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No more Upgrades At&t ends 2 year contracts

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You're right dawg
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Starting on January 8, 2016, AT&T plans to introduce a "pricing simplification effort" that will see the end of device subsidies and two-year contracts. According to an internal training document shared by Engadget, new and existing AT&T customers will only be able to purchase a smartphone at full price or with an AT&T Next payment plan going forward.

As outlined in the document, the new rules apply to all of the phones that AT&T sells, including smartphones and more basic devices, which will be paid for using new installment plans. More information on how AT&T will handle corporate accounts and non-smartphone devices like tablets and wearables will become available after an official announcement from AT&T, but it appears certain corporate users will be able to continue making two-year contract purchases.

The shift away from two-year contracts and iPhone subsidies began with T-Mobile in 2013, when the company introduced its Un-carrier payment plans uncoupling device costs from plan costs. Verizon followed suit in August of 2015, debuting new smartphone rate plans and eliminating its subsidized two-year contract option for new users.

Existing Verizon customers can still renew their two-year contracts, but AT&T's no-contract implementation is more extreme and will not offer existing customers the option to keep their contracts once they expire.

:sad:
AT&T has already been working on shifting away from two-year contracts by pushing its Next plans. In June of 2015, AT&T forced Apple and other third-party retailers to remove the option to purchase AT&T phones with a two-year contract, leaving customers with AT&T Next or a full-priced smartphone as their only third-party purchase options.

Update: AT&T has confirmed its plans to stop offering two-year contracts in a statement given to Re/code.
"With $0 down for well-qualified customers, the ability to upgrade early and down-payment options available with even lower monthly installments, our customers are overwhelmingly choosing AT&T Next," AT&T told Re/code. "Starting January 8, AT&T Next will be the primary way to get a new smartphone at AT&T."
 
I saw that shit. I might as well have gotten a new phone back in October instead of waiting for my contract. :hmm:

Verizon is probably going that way also.

These companies might regret it later, because it makes it a lot easier to leave.
 
I see unlocked nexus phones in my future from here on out. Nexus gets upgrades first is inexpensive and will be able to switch companies with no problem.
 
It does make it easier to leave but they getting all they money up front by having the consumer pay full retail!
 
The main thing is they want to push the cost of these phones on to the consumer. When you were getting your phone for $99 or $199 they were paying $500 to keep you. Now they think they can push that on to the consumer with installments and keep you.
 
Complex said:
I saw that shit. I might as well have gotten a new phone back in October instead of waiting for my contract. :hmm:

Verizon is probably going that way also.

These companies might regret it later, because it makes it a lot easier to leave.
Click to expand...

Verizon been doing this for a minute..You pay installments on the phone with no contract
 
Complex said:
The main thing is they want to push the cost of these phones on to the consumer. When you were getting your phone for $99 or $199 they were paying $500 to keep you. Now they think they can push that on to the consumer with installments and keep you.
Click to expand...

yep...and being a long time AT&T customer I hate the Next plan shit....loved the $200 for the phone for 2yrs was cool as shit...I hadn't upgraded my phone in 3 yrs trying to hold out for a better plan....maybe fuck'd now....we'll see....ain't this some bullshit! :angry::smh::angry::smh:
 
even though they subsidized the phone they still recouped the difference plus more with fees. I would rather go thru apple payment plan to get the unlocked phone than to rent it from AT&T
 
Still in a contract if you're paying installments... you can't leave til it's paid off. They make you think this is a good thing but understand how phone bills worked. You paid $199, but the true cost of the phone was added into your monthly bill... now you buy the phone but they haven't really lowered plan prices so you're still paying that subsidy price... and they have you paying installments.

Verizon/ATT:
tumblr_mz78r3TYyN1rqd0kpo1_400.gif
 
Do not fall for the BS. They say that, but under Next you're still fucked to a two year or some get even longer plans.

Like the 18 month plan, even when you finish paying off the phone, you still have 6 months to stay on the plan and can't fully outright own the phone.

These plans are just another constructive way of regurgitating the same shit you had before and spitting it back at you.

They try to do this shit to lure unsuspecting dummies, but it's the same shit, diff day.

You may be able to jump companies, but you gonna be paying that Next bill for the duration. Happy hunting.
 
When I left Verizon my phone was paid off already but my daughters IPhone which she had just gotten was still on installments..That was one of TMobiles selling points. They will pay off the balance.

Even with out that you are not under contract and can leave but you are right you will still have a bill until the phone is paid off.
 
Those phones don't actually cost the carriers 800 plus dollars. Back when I ordered a Treo from Sprint and UPS left it at the wrong house, UPS claimed that they would only cover $100 dollars since Sprint didn't declare a value on the package. I Had Sprint and UPS on a 3 way phone conversation and the Sprint rep said if you (UPS) only pay $100.00 that leaves the other $217.00 and they were wondering who was gonna pay it (NOT ME).. I say this to say the phone retailed for like $699.00 without the mail in rebate, so these companies not eating 5 or 6 hundred like the want you to believe..
 
