Friends Kingdom: Re: [iPad] Off topic iPhone question

I constantly see $250-550 monthly cell phone bills.

~KLM

\\ "Antisocial behavior is a trait of intelligence in a world full of conformists" ~Nikola Tesla //

On Jun 14, 2015, at 7:48 AM, David Smith david.smith.14916@gmail.com [iPad] <iPad@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Good lord, you mean it used to cost *more* than two hundred dollars a month?

On Jun 14, 2015, at 6:40 AM, Christopher Collins iphone@analogdigital.com.au [iPad] <iPad@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

All cellphone service everywhere has become cheaper over the years.

You just get a lot more of everything now than you used to get so the price may have risen.

cjc

On 14 Jun 2015, at 12:11 pm, Devitt devittad@comcast.net [iPad] <iPad@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Though I haven't checked plans for about 1 1/2 years, it seems like any change to US cell phone service or plans is designed to squeeze more money out of customer. If NZ cell phone service has become less expensive over the years I envy you.

CD

I can't believe that cellular is so complicated in the US. In NZ we have three networks, Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees. And a few MVNO's (Cellular companies that don't own any network, but host off other cellular company's towers)
All phones are unlocked with one exception. You can buy a phone from a telco, subsidised and on contract, or outright. Spark will sell a phone on a 12 or 24 month interest free term, no contract. You could buy phone from a Best Buy type of store. You can move the phone t a provider easily and keep the cell number. If you are not on contract, the monthly charge is about $10 less.
The one exception is Skinny, an MVNO owned by Spark, catering for the kids, a budget priced set of plans. If you bought a really cheap basic phone for say $80, its locked for 6 months. $40 to unlock it.
The competition has lowered plan prices, and added features such as free premium Spotify. At Spark, we have added wifi to all our phone boxes, thats 1GB per day free for Spark users, or if not a Spark user $9-95 per month.
Its dog eat dog for telco's here, but the customer has benefitted.
Land based broadband (ADSL, VDSL, Fibre) is very much the same model.
From: "Devitt devittad@comcast.net [iPad]" <iPad@yahoogroups.com>
To: "iPad@yahoogroups.com" <iPad@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, 13 June 2015 2:48 PM
Subject: [iPad] Re: Off topic iPhone question

I hope you get what you need, Kris. I wonder what hoops you'd have to jump through to get a carrier when you return to the states with your unlocked iPhone. Since they wouldn't be subsidizing your phone in any way, would ATT still expect you to pay the same monthly charge as their NEXT customers who are paying off the phones ATT provided at the beginning of the contract? Or would you be able to pay for provided service only?
Somehow I doubt they have two pricing tiers, so you'd be paying premium prices for a "subsidized" phone you actually bought yourself. They win twice. I wonder how many other countries have telcoms who are allowed to set up such sweet deals for themselves?

Yea I just want a factory unlocked one. What I may do in El Salvador is travel to San Savlador and get a factory unlocked one in January which will be after I leave cuz I really don't wanna not leave til I get s phone I was hoping on getting a ticket for Xmas day.

~KLM