Will you be ordering the new iPhoneS or C ?

You authoritatively stated that new iphone costs ONLY $99. It doesn't, as $99 is only the "hook me on" subsidized price. It doesn't matter to you apparently, because you don't pay.

 

I calculate $1684 for two years -- $70 a month.

16 GB 5s -- $700 (NM tax included)
Straight Talk pre-paid unlimited talk/message/5 GB 3G data (ATT network) -- $41/month
-----------------

That is the paper charge -- my actual charges (ymmv!!) work out like this:
40% less because it is a business phone: $1674*0.6 = $1000
~ $300 resale value in two years
--> $700 over two years = $29 a month*

I'm lucky to be able to deduct business expenses, but the cost for a new iPhone without any discounts is realistically about 350/24 = $14.5 a month + sales tax. Then you add on carrier charges. I do agree with you that the contract model is usually expensive and best avoided unless one is willing to pay for the expensive privilege of LTE.

*The truth is, I lied. I am one frugal b*astahd, and I make it a point to flip credit cards to keep gaining promotion awards that work out to *about* a 15% discount. So my REAL cost for iPhone and carrier charges over 2 years works out this way:
CC discount: 1684*0.15 = $252
Tax deduction: 1684 * 0.4 = $674
Resale: $300
-----------------
$458 over 2 years, or $19 a month
I mention this mostly to point out that a huge variation exists in what people carrying a new iPhone are actually paying. Best not to jump to conclusions.

 

Doesn't really look like it?? I've been paying about $35 a year for Skype North American calling, for a couple years now. Can't beat that price.

 

I know you are mostly kidding, but I have to tell you -- the iPod Touch is *sweet*. My wife and I were at the Apple store today and I kept going back to the iPod stand while she played with the phones. The device is 6.1 mm thick and weighs 86 grams. The iPhone is a bit obese in comparison

I have tried this wi-fi approach before by the way, and it has not worked out for a variety of reasons. Some day in the future maybe it will. As for Skype, I wrote them off the day M$loth bought the company.

 

I must say I think the stupid fake 3D is pretty dumb, however, it doesn't seem to be using up too much battery. In fact I've noticed my battery lasting a bit longer with the same amount of use since I got the update.

 

I'm so jealous of people like you. I have nothing against RIMM. But geez, they can't go bankrupt fast enough. I don't exactly hate my company provided Blackberry but it just lacks so much versus the competition. I am just too cheap to buy my own cell phone. I actually carry an iPod Touch for when WIFI is available which thank goodness is plentiful everywhere I am except in the car.

 

Just curious, why do you call the parallax effect 'fake' ?
If I ever knew what it was I had forgotten, so I read up a few weeks ago. Now I recognize how important it is to my depth perception in general.

 

Heh.

I'm pretty sure JMD would be one of the first to say that no perk is truly 'free.' *
As for BlueBerry being the perk -- I feel your pain.

*
I do my best to stay away from 'perks' and 'company benefits.' I'm happier with the money in my pocket, leaving me free to shop for the best deal for me with unrestricted choice. If you work for a large company, you can obtain a corporate discount from the major phone carriers yourself; group purchasing by your company is not required.

 

High enough speed -- yes. Open IP port -- no. Our government dollars at work.


At home I use google phone through my computer if I can since I am usually using the computer anyway. Phone quality is very hit or miss;and by miss, I mean unusable.

 

If you stayed with your old phone and changed to pre-paid, would your company give you the difference in cash ?

 

How so ?

 

I think I follow you, but I was asking who benefits if you choose a less costly alternative.