Cheapest iPhone 3GS plan

[azcardsfan]

I bought the iPhone 3GS (32GB) for $320 (after tax)
My first bill should be about $165 ($65 a month w/ FAN code w/ one month pro-rated and a $35 activation charge)
If I cancel my contract the etf is about $170
I have to pay one my month of $65 to make sure I get my $105 bing cashback before I cancel
The total cost for my iPhone would be: $615

If I cancel, will I get $65 back because of the first month pro-rated charge? If that's true my phone will be $550 and I assume I can just get a t-mobile pre-paid plan and pay about $100 a year for service instead of ~$800 a year. I don't talk a whole lot and use my iPhone mainly for internet and I'll have wifi access once I start college next month.

This will save me over $1000 over the period of my original 2 year contract. Will my plan work?

 

[screensaver400]

Do you intend to have an EDGE data plan with T-Mobile? If so, your plans will work out to much more than $100 per year.

If not, consider an iPod touch and a free "dumbphone."

 

[azcardsfan]

No, I don't intend to use edge. My college campus is covered in free wifi.

 

[aneftp]

Wrong assumptions on cancelling.

ATT and other cell phone carriers are smarter than you think.

Cancel ATT within first 30 days you avoid ETF but you must return iPhone or they charge you full $599/699 price.

If you cancel after 30 days you pay $175 ETF but you keep iPhone. However and here's the kicker. ATT and other cell phone carriers do not prorate the second month. So you essentiLly end up paying for aost 2 full months of service if you wan to cancel. They will not prorate the last months service.

So it will end up costing you way over $750 for you iPhone 32gb when you include ETF, 2 months of service, and activation fees.

 

[azcardsfan]

I haven't received my first bill yet (1st month is supposed to end today). My "bill preview" is $205 and includes 2 months and activation.

It would probably cost me:
$320 iphone
$205 phone bill
$175 ETF
=$700 and I might be able to get $105 back from bing.com cashback but it will probably be canceled since I canceled my contract.

 

[aneftp]

I haven't received my first bill yet (1st month is supposed to end today). My "bill preview" is $205 and includes 2 months and activation.

It would probably cost me:
$320 iphone
$205 phone bill
$175 ETF
=$700 and I might be able to get $105 back from bing.com cashback but it will probably be canceled since I canceled my contract.

Sounds about right give or take a few dollars.

That's why ATT sets no contract price at $599/699.

They did their math.

But you also have to remember if you do the ETF and want to return to ATT, you cannot get another "subsidized phone" for at least 6 months since they will not consider you a "new" customer.

Just keep that in mind.

 

[azcardsfan]

I bought http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones...d&device=9d50f49a-338a-4894-8ee7-5251c64437bc for $20 and will use the sim card on my 3gs for just over $100 a year.

 

[ChefJayPeek]

So, any reason why you didn't just get an iPod Touch, and save another 500 or so dollars? Just curious...

 

[azcardsfan]

Because this has a phone on it, and a camera, and gps (once TomTom is available), and its a lot faster, and it has bluetooth, and.....

 

[azcardsfan]

Has anyone else on this board switched their 3GS over to Tmobile?

 

[vng]

Hi azcardsfan

Did your plan on getting the iphone and then terminating with an ETF work?
Someone told me if I cancel my contract after the 1st month I have to pay the early termination fee AS WELL AS $450 for the iphone?
So if I was to get a 16 GB I would pay

iPhone: 199
Activation: 36
Usage: 2 months worth
ETF: 175
iPhone: 450

Is that right?

 

[TSX]

Did your iPhone come with 3.1 on it already? Because if it did you might not be able to unlock it!!

 

[samcraig]

If the plan was to cancel all along - why didn't you just by a phone at full retail?

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

Did your iPhone come with 3.1 on it already? Because if it did you might NOT be able to unlock it!!

Fixed.

 

[azcardsfan]

Hi azcardsfan

Did your plan on getting the iphone and then terminating with an ETF work?
Someone told me if I cancel my contract after the 1st month I have to pay the early termination fee AS WELL AS $450 for the iphone?
So if I was to get a 16 GB I would pay

iPhone: 199
Activation: 36
Usage: 2 months worth
ETF: 175
iPhone: 450

Is that right?

I did not have to pay $450. Also, I'm not sure if this even works anymore. It definitely wont work if you already have 3.1 on your iPhone. For my it ended costing about $500 for the 32gb 3GS iphone (including 2 months of service) because I also got $105 back using bing.com when I bought the phone.