Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

iMikeT said:
$350 for families, that's it? What about incentives for individuals?
Click to expand...

Isn't the incentive a cheaper bill and faster upgrades?

Really, the reasons they are targeting families are as follows:

-The savings on a T-Mobile "un-carrier" plan are minor compared to AT&T's family plans for those with multiple lines. When you factor in subsidies, there are cases to be made AT&T is still a good deal.

-60%+ of AT&T's customers are on family plans. Those are the customers T-Mobile needs to get if they are to grow substantially and REALLY disrupt the market.

-And the easy -> Family Plans = high monthly bills and more revenue. You convince the head of the household (or whomever runs the cell phone bill) to switch, you gain a much larger revenue stream versus an individual line.
 
They will give you $282 for a 16GB iPhone 5S...what the hell do you have to have to get the full $300? a 32GB iPhone 5S?
 
I bet they're hoping to get some Verizon 5s's, which, in my opinion is the best recent iPhone model hands down. It is a shame that they won't just pay the ETF and let you keep the phone since that phone is actually "better" than the T-Mobile 5s. It's unlocked out of the box for any GSM and LTE network worldwide and also good for use on Verizon's CDMA network assuming the ESN is clean. That phone is golden -- both figuratively and in some cases, literally. ;)
 
Now that's a deal!

Unlike AT&T's 'special offer' (where customers end up penalized $200 for switching)
 
jrswizzle said:
Isn't the incentive a cheaper bill and faster upgrades?

Really, the reasons they are targeting families are as follows:

-The savings on a T-Mobile "un-carrier" plan are minor compared to AT&T's family plans for those with multiple lines. When you factor in subsidies, there are cases to be made AT&T is still a good deal.

-60%+ of AT&T's customers are on family plans. Those are the customers T-Mobile needs to get if they are to grow substantially and REALLY disrupt the market.

-And the easy -> Family Plans = high monthly bills and more revenue. You convince the head of the household (or whomever runs the cell phone bill) to switch, you gain a much larger revenue stream versus an individual line.
Click to expand...

In my situation it would be $80 a month being saved + new phones from T-Mobile, which seems like a no-brainer to me. I'd also be fine with trading in my ATT Galaxy S3 that has a cracked screen for a Nexus or S4.
 
Part of the deal is that you HAVE to purchase a Tmobile iPhone (or smart phone) at full price. I wonder what would the actual saving be like after doing the math. Just read the article again, sound like you can score a new phone at new phone price - old phone price. Maybe it's not bad after all.
 
Already hear the screams of pain from people getting screwed...

"Beginning tomorrow, customers who hand in eligible AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint devices at a participating T-Mobile location will receive an instant credit of up to $300 based on the value of the phone.

After purchasing a new device from T-Mobile, customers can send the final bill (with early termination fees) from their previous carriers to T-Mobile and the company will send an additional payment of up to $350 per line to pay those fees (actual fee paid is based on the early termination cost) in the form of a prepaid MasterCard. "

So basically after you kill your current plan and commit to Tmo then they will decide how much they pay you. The "UP TO" phrase just means they are going to bend you over and give you next to nothing for your $600 smartphone and then decide after you already leave your carrier what they will pay as the termination.

Devil is always in the details. Tmo is NOT going to lose money in this deal, the consumer is.
 
Paying for individual minutes, text messages, and megabytes just needs to go away.

The cell companies need to figure out how to filter customers using them as cable internet service without charging double for tethering.
 
aajeevlin said:
Part of the deal is that you HAVE to purchase a Tmobile iPhone (or smart phone) at full price. I wonder what would the actual saving be like after doing the math. Just read the article again, sound like you can score a new phone at new phone price - old phone price. Maybe it's not bad after all.
Click to expand...

No you don't. Just turn in your old phone and get a new one for $0 down. :)
 
yeah said:
No you don't. Just turn in your old phone and get a new one for $0 down. :)
Click to expand...

You still have to pay for the difference. Just because they let you do $0 down and the rest in installment doesn't mean you are not paying for the new phone.
 
OrangeSVTguy said:
Didn't tmobile just pick up a different lower frequency band off Verizon's network for a few billion? Sounds like their service will start to pick up as well.

Let me keep my devices and pay any etf and I'd switch back.
Click to expand...

To bad they won't be able to use the new 700mhz spectrum on every tower. Seems to be benefiting areas where T-Mobile is already strong.
 
It's pretty cool they will reimburse you whatever you paid to cancel your contract, but the thing that bothers me is I have to get a new iPhone from T-Mobile...which means I have to pay $60 for the base plan and another $25 a month because I got the iPhone for $0 down. I would only be saving around $10 in my situation. T-Mobile only looks enticing for me if I have an unlocked phone I can bring over and pay just $50 a month plus taxes.
 
bossxii said:
Already hear the screams of pain from people getting screwed...

