What is the downside to ATT Next

[kazmac]

Thanks! I wasn't aware the plans were cheaper, but now that I look at it, I can see a savings of $38 a month fro my family plan if I go with NEXT!

A follow-up question then if anyone can answer. The monthly costs for the NEXT phones on Apple are for the 16GB only. Is there anywhere online, or does anyone know what kind of monthly cost we would be looking at for a 64GB?

Yes, the apple store has those monthly costs. If you have an Apple id account you can check on your eligibility (click on the how to buy link and there will be a link to check your upgrade eligibility). Once you go through the steps the prices for other storage capacities will show up.

 

[Digital-Junkie]

Can someone please clarify this for me... I can't even get a clear answer from AT&T so I thought I'd ask here.

Right now, my wife and I are on a 10GB mobile share plan. My line is no longer under contract as of 6/2014. My wife is still in a 2 year contract that started 10/2013. Neither of us were ever on a NEXT plan, but I see a $25 credit for "Discount for Mobile Share Value Savings" on each of our lines on the bill, for a total of $50 in credits.

1) If we purchase new phones under NEXT, will we receive an ADDITIONAL $25 credit on each line (in addition to the monthly phone cost, of course), or is this the same discount AT&T advertises that you'd get for switching to NEXT (ie, our bills will go up by the phone costs, no new discounts)? Why do we already have this discount if we never had NEXT, anyway?

2) If not, will the $25 discount go away on my line if I elect to sign a new 2 year contract for my new phone, rather than using NEXT?

the $25 discount goes away if you sign a 2 year contract. if you switch to next or do nothing then u keep the $25 discount.

 

[psac]

Does it make sense to convert to Next if you're not upgrading your phone?

My wife is on unlimited, and is totally happy with her 64GB iPhone 5. I'm a 2GB plan, and of course I want the new toy. But if we don't upgrade her line, we're "wasting" the subsidy for however long she keeps her old one. We are on a FAN discount.

Thanks!

 

[photogpab]

I'm still hoping someone can clarify all this for me... my wife and I pay roughly $200 a month combined for our individual plans. If I switch us to a 15GB shared plan today, we pay $145 for both phones and share the 15GB correct?

and then if I get the iPhone 6 on Friday with NEXT it adds another $38 to my bill... so... roughly $190 a month now for both our phones? (she is not upgrading).

Do we get a $25 credit off this $190? And do I have to trade in my iPhone 5S since I've only had it a year?

If this is the case then $190 is basically the same as what I pay now so it would be worth it. If I get a $25 credit even better... just want to make sure I am understanding all this correctly.

 

[aneftp]

You can pay off your NEXT phone at anytime and it is yours to keep, sell, etc.

Why is this so hard for people to understand?

(you also have the option of trading up in a year... OPTION)

But one important thing to note is you cannot pay off ATT NEXT until u make 2 installment payments.

That is a very important distinction that must be disclosed. Like I want to move LG g3 I got on att next to another account and close that phone line.

I had to wait two billing cycles first before I could close the line.

Extremely misleading of att to claim its no contract when its at minimum a 2 month installment contract.

I did this cause I took advantage of att letting me out of contract that ended October 2015. I upgraded using next and wanted to cancel the line and use lg g3 on different line.

 

[DeftwillP]

Dude....just stop. Step away from the keyboard.
The plan for 15 gigs is $130. You then have to add each line. It's $40 per line. It's $40 per line. It's $40 per line. At $40 per line, you are getting service and entitled to a 2 year subsidized contract if you care to upgrade. Are you following?

Now, if you are going to bring your own device or participate in NEXT, then you'll get a $25 discount off of that $40. That makes it $15 per line. Just $15 per line.

The math you presented was for $130 (15 gig plan) and $15x2 for 2 "bring your own device or NEXT" lines. For the record, that's $160. Your wife isn't going to upgrade? Terrific. Her line is only $15. You want to upgrade? Either buy it outright or participate in NEXT. The NEXT fee of $37.50 will be added in on top of the $160.

There is no additional $25 dollar discount. It's already factored in.

I'm still hoping someone can clarify all this for me... my wife and I pay roughly $200 a month combined for our individual plans. If I switch us to a 15GB shared plan today, we pay $145 for both phones and share the 15GB correct?

and then if I get the iPhone 6 on Friday with NEXT it adds another $38 to my bill... so... roughly $190 a month now for both our phones? (she is not upgrading).

Do we get a $25 credit off this $190? And do I have to trade in my iPhone 5S since I've only had it a year?

If this is the case then $190 is basically the same as what I pay now so it would be worth it. If I get a $25 credit even better... just want to make sure I am understanding all this correctly.

