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Why would anyone pay full price to avoid contract?
- Thread starter johndallas999
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On T-Mobile, I pay less than $70 a month including unlimited data. My girlfriend pays $30 more per month on a single AT&T line for her iPhone (for a measly 250mb data per month, I might add). Over 1 year, I save $360 on monthly fees by bringing in a full-price iPhone. If the phone is kept for 2 years, that savings alone pretty much covers the cost of the phone.
You can unlock on eBay for $6.
I originally got at full price but it doesn't really add up.
Subsidized price + ETF comes out cheaper In almost every case I can think of.
Mostly to keep unlimited data (on Verizon). Now, my use is probably out of the ordinary. I average ~40 gb a month, with a range of 30-70gb, so needless to say, keeping unlimited data is important.
That said, I've only bought a Galaxy Nexus off contract, which is significantly cheaper than an iPhone5 at full freight. Considering the unsubsidized upgrade price, I'll probably hold off (perhaps indefinitely) on an iPhone5.
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Bingo.
That's what I do. $30 a month for tethering is less than I would have to pay for a comparable home DSL / cable Internet connection (by itself, since I don't have cable / watch TV).
That said, I've only bought a Galaxy Nexus off contract, which is significantly cheaper than an iPhone5 at full freight. Considering the unsubsidized upgrade price, I'll probably hold off (perhaps indefinitely) on an iPhone5.
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Bingo.
That's what I do. $30 a month for tethering is less than I would have to pay for a comparable home DSL / cable Internet connection (by itself, since I don't have cable / watch TV).
Here in the UK it works out cheaper buying it outright and going on a sim only contract, let alone you aren't tied in for 24 months is another good reason.
With the iPhone in the UK getting it outright has always been the best option, with every other phone you can practically get a good contract only working out a little big more expensive than the phone is to buy outright.
With the iPhone in the UK getting it outright has always been the best option, with every other phone you can practically get a good contract only working out a little big more expensive than the phone is to buy outright.
Nope.
Just a family plan with 5 phones.
Even if he had an old plan AT&T let's people get grandfathered in when they upgrade. They don't force you off like verizon.
People don't make sense most of the time. I keep telling him the same.
Some people are still on the original att wireless "blue plan" and they still have not shut down that service to my knowledge even though they were supposed to shut it down last year. (attws)
Those people refuse to upgrade cause they do lose their grandfather status.
And if u are on the old Cingular media works data plan. That does not get grandfathered as well.
If they were going to throttle, they wouldn't continue to offer the unlimited tethering package. Many of us have been doing this since the Thunderbolt without issue or complaint from Verizon. In fact, my Verizon rep (business account) is quite friendly and has never said anything about the usage. Seems pretty happy as long as I pay the bill.
Not to mention, why would I pay for something and not use it? Do you pay for other services but hold back your allotted usage? I doubt it.
Interesting.
So if you upgrade you do lose those old plans?
But unlimited data and older texting plans you can keep even after upgrades
Because you can use T-Mobile with HSPA+ data speeds with an At&t unlocked iphone or a vzw iphone 5.
Depends. Like I said. Until I know what plan your uncle is on its hard to speculate.
There were some special $39.99 "family plans" also in the past. It's gets all confusing because some plans were "orange" plans with Cingular which were grandfathered. But some "orange" Cingular data plans like media works are not grandfather.
And is he with original att wireless or Cingular?
Why buy full priced in the US?
Because on tmobile postpaid plans your monthly bill is $20 cheaper per month if you bring your own phone rather than getting one from them. $69.99 gets unlimited everything. I do the $49.99 plan since I don't talk much.
Over two years one saves $480 compared to those who buy phones directly from tmobile.
Now comparing the $69.99 plan to the capped share plans from Verizon that start at $100 for 1GB of data, the savings are immense.
Because on tmobile postpaid plans your monthly bill is $20 cheaper per month if you bring your own phone rather than getting one from them. $69.99 gets unlimited everything. I do the $49.99 plan since I don't talk much.
Over two years one saves $480 compared to those who buy phones directly from tmobile.
Now comparing the $69.99 plan to the capped share plans from Verizon that start at $100 for 1GB of data, the savings are immense.
Not everyone has time to sit around streaming video all day. i use my phone mostly for work, mail app and calendar for exchange, Issh, Cisco webex, safari, clock app to wake me up, maps to get me where I'm going and Siri so I can text and email while driving safely. Don't think a flip phone will suit my needs but thanks for your opinion, it means a lot.
I don't use more data on lte than I do on 3G with my usage patterns and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
So you're saying when you upgrade from a scooter to a 600CC sports bike, you don't want to throttle it a bit faster, further, or longer? You sure you'd ride it just the same as when you were on your old scooter?
Sure .. same distance does not require further mileage. But having a speedier bike, you'd change your riding style. Given a more powerful engine, you'd want MORE. More distance, more mileage, more everything.
In the old dial-up days, a 5 MB MP3 file used to be massive, Oh crap now I had to find 4 floppy disks just to fit it in. Today? 5MB is 5MB, nothing's changed .. except it's a minuscule size by today's standard.
Not that hard to understand, does it?
It's different from everyone. For me, when I was an international student in the US, I always get a friend in Canada to buy me the unlocked version. I used AT&T, had unlimited data, monthly phone bill is about $60-70. I guess using T-mobile would be cheaper, but I often lose signal with T-Mo, so I stuck with AT&T. I travel back to my home country every year and in between, I also travel to other countries. So having an unlocked phone is very helpful.
