Comments on: Phoned in.

Question: Phoned in.

Gordion Knott — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 02:40:36 -0800

The iPhone seems to be available everywhere now--at Target, at Radio Shack, at online vendors. Where should I go to get the best deal on an iPhone 5?

Most likely, I'll be in the market for a basic data plan with Verizon, which seems to have the best coverage in my area. Buying the phone at Target seems tempting, because the store offers a rebate on the iPhone if it's returned in good condition after two years. Questions:
-Is the Target return policy worthwhile? Are there other ways to get money back for an iPhone that's returned or upgraded after the two year contract ends?
-What's the cheapest, easiest, and best source--either online or brick-and-mortar--at which I can buy the iPhone?
-Are there pluses to AT&T that justify enduring the spotty coverage in my area?
-Apple claims that its CDMA iPhone 5 (offered by Verizon, I believe) works with the KDDI network in Japan. Is this true? If I brought a US iPhone to Japan, would it work out of the box, and what rates would KDDI charge for calls and data?
-Any other tips on plans, vendors, or productivity apps? (I'm a newbie, as you can probably glean from the above).

By: modernserf

modernserf — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 04:58:51 -0800

You can resell your phone through Gazelle at the end of your contract and get a good chunk of money (often enough to buy into the next phone) back.

As far as I know, there are no "deals" on iPhones. Apple sets the price wherever they are sold.

AT&T has higher maximum (but not typical) speeds in some areas.

By: inturnaround

inturnaround — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:07:11 -0800

Radio Shack is also doing instant trade-ins now if you already have one to trade. You really won't have trouble selling your iPhone in 2 years if the past few years are any indication.

Cheapest, easiest and best? Well, there's no cheapest. The iPhones won't be on sale. They'll all be sold at the same price everywhere. They don't have to be discounted as they're in such high demand. Apple Stores will have the most product available, but fewer people try Best Buy and such (though they'll have far fewer units on hand) When it doubt, try the carrier's stores.

Your CDMA iPhone 5 would be locked to Verizon upon purchase, so you couldn't use it on another carrier's network. But AT&T's version of the iPhone 5 will be more useful in more countries after you're out of contract and can get it unlocked as GSM is a standard in more countries than CDMA.

Verizon has the most robust LTE (fast wireless data) network at present. AT&T just launched their LTE service.

You can be on a call with AT&T and use data at the same time. The Verizon and Sprint iPhones aren't able to.

The big difference is that Sprint offers unlimited data still. Something that neither Verizon nor AT&T still offer to new customers. So if that appeals and coverage in your area is good, try them.

By: DoubleLune

DoubleLune — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:15:42 -0800

The other thing with Target is that you get 5% off if you use the Target credit card. I used my parent's for a few electronics puchases when I moved into my new place because they had the lowest price even and that extra 5% was a nice bonus.

By: 6550

6550 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:41:15 -0800

The Verizon CDMA iPhone has a SIM slot and can be used globally on GSM networks, once it's unlocked. And unlocking is apparently far easier on Verizon for customers in good standing after 60 days from purchase or something like that. With AT&T you need to be outside of the contract period (2 years). So the Verizon model is definitely the one to get for world travelers.

By: JoeZydeco

JoeZydeco — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:43:33 -0800

You also get 5% off with a Target debit card, which doesn't need credit approvals and etc., just a checking account.

By: curious nu

curious nu — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:44:39 -0800

This article on contract vs prepaid might be of interest to you.

By: feral_goldfish

feral_goldfish — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:14:31 -0800

If you do buy one from Target and plan to return it to a bricks-and-mortar store, make sure you buy it in the store, not online. I once returned an online Target purchase in a store, and the customer service dept. put me through some kind of time-consuming aversion-therapy hell.

By: samsara

samsara — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:17:07 -0800

I think curious nu's link really answers the broader question here which is "How do I save a lot of money when using an iPhone?"

If you foot the cost of the phone and go with a prepaid plan instead of a contract, you'll spend much more up front, but much less over the course of two years.

By: stopgap

stopgap — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:25:26 -0800

If you foot the cost of the phone and go with a prepaid plan instead of a contract, you'll spend much more up front, but much less over the course of two years.

I think this required a sacrifice on data speed. I could be wrong, but I think T-Mobile is the only major carrier with cheaper unsubsidized plans, and I believe the prepaid operators won't match the LTE speeds of Verizon or AT&T. (I don't know what the status of Sprint is -- have they built out an LTE network?)

By: samsara

samsara — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:10:35 -0800

I think this required a sacrifice on data speed. I could be wrong, but I think T-Mobile is the only major carrier with cheaper unsubsidized plans

I believe Virgin Mobile is another carrier, however I'm pretty sure you sacrafice coverage (especially where I am on the east coast). StraightTalk however uses AT&T's network and seems to offer the same speeds (although I don't use the service yet, so can't speak from experience. I plan to drop AT&T once the contract is done however and make the switch as $45/mo is pretty decent compared to what I'm paying now.)

By: stopgap

stopgap — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:26:44 -0800

Virgin Mobile US is owned by Sprint and uses Sprint's network. I'm not upgrading for another year, but I'll have to look into Straight Talk because I agree the economics for unsubsidized service are compelling.

By: mlis

mlis — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:18:59 -0800

You can be on a call with AT&T and use data at the same time. The Verizon and Sprint iPhones aren't able to.

The Verizon iPhone can do it via Wi-Fi, just not LTE. Frustrating, it has been this way since December 2010 when they first offered the iPhone.