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+--- Thread: Best way to buy an iPhone? (/showthread.php?tid=48868)
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Best way to buy an iPhone? - davester - 02-07-2008
I already have an AT&T family plan that is 1.5 years old. The contract is up in May for our 4 phones. At the AT&T website, it tells me that I can upgrade to a free phone right now on the primary number if I sign up for a new 2-year contract. What I'm wondering is whether I could get a free phone and 2 year contract, then shortly thereafter purchase a new iPhone (which would again reset the contract to 2 years). That way I'd be able either keep the free phone or sell it on ebay. This way I wouldn't waste my "credit" for a free phone by using the 2 year contract hook to buy an unsubsidized iPhone.
Does this make sense? Has anybody done this? Am I going to shoot myself in the foot somehow?...or, is there perhaps some other creative way to go about getting a new iPhone?
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - Mac-A-Matic - 02-07-2008
The answer to your question, I think, is: "yes".
They always want to hit you with that two-year contract. So get the free phone now and the iPhone when a new generation comes out in six month.
Now, when your contract is up in May, you do not have to re-commit to another multi-year contract. Just don't have them subsidize a new phone. Better yet, if you "need" new phones, by a Go! Phone, yank the SIM card and install the one from the phone you're replacing. I did that for over a year with two Go! phones.
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - Mr645 - 02-07-2008
You can ge a free/cheap phone with a 2 yr extention, and then get an iPhone which will add 2 more years to your contract.
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - mattkime - 02-07-2008
isn't there a way around the contract extension? i thought if you weren't under contract you could just add $20 to your monthly plan
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - SteveO - 02-07-2008
Davester, yes, your method has been mentioned on MacRumors or AppleInsider or one of those sites. It's a smart way to go.
Mattkime: No. There is no way around the contract extension. It is an exclusive deal with iPhone and the DeathStar I mean ATT.
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - mattkime - 02-07-2008
>>No. There is no way around the contract extension.
More research reveals this isn't true -
Existing AT&T Customers
If you’re an existing AT&T (formerly Cingular) wireless customer on a qualifying rate plan, just add a Data Plan for iPhone. (This may replace your current data plan. Some voice plans, including TDMA, may not qualify. Call AT&T Customer Service at 1-800-331-0500 to see if your plan qualifies.) Data Plans for iPhone give you Visual Voicemail, SMS Text Messaging bundles, and Unlimited Data, which includes both email and web.
2 year plan is only for new users
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - deckeda - 02-07-2008
Just to clarify, I have a question.
Is the non-iPhone subsidized in some way that doesn't preclude its private sale? I'm assuming the idea here is to get the non-iPhone for less than you'll gain when selling it on eBay, thereby funding the iPhone.
Otherwise, why buy something only to sell it and break even, at best?
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - davester - 02-07-2008
Deckeda, the non-iPhone is amortized in the contract cost of a 2 year agreement. Signing up for a new 2 year stint is a requirement to get your "free" phone. If you bail on the contract early then you have to cough up a penalty fee roughly equivalent to the cost of the phone. I am concerned that with the nonamortized iPhone I would be signing up for a 2 year contract without receiving the "free" phone that I would be paying for in my 2 year agreement.
Mattkime, you should have read the next paragraph, which is where they specify a 2 year agreement is required on top of the data plan. Here's the full AT&T discussion (and it largely answers my original question). However, currently I'm eligible for a new "free" phone on my primary family plan number but not the other lines. I'm still not sure if I can get the new "free" phone for my number, then transfer it to one of the other lines (or sell it) when I buy the iPhone. I guess I'll have to go talk to the AT&T folks to find out.
Existing Customer Questions
Q. Do I need to switch to a different rate plan if I upgrade to iPhone?
A. If you're an existing AT&T wireless customer, you just need to add a Data Plan for iPhone. This may replace your current data plan. In most cases, your voice plan will stay the same. (There are some plans that are not eligible.)
The Data Plan for iPhone gives you Visual Voicemail, text messaging bundles, and unlimited data - which includes both email and web. You'll add a Data Plan for iPhone and sign a new 2-year service agreement during the activation process. Discount eligibility for other devices will continue from the time of your most recent contract.
Q. I just upgraded my phone recently. Are there any penalties or restrictions for upgrading to iPhone right away?
A. No. Everyone can upgrade to iPhone right away, you just need to add a Data Plan for iPhone (this may replace your current data plan but your voice plan will stay the same) and sign a new 2-year service contract. Discount eligibility for other devices will continue from the time of your current contract.
Q. Do I lose my discount eligibility on phones or devices other than iPhone?
A. No. Although existing customers are required to sign a new 2-year service contract when activating iPhone, the discount eligibility for other devices will continue from the time of your current contract. For example, if you are eligible for an upgrade discount next month, you will still be eligible for the upgrade discount on a device other than iPhone next month.
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - mattkime - 02-07-2008
i stand corrected!
grm, #$%#$%#$, I'm all ready to buy one but i principle i refuse to sign a contract. and they're not subsidizing the price of the phone. grm $%#$%#$%#
Re: Best way to buy an iPhone? - davester - 02-07-2008
What you're paying for in that 2 year AT&T contract is the cost to AT&T of the development time put into the iPhone. Anyway, you can always go buy yourself (or make yourself) an unlocked iPhone.