 

[Steviejobz]

I'm someone who upgrades every cycle and usually give my wife my phone and sell hers. Outside of selling hassle which isn't too bad, I get about $200 (average) for old phone. New one costs around $400+tax+upgrade fee which is close to $550? Amirite? So difference is often $300.

The Next 64GB 6+ is $42.75/mo * 12 (assuming I upgrade again) = $513. So there is a difference.

 

[Thistledown]

If you replace your phone every year for the top ($399) model, here is the math I have.

AT&T Next 12
iPhone $0.00
Activation $0.00
Monthly installment $42.45
ETF $0.00
Trade-in Value $0.00
Total $509.40

Mobile Share Value
10Gb Data Plan $15.00

After 1 year $180.00

Total 1 year cost $689.40


AT&T 2-year contract
iPhone $399.00
Activation $40.00
Monthly installment $0.00
ETF $205.00
Trade-in Value -$285.00
Total $359.00

Mobile Share Value
10Gb Data Plan $40.00

After 1 year $480.00

Total 1 year cost $839.00

 

[photogpab]

Dude....just stop. Step away from the keyboard.
The plan for 15 gigs is $130. You then have to add each line. It's $40 per line. It's $40 per line. It's $40 per line. At $40 per line, you are getting service and entitled to a 2 year subsidized contract if you care to upgrade. Are you following?

Now, if you are going to bring your own device or participate in NEXT, then you'll get a $25 discount off of that $40. That makes it $15 per line. Just $15 per line.

The math you presented was for $130 (15 gig plan) and $15x2 for 2 "bring your own device or NEXT" lines. For the record, that's $160. Your wife isn't going to upgrade? Terrific. Her line is only $15. You want to upgrade? Either buy it outright or participate in NEXT. The NEXT fee of $37.50 will be added in on top of the $160.

There is no additional $25 dollar discount. It's already factored in.

thanks for being such an *******. you seem pleasant to be around.

 

[aneftp]

I'm someone who upgrades every cycle and usually give my wife my phone and sell hers. Outside of selling hassle which isn't too bad, I get about $200 (average) for old phone. New one costs around $400+tax+upgrade fee which is close to $550? Amirite? So difference is often $300.

The Next 64GB 6+ is $42.75/mo * 12 (assuming I upgrade again) = $513. So there is a difference.

With ATT NEXT u will pay full sales tax up front. So $850 64gb iPhone 6 plus x 6-9% sales taxes. That's $60-80 in sales taxes

Vs $400 2 year contract (most states charge sales taxes on 2 year contract price except like California). So $400 x 6-9% sales taxes.

So u will be paying $30-40 less in sales taxes by going on 2 year contract. That washes out the $40 upgrade/activation charge

 

[DeftwillP]

I'm someone who upgrades every cycle and usually give my wife my phone and sell hers. Outside of selling hassle which isn't too bad, I get about $200 (average) for old phone. New one costs around $400+tax+upgrade fee which is close to $550? Amirite? So difference is often $300.

The Next 64GB 6+ is $42.75/mo * 12 (assuming I upgrade again) = $513. So there is a difference.

*sigh*
Ok, two things: first you're getting jobbed on your resale value. Myself/wife have done the same thing past few years with base model 16 gig every year. I'm selling the 2 year old phone for around $160-180. It sounds like you're saying you only getting $200 for your 2 year old 64 gig phone that you previously paid $400 for and you should be getting more.

Second (and this is where the sigh comes in): your math is flawed. You're accounting for the $42.75/mo in NEXT fees but not the reduced cost of using the family share plan. And don't tell me "but I'm nevah getting rid of my unlimited planz!!" because if that's the case, you really have no bearing on the discussion since this thread is about the NEXT plan which at this point should directly imply mobile share data plan.

 

[TimothyB]

Did this happen to anyone...

iPhone 5s 32GB on launch, the ATT financed amount was $640. That's $110 off the retail $750 price. Not a bad deal combined with a 0% loan you can pay off anytime.

I'm currently don't use Mobile Share plan, as I'm a single user with ATT's unlimited data, 450min and 1000 texts.

I've been paying $32 a month for the 5s 32GB, plus about $69 for services after a corporate discount and fees, totaling $101 a month. The mobile share plan doesn't add up for me with Next. I think the 6GB is around $80 before 24% corp discount, then $25 phone fee, $32 Next fee, all said and done, I'd be paying $117.8 or so before any extra fees.

 

[DeftwillP]

thanks for being such an *******. you seem pleasant to be around.

No problem at all but the number of asterisks you utilized isn't enough to spell "helpful guy" and I assure that I am quite pleasant. Did it or did it not answer your question?

 

[aneftp]

If you replace your phone every year for the top ($399) model, here is the math I have.

