobile's 'Un-Carrier 4.0' Initiative Offers Up to $350 Per Line to Switch Carriers

[GoCubsGo]

Excellent. Let these guys fight it out, and we benefit. It's as if AT&T and Verizon were previously in cahoots.

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Don't worry; these kinds of things lead to lower prices for us AT&T customers. I'm not switching either, but let's not make them think that. Pump up that elasticity of demand.

Unfortunately these things have yet to lead to lower prices for AT&T and VZW. In fact, we tend to pay more for less data.

Until you evaluate their ETF to leave T-mobile once you figure out how crappy their network is. Would be a very rough move from AT&T (or even Verizon) over to the mostly Edge network of T-Mobile.

This deals is for suckers. There are plenty of them I am sure....

This deal is for suckers? LOL spare me. This deal is good if you're in a good area. TMO is only expanding. Thus far, I've found cell reception to be just as good as VZW in areas I go with few exceptions. I do see less bars in various areas than VZW and more in areas where VZW fails. It's a toss up and definitely not going to be what VZW or AT&T is now, but if you're in a place where their service is great, this is a good deal. Speak for yourself on who the suckers happen to be.

This sounds like a great way to leave Verizon for AT&T.

Here's how it goes...

Leave Verizon early, termination-fee-free for T-Mobile and their credits - which they'll give you for leaving ANY carrier. After you get your number ported safe and sound to T-Mobile, head over to AT&T for their deal, which you can ONLY get for leaving T-Mobile.

Boom.

You just used T-Mobile as your middle-man pawn to jump from one carrier to the other. Seriously considering this for the other half!

This is a good idea actually.

T-Mobile LTE covers 220+ million people. That's not edge! Att covers 270 Million people not much difference.

Exactly. I for one do not have a magical 4S, but I've seen and used LTE on an iPad in LA, Vegas, Nashville, and Raleigh.

Been there done that. Let me know when tmobile can get anything past edge to no sevice on a drive from LA to SF. If they're willing to pay to get you to leave you have to wonder why. They need to get their coverage **** together

No.

Yes. TMO is happy to let you make payments on the phone.

If I had a new iPhone then I would not be so inclined to do this but with an aging 4S, this could be a good deal. However, I jus checked trade in value and they want to give me $109 for my iPhone. I can get $200 today for it on Craigslist. In that case, it would be best just to walk into TMO and get a new phone without trading.

 

[31 Flavas]

St. Louis' market is terrible, as is every other moderately sized city and smaller. Everyone I know on T-Mobile here has to frequently travel to another location of the building they're in in order to keep their call alive. That coupled with NO 4G LTE makes their network a joke.. among other things. But I guess if you're in or around one of the Big Ten cities, you're golden.

Service issues aside: You are wrong about LTE. They have nationwide LTE in at least 154 markets. Maybe you are thinking of Sprint?

 

[jrswizzle]

DING! DING! DING!

at the very beginning, A $600 smartphone = $200 upfront + $400 ETF

The ETF will decreases overtime. It will be at 0 after 24 months.

No entirely true.

My ETF with AT&T begins at $325 and decreases $10 each month I have service. So it doesn't add up to the full retail price of the device.

So if I wanted to cancel service 1 month before my contract was up, I'd owe $95.

 

[BarryL]

Don't forget to add 20% onto that bill for taxes when figuring out the cost vs your current phone bill. Something else to consider, AT&T offers corporate discounts. I get 25% off. T-Mobile does not offer these. This is where it becomes blurred.

True, but I don't think they allow the corporate discount if you have an unlimited talk plan right?

At least Sprint and Verizon don't allow this.

 

[budmonster]

It sounds like it would cost you some money to more over to T-Mobile:
1) Purchase 16GB 5C for $0 down, $20.83/month for 24 months
2) Purchase 32GB 5S for $299 down, $25/month for 24 months
3) T-Mobile would pay your $700 Verizon ETF for both lines
4) T-Mobile would credit the trade-in amount for your VZ 5C against your loan on the T-Mobile 5C.
5) T-Mobile would credit the trade-in amount for your VZ 5S against your loan on the T-Mobile 5S.
6) Unlimited data plan for 2 lines would be $120/month

So you would have to pay $199+tax up front, to purchase the 32GB 5S and 16GB 5C. Your total monthly payment would be $165.83 + taxes for both lines.

Your VZ 5C trade-in would get applied to the new 5C loan which means you would owe the remaining balance of $277.92 or ~13 months of $20.83.

