Does this mean that other companies will do it, too?
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...if Verizon gets away with it withou too many customer defections...bet your azz. It's a churn buster.
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Yeah. I have a Verizon line and a T-Mobile line. That sucks.
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It will only affect new contracts signed on or after Nov 15.
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So sign up or upgrade NOW!
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Bottom line... This is only going to affect those who cancel their service. Even if you want to buy a Droid and place it for sell on Ebay just put your LG-8100 you have lying around on that line on a $9.99 share plan. $240. is cheaper than $350.
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MennoNov 5, 2009, 1:45 AM
it will only effect you if:
1) you buy a phone on contract and leave before contract is over
As it stands now, if you have a 5500 and it is all you need, but you have a huge credit, you can buy the new Droid (or whatever) at contract pricing, and then resell it on Ebay for a huge profit.
The Etf is ONLY charged if you cancel phone service. it is not tied to data plans, or to that phone specifically. (like it is in canada)
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Thankfully, I'm in the US!
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MennoNov 5, 2009, 1:55 AM
yeah.. in canada if you cancel an iphone, it is 400 for the phone and 200 for the data (or the other way around). People in the US complain quite a bit 😎
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I was on another phone site and apparently the carriers in Canada charge twice what U.S. carriers do and deliver half the minutes. And then there are the three year contracts...
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MennoNov 5, 2009, 2:09 AM
yep, canadian rates are INSANE.
My cousin has an iphone and pays almost 150 a month for it for what he could get here in the states for well under 100 (all usd) and he's locked in for 3 years with a lot more stipulations (data limit on phone, etc)
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GOOD GRACIOUS! That is crazy. You are right, people in the US do complain a bit...too much
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MennoNov 5, 2009, 1:43 AM
but we won't "know" anything until they announce it.
It seems to be the trend that changes like this are adopted almost universally though (sms increase, required data plans, prorated etf, etc)
There is a chance it won't, but companies would be stupid not to, especially GSM carriers where it's even easier to make a profit flipping phones by "unlocking" them.
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Or getting a phone dirt cheap at Walmart (The BlackBerry 8520 for $28.88, for example). Play your cards right and you can sell that for 2 bills! (i.e. $200)
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