3G Upgrade?

[TurboDan]

Hi Folks,

My area (NYC) recently moved to 3G. I'd love to get a 3G phone for the great new features (plus to do away with my ever-buzzing RAZR), and the CU500 is the one I'd want, due to the slim factor and features. I signed up with Cingular back in February before 3G was launched, so I'm in a bit of a bind. I'm not sure how to get a 3G phone, since Cingular would never give me a decent price on one without signing another contract extension, and they're all $250 on eBay, which is way more than I would spend in cash on any phone that (for all I know) could fall into the ocean when I'm out fishing in a week!

Is there ANY way to upgrade phones without breaking the bank? Seems to me Cingular is shooting themselves in the foot for not offering deals on 3G phones to current customers, since I'd definitely spend more money with them per month if I had a 3G phone with all of their new online features!

Any tips would be much appreciated.

[SteveW]

Originally Posted by TurboDan

Hi Folks,

My area (NYC) recently moved to 3G. I'd love to get a 3G phone for the great new features (plus to do away with my ever-buzzing RAZR), and the CU500 is the one I'd want, due to the slim factor and features. I signed up with Cingular back in February before 3G was launched, so I'm in a bit of a bind. I'm not sure how to get a 3G phone, since Cingular would never give me a decent price on one without signing another contract extension, and they're all $250 on eBay, which is way more than I would spend in cash on any phone that (for all I know) could fall into the ocean when I'm out fishing in a week!

Forgive me for asking, but why isn't a contract extension acceptable to you? I agree that phones are overpriced, but I don't expect the carrier to lose money on the phone. They will give you the CU500 (or any phone) for a price that is much closer to their cost if you agree to keep the service for 2 years.

Realistically, do you plan to change services in that time? Right now there are only 4 major choices in the US and their pros/cons are pretty well known. If you don't plan on switching, it seems to me that this is a good deal. You are being rewarded for doing what you would do anyway, and being a good customer.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Look at the Moto A845, it is tricky to setup because it is an old ATT phone, but it is a 3G w/ gsm 850 on it. I bought mine for $70 on Ebay. Otherwise you can get a V3x, or other european model, but they don't have 850. This shouldn't be a problem in NYC though. I've seen some european models go for about $100 on Ebay.

-jay

[TurboDan]

Originally Posted by SteveW

Forgive me for asking, but why isn't a contract extension acceptable to you?

Well, my current contract ends in February 2008. If I would sign another two year contract, that would bring it to 2010! That's a long time.

There is a very good chance I could move in that time period, and I wouldn't want to be stuck with termination fees if I needed to change providers. In addition, when I bought the plan, I also put my parents on it too, since we all had different providers. Anything I did would affect them as well, plus the termination fees of three lines would be huge if I did have to cancel.

In addition, being committed to a single cell phone provider for that long just doesn't rub me the right way. I hate being locked into things.

[TurboDan]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Look at the Moto A845, it is tricky to setup because it is an old ATT phone, but it is a 3G w/ gsm 850 on it. I bought mine for $70 on Ebay. Otherwise you can get a V3x, or other european model, but they don't have 850. This shouldn't be a problem in NYC though. I've seen some european models go for about $100 on Ebay.

-jay

Hmm, thanks for the tip! But isn't NYC on 850? I'd also be using this phone in the NYC 'burbs which are still on the GSM 850 network.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by TurboDan

Hmm, thanks for the tip! But isn't NYC on 850? I'd also be using this phone in the NYC 'burbs which are still on the GSM 850 network.

If you get the A845 it operates on GSM 850, GSM 1900, UMTS 1900. The european models will only operate on GSM 1900 and UMTS 1900.

-Jay

[SteveW]

Originally Posted by TurboDan

Well, my current contract ends in February 2008. If I would sign another two year contract, that would bring it to 2010! That's a long time.

Sorry, you said that in your original post, but I didn't get it. In general, for major contract changes, they don't just add on to your current contract, they re-start. If you downgrade your service, for example, Cingular will let you do that - you don't have to add 2 years to the end of your current contract, but your 2 year period is reset to the day you make the change.

However, none of that helps you, since Cingular also has a waiting period before you can upgrade your phone. There was some discussion here recently whether that is 18 or 22 months, but from your perspective it is long time before you will be eligible. Sorry we couldn't help out more.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by SteveW

Sorry, you said that in your original post, but I didn't get it. In general, for major contract changes, they don't just add on to your current contract, they re-start. If you downgrade your service, for example, Cingular will let you do that - you don't have to add 2 years to the end of your current contract, but your 2 year period is reset to the day you make the change.

However, none of that helps you, since Cingular also has a waiting period before you can upgrade your phone. There was some discussion here recently whether that is 18 or 22 months, but from your perspective it is long time before you will be eligible. Sorry we couldn't help out more.

I was able to upgrade at 18 months on my account.


-Jay

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

I was able to upgrade at 18 months on my account.


-Jay

Guess your customer score is good then :p I remember a thread recently discussing the value of a customer in dollar signs and how it affects your ability to change phones.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by nKrypteD1

Guess your customer score is good then :p I remember a thread recently discussing the value of a customer in dollar signs and how it affects your ability to change phones.

Yeah, I figure I'm an L4 as they calculate it. I upgraded before that was implemented though (I think).

-Jay

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Yeah, I figure I'm an L4 as they calculate it. I upgraded before that was implemented though (I think).

-Jay

Heh I'm probably an L2, I spend a buttload but they had to replace a w600i for me so I'm sure that shot me down.

[TurboDan]

Eh, I guess if I sold my RAZR on eBay, then bought a CU500 on eBay, it would almost equal out to what the CU500 with the discount would cost anyway.

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by TurboDan

Eh, I guess if I sold my RAZR on eBay, then bought a CU500 on eBay, it would almost equal out to what the CU500 with the discount would cost anyway.

Careful buying on ebay and you should be good