Your VZ 5S trade-in would get applied to the new 5S loan which means you would owe the remaining balnace of $300 or ~12 months of $25.

So in ~13 months your payment would go from $165.83/month to $120/month.

So If I went to TMO today I would owe $199 plus taxes at checkout and that would get me both phones?

Then your saying I would owe $25/month for 5s and $20.83 for 5c. These would be added to my monthly bill of $140. Wouldn't 140 + 25 + 20.83 = $185.83/month? How did you get only $165? I would also need phone protection added which would increase my bill too.

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Well, you said you pay $185/mo with VZW. And you say you'll pay $140/mo with T-mo. So that's $45/mo you'd save.

After trade-in credit you said you would still owe $678 for phones. $678 / 24 mo = $28.25/mo

Therefore $45/mo - $28.25/mo = $16.75/mo savings. Over a year that would be $201.

At the very least I would call VZW and ask for a discount. Because $45/mo (difference from T-Mo) x 12 mo = $540 / year. If they won't budge on price or offer only temporary savings. Then maybe figure out if T-Mobile service is good in your area.

I looked at the plans on TMO, it said for 2 lines on a family plan with unlimited data would cost $120 plus taxes which I put at around $140. But I still have to pay off the 2 iPhones that I'd be buying, you didn't factor that in. Plus add protection plans for both phones and I'd be paying more than I do on verizon ATM. If be looking at $185 a month which includes paying the off the remainder off the iPhones and paying for the plan. Add $10 per phone for a protection plan and I'm looking at $205/month and them once my phones are paid off then my bill will drop to $160 which includes the protection plans and the family plan bill.

 

[dr.devious]

Called AT&T Retentions to explain I was considering switching to T-Mobile and how much much it would save our family each month. The AT&T Retentions rep offered a one time credit of $5.

 

[treyjustice]

Hello terrible service.

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That's a stupid idea, any time you "trade in" a device it always goes for a far less value than what you could sell it for on ebay or craigslist.

Tmobile has great service where I live in Dallas. I am a student and rarely travel at the moment. The money I will save on my family plan where every line goes over like 2 gb a month will surely be worth it!

 

[31 Flavas]

I looked at the plans on TMO, it said for 2 lines on a family plan with unlimited data would cost $120 plus taxes which I put at around $140. But I still have to pay off the 2 iPhones that I'd be buying, you didn't factor that in.

I did include your new phones for you. Please take a look again.

Bottom line for you is you have ammo against Verizon now. You can threaten them. The ETF isn't a boat anchor anymore. Verizon should give you a monthly discount to keep you as a customer.

If they don't give you a permanent monthly discount to remain price competitive -- Cut them off at the knees.

 

[Taz Mangus]

So If I went to TMO today I would owe $199 plus taxes at checkout and that would get me both phones?

Then your saying I would owe $25/month for 5s and $20.83 for 5c. These would be added to my monthly bill of $140. Wouldn't 140 + 25 + 20.83 = $185.83/month? How did you get only $165? I would also need phone protection added which would increase my bill too.

The 16GB 5C is $0 down up front, so you are going to pay $199.95 + taxes up front for both phones.

The first line is $50 with 500MB data. Unlimited on the first line will be another $20/month or $70/month total. The second line is another $30/month with 500MB. Unlimited data on the second line would be another $20/month or $50/month total. Hence, $70 + $50 + $45.83 = $165.83 + any taxes. If you want protection added it would be another $10/month for each line. Total with added protection would be $185.83/month.

When you do the trade in, the amount is applied to you loan (EIP) which will shorten the number of months to pay off to 13 months based on what you stated in your last post. At the end of 13 months your monthly payment drops to $140/month which includes unlimited data and protection for both phones. So given this you will end up saving about $495 in the first 2 years ($45 * 11) and then about $540/year there after ($45 * 12). Also, keep in mind that you can change the data plan on a per line basis whenever you like if you feel you want to save even more per month.

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Called AT&T Retentions to explain I was considering switching to T-Mobile and how much much it would save our family each month. The AT&T Retentions rep offered a one time credit of $5.

WOW, a whole $5 credit and one time credit to boot. Did you laugh at the rep because that is exactly what I would have done.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Well, you said you pay $185/mo with VZW. And you say you'll pay $140/mo with T-mo. So that's $45/mo you'd save.

After trade-in credit you said you would still owe $678 for phones. $678 / 24 mo = $28.25/mo

Therefore $45/mo - $28.25/mo = $16.75/mo savings. Over a year that would be $201.

