Who's switching to a different carrier because it's cheaper than upgrading?

[troop231]

I, like most others who purchased an iPhone 4S, have determined it is a better option to pay my AT&T ETF and go with Verizon, as it would cost me more to buy the phone from AT&T unsubsidized.

Assuming the 'new' iPhone prices remain the same, it would cost me $649 to get the 16GB model from AT&T, and for the same model on Verizon including the AT&T ETF, it would cost $414.

Is there anyone else that's doing what I'm doing?

 

[ucfgrad93]

I would rather wait, than pay that much to AT&T or switch to Verizon.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Assuming the 'new' iPhone prices remain the same, it would cost me $649 to get the 16GB model from AT&T, and for the same model on Verizon including the AT&T ETF, it would cost $414.

Does the $414 include the tax charged on the full price on top of the subsidized price, assuming you live in one of the states that impose this?

 

[saud0488]

Seems like way too much of a hassle with prorated service charges, number porting and activation fees. I hope you don't have more than one line. But yeah, way too much of a hassle for a marginally upgraded iPhone. Unless there's some feature that completely blows us away, which there's no sign of at this point.

 

[troop231]

Seems like way too much of a hassle with prorated service charges, number porting and activation fees. I hope you don't have more than one line. But yeah, way too much of a hassle for a marginally upgraded iPhone. Unless there's some feature that completely blows us away, which there's no sign of at this point.

Who said I was porting my number? I actually want a new number anyways, I'm sick of getting texts and calls from people I don't know, and there's no true way to block them with AT&T.

Also, I'm thinking ahead for the long term, and Verizon's LTE network has a better footprint than AT&T's.

 

[ixodes]

I have found through many years of personal experience, most carriers are similar. I've used nearly every single service provider in the Western USA, including MVNO's.

Now using both AT&T and Verizon, they are indeed the two best, price notwithstanding.

It's not the carrier that influenced me, but rather the iPhone itself. After upgrading annually purchasing each new model, this will be the first year I pass. While I'm sure those who buy the upcoming model will enjoy it, there's simply not one compelling feature that excites me.

It could be said this will be another year of refinement and incremental improvements. A nice new model most certainly worth it's asking price.

But for me, the fun will be watching what Apple does after this phone hits the market. I'd hope that sooner or later Apple will move away from this rather pedestrian style and allow J. Ive to do what he does best. I'd like a fresh new look incorporating a spacious display.

 

[formerpc]

My contract ends this coming Tuesday, so I won't have to pay an ETF. When the iPhone comes out I'll be switching to Sprint, though. Subsidized price + unlimited data = happy me.

 

[saud0488]

Who said I was porting my number? I actually want a new number anyways, I'm sick of getting texts and calls from people I don't know, and there's no true way to block them with AT&T.

Also, I'm thinking ahead for the long term, and Verizon's LTE network has a better footprint than AT&T's.

Generally that's what people do when they switch carriers, for convenience sake.

It has a better footprint but it's quite a bit slower in locations where it competes with AT&T. Where I live, Verizon is significantly slower. We'll get 35mbps or so with AT&T and friends of mine struggle to get 15 on their iPads. So I guess it makes sense for you if verizon is that much faster or if you travel a bunch to some really small markets.

But then there's still the matter of it being a marginal upgrade over the 4s, from what we know right now anyways.

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My contract ends this coming Tuesday, so I won't have to pay an ETF. When the iPhone comes out I'll be switching to Sprint, though. Subsidized price + unlimited data = happy me.

Oh man, you really haven't used sprint if you think you're going to be even remotely happy with them....

 

[lindsay33]

I, like most others who purchased an iPhone 4S, have determined it is a better option to pay my AT&T ETF and go with Verizon, as it would cost me more to buy the phone from AT&T unsubsidized.

Assuming the 'new' iPhone prices remain the same, click here it would cost me $649 to get the 16GB model from AT&T, and for the same model on Verizon including the AT&T ETF, it would cost $414.

Is there anyone else that's doing what I'm doing?

I would go with the second option: paying AT&T full price for the 'new' iPhone.

 

[saud0488]

I have found through many years of personal experience, most carriers are similar. I've used nearly every single service provider in the Western USA, including MVNO's.

Now using both AT&T and Verizon, they are indeed the two best, price notwithstanding.

It's not the carrier that influenced me, but rather the iPhone itself. After upgrading annually purchasing each new model, this will be the first year I pass. While I'm sure those who buy the upcoming model will enjoy it, there's simply not one compelling feature that excites me.

