[Q] Help with ETFs and carrier plans - General Questions and Answers

Hey guys,
SO, here is my story. I had a SGS3, but the screen cracked, so I decided to use the money from the rebate to try out an iphone 5. I am unhappy with my iphone after using it for about a year and I would like to change phone asap. I am currently a verizon user and have time left on my contract. I would like to change carriers to straight talk so that I am no longer locked into a contract. I know that T-mobile is offering to pay of ETF's if you switch to their service, so I was planning to try the following. I understand this may not be the most morally right thing to do but it would make me the happiest and save the most money.
1. Switch my number over to an old flip phone (t-mobile requires you to turn in your current phone for market value and buy one of their phones, in order to pay of the ETF)
2. Sell my used iPhone 5 on Swappa (would generate more $ than the $200 t-mobile is offering for it)
3. trade in my old flip phone and have t-mobile pay off ETF of verizon, purchase a t-mobile phone of any value.
4. Sign up for 1 month of a t-mobile plan (as required by the current promo offer to pay off the ETF).
5. Sell the t-mobile phone, unopened, at the price I bought it for, and purchase an unlocked nexus 5 from swappa (using $ from iPhone 5 sale).
6. Sign up for straight talks $45/month plan under AT&T service (I do not get good service from t-mobile or this would not be an issue).
7. pay for 1 month on t-mobile service then cancel t-mobile and only pay for straight talk.
Overall, depending on the sale and purchase price of the phones, i hope that this transaction would only cost me <$100.
iPhone 5 Sale - ~~$400
t-mobile phone - buy and sell for same price
Nexus 5 on swappa - [~~$350 - $400]
pay for one month of unused t-mobile plan - [$30] (cheapest plan available).
Begin straight talk - sim card [$10]
Total - ~~$40
Does this plan seem to make sense? If not does anyone know what I could possibly due to avoid paying $200 in ETF from verizon but still switch to straight talk under AT&T service and get a Nexus 5 instead of an iphone 5?? Thanks!

Related

[Q] HTC Arrive on Verizon?

With the Arrive coming out on Sprint soon, and the Trophy coming to Verizon, allegedly on the 24th, I'm wondering if it will be possible to get an Arrive to work on Verizon? Verizon's coverage in my area is far better than Sprint's, but I don't want the bottom of the barrel WP7 device, as I've heard the Trophy called. I have used the Mogul, the Touch Pro, and now the Touch Pro 2, and really like having that slide-out keyboard.
Any idea if getting Arrive to work on Verizon, or am I doomed to deal with Trophy?
Thanks,
Rich
No idea. The only WP7 device I've heard of for Verizon is the Trophy, like you stated.
You can get the Arrive on Sprint and roam on Verizon!
I am hoping that a few more WP7 devices are announced for both carriers at CTIA (March 22-24).
Musicman247 said:
No idea. The only WP7 device I've heard of for Verizon is the Trophy, like you stated.
You can get the Arrive on Sprint and roam on Verizon!
I am hoping that a few more WP7 devices are announced for both carriers at CTIA (March 22-24).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
truth...
Sprint has agreements with Verizon, when you roam on Sprint it is through Verizon's network and there is no extra charge.
You could get on the Sprint Everything Plus Data plan for $59.99, and pay another $10 for the premium data plan, and pay $69.99 for a new HTC Arrive.
Really.... :/
I had a Sprint Mogul when I moved to GA two years ago. The reception was PATHETIC. You used to see the commercials where someone would say something then drop the call, and it was totally awkward? Well, that happened to me. I was talking to a dear friend, and said, "I love you, Patty", and the call dropped, and I WOULD have continued, "you're one of the dearest friends I have." Of course she didn't hear the last part. I drove up and down the road desperately seeking a bar. JUST ONE BAR! I switched to Verizon and that problem went away.
So, I guess the question I have now is whether the switch to CDMA on Sprint is that recent? I wasn't aware that I could use a Sprint phone on a Verizon network, and due to my past experience I didn't check. If the answer is yes, then I believe I will be cancelling my Verizon contract when the Arrive arrives!
