Database Users

No Loopsholes for Purchasing

I just switched to EM+ Family plan and recently came off of EM. I still have until September for my contract that I extended when I got the G1 back in Thanksgiving of 08.
I figured that I'd go to EM+ and use the "Subsidizing" ability to cover the $530 cost. This will not work for the unseen future due to some "duh" moments.
EM+ works this way: If T-Mobile is selling the phone on their site, you can use EM+ to purchase it and subsidize it over a maximum of 20 months. They charge you separate from your bill, and you can choose how much to pay additional each month for the phone. (Not sure if there is a minimum payment per month. I'm guessing you have to at LEAST pay 1/20th of the phone's cost).
This won't work with the N1 because Google has exclusive selling rights for the phone.
So, like a moron, I finally came to the conclusion that there are only two ways to buy the phone, and they are the ways Google has already plain-as-day outlined.
Until there is a new game in town and Google relinquishes their exclusivity and T-Mobile picks up the Nexus One of their own accord, my only option is to buy the phone outright because the EM+ plan is not compatible with the purchasing options on the Nexus One. This is because the nature of EM+ does not make the "extension" option a viable choice due to the non-contractual nature of EM+.
It is also the highest plan possible, and - aside from the $35 fee - possibly the best plan T-Mobile offers because it's packages are cheaper than EM. However, once on it, there is no backing out.
Start saving those pennies, XDA family.

wait so does that mean that i cant buy the n1 unlocked & unsub through google, then go to tmobile and get a EM+ plan?

All we can do is either pay the $530, or $180 if your line is eligible for an upgrade (contract or upgrading to EM in the first place).
TMo always lets you upgrade to EM+ if your line isn't on it, but the $35 upgrade fee applies, and you are still obligated to the contract time you signed up for before switching to EM+. IE, I still have till the end of September for the extension I signed up for at the End of November 2008 when I got my G1, even though my account will switch to EM+ on the 8th of January.
Of course, we could always do the $180 and pay the $350 cancellation fee, but that costs a total of $530 -_-

Blueman101 said:
wait so does that mean that i cant buy the n1 unlocked & unsub through google, then go to tmobile and get a EM+ plan?
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You can do that. He's talking about upgrading and getting the 180 price instead of the full 530 price.
I have tried to talk Tmobile in waiving the ETF on one of my lines if I buy the N1 and add an aditional line but they won't do that either. Its either 530 or nothing for me. (don't want to pay 110+ dollars a month for two lines)

engagedtosmile said:
You can do that. He's talking about upgrading and getting the 180 price instead of the full 530 price.
I have tried to talk Tmobile in waiving the ETF on one of my lines if I buy the N1 and add an aditional line but they won't do that either. Its either 530 or nothing for me. (don't want to pay 110+ dollars a month for two lines)
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thanks
*phew* I was worried that my ordering of the n1 was for nothing
-Cheers

errr tmobile
I saved my upgrade for this but their plan totally sucks for the Nexus one.
500 minutes???!!!! for 79$ [email protected]#%@%
I just bought it unlocked im going to just put my sim in it.

Lol, good job. I am in agreement with that.

This stuff is to fin complicated, they should have thought this out more. All this what works what doesnt stuff you know.

I bought my Nexus One for $530 then just went over to T-mobile and changed my G1 plan to an Even More Plus 1000 minute unlimited text/web $69.99 a month. Unlocked phone and no contract, can't beat that. I think they charged me $35 to change plans but I still think that is great deal. Oh, and all the T-mobile employees in the store were going nuts loving my phone since they had never seen it before.

get mytouch 4g with contract or buy it straightup?

i currently got an upgrade on my line for the mytouch 4g. i don't know if i should return it and buy the phone instead. being stuck two years with the data plans kinda scares me. i was on even more plus before when i had my nexus one and it felt better to know i can cancel my data plan whenever.
one of the reason i signed a contract was because i'm in a family plan with my parents. since they've already signed a two years contract, i have to wait for another two years before i can be on my own.
so i'm thinking, which one is better for me? even tho i wasn't on a contract before, i still have to wait two years for my parents contract to expired. so it basically the same thing without the data plan add on. (except they added another 5 to my account now. the data plan was only 25 dollars before. now it's 30.)
should i return the phone and just buy it outright? but i don't think tmobile sells insurance if you just buy the phone tho. it kinda risky knowing that it could break down any second.
thanks in advance.

