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MacMonkey13

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 29, 2008
90
0
Gurnee, Illinois
My account with Verizon says I can upgrade my iPhone 5 now even though my two year contract is not yet over. What exactly does that mean? If I want a new iPhone do I have to buy it through Verizon or can I buy through Apple without any Verizon penalty?
 
Verizon used to allow upgrades every 20 months. My contract isn't up until April 2015 but I am upgrade eligible in November 2014. They simply allow you to upgrade early for the subsidy price. I don't know about at the Apple store.
 
My account with Verizon says I can upgrade my iPhone 5 now even though my two year contract is not yet over. What exactly does that mean? If I want a new iPhone do I have to buy it through Verizon or can I buy through Apple without any Verizon penalty?

Don't get too excited without going through the pricing. It might not be as great as you think.

And, when I say go through the pricing, look at other options available. Many folks are paying way more for their service and phones than they need to.

Buy it through Verizon or Apple? Probably either way, but check the pricing.
 
My account with Verizon says I can upgrade my iPhone 5 now even though my two year contract is not yet over. What exactly does that mean? If I want a new iPhone do I have to buy it through Verizon or can I buy through Apple without any Verizon penalty?

It most likely means your eligible for the edge program. Verizon stopped doing early upgrades so you have to wait the full 24 months.
 
If I have 3 months left on my contract and want to upgrade with the subsidized pricing why wouldn't Verizon just extend my contract another 24 months? So I would have 27 months of contract rather than 24?
 
If I have 3 months left on my contract and want to upgrade with the subsidized pricing why wouldn't Verizon just extend my contract another 24 months? So I would have 27 months of contract rather than 24?

It doesn't work like that. It just resets it for another 24 months. Never any more.
 
If I have 3 months left on my contract and want to upgrade with the subsidized pricing why wouldn't Verizon just extend my contract another 24 months? So I would have 27 months of contract rather than 24?

A 24-month contract is an obligation, not a blessing. When one is choosing to purchase a phone (E.g. an iPhone), one can pay full price for said phone ($650 and up) or purchase said phone at a steep discount ($200) in exchange for agreeing to remain a customer with the provider for another 24 months (I.e. Signing a 24-month contract).

Some prefer to pay full price and have the freedom to always leave/choose a cellular provider when they like. Others don't mind being "locked in" to that carrier because they have no reason to leave and get their phone at a discount.
 
If I have 3 months left on my contract and want to upgrade with the subsidized pricing why wouldn't Verizon just extend my contract another 24 months? So I would have 27 months of contract rather than 24?
They would need to readjust their ETF calculations and probably some other legal items, which is likely more than its worth for them to do it.
 
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