WirelessAdvisor.com

deedummy · 05-13-2002, 7:47 PM

How often do carriers such as verizon, att, and voicestream offer free phones, activation, and first month?

Also are most of the free phones usually the ones that are soon to be phased out?

thanks all

KevinJames · 05-13-2002, 8:01 PM

free phones = most of the time
free activation = Verizon = no. ATT = yes, except in certain situations.
free 1st month = ATT gives you a 30-day period to decide to take their service, but the service is NOT free. You can cancel without penalty, but you will have to pay for calls made. Verizon gives you 15 days for trail period. Same conditions. You can cancel without contract-penalties, but you will be billed for the pro-rated portion of service you used.

See the following two articles I wrote:
Pro Rated Bill
Rate Plans

the free phones are usually the less expensive models. On ATT that is Ericsson, which up until recently was junk. On Verizon its Nokia, which is reportedly junk. (If you opt-out of the contract within the trial period, you DO NOT get to keep the "free" phone.)

Can't speak to Voicestream, no experience.

bobolito · 05-13-2002, 8:25 PM

All I can say is as far as how often they do these offers, there's no way of telling. I guess is whenever their marketing teams feel its profitable.

Malial · 05-13-2002, 8:25 PM

Unless they've changed their policy, Verizon does offer free activation with 2 year contracts.

aiwapro · 05-13-2002, 10:33 PM

Voicestream doesn't give free activation usually. They give free phones with a mail-in rebate, but also the ones that come out being free after the mail-in rebate are usually the cheap phones. Voicestream gives like $50 mail-in rebates on all of their phones.
As far as first month free, the closest that they get to that is prorating the bill from the time that you sign up. For example; if you sign up in the middle of a billing cycle, then you will be given less minutes for less money, because their is less time in your first month. Remember this only applies to the first month.

05-14-2002, 6:00 AM

Some independent dealers may offer free activation and free or reduced monthly rates for a short period. This is their own value add and is independent of the carriers. Only you can decide whether dealing with an independent who may or may not have staying power or warranties is worth the savings.

ComicalMoodyDan · 05-14-2002, 9:30 AM

SunCom has phone's that are free with a one year contract infact currently on there website after mail in rebates you can get the Panasonic Promax, Sony Ericsson R300, and the Nokia 5165 for free. SunCom doesn't usually wave the activation fee though, its $35 but every once in a while they will run a promo in the paper for free activation for a couple of days or so plus a free phone. As far as the free month goes SunCom did have a promo out a little while ago where you got one month free on one type of there plans I think it was the SunCom States Plan but they no longer offer that now I think.

On a separte note sometimes resellar's can be cheaper I bought my phone from Tennessee Communications in my local mall which sells SunCom service and I managed to get my activation fee waved with them, a free Nokia 5165 phone, a free car charger, a free leather case, and a free handsfree device just for signing a one year contract. So far I've been very happy with my service too and I know this particular resellar right now is even offering the Nokia 3360 for free now with just a 1 year contract.

Jack · 05-14-2002, 9:28 PM

sometimes resellers can be good if you know who you are buying from. I would first talk with friends etc. and see if anyone of them have purshaced service from them. Also sometimes they offer the free first month but not often.

Jack

06-15-2002, 2:18 AM

Matt · 06-15-2002, 1:17 PM

Currently VoiceStream is offering the Nokia 3390 free in their online store.

05-13-2002, 7:47 PM	#1
deedummy I made my first post! Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	free phones? free activation? free first month? How often do carriers such as verizon, att, and voicestream offer free phones, activation, and first month? Also are most of the free phones usually the ones that are soon to be phased out? thanks all

05-13-2002, 8:25 PM	#3
bobolito iPhone 3G 16GB (White) Join Date: May 2002 Location: in front of my computer Posts: 12,539 Phone(s): iPhone 3G, Sierra 875 3G Aircard Provider(s): AT&T Mobility Devices: WiFi cards/Access points Thanks: 3 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Images: 50 My Auctions	All I can say is as far as how often they do these offers, there's no way of telling. I guess is whenever their marketing teams feel its profitable. __________________