Hmmm... Only issue is that my VZW plan is unlimited data - TRULY unlimited - because I had it on an employee plan when I got it (and I'm not an employee of that company anymore). Is Sprint's plan TRULY unlimited?
hopmedic said:
Really.... :/
I had a Sprint Mogul when I moved to GA two years ago. The reception was PATHETIC. You used to see the commercials where someone would say something then drop the call, and it was totally awkward? Well, that happened to me. I was talking to a dear friend, and said, "I love you, Patty", and the call dropped, and I WOULD have continued, "you're one of the dearest friends I have." Of course she didn't hear the last part. I drove up and down the road desperately seeking a bar. JUST ONE BAR! I switched to Verizon and that problem went away.
So, I guess the question I have now is whether the switch to CDMA on Sprint is that recent? I wasn't aware that I could use a Sprint phone on a Verizon network, and due to my past experience I didn't check. If the answer is yes, then I believe I will be cancelling my Verizon contract when the Arrive arrives!
Hmmm... Only issue is that my VZW plan is unlimited data - TRULY unlimited - because I had it on an employee plan when I got it (and I'm not an employee of that company anymore). Is Sprint's plan TRULY unlimited?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint unlimited really is unlimited, but if you read the fine print they reserve the right to terminate you if you get retarded on it, just like any other carrier. Check with a local Sprint store about the coverage/roaming issue. Most plans on Sprint now include free roaming nationwide, and I can't think of what other major carrier in the US has CDMA other than Verizon.
Don't! sign up for a plan through the store, you need to do it online through the Everythign Plus referral, and get the plan for $10 less than doing it in store. So you can bet a HTC Arrive and pay $59.99+$10 premium data = $69.99 for 500 anytime minutes to landlines, and unlimited any mobile any time, unlimited data, pictures, text, nights starting at 7pm, etc. etc. etc.
http://www.sprint.com/everythingplus
You will need a Sprint employee email address/pin. This is where Russ McGuire comes into play, he is Vice President of Strategy for Sprint. On his blog he invites everyone for the sprint offer.
http://mcguireslaw.com/
(under about on the right hand side he has his email address and pin for everyone to use freely/Legitimately)
Addendum: their fine print says they can terminate/stop service if you use too much data outside their network etc, so the roaming thing would apply here. Wouldn't hurt to check out if their coverage has improved in your area.
Very interesting - thanks so much for the info! I guess now I'm tossing up the pros and cons of going with that or going through wirefly and getting the phone for $50 - especially since my wife will get an arrive if it is $50, but she wont' get it if we have to pay $200 (after rebate). I'm looking at it like this:
From Wirefly:
2 phones $100
monthly rate $149
From Sprint:
1 phone $200 (plus whatever phone my wife ends up getting)
monthly rate $129
So, for $20 a month over 2 years, I would save a total of $480. At a $150 savings for each Arrive buying through wirefly, that takes the comparable savings down to 180. Given that my wife won't get an Arrive if we have to pay full price now (since we'll also have to pay early term fee for our current Verizon contract), She would probably go with a free phone, and I'd save more money, but she wouldn't have WP7 (which I want her to have).
You've given me much food for thought. Right now I'd say we're probably going to end up going with Wirefly, but I'm going to sit on the decision for a couple days to decide. Thank you.
hopmedic said:
Very interesting - thanks so much for the info! I guess now I'm tossing up the pros and cons of going with that or going through wirefly and getting the phone for $50 - especially since my wife will get an arrive if it is $50, but she wont' get it if we have to pay $200 (after rebate). I'm looking at it like this:
From Wirefly:
2 phones $100
monthly rate $149
From Sprint:
1 phone $200 (plus whatever phone my wife ends up getting)
monthly rate $129
So, for $20 a month over 2 years, I would save a total of $480. At a $150 savings for each Arrive buying through wirefly, that takes the comparable savings down to 180. Given that my wife won't get an Arrive if we have to pay full price now (since we'll also have to pay early term fee for our current Verizon contract), She would probably go with a free phone, and I'd save more money, but she wouldn't have WP7 (which I want her to have).
You've given me much food for thought. Right now I'd say we're probably going to end up going with Wirefly, but I'm going to sit on the decision for a couple days to decide. Thank you.
Click to expand...
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Let me further add to your thoughts, wirefly still may not be the best option.
If you sign up with Sprint and port your current number over to them from another carrier they will give you $125 credit for each smartphone.
http://www.sprint.com/landings/portcredit/
sprint said:
Move your number to Sprint. Get $125.For a limited time only, activate a new Sprint smartphone and save.Just bring your number from another carrier to Sprint and activate a smartphone, like the Samsung Epic™ 4G, on a new line and we'll give you a $125 service credit. Not ready for a smartphone? We'll give you a $50 service credit when you port your number from another carrier and activate one of our other fabulous phones. Either way, you win.
