AT&T will discontinue its two year contracts and subsidies on January 8th, according to a leaked internal document shared by Engadget.
This means that new and existing customers will only be able to get new phones by paying the full price upfront or paying in installments over time. If you want to get an iPhone on AT&T with a subsidy you need to act fast.
In June, AT&T stopped offering subsidized contracts to customers through dealers and partners like Best Buy and Apple; however, you could go to an AT&T store directly for a contract.
Here are the details from AT&T's internal document:
Effect January 8, 2016, AT&T will launch a pricing simplification effort for device purchase options and pricing plans across all channels..
Simplify Device Purchase Options: ● AT&T Next and no-commitment (full-retail price) will become the only smartphone purchase options available for new and existing Consumer, standard Individual Responsibility Users (IRU). ● AT&T will introduce installment plans for Quick Messaging devices (QMD) and Basic devices. Installment plans and no-commitment (full-retail price) will become the only purchase option for new and existing Consumer, standard Individual Responsibility Users (IRU).
Check out the FAQ document below for more details...
Tmobile never stops redefining the mobile industry that proves why they're the uncarrier compared to AT&T. I stopped having the blue striped Death Star after a few months. Thank god I switched to tmobile and been with them since uncarrier 4.
Yeah me too, even though I've got unlimited data with at&t, it's still a better deal for me to switch to cricket and save the money and subsidize the phones myself that way
I buy mind full price so I don't have to be chained and shackled too them ! Between cable and cellular they control you if you let them they limit you they tell you what you get and when they change the rules all the time !
LOL these carriers are really something I'm glad cable companies offer wifi outside and pretty soon a lot of major cities will have wifi all over, DROWN AT&T
There are some wifi networks I have encountered that require no password. The only thing that stops it is it's always unavailable for no reason. It defeats the purpose of setting up free wifi. There's a few I encountered but it's a pain to deal with. It'll be a few years before it happens. At least I still enjoy tmobile's data deals.
In the past year, T-Mobile has aggressively rolled out Extended Range LTE Coverage known as 700 MHz in 246 major metro areas including cities such as Philly, Miami, and Washington D.C., so you can use your compatible phone to get great 700 MHz coverage in suburban and rural areas because the signal reaches further and penetrates deeper than before. T-mobile confirmed its Extended Range LTE, or 700 MHz low band spectrum, which now carries T-Mobile’s LTE signals both farther and deeper indoors than before
T-Mobile has been rolling out truckloads of new spectrum that carries the LTE signal twice as far from towers, for a massive coverage expansion – plus it’s four times better in buildings than before.
Customers with 700 MHz-compatible devices can already see the benefits. Check your device compatibility or upgrade through JUMP! On Demand™ by visiting:
http://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phones.lte-band-twelve.html
This is so stupid. Now I have to pay for a phone in full? And some how this is benefiting me? This sets me off. And people think they're getting a better deal.
Exactly. I'm fine with 2 year contract with the same phone, if it means I can pay $299 and be done with it. These installment or monthly plans are ridiculous at $30 a month - especially with larger families.
I really wonder whos behind all this AT&T changes, if you're grandfather on an unlimited plan, they soon will be charging 35 instead of 30, You can't upgrade your phone at a retailer, therefore missing out on their promotions and now you can't upgrade for a one time fee. only installments
That is some stupid they are doing. They are forcing customers to full price to make more money like what T-mobile did 4 years ago when they dropped contract requirement when they started selling the iPhone.
There is no need for them to be jacking up the price on ten Unlimited data plan form $30 to $35
Great....was going to renew on Jan 10 and get my 128gig 6S.... Not now.....T-Mobile here I come after 18 years!!! The price savings will pay for the phone!