All the carriers upped their ETF this year.... From AT&T: ....after June 1, 2010, the Early Termination Fee will be $325 minus $10 for each full month of your Service Commitment that you complete. http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/return-policy.jsp
I believe (at least for Verizon), Smartphones ETF's are in the mid $300's and dumbphones are the normal crazy $175...
$350 for smartphones. you do realize why they did that? Not agreeing with their thought process, but yeah.
they did it when all their blackberries were buy one get one free. then they started doing the droids bogo. people would buy one, get the second free and then cancel the 2nd line, pay the $175 and then turn around and sell the "unused" phone on ebay or craigslist for $300+. so, they changed the ETF for 'advanced' devices to deter people from doing that. Then at&t followed.
To keep people from getting high $ phones for FREE or cheap and then dumping the plan, selling the phones for MASSIVE profit and running. DUH.
I tired one in the sun at Road Atlanta last weekend and it was awful in the sun compared to my iPhone, and the owner of the phone agreed. I guess everyone's opinions may vary but in bright sun it sucked for me.
AT&T's motivation is probably also driven by an upcoming iPhone on Verizon's network. They are trying to make switching costs unbearable for existing customers, in hopes of retaining more of them.
You realize that verizon already does this, right? Its only logical. Why give away devices that can be sold for Much more than purchased for. At&t isnt doing anything different. They have a verified contract with Apple until 2012.
You do understand that an iPhone 4g (4th generation) is only using the 3G data network from AT&T? The EVO 4G is using the Sprint/ Clear WiMax data network in select cities (Atlanta included). It's obvious, I know, but some people are probably getting confused with 4g and 4G.
I almost ordered the phone until I was dumbstruck and realized its iphone 4, not 4g lol. will see the actual prodct and then make a decision. which look better, black or white? Not sure if the surface is a piano black finish similar to the PS3, i hate finger prints and smudges. If black is matte and no prints, then it is a seller, or else I will have to be forced to get a white one. And no i do not use cases.
i am aware thats its 4th gen and not wimax. im just excited about the 720p recording and video calling. and i realize that all new phones will offer it but i love my current iphone and would like to keep it relatively the same. And i have heard the evo 4g has button response problems.
No button response problems with the EVO we have. Funny how the "new" 4g Iphone is not coming out as the best cell phone on the market. I think the days of the Iphone dominating the market is going bye bye
How do you determine the "Best Cellphone on the Market". All the companies are still trying to kill the iPhone and they haven't yet. Best on the Market is a completely subjective term and means absolutely nothing.
Not to start too much of a debate, but in what way's is it not the "best"? Lack of Wimax? That's not much of a loss in most parts of the country (or even many parts of Atlanta). I agree that the Iphone isn't heads and shoulders above the rest of the crop of smart phones out there, but it has several features which make it arguable that the hardware is top of the line for now...the screen, the gyroscope, the new processor, etc. I hope that Android keeps putting out impressive hardware and ups it's interface game quite a bit, that way I will have choices when my current plan is up...