Anyone on At&t Next?

[navidee]

My wife is ready to get a new phone as her 920 wont hold a charge anymore and att is really pushing tho next program. All I remember I the bad stuff written about it last year and I was curious if anything has changed and if its worth it, or stick with regular two year contract?

Thanks in advance!

 

[motoatrix13]

I am currently on the Next program and it seems ok. I actually pay over 100.00 less, that is with 5 lines, each month and can upgrade my phone in 12 months. Plus, all you pay is the tax at the time of purchase. I was skeptical at first, but figured I would try it and see what happens. So far I am happy. Good luck with whatever option you choose.

 

[Maaz Mansori]

Well, it depends. When the program first came out, it was not a good deal. However, this quickly changed. If you are on a Mobile Share plan, you get a monthly discount on any phones on AT&T Next (or if you pay for them in full up front) either $15 or $25 a month depending on the mobile share plan. The 10 GB plan is a good deal as you get the $25 discount and end up better than what you would if you had a regular 2 year contract.
So basically all you pay is the sales tax on the phone up front and then the remaining cost is divided by 20 and you make monthly payments. If you get an expensive phone such as the 1520, the payments are around $30, but remember you still get the discount of $15 or $25.

 

[winboy]

I'm on the NEXT program. I have the 1520 and I'm paying $22 month no interest and I can upgrade in 12 months. I have the 2 GB data Mobile Share so I get the $15 a month discount plus my company discount and NO contract so I'm very happy.

 

[troylytle]

I'm also on it. Very satisfactory.

 

[navidee]

Thanks everyone! Just seeing the positive remarks makes me more open to it now.

 

[neftv]

Thanks everyone! Just seeing the positive remarks makes me more open to it now.

y


Just be careful with the next program. The phone has to be in pristine condition if you upgrade in one year. Not even a scratch. Personally I think its a trap unless you plan to keep the phone for more than 4 years.
The reason AT&T stores pushing the next program is they are told to do so and that's where their commission is and they get graded on as they don't make anything off of selling regular contracts. Go into a retailer like Radio Shack and they won't push that program as don't matter whether you finance the phone or not but the phones on 2yr plan will always be cheaper than the carrier stores. I seen many wind up regretting Next.

 

[troylytle]

y


Just be careful with the next program. The phone has to be in pristine condition if you upgrade in one year. Not even a scratch. Personally I think its a trap unless you plan to keep the phone for more than 4 years.
The reason AT&T stores pushing the next program is they are told to do so and that's where their commission is and they get graded on as they don't make anything off of selling regular contracts. Go into a retailer like Radio Shack and they won't push that program as don't matter whether you finance the phone or not but the phones on 2yr plan will always be cheaper than the carrier stores. I seen many wind up regretting Next.

RadioShack wouldn't sell you s windows phone if you came in to buy one specifically. They don't make almost any commission off of them.

 

[Maaz Mansori]

Just be careful with the next program. The phone has to be in pristine condition if you upgrade in one year. Not even a scratch. Personally I think its a trap unless you plan to keep the phone for more than 4 years.
The reason AT&T stores pushing the next program is they are told to do so and that's where their commission is and they get graded on as they don't make anything off of selling regular contracts. Go into a retailer like Radio Shack and they won't push that program as don't matter whether you finance the phone or not but the phones on 2yr plan will always be cheaper than the carrier stores. I seen many wind up regretting Next.

The program started just under a year ago. We will soon find out if phones in reasonably good condition are being rejected for trade-in. They simply state good physical condition and a working phone; nowhere does it say that it has to be in mint condition but obviously they aren't going to accept one with a broken screen.
Where do you get 4 years from? Let's try 2 years, just like a regular contract. Let's try an example. Let's say the phone costs $600. The payments are $30 a month for 20 months so that is $600. You receive a $25 discount on your monthly bill and you keep for 24 months (just like a 2 year contract) so that is also $600. Up front you paid the sales tax (approximately $40) so that is your net phone cost. No activation fee on AT&T Next. Let's say you had a lower data plan and only got a $15 discount. So now your phone is cost is $600 minus $360 discount equals $240 plus $40 sales tax = $280.
The 2 year contract price on the phone is $199 + tax + activation, so $199 + 14 (est tax) + 36 = $249 (No activation fee on AT&T Next). As you can see, you saved only $31 IF you had the lower data plan but with the higher data plan you save $209 with AT&T Next in this example.