Mixd said:
Do not fall for the BS. They say that, but under Next you're still fucked to a two year or some get even longer plans.

Like the 18 month plan, even when you finish paying off the phone, you still have 6 months to stay on the plan and can't fully outright own the phone.

These plans are just another constructive way of regurgitating the same shit you had before and spitting it back at you.

They try to do this shit to lure unsuspecting dummies, but it's the same shit, diff day.

You may be able to jump companies, but you gonna be paying that Next bill for the duration. Happy hunting.
Click to expand...
Seems like you don't understand how it works.

If the phone was $600 and you were on a two year contract by the end of that two year contract you would have payed $900 for the phone.

On the next plan, if the phone was $600 you only play $600. With the two year contract you were paying extra each month on a phone that would be already payed for after about a year. Basically the next plan is essentially a lawaway plan that allows for you to pay for the phone in installments
 
Maxxam said:
Still in a contract if you're paying installments... you can't leave til it's paid off. They make you think this is a good thing but understand how phone bills worked. You paid $199, but the true cost of the phone was added into your monthly bill... now you buy the phone but they haven't really lowered plan prices so you're still paying that subsidy price... and they have you paying installments.

Verizon/ATT:
tumblr_mz78r3TYyN1rqd0kpo1_400.gif
Click to expand...
Once you pay off the phone your bill lowers about 30 dollars for At&t
 
brando154110 said:
Those phones don't actually cost the carriers 800 plus dollars. Back when I ordered a Treo from Sprint and UPS left it at the wrong house, UPS claimed that they would only cover $100 dollars since Sprint didn't declare a value on the package. I Had Sprint and UPS on a 3 way phone conversation and the Sprint rep said if you (UPS) only pay $100.00 that leaves the other $217.00 and they were wondering who was gonna pay it (NOT ME).. I say this to say the phone retailed for like $699.00 without the mail in rebate, so these companies not eating 5 or 6 hundred like the want you to believe..
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that companies like Apple still require a cut after the initial sale.
 
BrownTurd said:
Seems like you don't understand how it works.

If the phone was $600 and you were on a two year contract by the end of that two year contract you would have payed $900 for the phone.

On the next plan, if the phone was $600 you only play $600. With the two year contract you were paying extra each month on a phone that would be already payed for after about a year. Basically the next plan is essentially a lawaway plan that allows for you to pay for the phone in installments
Click to expand...
I understand completely. Have been thru many companies over the years and with many plans cause also dealing with a family of 5 all with plans.

If you factor in the cost of the phone alone and the plan alone, the prices really have not changed with Next at all. There's no super savings. When you calculate it out over time, there's basically the same shit different day. There's websites that have done the math and they show you, it's pretty much the same.

For a person like me when you have so many phones and plans, I can't shell out hundreds of dollars every time someone in the fam wants a new phone, cheaper to just get on Next but they gamed us all saying you can switch whenever cause you can't. Gotta pay out the rest of the plan. When many thought you could just jump from phone to phone when a new one comes out. You can't.
 
Man I was planning on cutting AT&t this years....

I'll search that thread to see what's the best options....but riding with them for some years now...


I paid $130 monthly(grandfather plan, must say I burn under up some bytes monthly)

Fuck that I'm trying to dip under $50 monthly. I'm look at a full scale back this year, more $$$ coming in and less going out...
 
http://www.droid-life.com/2015/12/30/179655/

UPDATE: According to our source, 2-year contracts will still be available for tablets, wearables, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and mobile hotspots. They will also remain available for CRU and custom IRU accounts, which are also known as corporate/business accounts.

On a related note, AT&T seems poised to make that basic/feature phone of yours even tougher to keep, as they are raising the monthly access fee on 300MB, 2GB, and 5GB data plans for basic phones from $20 per month to $25.

UPDATE 2: Official word out of AT&T on the change is as follows.

“With $0 down for well-qualified customers, the ability to upgrade early and down payment options available with even lower monthly installments, our customers are overwhelmingly choosing AT&T Next. Starting January 8, AT&T Next will be the primary way to get a new smartphone at AT&T. This does not apply to business customers under a qualified wireless service agreement.”
 
BrownTurd said:
Seems like you don't understand how it works.

If the phone was $600 and you were on a two year contract by the end of that two year contract you would have payed $900 for the phone.

On the next plan, if the phone was $600 you only play $600. With the two year contract you were paying extra each month on a phone that would be already payed for after about a year. Basically the next plan is essentially a lawaway plan that allows for you to pay for the phone in installments
Click to expand...

Not true.....with a contract you got a certain amount reduced on the upgrade and you paid the balance either on the spot or during the first few months...After that you aren't paying on the phone.

