Potential Switcher

[xXriderXx7]

Hi.
I bought an iPod touch in October.
I was very lucky, perfect screen, no shimmer or dead pixels.
But slowly, Ive been wanting an iPhone more and more.
I actually was sitting on my bed playing iSolitaire, and my phone rang, I put my iPod up to my ear. I was disappointed.

I mean, the Touch is a great device, but it would be so much nicer to have a Touch, with a phone. No longer carrying around a phone and the Touch.

And this leads me to my question.
If I was to buy an iPhone (this would most likely be after MacWorld) from an At&t store, which I am already contracted to, would I be abel to cancel the edge data plan after the first bill? Are there alternatives to buying an iPhone from the At&t store? Readily available unlocked iPhones? Id be willing to pay extra for the iPhone, if I could refrain from adding a data plan. I currently have a 16 GB touch, but amazingly always have extra space, actually, around 5-8 gigs, so the difference in size would be nearly unnoticeable ( and this could even be solved at MacWorld).

All of the VoiP stuff just makes me want an iPhone more.
So, can you current iPhone owners answer my questions?

 

[Wilson1984]

I don't know about canceling your data plan, I do believe there are different plans for different countries.

As far as weather you should buy one, YES. Best "gadget" I ever bought, and Ive bought my share. Did it change my life? No, but it sure changed my pockets lives.

 

[xXriderXx7]

Haha
I did hear something about being able to cancel your data plan after a certain time, but I want to be reassured.
That is about the only thing stopping me from getting one.
Im only 17, and am part of my parents Voice plan, and they will gladly help me purchase an iPhone, but only if the data plan can be negated.

 

[CalBoy]

If you sign the ATT contract, you will not be able to cancel Edge very easily (at all in fact IIRC).

If you have a data plan with another carrier and want to continue with that plan, I think your best bet will be to unlock it. You can search this forum for more help with that, but I advise you to strongly consider what you're doing. Unless the date plan you are getting with TMobile (the only other carrier that can support the iPhone) is better in both cost and speed, I'd advise against it.

Then again, this is just me. I wouldn't do it because you sacrifice warranty support and future service from Apple by unlocking.

 

[xXriderXx7]

If you sign the ATT contract, you will not be able to cancel Edge very easily (at all in fact IIRC).

If you have a data plan with another carrier and want to continue with that plan, I think your best bet will be to unlock it. You can search this forum for more help with that, but I advise you to strongly consider what you're doing. Unless the date plan you are getting with TMobile (the only other carrier that can support the iPhone) is better in both cost and speed, I'd advise against it.

Then again, this is just me. I wouldn't do it because you sacrifice warranty support and future service from Apple by unlocking.

The problem is, I am already contracted with At&t, and to switch carriers, I would have to pay a 200 dollar cancellation fee.

So EDGE is not included in data?
Or am I mixing terms?
At the very least, Id like to cancel text and IM.

 

[CalBoy]

The problem is, I am already contracted with At&t, and to switch carriers, I would have to pay a 200 dollar cancellation fee.

So EDGE is not included in data?
Or am I mixing terms?
At the very least, Id like to cancel text and IM.

Ok, since you are already with ATT, there is no carrier switch. If you buy an iPhone, there will be no fee, as you are merely "upgrading" your plan. If ATT does hassle you about this, just get on the phone and talk to a rep. Trust me, they want you to buy an iPhone, they'll waive the fee if there is one.

Now, the way the plan structure works is as follows:

Let's say your family has 4 phones: Dad, Mom, You, Sister right?

It's a family plan with 700 minutes and no texts right? Let's say the base for this plan is $70/month. Add the extra two lines and we get $90/month.

Now, if we upgrade one of the lines (yours) to an iPhone, an extra $20/month is added onto your line's cost for the unlimited Edge service. Your line will be the only one that has this, and the total cost will be $110/month (90+20).

IIRC, texts are not added to that so you'd have to pay for those separately if you desired them (though it doesn't sound like it).

If you want to cancel Edge, I have to ask, why the heck do you want an iPhone?

 

[xXriderXx7]

Well, we have 3 phones on our plan, my sister, me, and my mom.
We have 1400 anytime and the plan costs $120 a month.
I wouldnt use text, so I assume I would just have to add EDGE to the existing bill?
The reason is, I dont need internet every where, I just need a phone.
If I was on my own, and had an income, I would want EDGE.

So from what I understand, EDGE is going to be added no matter what, while texting is optional?

 

[CalBoy]

The reason is, I dont need internet every where, I just need a phone.
If I was on my own, and had an income, I would want EDGE.

If you just need a phone why would you pay $400 to not use all of its features? If you can't pay your mom the $20/month difference with your own money and if she doesn't want to pay for it, don't bother wasting money on an iPhone. Honestly, you don't need it. I know it's cool and I'm sure you'd love it for the first few days, but unless you're going to make active use of the web, forget it.

Sorry to sound mean, but you're only 17. There are better uses for that kind of money at this age and I suggest you get on it.

 

[xXriderXx7]

If you just need a phone why would you pay $400 to not use all of its features? If you can't pay your mom the $20/month difference with your own money and if she doesn't want to pay for it, don't bother wasting money on an iPhone. Honestly, you don't need it. I know it's cool and I'm sure you'd love it for the first few days, but unless you're going to make active use of the web, forget it.

Sorry to sound mean, but you're only 17. There are better uses for that kind of money at this age and I suggest you get on it.

The point is to have a phone.
I never have been disappointed that I could get on the internet away from my home.
I just want an iPod Touch, with phone capabilities.

 

[Consultant]

You can use your existing AT&T sim if you jailbreak and activate your iPhone.

No new contract, no edge required. Trade off is that you must wait for hackers to release new information if a new firmware comes out, if you want what's in the new firmware.

 

[CalBoy]

The point is to have a phone.
I never have been disappointed that I could get on the internet away from my home.
I just want an iPod Touch, with phone capabilities.

Honestly you'd be better off getting a touch and a phone. I know it's a real pain, but honestly, do you have $400 and $20/month to throw away? I know it isn't the optimal situation, but we can't have what we want all the time.

 

[xXriderXx7]

Yeah....

Maybe when I get a job.
If school wasnt so intrusive, I would be the proud owner of an iPhone, with texting and EDGE.

HAHa

Thanks for you help though.

 

[CalBoy]

What do you mean, "if school wasn't so intrusive?"

School should be your priority right now. If you do well in school for the next ~6-7 years you'll be able to buy as many iPhones as you want in the future (and any other high tech toys you want).

 

[xXriderXx7]

What do you mean, "if school wasn't so intrusive?"

School should be your priority right now. If you do well in school for the next ~6-7 years you'll be able to buy as many iPhones as you want in the future (and any other high tech toys you want).

Yeah, but 4 AP classes is a bit intrusive.
I literally dont have time for anything else.

 

[ReanimationLP]

You can use your existing AT&T sim if you jailbreak and activate your iPhone.

No new contract, no edge required. Trade off is that you must wait for hackers to release new information if a new firmware comes out, if you want what's in the new firmware.

Really?

I have a Blackjack, that is an awful piece of S*** most of the time.

I was told by my rep that my employee plan through my job does not work with the iPhone.

 

[CalBoy]

Yeah, but 4 AP classes is a bit intrusive.
I literally dont have time for anything else.

Been there. Don't worry, it'll be over soon (and then college starts! ).

AP classes are a bit time absorbing, but they'll pay off in the skills you take away from them (and to a lesser extent the subject matter).

</off topic>

Just stick to your phone and get a touch.