Can I Switch Phone w/o Renewing Contract?

You should be able to do that. Call customer service and they can take care of that for you.

 

The only problem might be that the Instinct can only be activated on one of the "everything" plans - so if you don't have one you'll have to get a new contract. The Pre and the Instinct are the only phones that may require a plan change. - sheureka

 

I am under the impression that although the Instinct will require a plan change to an Everything Plan, plan changes are not supposed to require new contracts.

See the very last item at the bottom of this page:

Support - About changing service plans and adding phones

I guess the question is whether or not that provision applies only to people currently under contract.

 

See that is the reason why I won't get one of those devices. It's too bad they make you pay a lot more just to use one.

 

I think it's only if you get the phone from one of there promo's that you have to change plans.

 

That's true for most phones, but not the Instinct (or the Pre).