AT&T Next 12
iPhone $0.00
Activation $0.00
Monthly installment $42.45
ETF $0.00
Trade-in Value $0.00
Total $509.40

Mobile Share Value
10Gb Data Plan $15.00

After 1 year $180.00

Total 1 year cost $689.40


AT&T 2-year contract
iPhone $399.00
Activation $40.00
Monthly installment $0.00
ETF $205.00
Trade-in Value -$285.00
Total $359.00

Mobile Share Value
10Gb Data Plan $40.00

After 1 year $480.00

Total 1 year cost $839.00

But the 2 year contract. ATT TOTALLY rigs the math. They are essentially adding $25 extra per month x 24 months plus actual price u pay for iPhone $399.

So this proves how much a Rip off mobile share is on 2 year contracts. Complete rip.

That's why I stay on traditional voice text plans where I can mix and match flip and smartphones

 

[Steviejobz]

*sigh*
Ok, two things: first you're getting jobbed on your resale value. Myself/wife have done the same thing past few years with base model 16 gig every year. I'm selling the 2 year old phone for around $160-180. It sounds like you're saying you only getting $200 for your 2 year old 64 gig phone that you previously paid $400 for and you should be getting more.

Second (and this is where the sigh comes in): your math is flawed. You're accounting for the $42.75/mo in NEXT fees but not the reduced cost of using the family share plan. And don't tell me "but I'm nevah getting rid of my unlimited planz!!" because if that's the case, you really have no bearing on the discussion since this thread is about the NEXT plan which at this point should directly imply mobile share data plan.

I did the math and if I drop unlimited for 10GB my bill is lowered by $10. I'm not sure how you all are getting $25 off of traditional mixed plans w/ unlimited data. This is screenshot:

 

[ricktat]

Did this happen to anyone...

iPhone 5s 32GB on launch, the ATT financed amount was $640. That's $110 off the retail $750 price. Not a bad deal combined with a 0% loan you can pay off anytime.

I'm currently don't use Mobile Share plan, as I'm a single user with ATT's unlimited data, 450min and 1000 texts.

I've been paying $32 a month for the 5s 32GB, plus about $69 for services after a corporate discount and fees, totaling $101 a month. The mobile share plan doesn't add up for me with Next. I think the 6GB is around $80 before 24% corp discount, then $25 phone fee, $32 Next fee, all said and done, I'd be paying $117.8 or so before any extra fees.

I saw this last year. For some reason they were discounting the NEXT payments. This only lasted a few days if I remember. I think they were trying to sweetin the NEXT deal at the time....like Amazon selling a new item heavily discounted on day 1 and the raising the price when positive reviews come up.

 

[kyriostrife]

Are we able to preorder on Friday with NEXT through apple's website or is that an at&t website requirement?

As in, is the Apple website only taking preorders for unlocked/2 year contracts?

I would like to get it on NEXT, but unsure of which is the best method to preorder.

 

[lordofthereef]

Some plans, especially older plans, remain cheapr over the course of two years if you stick with the contract rather than Next plan. Usually these plans include very few minutes and no texts (which works for some).

If what you do is buy a new phone every year and your monthly rates go down or stay the same, it's a no-brainer IMO. I can decide what the value of the phone is shortly before upgrading and see if it's even worth my time to buy it out and then sell it. I was even considering just getting next 18 to lower the monhtly payment. Why not? Just means I either have a chunk of money to pay off in twelve months before I can turn it in, or I have longer to pay the phone off if the 6S Plus doesn't excite me.

It almost always will be I suspect, but I am curious to see how Next effects resale values in the years to come. I suspect many more folks are getting phones yearly than they were 2-3 years prior.

 

[DeftwillP]

With ATT NEXT u will pay full sales tax up front. So $850 64gb iPhone 6 plus x 6-9% sales taxes. That's $60-80 in sales taxes

Vs $400 2 year contract (most states charge sales taxes on 2 year contract price except like California). So $400 x 6-9% sales taxes.

So u will be paying $30-40 less in sales taxes by going on 2 year contract. That washes out the $40 upgrade/activation charge

Not so fast my friend. Under the standard subsidy model, I've always just paid the tax upfront for the $199 portion of the phone. But I just switched to family share and compared the taxes/fees on my account for the first month vs. what it was in previous months. My taxes/fees went down by $10/mo. Granted, I don't currently have any NEXT fees on my account so who knows what that will do. Perhaps someone else who has been on it longer can compare. But I did find it interesting that you had to pay taxes on the full cost of the phone upfront now where you never had to pay them upfront for the entire phone cost before.

But the 2 year contract. ATT TOTALLY rigs the math. They are essentially adding $25 extra per month x 24 months plus actual price u pay for iPhone $399.

So this proves how much a Rip off mobile share is on 2 year contracts. Complete rip.

