Shots of some docs over on
BGR have us believing that AT&T is on the cusp of launching a program called "MobileProtect," but don't be fooled by the fancy name -- this is basically an Asurion-operated handset insurance plan just like any other, the only real difference being that it's for the
iPhone and offered directly by the carrier. Interestingly, it seems that you'll buy the protection through the App Store of all things, automatically billing the credit card that you've got on file with Apple, but you'd better
really want the protection because it's going to run $13.99 a month. Oh, and you'll have to pay a $99 deductible to fix an 8GB 3G, scaling up to $199 for a 32GB 3GS. To put that in perspective, that means it'll cost you $367 to replace an insured 32GB 3GS after a year of coverage, at which point you'll say "well, I'd rather have an
iPhone 4 anyway" and shell out $200 with an upgrade pull-ahead. Yeah, call us jaded.
posted May 28th 2010 5:49PM
I SERIOUSLY thought AT&T couldn't get any worse.
I was wrong... *sigh*
@hated one
Noted.
Ralph de la Vega
Sent from my Iphone
you had me until that deductible thats absolute BULLSHIT.
@iName
do we need to call the wambulance?
@Aokusman
IMEI blacklist, possibly?
Or you can insure your iPhone with State Farm for $30 a year.....
@stoopidgeenius are you serious? if so please explain....
Here is a tip if you are planning on getting the next iPhone as a new customer. Sign a 2 year contract with ATT now bringing your own phone. That way you can get the next iPhone on subsidy and not be bound by the new etf fees.
i got a letter from my bank for phone insurence, they would pay up to 100 bucks toward replacement of my phone.... really, 100 bucks to replace a 600 dollar phone, yeah no thanks..
insurance is a scam, and the only people who seem to take advantage of insurance always seem to be scammers as well, so we just pay scammers to give other scammers free money. because good people like me pay for stupid insurence, health, auto, whatever, and never use it because we take care of our possessions.
Geez, as if the current estimated rates and fees weren't enough. Now they are just becoming like vultures.
That is high when you count the deductible. I got my 3GS from bestbuy because they had decent coverage with out the deductible. I never lost a fone b4 tho
I prefer my USAA renters insurance. With no deductible required all of my cellphones are covered against theft and damage, no extra monthly charge for this either - just included by default in my insurance policy. Doesn't cover loss though - example they gave is if I leave the phone in a restaurant and it's not there when I come back.
Whats funny is that even if your iPhone is broken Apple will replace for $199 regardless of model or warranty situation, as in cracked screen and such.
@Kiron Also w/in 18 months you can do an exception early upgrade to any model iPhone for $200 more than normal selling price. The insurance is $168/yr & $336/2yr which is more than you'd pay for a top model iPhone if upgrade eleg. If you had the 32GB 3GS with $199 deductable your total expense would be $535. $499 is the early exception upgrade price for the 32gb 3GS, $699 is the no-contract pricing. So you're only saving $164 off the no-contract price with the insurance when you could actually replace it for less through the existing channels.
Smartphones have become very, very expensive toys.
@hated one
Engadget tolerates your crap, I doubt they'll do the same for promoting fraud.
Enjoy your ban.
It actually makes sense to have for a few months or so. After 6 months you can get a partial discount on a new iPhone from AT&T.
Without insurance 32GB iPhone:$0 insurance cost
$699 replacement iPhone
With insurance for 4 months:$56 insurance cost
$199 replacement iPhone deductible
Statefarm insures iPhones for 30 $ annually and up to 500$. They cover everything from water damage to owners mishandling theft and stolen iPhones. The only thing it doesn't cover is system failure
I think some peoples math is off:
iphone 32GB 3GS = $699 (if you aren't eligible for an upgrade)
Monthly service x12 months (after 6 months you can get at least a $200 discount, 12 months is the earliest anyone can get a full discount) = $168
+
$199 deductible
= $367
$367
@ivwshane
You qualify for an exception upgrade after 6 months. It's a $200 subsidy for the iPhone instead of a $400 subsidy. Example is a 16gb 3GS is $399 instead of $599.
@Waltah
Yeah, that's what I put;)
Though I'm sure AT&T gets some sort of profit, the way it's designed there's nothing they do in store with this program. It's all thru the App and asurion itself.
Seriously? What a rip-off. I made a one-time payment of $50 for one year of coverage through State Farm on a 16GB iPhone 3GS. The plan has no deductible and, if I need to make a claim, they'll cut me a check for the full retail price of the phone--not the upgrade price.
This should be breaking news. Handset insurance? Whaaaa? This is AMAZING.
I pay $3.50/month for two 3gs 16g through State Farm Ins. Zero deductible and covers everything.....
another reason to hate AT&T.
sprint $50 deductible and $7 a month.
SPRINT FTMFW
@SYGIGH has nothing to down with Sprint vs AT&T. All other AT&T devices are insurable for $4.99/mo and $50 deductible.
Just go to Best Buy and buy their protection. $14.99 a month with no deductibles. Done!!!!!
Wow, we pay pretty much the same in AUD in Australia, usually everything here costs twice as much as in USD even though it's been a long time since the exchange rate was that bad.
all this time and they finally offer up actual insurance for the phone? i got a bad feeling about this one.. its like they are trying to compensate for their RISE of price for the ETF.. haha. They basically are telling everyone.. "Yes we rised the price if you try to leave us early.. but we can fix you cracked screen for a reduced price!".. -FAIL
In what way, shape or form is this better than Apple's $199 out of warranty replacement?
http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/service/faq/
@akbc
Yeah they have ability to blacklist IMEI numbers and serial numbers but refuse to do so. This could prevent thieves from using the phone on AT&T. AT&T even asks for the IMEI or serial number of the phone that you want to use on their network, but AT&T doesn't care. They want the customer who lost their phone to just buy another one from them. Seems like AT&T is promoting the thievery of cell phones.