Other Does anyone on IUP *not* upgrade every year?

[mdesantis]

Currently for European travel I use the AT&T international plan which gives me for $10 a day unlimited text and calls and data according to my regular plan. This is better than it had been in prior years, but for 14 days in Europe that still adds up to $140 (+ fees).

Sounds like we have similar usage. AT&T’s $10 a day International “same as home” voice and data is so compelling that, like you, I’ve stopped buying the local SIM and carrying the extra phone for all but the longest of trips.

Once we hopefully soon have unlocked Dual SIM, I can keep my AT&T eSIM for incoming calls from the US, but use a local SIM which potentially gives me 1 to 1.5 GB of data for 10 EUR.

I was hoping this too, but if you drop $10/day roaming, you still need at least the cheapest Passport International Plan ($60 for 1 GB and $.35 voice) so you get discounted voice rates. Just 2 or 3 minutes of incoming calls or voicemails / day at regular roaming rates gets you to $10 quickly.

 

[kwk1]

I’ve been on IUP several times and have kept some / turned some in depending on how compelling the new features are. (Turned in 6 for 6s, but kept 6s. Turned in X 256 for XS 512.)

In addition to an interest free payment plan and guaranteed 50% resale value (even on high storage models), you only pay for the time you have Apple Care because it’s cost is spread into the payments. This is especially important with the new Apple Care with loss protection.

For me the other big benefit is IUP phones are always unlocked despite being on a payment plan. That’s a big deal for travelers and even more important with Dual SIM and Verizon locking their phones again.

The downside of the program for me are related to Citizens One and hiccups every time I applied (from not liking Amex as my credit card to needing manual verification calls).

You mention Verizon and locking their phones again.
You must be in the U.S. and did they have them unlocked at one time.
I ask because in Canada carriers are required by law to unlock phones on request for free.

 

[mdesantis]

You mention Verizon and locking their phones again.
You must be in the U.S. and did they have them unlocked at one time.
I ask because in Canada carriers are required by law to unlock phones on request for free.

For several years the Verizon model was fully unlocked by “agreement” with the FCC - meaning it was the go-to version for International visitors and Ebay / Craigslist resellers (especially when Apple didn’t offer a Carrier free version) as well as those who wanted a Qualcomm modem or a phone that had the most carrier flexibility with CDMA + GSM / LTE bands.

This all changed with iPhone XS / XS Max and presumably XR - as Verizon has started locking their devices again as a “protection” against loss. Now you need to be an actual Verizon customer / make a request in order to unlock. It’s a bit of step backwards as it seemed locked phones were on their way out in the U.S. too.

 

[Wags]

You could have just swapped it out. Must have been a defective piece dude.

Very large thread about my same issue. Exchanging won’t help.

 

[kwk1]

For several years the Verizon model was fully unlocked by “agreement” with the FCC - meaning it was the go-to version for International visitors and Ebay / Craigslist resellers (especially when Apple didn’t offer a Carrier free version) as well as those who wanted a Qualcomm modem or a phone that had the most carrier flexibility with CDMA + GSM / LTE bands.

This all changed with iPhone XS / XS Max and presumably XR - as Verizon has started locking their devices again as a “protection” against loss. Now you need to be an actual Verizon customer / make a request in order to unlock. It’s a bit of step backwards as it seemed locked phones were on their way out in the U.S. too.

Oh I see, thanks for the information.

 

[Pez555]

There is no point keeping it as the mobile recycling sites offer more than what you would owe Barclays (UK). Why not make a bit of money and abuse the system?