tigerin said:
i currently got an upgrade on my line for the mytouch 4g. i don't know if i should return it and buy the phone instead. being stuck two years with the data plans kinda scares me. i was on even more plus before when i had my nexus one and it felt better to know i can cancel my data plan whenever.
one of the reason i signed a contract was because i'm in a family plan with my parents. since they've already signed a two years contract, i have to wait for another two years before i can be on my own.
so i'm thinking, which one is better for me? even tho i wasn't on a contract before, i still have to wait two years for my parents contract to expired. so it basically the same thing without the data plan add on. (except they added another 5 to my account now. the data plan was only 25 dollars before. now it's 30.)
should i return the phone and just buy it outright? but i don't think tmobile sells insurance if you just buy the phone tho. it kinda risky knowing that it could break down any second.
thanks in advance.
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Tmo does offer insurance. As for your plan, you could try calling and talking with customer retention and tell them you are ONLY thinking of returning it. They might offer you a deal where you return it and get one from them directly (got mine for $99, and the plan for $20).
If you got that deal and canceled down the road , you would still be better off than simply buying the phone full price now ($99 plus cancellation charge is less).
Good luck

thanks! i've just called them and the lady there was willing to put my data plan back down to 25 dollars and offered one month free of data. she seem nice and helpful, so i don't want to give her a hard time and push more.

I bought mine off contract. They give you 20 months to pay @ 0% interest.
So, if you pay the $199 + tax on the full price that is approx. $250...
I paid $450 + tax ... approx. $500
The subsidized plan that I am on would be $79/month, but I am paying only $59 with no contract... a difference of $20 a month.
My monthly phone payment is about $25/month..... buying outright is cheaper than contract pricing for the full 2 year term:
Subsidized price after 2 years = $199 price + $50 tax on full purchase price +$480 (24 x $20 more for subsidized plan) = $729 + ongoing $20 month more after 2 years that is not paying for anything... just gravy for the carrier.
Full purchase price = $450 + $50 = $500. cancel anytime. sell phone. walk away.
In addition, I also got them to give me a $90 credit on my account... basically getting the sales tax back and activation fee refunded... AND they don't start billing for the phone until 2011.
**This is of course if you stay with the same phone and plan for 2 years and you don't change your plan once your contract is up.

I bought it straight up also, no contract

Same hers. Straight up
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

straight up, i think i may return it though and buy it straight up from costco for 399.99 unless tmobile price matchs

PolishDude said:
straight up, i think i may return it though and buy it straight up from costco for 399.99 unless tmobile price matchs
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I'm not yet eligible for an ugrade and Costco would not sell it to me straight up..

rosie said:
I'm not yet eligible for an ugrade and Costco would not sell it to me straight up..
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sure they will, jsut say you want to buy it with a even more plus plan...they will open the plan for you...as soon as you leave the store, call tmobile and cancel the plan.... easy

I've bought both my G2 and MT4G from tmobile straight up. Both are on installment plans. Sold the G2, and now debating about the MT4G. I like the fact that we can pay ~$20 a month for the phone rather than $500 out right. The only time I feel I wished I had a plan with equipment discounts is when they do BOGO, other than that, I like the cheaper monthly rates.

I still think a good price on the phone ($99-149) and plan from retention is the best (unless you have one of those vintage $4.99 plans that some are still using on N1's).
As long as you are using the phone and plan going forward, you are ahead (assuming your data plan would be either lower than your current plan or not much more). If you want to eBay it - then you would have the cancellation charge. Combined with a good phone price, you are still ahead.
And if you were going to stay with the TMo data plan anyway - you would be way ahead.
I had even considered getting TMo to unlock the MT4G (I always do), and keeping my N1 and selling it on eBay.
With it rooted, am now probably looking at eBaying the N1 and keeping this.

[Poll] On contract or Off contract?

So I have been thinking. What would I be willing to pay for a phone off contract? Well. Bought my Vibrant for off contract, and it took a nice piece out of my wallet.
So my question is for you guys, Would you be willing to pay for a phone off contract for the right price? What would that price be?
Please leave comments on what you think.
I realize this is a very general question but I'm turning to my fellow Vibrant owners first.

Question to you or anybody that bought it off contract...Do you guys have a data plan?

No data plan. The only reason I bought it off contract
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

emonero said:
Question to you or anybody that bought it off contract...Do you guys have a data plan?
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I bought 2 Vibrants off contract when T-Mo had some crazy Bing cash back - like 25% or something. I do have a data plan with both.
Now, we use Even More Plus, so between the two of us we're saving something like $40/month over the rates on an equivalent Even More plan. That quickly adds up to make buying off-contract a better option if you can get phones for even slightly below MSRP, and it's an absolute no brainer for a phone enthusiast who likes to switch often and trade on Ebay or Craigslist.
I'm very disappointed that EM+ seems to be going away. It's one of the reasons I switched to T-Mobile and IMO is about the best value in mobile.