At the very least I would call VZW and ask for a discount. Because $45/mo (difference from T-Mo) x 12 mo = $540 / year. If they won't budge on price or offer only temporary savings. Then maybe figure out if T-Mobile service is good in your area.

T-Mobile applies the trade-in to the loan amount which reduces the number of months left on the loan. Because each phone is on a separate loan agreement, each trade-in is applied to one loan. The effect is lowering the number of months to pay. So you still pay $25/month for the 5S and $20.83/month for the 5C but a shorter number of months. This is what happened when I did the trade-in.

 

[sarcosis]

T-Mobile applies the trade-in to the loan amount which reduces the number of months left on the loan. Because each phone is on a separate loan agreement, each trade-in is applied to one loan. The effect is lowering the number of months to pay. So you still pay $25/month for the 5S and $20.83/month for the 5C but a shorter number of months. This is what happened when I did the trade-in.

What happens if your trade-in value exceeds the phone that you want to purchase. Does it just get applied as a credit to your bill?

 

[Taz Mangus]

What happens if your trade-in value exceeds the phone that you want to purchase. Does it just get applied as a credit to your bill?

Yes.

 

[31 Flavas]

T-Mobile applies the trade-in to the loan amount which reduces the number of months left on the loan. Because each phone is on a separate loan agreement, each trade-in is applied to one loan. The effect is lowering the number of months to pay. So you still pay $25/month for the 5S and $20.83/month for the 5C but a shorter number of months. This is what happened when I did the trade-in.

Ahh, great to know. Thank you. I moved my family (Mother, Father, myself, Brother, Brother's wife) over to T-mo a few months earlier. AT&T panicked when my brother called to find out what the ETF for him and his wife would be. They offered to credit his last two data overages and give him 6 free months of texting.

But with 5 of us on the plan -- its $22/mo per line. My brother was paying something like ~$140 a month for his two lines. There was no way AT&T could compete even with the ETF.

 

[panzer06]

True, but I don't think they allow the corporate discount if you have an unlimited talk plan right?

At least Sprint and Verizon don't allow this.

The dell advantage program gives you 6% off tmobile.

http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/6099/campaigns/advantage

It's something.

Cheers,

 

[Terrin]

So I have to give up my phone first? I can't just bring my current 5S over?

Sounds like they are trying to juice iPhone sales since you will have to buy one when you switch. And that's another $25 a month to the bill with their $0 down plans.

With T-Mobile's pricing, I can switch my 3 lines used by my family for $120 on a family share plan. Good deal! Oh, but wait, T-Mobile will make us surrender our phones first, then turn around and sell us new ones for 3x$25, bringing that $120 a month to $195 a month - EXACTLY WHAT I'M PAYING AT&T NOW!

How is this a deal for me T-Mobile? I'm still in the same position of paying a carrier $195 a month! Nice try though.

Who said it was a deal for everybody? Nonetheless, you assume the plans are necessarily equal. T-Mobile has HD voice, the data is unlimited, and you can use your connection as a wireless hotspot to use your other devices. AT&T no longer offers an unlimited plan, and charges extra for you to use your device as a hotspot. So for some people, the T-Mobile plan would hold more value for the same money.

Moreover, you don't have to trade in a fancy new iPhone. You can go buy a cheap $50 go phone and trade that in and sell your iPhone. Better yet buy a used phone off E-Bay or Craigslist for less. If you have a recent model iPhone you should easily be able to get at least $350 for it. So, you use the remaining $300 or so left to pay down the cost of a new iPhone, which covers about half the price of an entry level iPhone 5S. So, after a year the phones are paid off and the bill drops to $120.

It might not suit your needs, but for some people it is a good deal. Moreover, nothing puts pressure on companies to change policies by leaving.

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T-Mobile applies the trade-in to the loan amount which reduces the number of months left on the loan. Because each phone is on a separate loan agreement, each trade-in is applied to one loan. The effect is lowering the number of months to pay. So you still pay $25/month for the 5S and $20.83/month for the 5C but a shorter number of months. This is what happened when I did the trade-in.

True. T-Mobile also has a referral program. If a T-Mobile subscriber refers somebody else who signs up, both parties get a credit worth $25 to use at T-Mobile in any way you like (to pay down the phone, your service bill, etc.). If anybody wants to use me when signing up, let me know!

 

[mrjr101]

Since "Un-Carrier" initative, T-Mobile is on a roll:

2Q of 2013: 1.10 million additional customers
3Q of 2013: 1.00 million additional customers
4Q of 2013: 1.65 million additional customers

T-Mobile is shooting for 2 mil this new quarter with their 4.0 initiative. They should surpass the 5 mil new customers in one year mark which is very impressive.

