Why do we suffer under the AT&T subsidy model?

[spdickey]

FYI guys/gals. All major carriers (ATT, VERIZON, SPRINT) have all ended 12 month upgrades. No ifs, ands or buts about that regardless of how long you have been a customer, regardless of how "much the primary lines generate each month"

I know for a fact ATT did this last spring. So if you upgraded anytime after May/June 2011 you will notice your upgrade dates falls down 18 months instead of 12 months.

I just "upgraded" since I had no choice other than to pay the monthly charge I was paying. My "contract" is for 24 months, not 18.

I wish I could get my own phone and pay a lower monthly, too bad their are no other options that work for me.

[aneftp]

But if you go closer and look at the country just to the north of us, they have 3 year contracts.

Well Verizon tried that 3 year crap contract on "selected customers" a couple of years ago offering some "free" crap smartphone. I know this for a fact since I was one of those who received the solitication.

I believe Canada has only 3 national real carriers (Telus, Bell, and Rogers). Wind is a newer carrier.

In the USA, we are on the verge of havin only 3 national carriers if T-mobile USA gets brought out or merges with one of the big 3. (it's really only the big 2 ATT and Verizon).

[efparri]

One is able to upgrade prior to the end of the contract, as it has always been. The standard now with AT&T Mobility is twenty months for a twenty-four month contract.

[aneftp]

I just "upgraded" since I had no choice other than to pay the monthly charge I was paying. My "contract" is for 24 months, not 18.

I wish I could get my own phone and pay a lower monthly, too bad their are no other options that work for me.

Contract has always been 24 months. What I am saying is do not expect to get any 12 month upgrades anymore in a 24 month contract. Now you have to wait 18-21 months before your next full subsidy upgrade regardless how much money your plan generates on the primary line.

[johnhere]

I spend a fortune on vz lines plus fios each month and my upgrade isn't until I'm 20 months in and they don't seem to be budging on that at all.

[ItnStln]

FYI guys/gals. All major carriers (ATT, VERIZON, SPRINT) have all ended 12 month upgrades. No ifs, ands or buts about that regardless of how long you have been a customer, regardless of how "much the primary lines generate each month"

I know for a fact ATT did this last spring. So if you upgraded anytime after May/June 2011 you will notice your upgrade dates falls down 18 months instead of 12 months.

Then how come my personal AT&T line has an upgrade every twenty months? It's been like that since 2010ish...before that it was eighteen.

[ItnStln]

One is able to upgrade prior to the end of the contract, as it has always been. The standard now with AT&T Mobility is twenty months for a twenty-four month contract.

Just to match Verizon Wireless I'm sure.

[aneftp]

Then how come my personal AT&T line has an upgrade every twenty months? It's been like that since 2010ish...before that it was eighteen.

It's complicated to explain. There is sticky at front of AT&T page on Howard forums. But before spring 2011 certain AT&T customers were able to upgrade every 12 month during a 24 month contract depending in plans and features on the primary line.

But like I had. AT&T does done away with that 12 month courtesy upgrade even for those people.

As for me. All my lines are upgrade eligible now after 19 months. I upgraded 3 of my lines in October 2011 to iPhone 4s and all lines show upgrade dates in May 2013 including the primary line.

[ItnStln]

It's complicated to explain. There is sticky at front of AT&T page on Howard forums. But before spring 2011 certain AT&T customers were able to upgrade every 12 month during a 24 month contract depending in plans and features on the primary line.

But like I had. AT&T does done away with that 12 month courtesy upgrade even for those people.

As for me. All my lines are upgrade eligible now after 19 months. I upgraded 3 of my lines in October 2011 to iPhone 4s and all lines show upgrade dates in May 2013 including the primary line.

I'm going to have to look into this. Thanks! Do you by chance have a link to that topic? I don't see it. I assume it's because I'm on a mobile device...

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk

[aneftp]

I'm going to have to look into this. Thanks! Do you by chance have a link to that topic? I don't see it. I assume it's because I'm on a mobile device...

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk

The end of the 12 month upgrade is true. The issue hasn't been brought up many times because
1. It's new policy they implemented back in Spring 2011. So people had one last chance to upgrade with that 12 month upgrade cycle. Say if they brought an iPhone 4 back in March 2011 (right before the announcement), they would be eligible still for 12 month upgrade in March 2012. That's the last time they will be eligible for the 12 month upgrade.

2. Very few people have "upgraded" after the 12 month cycle policy changed. Remember this policy went into effect in Spring 2011. Most people eligible for the 12 month upgrade cycle were holding off for the new iphone in 2011 (or the Samsung S2 etc). So most people have not hit that new 12 month mark to be really vocal and complain that it's no longer available. In fact, many iphone users are in denial thinking ATT will be "nice" as usual and grant them a full subsidy upgrade when the next iphone is released.

3. ATT has never acknowledge the 12 month upgrade cycle for it's best customers. It was more of a unwritten benefit for giving ATT more money. So ATT will always point to their upgrade eligbility official webpage.

[aneftp]

Here are a couple of links to people asking if 12 month upgrades were gone.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...y-Upgrade-Gone
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...month-upgrades
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...-upgrade-cycle

[CA]

Something just dawned on me, I bought a new Samsung Laser printer that had a list price of $214.99 on their site. I paid half at Staples, and it's a newish model. So I poked around and saw that about the only other product they had that was sold at retail are Phones, yes subsided phones. Now I'm feeling like a dummie having paid out the *** for my note. Just, if you can, imagine that if there were no subsidies, presto...market value!