http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Oh lord...]]>May 21st 2010 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/Comment system fail... The comment i was replying to was removed (super-oblivion)]]>May 21st 2010 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Nay]]>May 21st 2010 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Yes, finally, going to jump over to Verizon and get an iPhone. Droid what?

]]>May 21st 2010 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Droid Does!]]>May 21st 2010 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/Does anyone know what the name and artist of that song is?]]>May 21st 2010 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/why? $325 is $25 too low for you?]]>May 21st 2010 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/Song was from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.]]>May 21st 2010 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 3:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/Gene Wilder - Pure Imagination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3nV6WqA4Y0
I suppose, if you're looking for a title and artist.]]>May 21st 2010 3:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
I just wish these damn handsets weren't so pricey off-contract.

Why is it that the iPod Touch is only $199, but an off-contract iPhone starts at what, $600?

It makes no sense to me. Can someone explain? $400 for a little 3G chip that costs probably only $2?]]>May 21st 2010 3:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 4:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
I don't see a problem with this. With ETF sitting at $175 most of the smart phones are cheaper to buy subsidized on contract and pay the ETF than just buying the phone outright. They are just protected themselves from getting screwed that way.]]>May 21st 2010 4:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Uhhh... what?

The iPhone isn't going to hit Verizon this summer. My bet is that if the iPhone is going on Vz, it'll hit after September and most likely next year.

AT&T is trying to keep people from jumping on the EVO and Incredible.]]>May 21st 2010 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
The answer: Because they can.]]>May 21st 2010 4:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 4:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Well, the resale value of my 3G IPhone just went up, so I'm gonna say yay to this one. Especially since I just had to pay $199 to get it replaced (damn my pool, dammit to hell).]]>May 21st 2010 4:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/-Not all phones have the same subsidy
-The reduction every month does not go to zero. It should be $240 and $10 a month or $325 and $13.54 a month.
-buying the phone out right is not $325+the purchase price. e.g. the $200 iphone should be $525 unlocked.
Slightly unrelated but a phone out of subsidy should have a lower monthly bill.
Congress I'm looking at to fix this BS.]]>May 21st 2010 5:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
There's almost no incentive to buy a phone off-contract on most carriers. I would like to get an Evo a full price without contract, but will Sprint give me at least a $20 break in monthly pricing?]]>May 21st 2010 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 5:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 7:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/Agreed and thats what in a few months? Seeing that most go for the 2 year contract, waiting a few monthes for a better network is better than being stuck with a crappy one for 2 years.]]>May 21st 2010 7:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 7:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
U.S. consumers get screwed in new ways every day. It's kinda like the airlines charging you to change your flight, but still overbooking. They're guaranteed compensation for every sold seat now, even if you don't show up. But they're still double-charging.]]>May 21st 2010 8:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
A lot of it has to do with the fact that Apple expects to regain their margins on the iPods through iTunes music sales. ]]>May 21st 2010 10:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Actually they are raising the etf so that people wont be trying to work the system when they launch the new iphone this June;)]]>May 22nd 2010 1:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 22nd 2010 1:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
No, it's called an out of warranty replacement and it's something apple does for people that have iphones that are no longer covered by warranty (broken, old, etc). Just give them your old phone and they will give you a refurb of the same model.]]>May 22nd 2010 2:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://j.mp/att-deadlast-carrier]]>May 22nd 2010 2:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Sprint and the EVO 4G are looking better and better each day...]]>May 21st 2010 3:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/Word...]]>May 21st 2010 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
only to the blind and geeky.]]>May 21st 2010 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
why is this such a big deal? Try to boink the company, and the company boinks you.

If you want an awesome smartphone for free, be prepared to pay for it. If you want to pay for the phone upfront, then you won't have to sign up for a contract. Was that so hard?]]>May 21st 2010 3:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Happened both times I gave Sprint a chance and canceled within 30 days. Two weeks later, I get a bill in the mail for $500, no description of why I owe $500. Sprint reps refuse to send me itemized bills and ended up sending me to collections twice before I threatened them with legal action if they damaged my credit, at which point they finally set my bill straight (to be only the first 2/3 of a month's charges) and sent me an itemized bill of why I owed what.

Absolute. Nightmare.

If you're a current Sprint customer they treat you great. It's kind of like having a crazy possessive girlfriend. She'll do anything for you while you're together, but if you try to break up, she'll screw you over any way possible.]]>May 21st 2010 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
Um what part of the US do you live in where even if you buy an unlocked 3G device, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIGN A CONTRACT FOR SERVICE???

Don't talk about prepaid services that don't count. So it doesn't make any sense to buy an unlocked phone at full price rather than a subsidized price since you gotta sign up for service anyway.

However, if you mean sticking to your expired contract for a long time while using a purchased unlocked phone, then that's different. It really doesn't matter because those asshole bean counters at every company like AT&T has already nickeled and dimed the shit outta everyone that signs up regardless of contract - you can't win at the end.

The only way to win is to not use a cell phone. But that would suck ass.

]]>May 21st 2010 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
I'm an agent and have canceled for many customers before as well. ]]>May 21st 2010 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 4:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 4:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/May 21st 2010 4:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/]]>May 21st 2010 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
I doubt Dreamwell and I are the only ones. BTW, been with T-Mobile for 3 yrs and loving it.]]>May 21st 2010 5:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/atandt-follows-verizon-jacks-up-etf-on-netbooks-and-smartphones/
You're not; same thing happened to me. I totally agree with Dreamwell that their great as a carrier, but terrible when you need to cancel.

Anyway, that was over 4 years ago...surely they've changed! PLEASE TELL ME THEY'VE CHANGED!! I reeeeeeally want the Evo T__T]]>May 21st 2010 5:45PM