 

[MacsAre1]

the best deal is Android

Thinking seriously about switching to T-Mobile for this. I have an old HTC Rezound that I want to upgrade anyway. (Though I'd probably trade in my old Palm Pre instead and sell the Rezound on eBay rather than take their measly $10) iPhone 5S costs $25/month, while the Google Nexus 5 costs $16.50/month. (Even the iPhone 4 is a ridiculous $15/month!) I'd love to get the iPhone 5S, but it won't save me anything over my Verizon monthly fees if I pay that much for a phone upgrade. Nexus 5 will be an upgrade over my current phone plus save me money on my plan.

 

[Terrin]

So If I went to TMO today I would owe $199 plus taxes at checkout and that would get me both phones?

Then your saying I would owe $25/month for 5s and $20.83 for 5c. These would be added to my monthly bill of $140. Wouldn't 140 + 25 + 20.83 = $185.83/month? How did you get only $165? I would also need phone protection added which would increase my bill too.

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I looked at the plans on TMO, it said for 2 lines on a family plan with unlimited data would cost $120 plus taxes which I put at around $140. But I still have to pay off the 2 iPhones that I'd be buying, you didn't factor that in. Plus add protection plans for both phones and I'd be paying more than I do on verizon ATM. If be looking at $185 a month which includes paying the off the remainder off the iPhones and paying for the plan. Add $10 per phone for a protection plan and I'm looking at $205/month and them once my phones are paid off then my bill will drop to $160 which includes the protection plans and the family plan bill.

All of T-Mobile's data plans are unlimited. The difference is for the two less expensive options the LTE and 4G are capped at either 500 MBs or 2.5 GBs. Afterwards, the LTE and 4G data speeds drop down to 3G and lower. Two lines each with 2.5 GBs of LTE and 4G cost $100 a month. Two entry level iPhones will add to the bill about another $44 dollars. With taxes and everything, you are looking at about $150 a month. However, that extra $44 a month will disappear once the phones are paid off, which you can do at anytime. Tradins are applied to the cost of new phones.

 

[emailsfh]

Does anyone know if you can trade in an older iPhone that is not your active line? My active line is a new ATT iPhone 5S 32GB, but I also have two old ATT iPhone 4's. I would prefer to trade the latter instead of my iPhone 5S, but I'm not sure if that will be permitted. That way I can keep the 5S and switch it over to T-Mobile after paying the ETF and getting it unlocked, and just purchase a cheapo phone from T-Mobile to use until then (using the credit from my iPhone 4).

Also, I did call ATT to see what they were willing to do to keep me. They were willing to give me $20 credit for 3 months, but nothing more (I don't have a messaging plan, and they wouldn't give me that for free). It is probably worth staying for the 3 months I have this discount, but I think I still plan on jumping ship afterwards.

 

[budmonster]

All of T-Mobile's data plans are unlimited. The difference is for the two less expensive options the LTE and 4G are capped at either 500 MBs or 2.5 GBs. Afterwards, the LTE and 4G data speeds drop down to 3G and lower. Two lines each with 2.5 GBs of LTE and 4G cost $100 a month. Two entry level iPhones will add to the bill about another $44 dollars. With taxes and everything, you are looking at about $150 a month. However, that extra $44 a month will disappear once the phones are paid off, which you can do at anytime. Tradins are applied to the cost of new phones.

You lost me, I'm talking about the data, not minutes or texts. I have unlimited LTE data on VZW, I was grandfathered in. Doesn't TMO have a plan with unlimited LTE also? I thought you could choose from 3 data plans... 500MB, 2.5GB or Unlimited. Also, the 32gb 5s is $700 and the 16gb 5c is like $600 or something. I would have to pay that of over 24 months. I don't see how this is cheaper than my current VZW plan? I think the 32gb 5s is also $199?? down and the 16gb 5c is $0 down over on TMO.

- I would get $700 from TMO to pay off my VZE etf fees, I have 2 lines so all that is covered.
- I have to trade in our current phones (32gb 5s and 16gb 5c). I beleive that trade-in value for the 5c is $222 and the 5s is $300. If you add everything up I think that comes to $56.50/month for 12 months to pay off the remainder of both phones. So, $56.50 would be added to my monthly bill.
- So 2 lines w/ unlimited LTE data would be $120, correct, plus taxes, so what, $140? + the $56.50 for the phones and I'm looking at $176 a month not including protection plans for each phone.