$125 service credit per line for each smartphone
$50 service credit per line for other phones
How to get your service credit:
Find the perfect phone. Shop online now.
Transfer your eligible number to Sprint by 4/16/2011. Doing this online is easy – we'll ask you for your number when you checkout.
Within 72 hours of activating your phone and transferring your number from another carrier, register for the credit.
That's it! You can expect to see your service credit as a lump sum within the adjustment section of your invoice. The service credit will show up on the first or second invoice after you have been a Sprint customer for 60 days. It will be labeled as "Valued Customer Service Credit."
Visit this page if you have any questions about the status of your service credit and select “Where’s my credit?” Remember, the credit will not appear on your invoice until at least 60 days after activation.
Requires two-year Agreement.
This offer is available online, via Telesales and in participating Sprint Stores. Purchases from other retailers are not eligible for this credit.
Offer ends 4/16/2011. Available for consumer and individual-liable lines only. Requires port in from an active wireless line and mobile number that comes through the port process. Request for service credit must be made at www.sprint.com/switchoffer within 72 hours from the port in activation date or credit will be declined. New line must remain active with Sprint for 61 days to receive service credit. Smartphones are Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm and Instinct Family of devices. All other phones are considered feature phones. Smartphones require activation on an Everything Plan with data with Premium Data add-on charge. Upgrades, replacements, and ports made between Sprint entities or providers associated with Sprint are excluded (i.e. Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, Common Cents Mobile and Assurance). Offers not available in all markets/retail locations. Other restrictions apply.
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Sooooo $400 for 2 Arrive's, minus $250 - $150 for 2.
Hope this further helps you.
Wow.... That's awesome.... Now I'm going to have to look and see if I can combine the everything plus with the port credit, and double check to make sure we can receive two $100 rebates if we buy two phones. Thanks!
hopmedic said:
Wow.... That's awesome.... Now I'm going to have to look and see if I can combine the everything plus with the port credit, and double check to make sure we can receive two $100 rebates if we buy two phones. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The port credit information was posted on the Everything Plus referral page after you logged in with the email and pin number. And the $100 refund credit is definately per phone regardless of how many you purchase.
The only thing you need to make sure of is that Sprint services your area well.
Hope I was able to help you save some money no matter what you decide, let me know what you finally end up doing. I am picking up 2 Arrives on Sunday (for wife and I).
Credit Union Discounts
For those who go/have gone through wirefly for the 50 dollar deal (which I did), since we can't sign up for the Referral Program, the next best option to still get 10% knocked off your bill is to get a discount through any affiliated credit union (of which, there are TONS). Long-term, for 1 phone, Getting the port credit and Referral discount probably works out better, but I couldn't justify spending 300 up front for the phone, waiting x number of weeks for the rebate etc..
cusaver dot com
you can always....swap esns if your willing to get your hands dirty *cough* It works great *cough*
Halabeaster, I've never put a non-standard rom on a phone, but if it's safe, I'm willing to try. For the moment, I'm on Sprint, but not sure I'm happy with the coverage... Got 3 1/2 weeks left or so to decide. I am a developer, but not very experienced. How difficult is it?
cyclical said:
Sprint unlimited really is unlimited, but if you read the fine print they reserve the right to terminate you if you get retarded on it, just like any other carrier. Check with a local Sprint store about the coverage/roaming issue. Most plans on Sprint now include free roaming nationwide, and I can't think of what other major carrier in the US has CDMA other than Verizon.
Don't! sign up for a plan through the store, you need to do it online through the Everythign Plus referral, and get the plan for $10 less than doing it in store. So you can bet a HTC Arrive and pay $59.99+$10 premium data = $69.99 for 500 anytime minutes to landlines, and unlimited any mobile any time, unlimited data, pictures, text, nights starting at 7pm, etc. etc. etc.
You will need a Sprint employee email address/pin. This is where Russ McGuire comes into play, he is Vice President of Strategy for Sprint. On his blog he invites everyone for the sprint offer.