Even more plus, bought off contract with payment plan (reimbursed through work though).
All of my phones eventually become my wife's phones when I choose to upgrade.

contract is a gimmick and you eventually pay full price for phone. What do you think that extra $20 or so month goes to
my no contract Even More 500TTW is $60 on contract its $80 no thanks

To quickly crunch some numbers...
On contact the phone cost roughly $200 and an additional $20 a month over the EM+ plan. Over the 24 month contract that equals a $680 phone.
From my perspective anything under that price is worth it. Not to mention out of contract allows for mobile flexibility should you need it.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Last fathers day I wanted to cash in on the 2 free phone deal, and being an existing tmobile member for the last 5 years I was not eligible, so I called them anyways and said I have been with tmobile for the last 5 years and want to cash in on this fathers day deal, long story short........got transfered to the loyalty department and they gave me 2 free phones of my choice with the signing off a 2 year contract when my current contract is up at my same no contract rate........here is the greatest part, I can choose any phone whenever I want. so haveing the G1 for so long I said screw it I'll take a Vibrant, now I still have 1 more free phone left to get, my girl likes my vibrant, so I was thinking of handing this one to her and grabbing the Nexus S, but we will see.
Anyways the moral of the story, call and talk to someone, be calm, and ask lots of questions, they are nice at tmobile and they will bend over backwards to keep you as a customer.
Edit: I should also say that I got my G1 for $20 + $50 mail in rebate, so I ended up getting paid $30 and signed a 1 year contract at my current grandfathered rate.......just call and talk to t-mobile

a400meter said:
To quickly crunch some numbers...
On contact the phone cost roughly $200 and an additional $20 a month over the EM+ plan. Over the 24 month contract that equals a $680 phone.
From my perspective anything under that price is worth it. Not to mention out of contract allows for mobile flexibility should you need it.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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Well US phones typically have their bands locked down (or are missing bands). Mobile flexibility probably would amtter to someone who has i.e. a Nokia N8 with a pentaband radio - but a Vibrant doesn't have that.
Going on Contract is cheaper. If you ever want to switch carriers you can just ETF the contract. It goes down every month you're on the contract.
That way you don't have to come up with so much up front for the phone.
Also, you get rebates on contract phones that sometimes aren't available if you buy the phone off-contract (i.e. Web Deals, etc.).

If you do the calculations, off contract is cheaper in the long term.

Not by much considerimg it's over a 2 yeat period. Mosy people don't care.
Thr upfront cost for an unlocked phone is simply too high for most.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

For me, going off-contract was good. It saved me $20 (plus tax) a month on phone charges, and, since I am planning on keeping this phone for a while, it's more than paid for. For me, having a contract and "subsidized" phones means being locked in to the carrier, and ending up paying full price (or more) for the phone on the installment plan.

On contract here. I don't think I could shell out $400+ for a phone just to be an early adopter.
I pay $120 a month for the 700 min family plan which includes my Vibrant with data, 400 texts, insurance, 2 extra lines with 400 texts each and [email protected] home. I also get a %15 discount through my work. There is no other carrier that would come close too that price. I will always buy on contract and keep my grandfathered plan.

Haha i got it free from t-mobile somehow i forgot it has something to do with trading in crappy phones.

Two year contract got me a vibrant for free not on an upgrade ;p
The day this phone came out!!
nero beta

badaphooko01 said:
On contract here. I don't think I could shell out $400+ for a phone just to be an early adopter.
I pay $120 a month for the 700 min family plan which includes my Vibrant with data, 400 texts, insurance, 2 extra lines with 400 texts each and [email protected] home. I also get a %15 discount through my work. There is no other carrier that would come close too that price. I will always buy on contract and keep my grandfathered plan.
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Sprint would be cheaper. They have just as good discounts as tmo, better for us, but unfortunately no service..
Oh, and unlimited texts, too.
Important on a droid... No push notifications for most (this) phone for fb/twitter.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

N8ter said:
Well US phones typically have their bands locked down (or are missing bands). Mobile flexibility probably would amtter to someone who has i.e. a Nokia N8 with a pentaband radio - but a Vibrant doesn't have that.
Going on Contract is cheaper. If you ever want to switch carriers you can just ETF the contract. It goes down every month you're on the contract.
That way you don't have to come up with so much up front for the phone.
Also, you get rebates on contract phones that sometimes aren't available if you buy the phone off-contract (i.e. Web Deals, etc.).
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Click to collapse
The vibrant actually does have 3g bands for at&t, even though what you say about missing bands is usually true.
Regarding price, if you have a data plan, em+ saves at least $20/month versus contract pricing, so for contract to be cheaper you'd need to either save $480 on a phone, (or less, if you convince tmo to give you phones more frequently).
Now I only paid $300 for our vibrants after rebates, so it was clearly cheaper in our case.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Even better G2 deal than yesterday (Exisiting Tmo Customers)

