[Fausty82]

Following the lead of T-Mobile and 2nd to the party (VZW), AT&T announces their new upgrade policy...

AT&T strikes back with NEXT, accelerated upgrade program that'll let you get a new phone or tablet every year | iMore.com

[Peligro911]

Another article says Verizon is doing some edge thing .. Seems they all are trying to find a new way


Sent from my iPhone 5 from a galaxy far far away (in the USA ) using Tapatalk !

[Guacho]

Now, this does not affect the two year contract right?? I could use this every two years when the contract is still running

[cardfan]

I don't think so.

AT&T Next is available for new AT&T customers or existing customers who are upgrade eligible.

The Next program is such a bad deal. If used the way you're thinking, it could be good. But the above quote would seem to imply that won't be the case.

[Guacho]

RIP OFF.. At&t is gonna make a huge profit from this if someone upgrades phones every year using Next.
we're better off using the subsidized price for the first contract, the next year sell the phone and pay full price, and using the subsidy again a year later.

[Fausty82]

RIP OFF.. At&t is gonna make a huge profit from this if someone upgrades phones every year using Next.
we're better off using the subsidized price for the first contract, the next year sell the phone and pay full price, and using the subsidy again a year later.

Yep.... how do you know your wireless company is screwing you? Their lips are moving... If they offer you a "deal", run the other direction as fast as you can...

And they set this whole thing up by wiping out any chance of an early upgrade... I remember, because if the amount of my monthly bill I got upgrade prices every year.. then it was 20 months... now it’s 24 month... but wait, have they got a deal for you...

[Just_Me_D]

Yep.... how do you know your wireless company is screwing you? Their lips are moving... If they offer you a "deal", run the other direction as fast as you can...

And they set this whole thing up by wiping out any chance of an early upgrade... I remember, because if the amount of my monthly bill I got upgrade prices every year.. then it was 20 months... now it’s 24 month... but wait, have they got a deal for you...

​Outstanding response, Fausty82, and you are spot-on, sir...

[Guacho]

and no interest charge according to them, I bet they'll sell the next 16gb iphone at around 700, so the interest is actually built into the price...

[Guacho]

Yep.... how do you know your wireless company is screwing you? Their lips are moving... If they offer you a "deal", run the other direction as fast as you can...

And they set this whole thing up by wiping out any chance of an early upgrade... I remember, because if the amount of my monthly bill I got upgrade prices every year.. then it was 20 months... now its 24 month... but wait, have they got a deal for you...

It's like one of those commercials where they sell crappy products and at the end they go " but wait, there's more "...

[Duvi]

The other option is not using this option...

I honestly think it's a great program that they're going to offer. Some people like to lease cars... This is sort of the same thing.

[Guacho]

The other option is not using this option...

I honestly think it's a great program that they're going to offer. Some people like to lease cars... This is sort of the same thing.

you end up paying a lot more if you use Next every year, and you can accomplish the same result paying much less selling your device every year... This article explains it pretty well.
http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/7/16...-a-huge-ripoff

[Duvi]

you end up paying a lot more if you use Next every year, and you can accomplish the same result paying much less selling your device every year... This article explains it pretty well.
AT&T's Next phone upgrade plans are a huge ripoff | The Verge

Same with leasing. You pay more at the end, but not in the beginning!

I buy devices off contract all the time and have 6 lines (all mine) and always have upgrades, but I know my friend would take advantage of this as he wouldn't mind paying the $50 a month for the device and not having to pay for it like I do.

So... for you, it is a bad option. For many others, I see this working for them.

[Fausty82]

Same with leasing. You pay more at the end, but not in the beginning!

I buy devices off contract all the time and have 6 lines (all mine) and always have upgrades, but I know my friend would take advantage of this as he wouldn't mind paying the $50 a month for the device and not having to pay for it like I do.

So... for you, it is a bad option. For many others, I see this working for them.

It’s a great deal for the AT&Ts and VZWs of the world... their user base is perpetually paying equipment fees...

[Fausty82]

From twitter last night (https://twitter.com/degusta/status/357348522720370689):

2012: People shocked to discover shared data plans don’t save money.

2013: People shocked to discover early upgrade plans don’t save money.

The bottom line: the carriers have THEIR interests at heart, not yours...

[Guacho]

Here's a 4 year scenario with two options, the first one is someone who upgrades every year selling their old device and paying full price when not elegible, the second is someone who uses AT&T Next every year to upgrade.
The following example assumes that :

- Both users have an iphone 5 and are not elegible for an upgrade this year.
- Resale value of previous iphone of about 450 dollars ( 16gb ).
- Full price of 16gb : $650
- Im not considering the subsidy since at&t charges you regardless of what option you go with.
- That at&t Next will use $650 as the base price ( $ 32.5 a month ), yeah right !!!! , but for the sake of it.

User 1 : Full Price

Year 1 : sells for 450, buys 650 = -200
Year 2: sells 450 , buys 199. = + 251
Year 3: sells 450 - buys 650 = -200
Year 4 : sells 450 - buys 199 = +251

At the end of the 4th year this user has an iPhone that is fully paid and $102 in cash.


User 2 : Next - $390 a year ( 32.5 *12)

Year 1: sells 450,pays 390 = +60
Year 2: pays 390
Year 3: pays 390
Year 4: pays 390

At the end of the 4th year User 2 has spent $1.110 dollars and owns no equipment.

RIP OFF !!!!