Carrier Will AT&T move upgrade dates if they're close to a iPhone release?

[Aibocyrus]

Prepared last year:

A majority of individual users are on plans under 10GB and Next is more expensive. Selling Next to them is deceptive.

Again, I wouldn't sell NEXT to an individual user. However if you have 3 lines or more, you should not sign a 2 year contract. That's just a fact. You're wasting money. I would prefer to not be grouped into this ideal you have about deceptive representatives because contrary to your beliefs, we aren't all like that. If I'm unsure of the cheapest route for the customer, I would do the math, in front of them, and conclude there on the most cost effective way for them to buy the phone. Personally, I have the customers best interest in mind. We aren't all the same.

 

[Surf Donkey]

Good information in here. Perhaps I jumped the gun when I gave up UDP for me and my wife. I was sick of being throttled at the time after 5GB and not being able to tether when it was really needed a few times.

Anyway, **** AT&T and all these confusing asinine pricing plans. Absolute BS garbage. I have an invite to Google Project Fi waiting. One price for everything ($20), pay by the gig data ($10). No one month rollover games. You get money back for data you don't use, pay for exactly what you consume if you go over. Once they have some more phone choices I am going there.

 

[xaqt93]

You're either misinformed or intentionally deceptive. For an individual user, a two-year agreement is, at worst, a breakeven proposition for less than 10GB. With a FAN (corporate) discount, a two-year agreement is clearly the better deal. The reduction applies to the entire monthly fee. With Next, it does not apply to the line charge or the equipment fee.

Okay, since I have been bashed by multiple people, I will say it is NOT impossible to save money, however, it is much easier to save money on NEXT. When you are talking about a FAN, then yes, a 2-year agreement is much more cheaper depeinding on your work place.

 

[xaqt93]

Please quit spreading bad information. The NEXT plan makes sense for some users, but not everyone. Those of us with UDPs and FANs pay less money by taking the 2-yr subsidy. It's black and white; the math doesn't lie.

Agreed. I explained my self in a different post on this same thread. My bad for the mis information

 

[RabbitLuvr]

I switched a couple of months ago. In my case, they let me out of my contract on the 3 lines under contract (phones were mine to keep - even unlocked them), as long as I bought 3 phones under NEXT. The FAN applies only to the Mobile Share data and not to the individual lines. I also got 15GB data doubled to 30GB for the same price.

So they may let your husband's line out of contract if you buy another phone on Next - but try to get them to wait for another 2 weeks.

The per phone "access" charge is $40/line but they discount to $15 if you buy on Next or BYOD. It would be $40 if you got a 2-year subsidy (still not 100% how that works with mixed "plans").

My old Family Talk Nation plan includes $0/month device access charge, for both phones. Running the numbers with my FAN discount, I also get $2/month higher discount with current plan vs. with a Mobile Share plan. (My 20% FAN currently applies to the Family Talk, and both data plans.) Because of my waived device access charges, my current subsidized plan runs about $10 cheaper per month than if I switched to Mobile Share.

I like to upgrade every year, but my husband doesn't really care as long as his phone works. So I do the upgrade switch, then pass my "old" phone down to him. We both get new phones (his is new-to-him), so it's a win for both of us.

 

[powerbook911]

Cool. My one line that goes eligible late in September, is now good to go after Sept. 1.

However...why should I stay with AT&T (been there since first iPhone in 2007).

Honestly T-Mobile's prices look so good...is there service that much inferior? How is it everyone doesn't move to them?

 

[karmatourer]

2 year contracts don't make sense unless you're on a single line plan and have unlimited data.

Or have a huge FAN discount. So yes,they do make sense.

 

[karmatourer]

My upgrade date is Oct 23 but AT&T said it reverts back to the 1st of the month.They told me this a few months ago and I verified it 2 weeks ago. This is for a 2 year plan. Now if I can get them to move it back to September.....they said call after the announcement (Sep 9) and ask again but didn't seem hopeful. This won't be a issue next time around as you become eligible for upgrade after ~21 months.

 

[karmatourer]

Actually I have it pretty made, since I have single line plan with the 450 nationwide with rollover, 5000 night/weekend mins, 1500 texts, unlimited data - there is virtually no way to incur overage charges if you're me. Plus I get a nice 22% corporate FAN discount on top of that. After taxes, my bill comes to about $75/month.

LTE signal is fantastic where I live, and since AT&T has softened its stance on throttling, that makes it even better. I was only ever throttled one time, but I don't think that will be a concern going forward.

So yeah, I am keeping things as is for as long as I am able to. I have it made and as long as they let me keep my plan the way it is, I see no reason to change anything. I don't mind the 2 year contract at all, especially with being on the "S" cycle.

Me too except for UPD. My FAN is 21%.

 

[karmatourer]

At the beginning of the renewal month, the AT&T renewal date will reset to the first day of the renewal month.

Don't bother calling. This can be confirmed by checking OLAM after September 1.

Yep,mine was Oct 23 but they told me months ago it reverts back to 1st of month. Hopefully they will permit me to back it to Sep but I doubt that will happen.

 

[karmatourer]

I lucked out last year, ordered through ATT, and didn't have to wait. Just had to fight an overloaded web site.

I ordered through ATT because ATT allowed me to ship it to my work address. I think Apple will only ship to billing address.

Though I learned later I could have cheated. Changed my billing address to work long enough to make the order. But just simpler.

Next year, I just don't know. I may want the flexibility of having an unlocked phone. Potentially try out Verizon or TMobile. Though if I don't hand my iPhone 6 off to extended family member when I upgrade to the 7, I could just use the 6 on my overseas vacation.

The other great thing about ordering from AT&T site last year,it went live several minutes before scheduled time! Which made a huge difference.