My math is horrible, I did bad in HS, so let me know if I'm understanding this wrong.

 

[robotphood]

Does anyone know if you can trade in an older iPhone that is not your active line? My active line is a new ATT iPhone 5S 32GB, but I also have two old ATT iPhone 4's. I would prefer to trade the latter instead of my iPhone 5S, but I'm not sure if that will be permitted. That way I can keep the 5S and switch it over to T-Mobile after paying the ETF and getting it unlocked, and just purchase a cheapo phone from T-Mobile to use until then (using the credit from my iPhone 4).

I want to do this to, trade in a cheap old phone and buy the cheapest phone possible from tmobile and swap the sim to my 5s. So it's confirmed AT&T will unlock your device as long as you are off contract and paid the etf?

 

[31 Flavas]

Does anyone know if you can trade in an older iPhone that is not your active line? My active line is a new ATT iPhone 5S 32GB, but I also have two old ATT iPhone 4's. I would prefer to trade the latter instead of my iPhone 5S, but I'm not sure if that will be permitted.

You can trade any phone you want. You're still going to have to purchase a new phone though T-Mobile for every ETF you want paid, though.

That way I can keep the 5S and switch it over to T-Mobile after paying the ETF and getting it unlocked, and just purchase a cheapo phone from T-Mobile to use until then (using the credit from my iPhone 4).

How it will work is: You trade your old iPhone 4. You purchase a new t-mobile phone. The credit from your iPhone is deducted from the cost of your new phone. After you pay your final AT&T bill. You send them a copy of it and they send you a pre-paid Visa/MC for the amount of your ETF.

You can then request AT&T unlock your 5S. If they grant the unlock then your clear to replace whatever phone you bought with the 5S.

 

[31 Flavas]

You lost me, I'm talking about the data, not minutes or texts. I have unlimited LTE data on VZW, I was grandfathered in. Doesn't TMO have a plan with unlimited LTE also?

With t-mobile, the question is how much "high speed" data do you want because all plans have unlimited (throttled) data. You can choose either 500MB, 2.5 GB, or Unlimited high speed data.

For example, say you go with the base 500MB data plan. Your first 500MB is unrestricted, after which, you have unlimited low speed throttled data for the rest of the month.

If you pay for Unlimited high speed data then you'll never be throttled.

- So 2 lines w/ unlimited LTE data would be $120, correct, plus taxes, so what, $140? + the $56.50 for the phones and I'm looking at $176 a month not including protection plans for each phone.

My math is horrible, I did bad in HS, so let me know if I'm understanding this wrong.

Correct, however, once the balance of your new phones is paid off. The $56.50 disappears forever from your monthly bill.

Which would leave you again, with the $185/mo VZW bill vs the $120/mo (plus tax) T-mo bill.

IMO, I would skip the protection plan. Even more so if you already purchased Apple Care for your iPhone. Apple Care covers accidental damage. Moreover, a good phone case and screen protector will protect it from pretty much everything but taking a hammer to it or trying to fold it. And "Find My iPhone" will help you locate it if you lose it.

 

[jamezr]

With t-mobile, the question is how much "high speed" data do you want because all plans have unlimited (throttled) data. You can choose either 500MB, 2.5 GB, or Unlimited high speed data.

For example, say you go with the base 500MB data plan. Your first 500MB is unrestricted, after which, you have unlimited low speed throttled data for the rest of the month.

If you pay for Unlimited high speed data then you'll never be throttled.

Correct, however, once the balance of your new phones is paid off. The $56.50 disappears forever from your monthly bill.

Which would leave you again, with the $185/mo VZW bill vs the $120/mo (plus tax) T-mo bill.

IMO, I would skip the protection plan. Even more so if you already purchased Apple Care for your iPhone. Apple Care covers accidental damage. Moreover, a good phone case and screen protector will protect it from pretty much everything but taking a hammer to it or trying to fold it. And "Find My iPhone" will help you locate it if you lose it.

+1 on this ^^^^
Plus at anytime you can pay the balance off and your bill will go down. You are not tied to any contract.

 

[JackieInCo]

+1 on this ^^^^
Plus at anytime you can pay the balance off and your bill will go down. You are not tied to any contract.

I plan on paying off my 5S when I get my tax refund. I bought the phone on the two year plan. I will stay on the $70 plan though because I use a lot of data. Last month I used 26GB.

Also, you don't start paying off the phone till the third billing cycle. The first bill will be high because of the partial first month and then you are paying for the next month in full. I am only on the second month.

I love T-Mobile. Never been happier since I dumped AT&T.