(under about on the right hand side he has his email address and pin for everyone to use freely/Legitimately)
Addendum: their fine print says they can terminate/stop service if you use too much data outside their network etc, so the roaming thing would apply here. Wouldn't hurt to check out if their coverage has improved in your area.
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Question, can you jump on this if you're an existing customer?
I just got my HTC Arrive on the Verizon Wireless network via Page Plus Cellular thanks to this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13205205&postcount=9
I replaced my well used Touch Pro 2 with an Arrive because I was waiting for Windows Phone 7 and Netflix capabilty. I'm not a heavy phone data user because I have Wi-Fi everywhere I go.
So far I was able to get the talk and text working for my unlimited plan but haven't hammered out the rest of the data settings. Might have to wait for a Verizon Trophy to come out so that I can try to mirror the settings. This method is technically on Verizon so 95% of the service is the same at a much better price. I need mainly lots and lots of Talk/Text with NO data plan fees.
I actually bought my 2 phones from Amazon Wireless. Both were upgrades for non-primary lines on a family plan (Everything Data 3000) and AW had the best deal on the devices I could find anywhere, $150. The deal got even better now though, $99 for upgraders and free for new users.
dtrush said:
I just got my HTC Arrive on the Verizon Wireless network via Page Plus Cellular thanks to this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13205205&postcount=9
I replaced my well used Touch Pro 2 with an Arrive because I was waiting for Windows Phone 7 and Netflix capabilty. I'm not a heavy phone data user because I have Wi-Fi everywhere I go.
So far I was able to get the talk and text working for my unlimited plan but haven't hammered out the rest of the data settings. Might have to wait for a Verizon Trophy to come out so that I can try to mirror the settings. This method is technically on Verizon so 95% of the service is the same at a much better price. I need mainly lots and lots of Talk/Text with NO data plan fees.
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Click to collapse
What does or does not work? Do apps go to your bill?
No one else has made progress with the Arrive on Verizon. I was looking for a replacement for my TP2, and I really do not want to change carriers.

Do I have to pay AT&T monthly if I buy on Amazon no-contract?

It costs $549, and I want just the phone itself, no business with AT&T what so ever. I wanted to buy it from AT&T store, but they said I can't buy just the phone at no-contract price, I still have to open a wireless account and pay monthly service. If I order the phone from Amazon, I don't have to pay anything else to AT&T? Will it turn on without a simcard (or it already has dummy sim without service)?
No Need
You don't need any business with AT&T. The phone turns on great without any sim & if you buy it on Amazon for the full price 500$ something, your free to do whatever you like. Worst case scenario, buy a dummy sim from AT&T @10$ max if your phone requires a sim when booting.
You welcome.
Cool, thanks a lot!
!? I've bought about 6 phones from several AT&T corp stores, never had an AT&T plan, ever.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Q] Off Contract Advantage?

I am on the Sprint Network and will stay with them for a variety of reasons. I have always had a contract with them and upgraded whenever that opportunity presented itself. I am no longer on a contract and I'm considering a few options. The Note 3 (probably won't go that way due to problems on voice calls), The LG G2 or the Nexus 5. Advantage of the Nexus 5 is that it is off contract but if I am staying with Sprint anyway what advantage is there to being off contract? Sprint won't discount my monthly bill as far as I know so the off contract advantage has me a bit puzzled from the purely dollars and cents point of view. I'd be happy to hear views from others as to why this seems like a good idea. I'm leaning toward the LG G2 which will likely have a better camera and battery than the Nexus 5 and it's only $99 at Sprint with the 2 year contract. I'd go for the Nexus 5 at 399 for the 32GB model if it meant something off my monthly bill but I don't see Sprint giving me a discount just because I bought the Nexus 5 off contract. What am I missing?
I am in the exact same situation as you, except I bought a Note 3 and just returned it. If the Sprint Nexus 5 is available through google play, you buy that, use your upgrade towards an iphone 5s and sell it sealed. If the Nexus 5 winds up being only available through Sprint, then I'm not so sure what I'm going to do.
You can change your mind and leave whenever you want. And with the nexus you will be able to go to any carrier you want (except Verizon).
All in all, it gives you more options on what service provider you want. I would recommend seeing what offers the best service (data and calls) and pick that carrier or see if you can go prepaid. I know straight talk offers at&t and T-Mobile Sim cards and its like $51 a month after taxes for unlimited everything with 2.5 GB uncapped data.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
ricecake2000 said:
You can change your mind and leave whenever you want. And with the nexus you will be able to go to any carrier you want (except Verizon).
