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I've been using T-Mobile precisely in this way for over 5 years to be able to switch phones at will and keep recurring costs low and off-contract. Their unlimi

I've been using T-Mobile precisely in this way for over 5 years to be able to switch phones at will and keep recurring costs low and off-contract. Their unlimited voice-text-2GB 3G/4G data plan has never cost me more than $50/month per phone including all taxes and surcharges.

nathanb 14y ago
Can you elaborate on "off-contract"? It sounds like even without the subsidy you still have to commit to a two-year contract.
- X-Istence 14y ago
  After your contract is over, you are technically off-contract. In the past T-Mobile has also offered customers the ability to have a monthly plan that didn't require a contract. I'm hoping that they keep that around.
  - OldSchool 14y ago
    Yep that's what I've been doing.
  - nathanb 14y ago
    From the article: > T-Mobile will have to explain to customers that they will actually save money over the length of a two-year contract by paying a lower value plan rate. So it sounds like they're still locking you in to a contract at the start. Yes, once the contract is over then you're off-contract, but if I'm not on Tmo already that doesn't really help.
- kfitchard 14y ago
  But yes, you are correct. If you sign up for a value plan you're on contract. They're subsidizing rates not phones in this case.
- qeorge 14y ago
  If you own the phone you can just do a prepaid arrangement. They just bill you at start of each month for the coming month of service. (I have T-Mobile, Nexus S, $70/mo for voice/sms/5GB data)
- OldSchool 14y ago
  I'm not sure about what's offered right now to new customers, but for me once the original contract expired I didn't renew it and instead of getting phone "upgrades" I got a cheaper "loyalty" plan and I've let that run for years.
- dangrossman 14y ago
  None of these plans have a contract, they're month-to-month: http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans

nathanb 14y ago

Can you elaborate on "off-contract"? It sounds like even without the subsidy you still have to commit to a two-year contract.

X-Istence 14y ago
After your contract is over, you are technically off-contract. In the past T-Mobile has also offered customers the ability to have a monthly plan that didn't require a contract. I'm hoping that they keep that around.
- OldSchool 14y ago
  Yep that's what I've been doing.
- nathanb 14y ago
  From the article: > T-Mobile will have to explain to customers that they will actually save money over the length of a two-year contract by paying a lower value plan rate. So it sounds like they're still locking you in to a contract at the start. Yes, once the contract is over then you're off-contract, but if I'm not on Tmo already that doesn't really help.
kfitchard 14y ago
But yes, you are correct. If you sign up for a value plan you're on contract. They're subsidizing rates not phones in this case.
qeorge 14y ago
If you own the phone you can just do a prepaid arrangement. They just bill you at start of each month for the coming month of service. (I have T-Mobile, Nexus S, $70/mo for voice/sms/5GB data)
OldSchool 14y ago
I'm not sure about what's offered right now to new customers, but for me once the original contract expired I didn't renew it and instead of getting phone "upgrades" I got a cheaper "loyalty" plan and I've let that run for years.
dangrossman 14y ago
None of these plans have a contract, they're month-to-month: http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans