vB Easy Archive - What happens after 2 years?

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What happens after 2 years?
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Posted by: drrjv

Not sure if this has been discussed so hope I am not being repetitive.

Apple is trying to change the way cell phones are marketed, selling phones without a subsidy. I like this approach as I can then buy any phone whenever I want (eg: if new iPhone or other must-have gadget comes out).

With this paradigm, at some point my contract with ATT will be up. So one wonders what happens at that point? Would I acquire another ATT phone as a spare and extend my contract? Would ATT give me some sort of cash rebate? Or do I stay in a situation without a contract and termination fee (that would be nice).

Verizon's recent offerings brought this idea up to me, as buying the LG Voyager would stick someone with this brick for 2 years!

What are your thoughts on this?

Posted by: teiresias

I don't see how buying an LG Voyager subsidized by entering a 2-year contract and "being stuck with the brick" for two years is any different than buying an iPhone with an AT&T 2-year contract and "being stuck with a different brick" for two years.

Whether one prefers one brick to the other is all a matter of subjective taste and needs really. Ostensibly, they seem like the same logical situation.

Posted by: RolloverRocks

At the end of your two year contract you wil go month to month no commitment, and no etf if you decide to cancel. At&t has an upgrade advantage program so im sure you will qualify for that depending on your plan.

Posted by: XanderMac

I would ask if apple will unlock the handset after 2 years? That was the requirement right, a 2 year contract, when its up what do they do?

Posted by: bootycancer

buyer's remorse

Posted by: drrjv

I think the fact that Apple sells the phones without a subsidy lowers the actual price of the device. Thus, to get an LG Voyager without a subsidy will probably cost $500-600 but with the 'subsidy' it will go for $200-300.

Thus, the price is artificially inflated due to the 'subsidy', which then locks you into the carrier for 2 years.

Posted by: homegeek

Quote:

Originally Posted by drrjv

Apple is trying to change the way cell phones are marketed, selling phones without a subsidy. I like this approach as I can then buy any phone whenever I want (eg: if new iPhone or other must-have gadget comes out).

I am sorry but I hate what Apple is trying to do. The reason people agree to a contract is for a subsidized phone price. So now not only to I have to pay full price, I have to stay 2 years?

Posted by: mattdnj

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanderMac

I would ask if apple will unlock the handset after 2 years? That was the requirement right, a 2 year contract, when its up what do they do?

Cingular unlocks other phones at the end of a contract. However, as we've seen, unlocking the iPhone seems to be a special case. It's going to be interesting to see what happens down the line as the original contracts come up.

Posted by: gotanmp3

Quote:

Originally Posted by drrjv

With this paradigm, at some point my contract with ATT will be up. So one wonders what happens at that point?

The battery in the iPhone dies.

Posted by: Fray Adjacent

I've been on AT&T when my contract expired before.

What happens? NOTHING. Your plan and bill stays the same. You can terminate your service with no charge. If, for instance, there's some new iPhone, or whatever whizbang handset that they have that requires a 2 year contract, and you re-up, you have a new 2 year contract.

Posted by: dborja

I recall an AT&T official saying that they'll gladly unlock your iPhone when the two years are up instead of the usual 90 days. WRT to the contract, you pay the same amount on a month-to-month basis until you decide to take advantage of some incentive to re-commit to a one or two year plan.

RolloverRocks, what is the "upgrade advantage" deal? Just asking since I haven't yet experienced end of contract with AT&T...

Posted by: tigres013

I can tell you one thing regarding my thoughts on this. You can bet that AT&T will bend you over on this. There is not one post on the internet that has ever concluded/stated/verified that AT&T/Apple will unlock yours/ours well actually THEIR iPhone (feel free to link a correction here if you have one.) I do not see this ever happening, and based on how it is going so far with lockdowns and firmware; and now new rules on exchanges; well the game is up.

Now, with that being said I personally am waiting to see how this all plays out with the cat-mouse thing, and 1.1.1 (activation) update(s) should they arrive.

If so- I will be leaving AT&T, they got me at my home/business--->but I will be damned if I will continue with their service on this phone (continuing to drop calls- but Wait---> I still have more bars..LOL) BTW. Reason for my major complaint is my T-MO iPhone has yet to drop a call- tested, retested, and triple tested.

I think when the time is right; I will pay the 175 ETF, and port my # back.

Posted by: GregGebhardt

In two years, if you still have your iPhone, you will not feel the same about it!

Just imagine what new phones will be brought out between now and two years from now!

Consider it like dating!

Posted by: drrjv

I most likely will buy the next generation iPhone and give the current one to a family member. This is a lot easier with the Apple Paradigm as the phones are overall less expensive.

When I had Verizon and wanted to upgrade the miserable XV6700 to a Treo 700p, the cost was $499 as my 'contract' was not up yet. In the 'open' market, a treo should be $200-300 - not $500!

Posted by: manchuia

with regards to unlocking.. it won't happen. If you have had AT&T for more than 90 days they will provide an unlock code for EVERY other phone but the iphone. In theory terminating the contract and paying the ETF should provide you with the means to take that phone to another carrier, but, agian, you will not be provided with a method to unlock.

The question (as far as unlocking) should be "what happens in 5(?) years when the exclusivity contract with AT&T runs out" Will we see a universal, unlocked firmware? By that time, the original Ipod will be unsupported (going off of Apple's support of other products) so it will be a non issue.