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According to my calculations from your data, here are the estimated costs for the purchased phone vrsus the Plan wit the Iphone 5:
1. The standard plan from AT&T, et al - $200 phone + ($80 * 24 months) = $2120
2. No contract phone - $650 for phone + ($30 * 24 months) = $1390
Am I missing something? I would also have the option of installing a foreign SIM card when I'm traveling internationally.
That would be about right. Keep in mind that the $30 plan includes only 300 minutes of talk time, which isn't a lot for some people. So if you need unlimited talk time you can get the unlimited for $50 (which is still cheaper) or the $40 with the 1200 minutes.
Plus if you can live with the older phone (they are still new and never used by anyone) you can save a few bucks there too.
I don't know about the foreign simm cards though. Virgin uses Sprints network, so if that foreign phone company uses the same type simm card, I imagine it would likely work.
I bought a Google Nexus 4. After taxes and shipping it was around $380. I pay $30/month for 100 minutes and unlimited data and texting on TMobile prepaid (no contract). I prefer texting and have never exceeded the 100 minute threshold. I think data is throttled after 5 Gb of usage per month, but have never come close to that.
Obviously the cost savings is considerable. I am not locked into a contract, I can leave at any time without penalty. I haven't change my phone usage at all, but I'm enjoying saving the extra $50 a month.
I had Virgin Mobile for several months on the $25/month plan (at the time. Now it is $35/month). The service was great, and the only reason I switched to TMobile was because the selection of phones was better.
I also went pre-paid with my home phone (VoIP) and most months my phone bill is less than $10.
Trying to decide whether to buy the Iphone with a plan (which I think is about $75/mo for 24 month minimum). Under this scenario, it would cost about $2K for 2 years.
WAY too much, I use an H2O minute plan. I pay $100 for 2000 minutes that is valid for one year. It cost me 5 cents a minute or 5 cents a text. After 10 months I still have $30 left. I however do not have any data for the phone, Wifi only. I use a Iphone 3GS, H2O operates under the AT&T network, so I don't need an unlocked Iphone.
I have the Virgin Mobile no contract iphone . If you only need 300 minutes they have a $35 ($30 autopay). They have an unlimited minutes plan for $50 as well. They also offer the older iphone 4 and iphone 4s as well as the iphone 5. If you don't want to spend $650 (iphone 4 for $350, though they may still have the $300 sale yet). I have had it a month now, and so far so good, its been better then my experience with At&t.
Data (and texting) is unlimited. BUT, data is throttled after you have used 2.5 gigs (I never use that much).
I do. I use Virgin Mobile also and hit 2.5 gigs around the middle of the month. I'm too damned cheap to pay for internet service in my apartment, so I just do the FoxFi thing and use the phone's internet.
The last two weeks of the month always suck because loading web pages takes FOREVER. It reminds me of when I had dial-up back in the dinosaur days.
Anything on a contract is not worth it. Especially an Iphone as it is way overpriced.
I just bought a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S3 mini on Amazon for $270, and spend about $10 a month on ATT prepaid. I think this phone is comparable with iphone 4S in capabilities but with bigger screen while similar body size and without apple's dictatorial user limitations. For 2 years it costs $270+24*$10=$510. Compare that with the iphone 2 year $2k contract cost, save 75%. I only use wifi for data, but I have that both at home and at work.
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