All in all, it gives you more options on what service provider you want. I would recommend seeing what offers the best service (data and calls) and pick that carrier or see if you can go prepaid. I know straight talk offers at&t and T-Mobile Sim cards and its like $51 a month after taxes for unlimited everything with 2.5 GB uncapped data.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Yes, I totally agree that there are A LOT of options. I've even thought about picking up Tmo @ $30/month, but I'm on Sero, only pay $50/month for unlimited everything, and my Sprint service has been fantastic since relocating to Orlando, FL. Oh decisions decisions
Jocelyn said:
I am in the exact same situation as you, except I bought a Note 3 and just returned it. If the Sprint Nexus 5 is available through google play, you buy that, use your upgrade towards an iphone 5s and sell it sealed. If the Nexus 5 winds up being only available through Sprint, then I'm not so sure what I'm going to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boom Baby. Haha
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
Trying to weigh my options as well.
My 2 year contract expired many months ago. I can buy the 16g Nexus 5 for $150 if I sign a new 2 year agreement, I can change to the Sprint One Up plan so I can be eligible for a new phone once a year (not sure pricing details), or I can buy through the Google Playstore for $350/$400. I have so many family members tied to the plan I am on I probably wouldn't switch carriers.
So if I bought through Google and in a year's time I wanted to switch phones I guess I could sell the Nexus 5 then use my upgrade to buy whatever phone I wanted. If I buy through Sprint, the upfront cost is cheaper, but I will have to wait a couple years if I want to switch phones.
Decisions, what do ya'll think?
For someone off-contract but that wants to stick with their post-paid account, the only advantage is flexibility. If coverage or financial conditions changed, you have the choice to be able to switch providers with no termination fees.
The only real exception to that would be the newer T-Mobile post-paid accounts where they do offer plans with lower base costs per month because they split off the phone subsidy, so if you bring your own phone you pay less since you aren't using a subsidy.
If you have a high degree of confidence you will be staying with your current contract provider and that other things like your financial situation will remain stable, I would say it makes more sense to just re-up with them and choose whatever phone you want from them. As far as which one, read some reviews and then try them out in-person at your local provider's store. Everyone has slightly different things they want out of phones, so without specific criteria it would be hard to say whether a Nexus 5 would still be the best phone for you.
I agree with you, flexibility is the main advantage of staying off contract. I've had an S3 for the last couple of years and am getting the itch to switch. If the HTC One came out today I would probably get that because I love the looks and build of it and I liked my original Evo, but it's so "old" now I want something newer - LG G2, Nexus 5 or some other upcoming phone.
electricpope said:
For someone off-contract but that wants to stick with their post-paid account, the only advantage is flexibility. If coverage or financial conditions changed, you have the choice to be able to switch providers with no termination fees.
The only real exception to that would be the newer T-Mobile post-paid accounts where they do offer plans with lower base costs per month because they split off the phone subsidy, so if you bring your own phone you pay less since you aren't using a subsidy.
If you have a high degree of confidence you will be staying with your current contract provider and that other things like your financial situation will remain stable, I would say it makes more sense to just re-up with them and choose whatever phone you want from them. As far as which one, read some reviews and then try them out in-person at your local provider's store. Everyone has slightly different things they want out of phones, so without specific criteria it would be hard to say whether a Nexus 5 would still be the best phone for you.
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Click to collapse
It always amazes me how people would rather be in a contract that will require them to pay between $1-2,000 more over two years, instead of buying a phone outright and upfront, and save the money. Unless someone is too broke to afford a phone upfront... Of course if you can't afford a phone upfront, you likely can't afford a $100 monthly cell phone bill either.
wvcadle said:
It always amazes me how people would rather be in a contract that will require them to pay between $1-2,000 more over two years, instead of buying a phone outright and upfront, and save the money. Unless someone is too broke to afford a phone upfront... Of course if you can't afford a phone upfront, you likely can't afford a $100 monthly cell phone bill either.
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Click to collapse
Sure, but for people who only pay $50/month for essentially unlimited everything ( 1000 landline minutes, unlimited mobile minutes, texts, and data), subsidizing phones works in our favor.
