1 and 2 year contracts

If you do a one year contract then you pay more in the beginning (like act fee and $30? more for phones) and then can get a new phone at promotional prices at 10 months into your contract (if you sign another contract). You just don't get $100 off but qualify for promotional prices.

 

I would ALWAYS ALWAYS go with a one year.

After the one year you can go month to month and you also quailfy for a phone discount at the end of 10 months. The only thing that you do not get is the new every two program where they give you a expra $100 off the price

Jack

 

I hate to preach but strongly recommend a 1 year contract. Why? Technology is changing so quickly unless you ONLY want a basic phone w. no bells & whistles, then go for a 2 year phone. New Every Two - $100 credit is given after 2 years ONLY if you renew for another 2 years (ah ha!) and in some cases, cannot be combined with other promo's & discounts. If you get a phone for 1 year, Verizon will cover the phone for warranty replacement at no charges, unless of course, you lose the phone, run over it by accident or it's stolen - but if you get a phone for 2 years & it break after 1 year without insurance - you will have to pay full retail to replace the phone, whether it's wear & tear, or lost/stolen/drop underwater/run over by a truck, etc. Do the math, you got to BUY insurance on year 1 PLUS year 2, can't buy it on year 2 - it's like buying new car extended warranty.

With 1 year contract, you get a new phone after 10 months but with 2 year contract, you get a new phone at 22 months at promotional price. Some VZW stores and agents (indirect) might even waive the $35 activation fee if you are switching from another carrier like T-Mobile. The other $30 savings on the lowered price of the phone on a 2 year contract will disappear once you factor in the cost of insurance (which will cost more over 22 months/2 year contract term) and the $100 Credit is only given if you stay for another 2 year contract renewal - or you will incurr a $175 early termination fee.

A good used phone can be sold on yahoo.com or ebay.com for a "good" price in a year's time if it's well cared for, still new in terms of technology & features, but you won't get much - if any, on a 22 months old phone. My older Moto Startac's & Timeports/Talkabouts are only good as spare phones, for spare parts (mainly batteries & chargers), for "working phone" as trade-in for mail rebates, or as desktop paperweights.

 

Sloppy-
You fell into the common trap that EVERYONE makes here on LI. You went to T-Mobile. And I'm positive that you got less from life, considering they're the worst carrier on the island. But that's not a problem. I would agree with them, in the case of not signing a 2-year contract, because g-d forbid you want to switch over, you're going to have to eat a nasty cancellation fee or wait a long, long while.

Being the most active member on LI on this board, I would choose AT&T over any carrier on LI. They have upgraded pretty much all of their towers to GSM (Next-Generation Service) in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and most of Brooklyn, but they still have a few left in NYC. So, if you're using it in the metro area, I would go with the TDMA (Digital Service). Verizon is definitely a runner-up to AT&T though, being the 2nd best carrier on the island. Their phones are not as good, especially not the A530. Verizon does occasionally fall into analog mode, so you might need it (especially if you live where I live )

So, I would suggest the following:

AT&T - Any phone using the DIGITAL service.

Verizon - The LG 4400, or something else with an analog backup, because you never know when you'll need it.

Happy shopping...and be glad you're not with T-Mobile anymore.