 

[Aibocyrus]

What confuses is me is why all of us iPhone users who want to upgrade every year don't get on NEXT 12 when it is specifically designed for users like us. Lol. When you trade the old phone in at 12 months you still get a subsidy on the phone. You don't pay the full amount after 12 months.

 

[melman101]

Cool. My one line that goes eligible late in September, is now good to go after Sept. 1.

However...why should I stay with AT&T (been there since first iPhone in 2007).

Honestly T-Mobile's prices look so good...is there service that much inferior? How is it everyone doesn't move to them?

Well that is the question isn't it. I would save about 30 bucks a month if I moved to T-Mobile, I would get free texting on airplanes, and I would get hotspot access.

However, I just can't risk not having service where I need it to be. That being said, there is one place I go to that has full LTE for T-Mobile (iPad) and I can't get on using my AT&T service (iPhone)

I am sticking with AT&T though

 

[CodeSpyder]

You can pay the early termination fee. I wouldn't imagine that it's much if you are close, then you own the phone free and clear.

 

[duaneu]

What confuses is me is why all of us iPhone users who want to upgrade every year don't get on NEXT 12 when it is specifically designed for users like us. Lol. When you trade the old phone in at 12 months you still get a subsidy on the phone. You don't pay the full amount after 12 months.

It's not really a subsidy, you're just giving the phone back in lieu of paying the remaining installments. You could almost certainly do better paying off the phone and selling it yourself. But that's more of a hassle, so many people are happy to take the convenience of just turning it back in and starting a new installment plan.

 

[willmtaylor]

It's not really a subsidy, you're just giving the phone back in lieu of paying the remaining installments. You could almost certainly do better paying off the phone and selling it yourself. But that's more of a hassle, so many people are happy to take the convenience of just turning it back in and starting a new installment plan.

I call it "leasing."

 

[Aibocyrus]

Long as I can upgrade without a hassle every year, I'm happy lol

 

[PLin]

A majority of individual users are on plans under 10GB and Next is more expensive. Selling Next to them is deceptive.

I agree. With NEXT, you also have to pay sales tax for the full price of the phone. With the 2-year contract price, you only pay sales tax on the subsidized price unless you live in one of the few states (California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island) that requires merchants to collect the sales tax based on the full price of the phone regardless.

The main benefit of NEXT is that not everyone can afford to drop $650-950 on a phone, so they basically finance it for you at 0%. Many people care more about whether or not they can afford the monthly payment without looking at the total cost when you're done paying.

This is how I make the calculation to see if any plan increases are worth it. A 2-year contract reduces the price of the phone by $450, which saves you $18.75 per month ($450 divided by 24). If your line charge goes up by more than that, then it's not worth it. With the 10GB plan, it goes up $25 per month, so buying on contract and saving $18.75 per month doesn't make sense. With the <10GB plans it goes up $15, so buying on contract and saving $18.75 per month does make sense.

 

[Aibocyrus]

You do realize that the reason you sign a two year contract is because it takes the company that long to make back the I'll retail price of the phone. What people fail to realize is that you've always paid for the phones. It's always just been hidden in the cost of service.

 

[AJsAWiz]

The original iPhone (2G) was only sold at full price without subsidy.

You never give up, do you?

 

[PLin]

You do realize that the reason you sign a two year contract is because it takes the company that long to make back the I'll retail price of the phone. What people fail to realize is that you've always paid for the phones. It's always just been hidden in the cost of service.

It really depends on your plan. My parents are both in their 70s, and they use their iPhones mostly at home on WiFi and don't text. I only pay $10 for each of their lines on my 700 minute plan, and they each only have a 200MB data plan for $15. Even at only $25 per line, they both qualify for subsidized pricing. I guarantee they won't make their money back even after 2 years.

I have 4 lines on my account, and my total bill is $154 before taxes. Every 2 years, I can get 4 subsidized devices, which is a savings of $1800 over 24 months. That's $75 per month in subsidies. Since it's "hidden" in the cost of the plan, I'm essentially paying $79 per month for all 4 lines. Show me a MobileShare plan where I can get 4 lines for that price even if I buy the phones outright.

 

[danabee]

My original upgrade date of 9/21/15 was also moved up according to the ATT website, where I am now eligible for a subsidy with a new 2 year agreement. However, when I pull up the Apple website (and app), it only offers me an upgrade via ATT Next. Ugh. I have had great luck in the past with ordering via the Apple app right at pre-order opening. Here's hoping I don't have to use the ATT website for pre-order!

 

[Surf Donkey]

My original upgrade date of 9/21/15 was also moved up according to the ATT website, where I am now eligible for a subsidy with a new 2 year agreement. However, when I pull up the Apple website (and app), it only offers me an upgrade via ATT Next. Ugh. I have had great luck in the past with ordering via the Apple app right at pre-order opening. Here's hoping I don't have to use the ATT website for pre-order!

I believe it has been said for quite a while that the Apple Store will only be doing Next upgrades. You want a subsidized phone, you have to do it with AT&T.

 

[melman101]

My original upgrade date of 9/21/15 was also moved up according to the ATT website, where I am now eligible for a subsidy with a new 2 year agreement. However, when I pull up the Apple website (and app), it only offers me an upgrade via ATT Next. Ugh. I have had great luck in the past with ordering via the Apple app right at pre-order opening. Here's hoping I don't have to use the ATT website for pre-order!

You are out of luck. Only AT&T.com. Good luck!

 

[Bryan Bowler]

You do realize that the reason you sign a two year contract is because it takes the company that long to make back the I'll retail price of the phone. What people fail to realize is that you've always paid for the phones. It's always just been hidden in the cost of service.

Sigh. Here we go again. Your statement is incorrect for those of us with UDP and FAN. We come out ahead with a 2-yr subsidy. It's black and white. The numbers do not lie.