At least not on sprint , verizon or nextel....
 
vi rebel said:
even though they subsidized the phone they still recouped the difference plus more with fees. I would rather go thru apple payment plan to get the unlocked phone than to rent it from AT&T
Click to expand...
Naw I did the math and it worked out less for my contract plan. I would be paying the same for my phone plan using the next plan and the contract, except on the next plan I would have to pay a additional monthly fee for the full cost of the phone. For the contract I would pay 200/300 out of pocket for the new pone and contract and pay the same for the phone service. So after two years I would have paid less overall using the contract
 
Maxxam said:
Still in a contract if you're paying installments... you can't leave til it's paid off. They make you think this is a good thing but understand how phone bills worked. You paid $199, but the true cost of the phone was added into your monthly bill... now you buy the phone but they haven't really lowered plan prices so you're still paying that subsidy price... and they have you paying installments.

Verizon/ATT:
tumblr_mz78r3TYyN1rqd0kpo1_400.gif
Click to expand...

on att if you moved to mobile share value plan u do see the savings after the phone is paid off.

when i moved to a msv plan my bill was literally cut in half. for real literally in half.
 
Mixd said:
Do not fall for the BS. They say that, but under Next you're still fucked to a two year or some get even longer plans.

Like the 18 month plan, even when you finish paying off the phone, you still have 6 months to stay on the plan and can't fully outright own the phone.

These plans are just another constructive way of regurgitating the same shit you had before and spitting it back at you.

They try to do this shit to lure unsuspecting dummies, but it's the same shit, diff day.

You may be able to jump companies, but you gonna be paying that Next bill for the duration. Happy hunting.
Click to expand...

if you just buy the phone u don't have to worry about that. and keeping it real next plans as they are currently structured are literally 0% loans for up to 2 years.
 
Mixd said:
For a person like me when you have so many phones and plans, I can't shell out hundreds of dollars every time someone in the fam wants a new phone, cheaper to just get on Next but they gamed us all saying you can switch whenever cause you can't. Gotta pay out the rest of the plan. When many thought you could just jump from phone to phone when a new one comes out. You can't.
Click to expand...

if you pay for the phone straight up u can jump as much as u want. all phones are not super expensive. there are great options out now that perform as well as the flag ships. getting a phone every year for incremental updates is just being trendy now. there is nothing that the new iphone does that the one from last year can't do. its just a status thing now.
 
ballscout1 said:
Not true.....with a contract you got a certain amount reduced on the upgrade and you paid the balance either on the spot or during the first few months...After that you aren't paying on the phone.

At least not on sprint , verizon or nextel....
Click to expand...

that was never how it worked historically with any wireless carrier until t mobile changed the game.
 
voyuer said:
if you just buy the phone u don't have to worry about that. and keeping it real next plans as they are currently structured are literally 0% loans for up to 2 years.
Click to expand...
I know, completely agree. Many comments I am reading online, say that contract phones were way cheaper than Next. I have gotten many phones with Next, been on it since it started. Have had AT&T for a long time since Cingular days. And also was with T-Mobile since Omnipoint.

Point I was just making is they are using it as a ploy to get rid of their contract plans when actually Next makes them more money. The plan really won't change for me at all. I just hate that they suckered us into believing in the beginning that with Next you can "switch phones at any time". I don't even think the employees were aware at the beginning, cause you can't, not till the phone is paid off or you pay the balance on your Next plan, then switch.

Right now, my cell is past the 18 month payments. But I still have to stay with them for 6 months on contract and can't do anything otherwise with my phone but stay with AT&T for that duration. I can only get a new phone, but I think I would have to turn in my cell to them. Can't sell it or do whatever like switch till after the 6 months is up.

I'm not looking to switch, but many are talking about taking their phones to Cricket from comments I see as it may turn out cheaper or their prepaid line is the same cost as Cricket cause they know the game and Cricket uses their service anyways.
 
All the above is why years ago I stopped with contracts on phones, their sole purpose was to hook into buying the latest and greatest device you never needed.
If you're upgrading from 2015 phone to 2016 model and it's not making you money you're simply wasting money weather you have it to waste or not
 
Mixd said:
I'm not looking to switch, but many are talking about taking their phones to Cricket from comments I see as it may turn out cheaper or their prepaid line is the same cost as Cricket cause they know the game and Cricket uses their service anyways.
Click to expand...


ATT owns cricket so they win regardless. and keeping real it ATT wants people that want to switch to cricket to switch to cricket post haste.

AT&T Absorbs Cricket: What You Need to Know

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2455001,00.asp
 
marca said:
All the above is why years ago I stopped with contracts on phones, their sole purpose was to hook into buying the latest and greatest device you never needed.
If you're upgrading from 2015 phone to 2016 model and it's not making you money you're simply wasting money weather you have it to waste or not
Click to expand...

this. i have always tended to buy my phones anyway so that i would not be under contract.
 
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