Went on the tmobile website today and today's promo is a free G2 when you add a line.
So I added a line to my account the cheapest possible features, I got the activation charge waived along with free overnight shipping.
The ETF is $200 after the 30day grace period.
So looks like this is an even better deal than yesterday's if you are already a customer. Brand new G2 will cost you $200 dollars without a contract.

so if i add a line to my contract i get a free G2!!!! what if i wana get rid of the added line? do i have to pay for a cancelation fee?

Man, that's pretty tempting.

If you cancel the line you will have to pay the etf certainly. If you had bought it on an even more plus plan you wouldn't have gotten the subsidy, but upon canceling the line the remaining balance on the handset purchase would need to be paid in full on the next bill as well. I'm curious if tmobile won't pay out the rebates that no doubt make the price so low, so you probably have to wait a month or two and then after getting the rebates cancel the line and pay the etf. But that makes it the same price unless you cancel your current line which might have a lower etf.

sweet...thanks for the info..just got another G2

aznsnake666 said:
so if i add a line to my contract i get a free G2!!!! what if i wana get rid of the added line? do i have to pay for a cancelation fee?
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Skiiz said:
If you cancel the line you will have to pay the etf certainly. If you had bought it on an even more plus plan you wouldn't have gotten the subsidy, but upon canceling the line the remaining balance on the handset purchase would need to be paid in full on the next bill as well. I'm curious if tmobile won't pay out the rebates that no doubt make the price so low, so you probably have to wait a month or two and then after getting the rebates cancel the line and pay the etf. But that makes it the same price unless you cancel your current line which might have a lower etf.
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Yes you HAVE to add a line to your account, get the min possible for everything, I think I got 450 mins for 40, pay as you got text msg, and 10 android plan (150mb).
Do not use the line or even insert the sim to make sure you don't accrue any charges on that line. After 30 days or the 31st day tell them you no longer want this line and you want to cancel it. They will charge you a $200 ETF fee but you get to keep the phone. So like I said a brand new G2 will cost you $200. Thats if you get the activation and shipping fee waived which you should (I did).
Good luck I hope it works for those who are interested.

Blah I paid 650
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

can't u like add a line for like 5 bucks a month? or they make u put some kind of data plan on it and stuff?

It's not so easy.
You will have to add a line with data. If you cancel and want to pay the $200 ETF, you will still have to return the phone or cough up the plan's worth of data fees.

G2 now Free wi/ 2 Year Contract (Valid till Jan20th)

I was just checking up on Engadget and saw this article. Hope this was the small push you needed to get a G2
The cheapest before was $50 with contract but now it's Free!
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/t-mobile-g2-now-free-on-contract-android-buyers-have-never-had/

Doesnt apply if you have a no contract plan (The extra line that is)

I had been using a myTouch Slide that was given to me way back in April...so my G1 contract obviously ran out a few months ago. The second I saw this promotion, I jumped on it. Couldn't be more stoked.

Just ordered one of these so expect me to start patrolling these forums in the next few day.( I'm not a noob though)
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Orite said:
I was just checking up on Engadget and saw this article. Hope this was the small push you needed to get a G2
The cheapest before was $50 with contract but now it's Free!
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/t-mobile-g2-now-free-on-contract-android-buyers-have-never-had/
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Please be aware that getting yourself into a contract causes you to end up with a service plan far in excess of your actual use, and NO OPTION TO CHANGE IT FOR THE DURATION. The result of this is that you end up spending THOUSANDS extra over the term of the contract than you would by just paying up full price for the phone in the beginning.
DON'T BE STUPID!!!! CONTRACTS ARE THE RAPE AND TORTURE OF PUPPIES!