We've been w/Sprint forever and have numerous phones on the account. I'm one of the ones who pays $50 for unlimited. I'm assuming I would continue to pay $50/month whether I bought a phone outright or through contract. I doubt if I bought a phone off contract my bill would be lower than $50/month.
Jocelyn said:
Sure, but for people who only pay $50/month for essentially unlimited everything ( 1000 landline minutes, unlimited mobile minutes, texts, and data), subsidizing phones works in our favor.
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Click to collapse
If your on contract, why not buy the phone through google play and just use that on Sprint til you leave for ATT/Tmo?
I'm off contract, like a year now.
SageWilliams said:
If your on contract, why not buy the phone through google play and just use that on Sprint til you leave for ATT/Tmo?
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Best Buy/Sprint My Way Student Promotion

My plan with VZW is about to expire and I'm ready to upgrade my GNex to a N5. I was just going to buy it from Google and go with the $30 T-Mobile Walmart plan. Then I heard about the promotion Sprint and Best Buy are doing. Basically you overpay for a phone and get unlimited T&T and 1GB of data for free or unlimited data for $10 a month. The N5 is one of the only phones it works out ahead for. Can somebody check my math? After the first year, you can just leave.
Original Plan: $350 for N5 + $30 a month for TMobile plan = $710 for first year
Sprint Plan: $450 for N5 + $10 a month for unlimited data = $570 for first year
The promo is only available in store at Best Buy, but at least I don't have to wait for my phone to ship.
Your math is correct but it all depends on what model nexus you get. The deal sounds a little too good to be true but I could be wrong. 1GB of data isn't crap. If you are looking for the cheap route I would look into straight talk.
edit: either way tell verizon to have a nice life
mistahseller said:
Your math is correct but it all depends on what model nexus you get. The deal sounds a little too good to be true but I could be wrong. 1GB of data isn't crap. If you are looking for the cheap route I would look into straight talk.
edit: either way tell verizon to have a nice life
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Click to collapse
I have had my sim card for one day. I already used .76 gigs running a few speed tests and updating a few apps. 1gb is mega crap.
Don't just take the first year into consideration. The deal is for a 2 year contract. How much will that second year cost you per month?
lowandbehold said:
Don't just take the first year into consideration. The deal is for a 2 year contract. How much will that second year cost you per month?
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Click to collapse
It's not for a two year contract. You get one year free (or $10) and can leave anytime. There is no ETF.
"Sprint will send the account holder a text message 30 days before the completion of free service on the student's line. Upon completion of free service, the student line will be charged regular price for service for Unlimited, My Way ($70/month for unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data on smartphones ($50/month on basic phones with blocked data); additional $10/month for unlimited data, if applicable). To avoid charges, the account holder can terminate the student line by calling Sprint or dialing *2 from their mobile phone before the end of 12 months."
ari6126 said:
It's not for a two year contract. You get one year free (or $10) and can leave anytime. There is no ETF.
"Sprint will send the account holder a text message 30 days before the completion of free service on the student's line. Upon completion of free service, the student line will be charged regular price for service for Unlimited, My Way ($70/month for unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data on smartphones ($50/month on basic phones with blocked data); additional $10/month for unlimited data, if applicable). To avoid charges, the account holder can terminate the student line by calling Sprint or dialing *2 from their mobile phone before the end of 12 months."
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Click to collapse
Touche. Just read the whole agreement and there is no ETF after 12 months. Well at least add in the $36 activation fee in your calculation! That does apply.
lowandbehold said:
Touche. Just read the whole agreement and there is no ETF after 12 months. Well at least add in the $36 activation fee in your calculation! That does apply.
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If I buy the Nexus 5 from Best Buy for this promotion, is it unlocked? I currently have AT&T, so could I switch Sim cards between AT&T and Sprint with the Nexus 5 whenever I want?
yeee707 said:
If I buy the Nexus 5 from Best Buy for this promotion, is it unlocked? I currently have AT&T, so could I switch Sim cards between AT&T and Sprint with the Nexus 5 whenever I want?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. It is completely unlocked.
I've been doing the same calculation and am leaning toward making the jump, too. Here's the calculation I did (let me know if i'm missing something other than sales tax on the phone...):
Tmo $30 plan:
Phone: $350 (via google play)
Plan: ~33 (includes fees)
Per mo cost in 1st year (amortizing phone up front cost over 12 months): $62
Per mo cost in 2nd year (for just the service since phone was amortized above): $33
Sprint Free Student:
Phone: $450+$36 activation = $486 (via BB)
Plan: ~$15 (assuming i would need the $10 unlimited data. Also includes line fees/taxes)
Per mo cost in 1st year: $55
2nd year: $70, though I'm not really comparing this for the time being.