Now that I'm back in my own country... there is no subsidized phone.
iPhone 5 hasn't been released here. Probably in Dec or January 2013. Nobody knows when exactly. 3G is subpar, LTE doesn't exist, and you buy the iPhone at a premium price. The only positive thing I can think of is that unlimited data only cost about $10 monthly (that's the most expensive). Where I'm from, Blackberry rules the nation. I'm being serious.
Now that I'm back in my own country... there is no subsidized phone.
iPhone 5 hasn't been released here. Probably in Dec or January 2013. Nobody knows when exactly. 3G is subpar, LTE doesn't exist, and you buy the iPhone at a premium price. The only positive thing I can think of is that unlimited data only cost about $10 monthly (that's the most expensive). Where I'm from, Blackberry rules the nation.
I'm being serious.In my case I bought a pristine iphone 4 (used) and now a used (clean) 4S outright since I wanted to use Tmo prepaid and Straighttalk.
The ip4 cost me about 400, just sold it unlocked for 350.
The 4S cost me 450$ unlocked (64GB) and I can switch between Tmo and Straighttalk ($45 unlimited everything plan suffices for my needs) as needed. My bills when I use Tmo prepaid are 10$ a month since I have wifi access 99% of the time.
Huge savings over the past 2 years already.
The ip4 cost me about 400, just sold it unlocked for 350.
The 4S cost me 450$ unlocked (64GB) and I can switch between Tmo and Straighttalk ($45 unlimited everything plan suffices for my needs) as needed. My bills when I use Tmo prepaid are 10$ a month
since I have wifi access 99% of the time. Huge savings over the past 2 years already.
Canada has some of the world's highest prices for mobile phone subscription and 3 year contracts with some of the poorest features; data caps, low amount of minutes, 25 cents per text message, etc.
The reason for this is because of a disgusting duopoly created by Rogers and Bell which both companys have their former employees working for the CRTC, Canada's equivalent of the FCC.
Case in point: I was paying $120/month for 200 monthly day time minutes, 1000 everning and weekend minutes, unlimited incoming and 6gb of data on a 2 year data contract. My previous contract of 3 years was over but I needed a new 2 year contract for the 6gb data.
I switched to a new telecommunications provider, Wind Mobile and am now paying $45.20/month for unlimited everything including data (yes, truly unlimited), minutes, long distance, national and global text messaging and unlimited calling to USA....... NO CONTRACT as I bought my own phone.
The contracts typically laid out are a disgusting way of milking the consumer, in the long run, you pay a LOT more. Paying for the phone initially is a small price to pay considering how much cash you save over time.
The reason for this is because of a disgusting duopoly created by Rogers and Bell which both companys have their former employees working for the CRTC, Canada's equivalent of the FCC.
Case in point: I was paying $120/month for 200 monthly day time minutes, 1000 everning and weekend minutes, unlimited incoming and 6gb of data on a 2 year data contract. My previous contract of 3 years was over but I needed a new 2 year contract for the 6gb data.
I switched to a new telecommunications provider, Wind Mobile and am now paying $45.20/month for unlimited everything including data (yes, truly unlimited), minutes, long distance, national and global text messaging and unlimited calling to USA....... NO CONTRACT as I bought my own phone.
The contracts typically laid out are a disgusting way of milking the consumer, in the long run, you pay a LOT more. Paying for the phone initially is a small price to pay considering how much cash you save over time.
Amen to T-Mobile. Our whole family (4 people) use an iPhone 4, and we pay $165 a month after tax and this includes unlimited data and text as well!
Because the US isn't the only country that the iPhone sells in.
In the UK it's cheaper to buy the phone because contracts are still expensive.
In the UK it's cheaper to buy the phone because contracts are still expensive.
I have been in contracts on all smartphones up to the ip5. For myself, in the UK, buying an ip5 without contract would actually be a saving. Most good ip5 plans which I would consider cost around £35 + small fee for handset around 80 - 120. Whilst if I pay for the phone myself, I can get a monthly plan for around £15 that offers more data, minutes than the contract. I also have the choice of switching carriers at any time. So I have more choice.
So I'll break it down like this (UK Contracts)
24 months -
£249.99 deposit with a £26.00 a month contract will cost £873.99
£99.00 deposit with a £36.00 a month contract will cost £936.00
Buying the phone outright -
£529.00 for the handset with a £12.90 rolling monthly contract will cost £838.60
That is based over 24 months to compare it to a contract. Not only is it cheaper, you're not locked into a TWO year contract - With that plan you get 200 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited data. That coupled with the fact you're likely to upgrade in a years time & sell the iPhone 5 it'll only cost £683.80
Pretty much a no brainer, really.
24 months -
£249.99 deposit with a £26.00 a month contract will cost £873.99
£99.00 deposit with a £36.00 a month contract will cost £936.00
Buying the phone outright -
£529.00 for the handset with a £12.90 rolling monthly contract will cost £838.60
That is based over 24 months to compare it to a contract. Not only is it cheaper, you're not locked into a TWO year contract - With that plan you get 200 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited data. That coupled with the fact you're likely to upgrade in a years time & sell the iPhone 5 it'll only cost £683.80
Pretty much a no brainer, really.
Hi, I have looked at both the option of buying outright and also contract..does it not depend on how many minutes you need etc as to whether it works out cheaper? in my case wanting around 800 mins i couldn't get it to work out a lot cheaper if any than going on contract..have i missed the best sim deals lol
You have to think that home internet is where these wireless providers will be headed next with their services. Just makes a lot of sense. Would love to have an unlimited plan...