Puppies?
10char

dhkr123 said:
Please be aware that getting yourself into a contract causes you to end up with a service plan far in excess of your actual use, and NO OPTION TO CHANGE IT FOR THE DURATION. The result of this is that you end up spending THOUSANDS extra over the term of the contract than you would by just paying up full price for the phone in the beginning.
DON'T BE STUPID!!!! CONTRACTS ARE THE RAPE AND TORTURE OF PUPPIES!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is it spending "thousands" more, if you already have a plan with the $20 preferred android plan for your existing phone?
If you change nothing on your plan when you take the free upgrade, in essence, the phone *IS* free, you just agree to keep service for 24 months, and if you hate the phone and or said service after 30 days, CANCEL, pay the $250 ETF and sell the phone and recoup your losses. I don't see how "Thousands" of extra dollars come into effect here when most people already have a plan they like with the $20 preferred data plan. I know my grandfathered plan with all the free features is much cheaper than ANYTHING a EM+ can EVER offer me.

ratchetrizzo said:
How is it spending "thousands" more, if you already have a plan with the $20 preferred android plan for your existing phone?
If you change nothing on your plan when you take the free upgrade, in essence, the phone *IS* free, you just agree to keep service for 24 months, and if you hate the phone and or said service after 30 days, CANCEL, pay the $250 ETF and sell the phone and recoup your losses. I don't see how "Thousands" of extra dollars come into effect here when most people already have a plan they like with the $20 preferred data plan. I know my grandfathered plan with all the free features is much cheaper than ANYTHING a EM+ can EVER offer me.
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Because next week, the price will drop.

I bought the phone less then a month a go is there a way for them to give me 200??

While I got u guys here....question?
Does wifi calling count towards your minutes? Couldn't get a clear answer from a Rep.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

dhkr123 said:
Because next week, the price will drop.
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So the price will drop to where they say they will PAY you sign a 2 year extension?
I don't see how you can get better than FREE. So once again, where do the "thousands" come in to effect with them giving you the g2 for FREE with this deal.

david279 said:
While I got u guys here....question?
Does wifi calling count towards your minutes? Couldn't get a clear answer from a Rep.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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Yes, wifi eats out of your bucket unless you have the free grandfathered [email protected] UMA plan on your line, then all wifi calls are free. If you have a EM/EM+ plan you can't get that feature added. Old plans still have a 50/50 shot of having a loyalty rep add the SOC.

Ok. Rep didn't know what she was talking about.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Woot recently switched from the nexus s back to g2 and I love it. Saved me $50! Now I save another $150? Man this is awesome! Time to spend the savings on accessories ie dock and larger batt.

Jumped on this when I got to work this morning. Upgrade was 50 bucks, but comes with 50 dollar mail in rebate. Signed new 2 year, but didn't change my plan from my original G1 plan + some discounts I have had.

I've been running Gingerbread on my HD2 but this free G2 has me interested. I've been lurking on the G2 forums trying to figure out the current state of G2 developement. Still not decided if I want to pull the trigger or not. I really love the form factor of my HD2.

just bit the bullet and got one. have a n1 with a g1 plan for a year now and didnt have to change my plan but i did anyway casue i want the 4G's. only a extra $5/mo for it. yes, extra 2 years but they are cheaper then the rest of the carriers, and i dont want to pay $500 for a phone again (got my n1 off cl for that price w/xtra battery). rather buy a HD projector. coming from legacy myfav5 300 anytime minute plan with android data/messaging unlimited plan to the Unlimited 4G for $20/mo and 1500 anytime and unlimited text for $60/mo. and no extra premium data charges. go magenta!

Tokinjedi said:
just bit the bullet and got one. have a n1 with a g1 plan for a year now and didnt have to change my plan but i did anyway casue i want the 4G's. only a extra $5/mo for it. yes, extra 2 years but they are cheaper then the rest of the carriers, and i dont want to pay $500 for a phone again (got my n1 off cl for that price w/xtra battery). rather buy a HD projector. coming from legacy myfav5 300 anytime minute plan with android data/messaging unlimited plan to the Unlimited 4G for $20/mo and 1500 anytime and unlimited text for $60/mo. and no extra premium data charges. go magenta!
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Um, you know that the G1 plan included HSPA+ and you are paying $5 extra for nothing, right?

Just to let yall know, if you are renewing your 2 year contract then you still have to pay $50 up front, you get back the $50 with a $50 mail in rebate which in time, makes it free. Oh and this offer is on the web only, not in stores.
I was going to get my G2 this weekend at the store because Friday is my payday but the offer ends on the 20th so I think I'll bite the bullet and order it tonight online and hope to receive it by Friday.

KoolKidsKlub said:
Just to let yall know, if you are renewing your 2 year contract then you still have to pay $50 up front, you get back the $50 with a $50 mail in rebate which in time, makes it free. Oh and this offer is on the web only, not in stores.
I was going to get my G2 this weekend at the store because Friday is my payday but the offer ends on the 20th so I think I'll bite the bullet and order it tonight online and hope to receive it by Friday.
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My ETA when i ordered and got my confirmation email with standard ups shipping was Friday, but when i checked on the site later in the day it was pushed to the 25th, i guess they're selling a bunch, eh?