"Beginning tomorrow, customers who hand in eligible AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint devices at a participating T-Mobile location will receive an instant credit of up to $300 based on the value of the phone.

After purchasing a new device from T-Mobile, customers can send the final bill (with early termination fees) from their previous carriers to T-Mobile and the company will send an additional payment of up to $350 per line to pay those fees (actual fee paid is based on the early termination cost) in the form of a prepaid MasterCard. "

So basically after you kill your current plan and commit to Tmo then they will decide how much they pay you. The "UP TO" phrase just means they are going to bend you over and give you next to nothing for your $600 smartphone and then decide after you already leave your carrier what they will pay as the termination.

Devil is always in the details. Tmo is NOT going to lose money in this deal, the consumer is.
Click to expand...
After all this is very unlikely T-Mobile is going to intentionally anger new customers and make them disgruntled.
 
bossxii said:
Already hear the screams of pain from people getting screwed...

"Beginning tomorrow, customers who hand in eligible AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint devices at a participating T-Mobile location will receive an instant credit of up to $300 based on the value of the phone.

After purchasing a new device from T-Mobile, customers can send the final bill (with early termination fees) from their previous carriers to T-Mobile and the company will send an additional payment of up to $350 per line to pay those fees (actual fee paid is based on the early termination cost) in the form of a prepaid MasterCard. "

So basically after you kill your current plan and commit to Tmo then they will decide how much they pay you. The "UP TO" phrase just means they are going to bend you over and give you next to nothing for your $600 smartphone and then decide after you already leave your carrier what they will pay as the termination.

Devil is always in the details. Tmo is NOT going to lose money in this deal, the consumer is.
Click to expand...

I think the UP TO $350 in termination fee just means that whatever you get charge by your previous carrier that's what Tmobile will pay for. Most of the carrier ATT and Verizon usually do $350 - $10 (for each month you stay with them), which means the highest you will have to pay out of packet is $350. So I think it's just a way to protect themselves from getting scammed by dishonest customers.
 
bs-2010 said:
In my situation it would be $80 a month being saved + new phones from T-Mobile, which seems like a no-brainer to me. I'd also be fine with trading in my ATT Galaxy S3 that has a cracked screen for a Nexus or S4.
Click to expand...

Are you on a family plan or an individual plan?

My family has 5 smartphone lines and 2 iPad lines. Unlimited messaging and (essentially) unlimited talk. 3 lines are still on grandfathered unlimited data, 2 are on 5 GB data plans and the iPads are on 3 GB and 250 MB.

We pay about $420 total with all taxes and fees. Plus we have 7 subsidies we can use every two years. And AT&T's data/network is about as fast and reliable as it comes - at least where I live and travel.

So families like mine (granted we are on the extreme end of family plans) are who T-Mobile is targeting with this deal.
 
avanpelt said:
I bet they're hoping to get some Verizon 5s's, which, in my opinion is the best recent iPhone model hands down. It is a shame that they won't just pay the ETF and let you keep the phone since that phone is actually "better" than the T-Mobile 5s. It's unlocked out of the box for any GSM and LTE network worldwide and also good for use on Verizon's CDMA network assuming the ESN is clean. That phone is golden -- both figuratively and in some cases, literally. ;)
Click to expand...

How is this different from a T-Mo 5s? T-Mo has the 5s unlocked out of the box too.
 
It all sounds good until you read the fine print. "Up to" = vague

Watch Verizon & AT&T create a new early termination clause effective midnight.
 
The ball is in your court At&t, waiting to see what they do before I make any hasty decisions..
 
dmax35 said:
It all sounds good until you read the fine print. "Up to" = vague

Watch Verizon & AT&T create a new early termination clause effective midnight.
Click to expand...

lol probably... something about porting numbers and such.
 
bossxii said:
Already hear the screams of pain from people getting screwed...

"Beginning tomorrow, customers who hand in eligible AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint devices at a participating T-Mobile location will receive an instant credit of up to $300 based on the value of the phone.

After purchasing a new device from T-Mobile, customers can send the final bill (with early termination fees) from their previous carriers to T-Mobile and the company will send an additional payment of up to $350 per line to pay those fees (actual fee paid is based on the early termination cost) in the form of a prepaid MasterCard. "

So basically after you kill your current plan and commit to Tmo then they will decide how much they pay you. The "UP TO" phrase just means they are going to bend you over and give you next to nothing for your $600 smartphone and then decide after you already leave your carrier what they will pay as the termination.

Devil is always in the details. Tmo is NOT going to lose money in this deal, the consumer is.
Click to expand...

The "Up to $350" refers to specific early termination fees. ETFs vary based on the amount of time left on a contract, so T-Mobile is offering to pay your exact early termination fee at a maximum of $350. Most ETFs will be less.
 
I gotta say...

The was the most aggressive CES speech I've ever heard.

I don't know if T-Mobile can actually OFFER anything to make the switch worth it, but DAMN did they get my attention!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back