We will be purchasing 2 new 32gb iPhones after Apples Sept 10th announcement. Typically this would be $640-650 down payment easy, on a 2 year contract. If the next phone happens to start at 32gb, that would just be a bonus.
I have tried to rationalize the Edge program in my head, and it almost works - but after writing this all down it is really insane.
From how I read the Edge program with it's vague details, I can obtain the same phones for the down-payment of the 1st of 24 month payment (+ full device taxes, if they follow their tablet/device purchase program guidelines). $1500 / 24 months is $62.50 a month + plan package. So after 10 months, I would have caught up to what is required down for a typical 2 year contract.
To me, this plan reads like it is designed for people with little down-payment money, but can absorb the extra $30-60 extra to get the phone they really want.
If you trade in at 12 months (50% paid off time) you can give them your old phone (so they can refurb and resell), and start over with a new 24 month payment agreement, starting with paying full taxes of your next device + the 1st of 24 months to repay the device.
- So the actual service plan is the same price if your on Edge, or a 2 year contract - that subsidized cost never comes out of the plan price when on Edge.
- Your likely to pay full device taxes on the phone, at the first down payment - regardless that you will trade the phone in at 12 months.
- At the 10-11 month period into your contract, you are past the down payment cost of what you would have put down for the phone on a typical 2 year contract - officially paying double for that phone. Your device payment, and the subsidized cost that never left the plan in the first place.
Of course we can all be suprized on the 25th if the details are different, but I am not holding my breath.
