vB Easy Archive - So is AT&T turning into sprint/verison?

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So is AT&T turning into sprint/verison?
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Posted by: maelawncare

Now that we HAVE to activate the iphone instore. And cant use any sim card we want. Well technically we couldn't before. But now that we cant even buy the phone and leave. Are they turning into Sprint and Verison where you have to call them or go into a store to switch phones?

That just seems lame to me. That was the #2 reason for me switching from Sprint to AT&T. And now im just pissed.

Posted by: OrangeAndBlack

I'd have to agree. I had left Verizon for a GSM network because I like to change phones every so often. Now, I'm feeling as if, with the iPhone, I'm losing out of that "feature".

However, there are two large companies trying to make money here. They'll keep nickeling us to death.

Posted by: richy240

Uhh... Then don't buy an iPhone. There are plenty of other GSM phones to be had. None as attractive or usable, I agree, but other GSM phones nonetheless.

Posted by: OrangeAndBlack

I don't really even want an iPhone, to be perfectly honest. The way the plans are set-up are complete and utter retardation.

I want a Curve. I just want it for cheap.

Posted by: maelawncare

ok so you have a choice not to buy an iphone. but what if you want to? personally it makes sense for me to have one. Other whys i would have to carry an ipod, phone, and pda with me. And only way to make the dam thing really useful and fun is to unlock it. But if i cant even buy it, without activating it? how is that sensible. You can even give them as gifts anymore.

Posted by: Saoirse1916

I hate to be the bearer of good news, but SIM-switching aside we're really talking about a net $40 increase in cost over the life of a two year contract. $40 for 3x speed, GPS, allegedly better audio, etc. Or, $1.67 per month for all that. Back in the day, if someone told me I could go from ISDN to DSL for an extra $1.67/month, I just might take it.

Posted by: gjkiii

Actually your talking about $160......the new data plan does not include the 200 sms that the old one did....that will cost $5 more per month...so the data technically went up from $20 to $35

Posted by: msk

you can still use what ever phone you want, just pop it out the sim when you want. nobody said you couldn't, the 3g iphone even comes with a "sim ejector tool" (a paper clip). activating instore has nothing to do with swaping phones.

Posted by: Saoirse1916

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjkiii

Actually your talking about $160......the new data plan does not include the 200 sms that the old one did....that will cost $5 more per month...so the data technically went up from $20 to $35

True, forgot about SMS. So we're looking at $6.67/month to go from ISDN to DSL, and adding in GPS. Still seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Posted by: starry1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saoirse1916

True, forgot about SMS. So we're looking at $6.67/month to go from ISDN to DSL, and adding in GPS. Still seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Ok, you got me - where are you getting your figures from?? This and the net increase of 1.67 a month? Are you deducting the presumed retail value minus what you pay subsidized?

Posted by: importluva

They're doing this with the iphone to stave off unlockers so AT&T gets its piece of the pie.

Posted by: payroll

It is just for the iPhone... They are trying to solve many of the problems they had with the first iPhone by making people activate them in-store. You can still remove the sim-card after and put it in another phone.

If you buy any phone with any GSM carrier, you have to active it in-store to get the cheap price.

Posted by: maelawncare

Quote:

Originally Posted by payroll

It is just for the iPhone... They are trying to solve many of the problems they had with the first iPhone by making people activate them in-store. You can still remove the sim-card after and put it in another phone.

If you buy any phone with any GSM carrier, you have to active it in-store to get the cheap price.

No you cant. You cant take the sim out and put it in another phone. that sim is locked to the phone.

thats what im pissed about. and having to reup. i dont care about the money, i got money. im just pissed about being not only locked to a new 2 year contract, but a phone.

Posted by: Saoirse1916

Quote:

Originally Posted by starry1

Ok, you got me - where are you getting your figures from?? This and the net increase of 1.67 a month? Are you deducting the presumed retail value minus what you pay subsidized?

Sorry -- here's where these numbers come from:

8GB iPhone EDGE: $399
Data plan: $20/month x 24 months = $480
Total: $879

8GB iPhone 3G: $199
Data plan: $30/month x 24 months = $720
Total: $919

Difference = $40 for the iPhone 3G over a 2 year contract. And now we find out that the 200 SMS package is included in the voice plan so we are indeed back to a $40 difference. Or, $40 / 24 months = $1.67 per month for 3G and GPS.

Posted by: hatr3d

Quote:

Originally Posted by maelawncare

No you cant. You cant take the sim out and put it in another phone. that sim is locked to the phone.

Is this 100% true? My main reason for leaving T-Mo for AT&T would be that I love the freedom of changing phones whenever I want. If this is the case, you can count me out!

Posted by: Gorgonesh

Quote:

Originally Posted by maelawncare

No you cant. You cant take the sim out and put it in another phone. that sim is locked to the phone.

Better supply some documentation with that claim. Sounds like FUD to me.

Posted by: wanga

Quote:

Originally Posted by maelawncare

That is completely incorrect, the Apple listened to another complaint and now gives you to tool to eject the sim card so you can put into ANY at&t phone. Go read up on your facts.

Posted by: BoomerangToss

Quote:

Originally Posted by maelawncare

That just seems lame to me. That was the #2 reason for me switching from Sprint to AT&T. And now im just pissed.

My wife worked at AT&T when the monopoly was broken down. They split up to the "baby bells" now they've converged again.

I'll never forget the headhunters ATT placed during the early 80s to chop heads. 17 years, my wife got the ax for some evil reason.

I even remember they just opened their doors to let anyone take out the furniture!!!

AT&T, they're BACK!

If you hadn't noticed.

Andy

Posted by: DaRtHXtC

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomerangToss

What in the world does this have to do with the OP's topic?