That's why I stay on traditional voice text plans where I can mix and match flip and smartphones

Yup it's pretty much a rip to do subsidized on family share. There's any number of cases where it can work for you and not for me and vice versa.

The big takeaway here is that NEXT got a really bad name when ATT first introduced it because they launched it before they launched the mobile share plans with the "bring you own device" discounting. Now, US carriers are moving more toward the European/Asian model where people buy their phones outright and have cheaper plans. When it first launched and you had your old plan that still had subsidies factored into your monthly bill....who in their right mind would have chosen that??

 

[burgman]

The downside is you don't get a subsidy, and the plan is only discounted by $15 (if <10GB). An iPhone subsidy is $450. It would take close to 3 years to make up the difference on Next.

If you keep your phones that long then Next is not for you.

 

[JoEw]

Also i checked with Verizon and tmobile, and they are doing the exact same thing. Verizon calls it next, and tmobile calls it jump. All 3 are attempting to push us away from contracts, but you have to pay the full cost of the phone. or you sign a contract and it cost you even more. where's the logic here? anyone else feel let down?

For years you were getting ripped off before the NEXT,JUMP,EDGE plans existed essentially you were paying 200-300 dollars than a higher monthly bill until you payed another 200-300 dollars for your next iphone 2 years later for your "upgrade" that is how 2 year contracts have worked..

With Next, you pay 33 dollars a month until your phone is payed off with no interest applied it's literally like a credit card with 24 month no interest. You than pay a lower monthly bill since you are no longer having your phone subsidized and combined with your service charges.

Why are these carriers doing this? To try to persuade people to trade in their phones 12 or 18 months into paying off your phone so they can sell your old used phone for a higher refurb price to someone else and you reset your monthly payment to them for another 2 years with your brand new spanking phone (or until you upgrade again).

If you are a normal person who can go 2 years with the same iPhone then you are essentially getting 24 months of interest free financing for your 650 dollar iPhone, after that you can sell it and pocket the 200-300 dollars and start another round of NEXT (or whatever other program on different carrier).

It's a good deal for those who upgrade every year and like the lease model and it is a good deal for people who don't want to fork 650 bucks upfront and would rather pay it slowly over 2 years.

If you are not on a mobile data share plan and your individual monthly plan does not go down in price if you get next than yes you are getting ripped off big time, since you are essentially paying as if you have a 2 year contract still but you are paying additional price for NEXT.

And yes, they make it this complicated on purpose to try to get more money from you, speaking of which they tried renewing my 90 day free trial of beats music after I explicitly canceled it before the renewal date.

AT&T is a snaky company but they are the only service in my area with great coverage..

 

[aneftp]

Not so fast my friend. Under the standard subsidy model, I've always just paid the tax upfront for the $199 portion of the phone. But I just switched to family share and compared the taxes/fees on my account for the first month vs. what it was in previous months. My taxes/fees went down by $10/mo. Granted, I don't currently have any NEXT fees on my account so who knows what that will do. Perhaps someone else who has been on it longer can compare. But I did find it interesting that you had to pay taxes on the full cost of the phone upfront now where you never had to pay them upfront for the entire phone cost before.




Yup it's pretty much a rip to do subsidized on family share. There's any number of cases where it can work for you and not for me and vice versa.

The big takeaway here is that NEXT got a really bad name when ATT first introduced it because they launched it before they launched the mobile share plans with the "bring you own device" discounting. Now, US carriers are moving more toward the European/Asian model where people buy their phones outright and have cheaper plans. When it first launched and you had your old plan that still had subsidies factored into your monthly bill....who in their right mind would have chosen that??

I said very few states (California and Mass). Basically democratic strong holds. Charge full sales tax on full price of phone regardless if you got the iPhone for "free" on contract on my post.

Didn't you read my disclaimer about California in my post regarding sales taxes.

Most of the rest of usa only charges sales taxes on price paid for phone based on whatever price u paid for it and not on msrp price.

 

[DeftwillP]

I did the math and if I drop unlimited for 10GB my bill is lowered by $10. I'm not sure how you all are getting $25 off of traditional mixed plans w/ unlimited data. This is screenshot:

And this is an example of one of the cases where it doesn't work. It looks like in your current setup you hardly even use data or texting. There's no benefit for you to switch to an unsubsidized plan that offers higher amounts of data and unlimited text. It only saves you $10/month but you lose the subsidy. By all means, stick with your current plan.

NEXT and family share plans are not mutually exclusive. I guess I just assumed that anybody looking at a family share plan actually needed something close to that. My wife, sister, and I couldn't get by on 100 texts and 3 gigs/month like you currently have. That's why it made sense for us to switch over. Then again, our bill was over $205/month with a 15% FAN.