----------------
For the first year, this nets out to a savings of about $74 when you amortize the phone cost. For this vs Tmo you get: unlimited talk, >5GB data, and a phone in your hand via best buy instead of waiting 4-5 weeks; at a cost of needing to swap lines at the end of the contract if you aren't cool with paying full price for Sprint.
Assuming all of my numbers are right, the two deals are shockingly close to being equal for the first year. For me, I'd probably end up with some overages with the Tmo 100 minute cap, so I think I'm going to go for the Sprint deal for now, but this is hardly the no brainer I was expecting before I ran the numbers. The game changer is the Nexus 5 itself: dual compatibility with CDMA and GSM make it possible to swap between these two services without taking another device hit to the wallet. That flexibility is really nice.

Switching a Note 5 from Sprint. Need some help

Any help or advice would be appreciated. I have had a down right terrible experience with Sprint and my Note 5 upgrade & contract renewal. From misinformation about the phone’s capabilities, faulty billing plus hidden fees (there is a class action law suit for this as well), terrible customer service over the 800 number and in store, missing a ton of incoming calls and losing out on business and social opportunities, and poor internet/data reception. I have had enough and refuse to pay over $100 (plus the $200 down payment) a month for this type of service after being a loyal customer for 12 years.
I am under a 2 year lease contract. I do not feel like forfeiting my $200 deposit and the lease fee payments I have been paying for several months if Sprint chooses not to let me out of my contract.
-My phone is stock and I do not wish to root it per say as of yet.
-Is it possible to pay a service to Unlock a Sprint Note 5 while it’s still under a lease contract and take it to Metro PCS with my same phone number????????
-If this is possible would I now have the ability to talk and surf on this Note 5 on the Metro PCS/ T mobile network?????
Thanks
No metro pcs is a GSM carrier now and even unlocking sprint note 5 it will only allow to use a international sim
I also have a question..i have a sprint note 5 unlocked using att. But are there any roms i can use that are good for unlocked phones. Basically unbranded
gn4life84 said:
Any help or advice would be appreciated. I have had a down right terrible experience with Sprint and my Note 5 upgrade & contract renewal. From misinformation about the phone’s capabilities, faulty billing plus hidden fees (there is a class action law suit for this as well), terrible customer service over the 800 number and in store, missing a ton of incoming calls and losing out on business and social opportunities, and poor internet/data reception. I have had enough and refuse to pay over $100 (plus the $200 down payment) a month for this type of service after being a loyal customer for 12 years.
I am under a 2 year lease contract. I do not feel like forfeiting my $200 deposit and the lease fee payments I have been paying for several months if Sprint chooses not to let me out of my contract.
-My phone is stock and I do not wish to root it per say as of yet.
-Is it possible to pay a service to Unlock a Sprint Note 5 while it’s still under a lease contract and take it to Metro PCS with my same phone number????????
-If this is possible would I now have the ability to talk and surf on this Note 5 on the Metro PCS/ T mobile network?????
Thanks
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This is exactly what I did, note 5 Sprint paid to get it unlocked. Signed up for metro in the store. You should get a free phone and sim. Call metro directly from there 888 number should be someone in India you talk to. Ask them to add your IMEI. Give them IMEI from note 5. Pop your sim in and might have to play with lte/cdma auto in mobile network settings. But I am getting LTE AND able to make phone calls. I used www.idoneapps.com to unlock it, it is legit. If your running android nougat you might have to root your phone. You dont have to send your phone in and you dont need a computer unless you need to root your phone. There website offers a downloadable android app. That will check to see if your device can be inlocked. You pay than the app will download some files to the root of your sdcard. You hit unlock device will reboot once if not rooted twice if your rooted. You will need a gsm sim to test if working. If you have multiple devices you would like to use and only have 1 sim you have to call Metro each time you want to switch phones and give them your IMEI information.
Please someone can help me . I have bought a galaxy note 5 n920p for 3 days . Today i just remark that the capacity of storage is 16gb . The phone is original i installed custom rom (s8+) . Why i have 16gb instead 32gb .

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