T-Mobile update: $0 down for phones (limited time)

[decay]

http://9to5mac.com/2013/07/26/t-mobile-g...r-27month/

As part of its new un-carrier strategy, T-Mobile USA today announced that it will begin a new deal tomorrow: $0 down for all devices. Now, eligible customers can receive a phone with no money down and pay for the device over 24 months. For the iPhone 5, customers will be able to receive the device for free and now pay an additional $27 on top of their monthly service charges for 24 months. Previously, the iPhone 5 on T-Mobile costed {SIC} $145.99 with $21 payments per month for 24 months.

T-Mobile says that the $0 initiative is available for a limited time, but the company does not specify the end date for the special. Notably, AT&T’s JUMP competitor, which is called Next, goes live today. Verizon’s competing Edge plan starts next month.

checking the T-Mobile site, i see a 4-phone family plan with unlimited 4G data, texts and calling is $180/mo. I assume I add PA's 19% tax to that for an additional $34/mo. that would put me at $214; currently paying $227 with AT&T.

[cbelt3]

um... 'no contract' company thus becomes 'contract' , at least in the sale of the phone ? OK..

Makes sense... forcing retail buy of a smartphone was going to create an initial capital funding barrier anyway.

[DRR]

There is no contract. You can pay it off tomorrow if you like and move service. You're not locked in. You can call it a contract but that does not make it so.

[onthedownlow]

DRR wrote:
There is no contract. You can pay it off tomorrow if you like and move service. You're not locked in. You can call it a contract but that does not make it so.

Exactly.

[cbelt3]

Gotcha. So it's more of a 'payment plan'

[decay]

yes

[Fritz]

when I can get the HTC One for $200, I'll bite. But 6 bills for a phone ......... madness.
Me no likey new non-underwritten phone plans. But I guess it would help the bottom line of the 4 majors.

[space-time]

DRR wrote:
There is no contract. You can pay it off tomorrow if you like and move service. You're not locked in. You can call it a contract but that does not make it so.

but if you pay it off tomorrow then you have to pay $20 * 24 on top of the $150 down payment, or with the new plan $27 * 24. You still pay way more than a ETF of an ATT/Verizon contract which is about $400 IIRC

[rgG]

space-time wrote:
[quote=DRR]
There is no contract. You can pay it off tomorrow if you like and move service. You're not locked in. You can call it a contract but that does not make it so.

but if you pay it off tomorrow then you have to pay $20 * 24 on top of the $150 down payment, or with the new plan $27 * 24. You still pay way more than a ETF of an ATT/Verizon contract which is about $400 IIRC
but, the ETF is on top of the $199 that you typically have to pay for the phone, so that would be $400 + $199 for $600, plus you are tied to a 24 month contract. $27 X 24 would be $648, so you would pay about $50 more not to be tied to a 24 month contract, plus T-Mobile's service is usually cheaper that ATT or Verizon.

[decay]

if I didn't get a discount on my AT&T plan, T-Mo would be cheaper for my 4-phone plan (3 smart, 1 flip)