It could be said this will be another year of refinement and incremental improvements. A nice new model most certainly worth it's asking price.

But for me, the fun will be watching what Apple does after this phone hits the market. I'd hope that sooner or later Apple will move away from this rather pedestrian style and allow J. Ive to do what he does best. I'd like a fresh new look incorporating a spacious display.

It is unlikely that the next iPhone after the 5 will be that much better or significantly different. 3g and 3gs used the same body, as did 4 and 4s, why would this be any different? Why waste the time it took to build this one (which, I guess may not have been THAT much) and do anything but a spec bump?

 

[CoriG]

Maybe paying ETF and switching to Verizon

I am torn as to what to do. At this point, it would be cheaper in the long run for me to switch to Verizon.

I spoke to a rep with At&T's reconciliation and they suggested that I add another phone to make it a family plan so I can get the new phone for no without paying the $250. That would mean limiting my minutes and paying an additional $10 a month.

Verizon has better service in Los Angeles, but am not sure how the LTE compares. Plus it would be $10 less a month for unlimited talk and text, 6 gigs a month, facetime on 4G, and being able to tether my ipad.

What to do?

 

[Interstella5555]

Not sure why I would go to a more expensive carrier that can't even handle voice and data at the same time, but to each their own.

 

[CoriG]

Believe it or not, it my bill would drop with Verizon by $10 per month (really no biggie).

According to Verizon, that with LTE, I will be able to talk and text/surf the web at the same time. Anyone know if that is true? That can be a deal breaker....

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

According to Verizon, that with LTE, I will be able to talk and text/surf the web at the same time. Anyone know if that is true? That can be a deal breaker....

Looks like it. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/verzion-demonstrates-voice-over-lte-service/

 

[linkgx1]

So a $300 EFT + $200 for new phone + activation fees and stuff = CHEAPER?

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My contract ends this coming Tuesday, so I won't have to pay an ETF. When the iPhone comes out I'll be switching to Sprint, though. Subsidized price + unlimited data = happy me.

Assuming the new iPhone is gonna work with the LTE....but SO many cities don't have it.

You can always use the 56k '3g' speeds.

 

[einmusiker]

you can talk and surf simultaneously on verizon lte. I have been doing it for a year with my thunderbolt

 

[kappaknight]

you can talk and surf simultaneously on verizon lte. I have been doing it for a year with my thunderbolt

Does LTE drop? Like, if the signal for it is bad, does the phone the switch over to 3G?

 

[einmusiker]

Does LTE drop? Like, if the signal for it is bad, does the phone the switch over to 3G?

on my thunderbolt I can lock it into LTE, which is why I keep this device. It's really great I had the sgs3 and it would drop to 3g all the time so I sold it and went back to my trusty tbolt. hopefully the iphone 5 will allow you to lock into 4g but I doubt it the only phone I know of that does it is the tbolt

 

[acorntoy]

Can't you just cancel your phone, and open a new line with the same company and accomplish the same thing?

 

[LaurenceSext]

I hope you don't have more than one line.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

What are you going to do when the 2013 iPhone comes out, as you won't be able to upgrade to that with Verizon in one year's time.

 

[Ayemerica]

Going to buy the Phone out right.

 

[troop231]

Can't you just cancel your phone, and open a new line with the same company and accomplish the same thing?

No, carriers make you wait for a certain amount of time (I think it's 90 days?)

I hope you don't have more than one line.Image

No, of course not, that would suck!

 

[alent1234]

My contract ends this coming Tuesday, so I won't have to pay an ETF. When the iPhone comes out I'll be switching to Sprint, though. Subsidized price + unlimited data = happy me.

from what i read the unlimited data is at dial up speeds

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What are you going to do when the 2013 iPhone comes out, as you won't be able to upgrade to that with Verizon in one year's time.

just go back to AT&T?

after a year the ETF is about what you can sell it used if not less

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So a $300 EFT + $200 for new phone + activation fees and stuff = CHEAPER?

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Assuming the new iPhone is gonna work with the LTE....but SO many cities don't have it.

You can always use the 56k '3g' speeds.

the ETF goes down by $10 every month. it's probably $400 total for new phone and ETF after a year

 

[kappaknight]

from what i read the unlimited data is at dial up speeds

While this is true - I thought LTE was built by a third party separate from all the carriers. When it launches, every company that offers LTE should be offering the same service; amirite?