05-14-2002, 9:28 PM	#8
Jack Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,475 Phone(s): Motorola T720 Provider(s): Alltel Devices: Sirius Satellite radio, ipod, laptop, pda Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	sometimes resellers can be good if you know who you are buying from. I would first talk with friends etc. and see if anyone of them have purshaced service from them. Also sometimes they offer the free first month but not often. Jack __________________ Current Plan with alltel 3000 anytime minutes w/nationwide LD $74.95 a month---Waiting not so patiently for the Alltel version of the V710

06-15-2002, 1:17 PM	#10
Matt Busy chasing my son Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lititz, Pa. Posts: 4,873 Phone(s): Motorola Cliq, BlackBerry 8820 Provider(s): T-Mobile Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Images: 2	Currently VoiceStream is offering the Nokia 3390 free in their online store. __________________ Join the T-Mobile Group Forum (or any other!) ...a/k/a cheerioboy26 elsewhere on the net....

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

WirelessAdvisor.com

Northeastern US Wireless Forum

free phones? free activation? free first month? in U.S. Wireless Forums [Archive]; "How often do carriers such as verizon, att, and voicestream ..."

WirelessAdvisor.com

05-13-2002, 8:01 PM	#2
KevinJames WA's 1st retired mod Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Central Valley NorCA Posts: 2,621 Phone(s): Samsung A877, Impression Provider(s): the new AT&T Devices: Plantronics Discovery925, Garmin Nuvi 660 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	free phones = most of the time free activation = Verizon = no. ATT = yes, except in certain situations. free 1st month = ATT gives you a 30-day period to decide to take their service, but the service is NOT free. You can cancel without penalty, but you will have to pay for calls made. Verizon gives you 15 days for trail period. Same conditions. You can cancel without contract-penalties, but you will be billed for the pro-rated portion of service you used. See the following two articles I wrote: Pro Rated Bill Rate Plans the free phones are usually the less expensive models. On ATT that is Ericsson, which up until recently was junk. On Verizon its Nokia, which is reportedly junk. (If you opt-out of the contract within the trial period, you DO NOT get to keep the "free" phone.) Can't speak to Voicestream, no experience.

05-13-2002, 8:25 PM	#4
Malial Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 749 Phone(s): Motorola v710 Provider(s): Verizon Devices: Dell Axim X5 Advance, palmOne Tungsten T5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Unless they've changed their policy, Verizon does offer free activation with 2 year contracts.

05-13-2002, 10:33 PM	#5
aiwapro Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,455 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Voicestream doesn't give free activation usually. They give free phones with a mail-in rebate, but also the ones that come out being free after the mail-in rebate are usually the cheap phones. Voicestream gives like $50 mail-in rebates on all of their phones. As far as first month free, the closest that they get to that is prorating the bill from the time that you sign up. For example; if you sign up in the middle of a billing cycle, then you will be given less minutes for less money, because their is less time in your first month. Remember this only applies to the first month.

05-14-2002, 6:00 AM	#6
Guest Posts: n/a	Some independent dealers may offer free activation and free or reduced monthly rates for a short period. This is their own value add and is independent of the carriers. Only you can decide whether dealing with an independent who may or may not have staying power or warranties is worth the savings.

05-14-2002, 9:30 AM	#7
ComicalMoodyDan Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 6,069 Phone(s): Samsung Gravity 2, Samsung Smooth Provider(s): T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless Devices: T-Mobile @Home Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	SunCom has phone's that are free with a one year contract infact currently on there website after mail in rebates you can get the Panasonic Promax, Sony Ericsson R300, and the Nokia 5165 for free. SunCom doesn't usually wave the activation fee though, its $35 but every once in a while they will run a promo in the paper for free activation for a couple of days or so plus a free phone. As far as the free month goes SunCom did have a promo out a little while ago where you got one month free on one type of there plans I think it was the SunCom States Plan but they no longer offer that now I think. On a separte note sometimes resellar's can be cheaper I bought my phone from Tennessee Communications in my local mall which sells SunCom service and I managed to get my activation fee waved with them, a free Nokia 5165 phone, a free car charger, a free leather case, and a free handsfree device just for signing a one year contract. So far I've been very happy with my service too and I know this particular resellar right now is even offering the Nokia 3360 for free now with just a 1 year contract.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads for: free phones? free activation? free first month?
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Free Month Service when renewing contract	Charlie5	Southern US Wireless Forum	0	03-11-2003 7:28 PM
one month free service with verizon	LowTech	Southern US Wireless Forum	6	12-31-1969 8:00 PM