Topic: cell phone contracts

[shock]

Question for those that may know:

I have had my Blackberry for one year. I hate it. It's slow as shit and doesn't have any apps.  I really have my eyes set on the Droid Incredible.

Problem is I signed a two year contract with Verizon about a year ago, so I still have a while left on my contract. I've looked at the cancellation fee and apparently it would be about 100 and something bucks.

The Droid Incredible"s retail with no contract is 600 bucks.  So way expensive.

My idea is to cancel my contract and pay the cancellation fee, then re-subscribe with another 2 year contract. This way the phone costs me about 100 bucks instead of 600.

Is this feasible? Think I could keep my number? Thoughts on the phone?

[shock]

Welp I just called the Verizon people and apparently I can upgrade and buy another two year contract with this line. Not sure why - the automated system thing said I have another 8 months. Maybe I don't understand the system or maybe the lady wanted to not have me cancel. Regardless, contract woes aside, anyone have this phone? It looks great from the reviews..

[iPPi]

My coworker had one and it was pretty impressive.  He loaded it up with widgets though so whenever he was at his desk it was plugged in and charging...

The problem with Android phones is that they have fairly shitty battery lives.  There are ways to improve if it you use it sparingly, turn off 3G, and turn off a whole bunch of features and stuff.  I've had my battery last for four days before needing to charge it but generally speaking now I'm pulling 1-2 days between charges now.

I refuse to sign onto a cell phone contract though.  If given the option I would buy the phone outright. 

[ren]

I refuse to sign onto a cell phone contract though.  If given the option I would buy the phone outright. 

I don't see anything inherently wrong with contracts. Your cell phone plan subsidizes the cost of the phone so the company has to make sure that you be paying them long enough to make the cost. What I do have a problem with is how there is basically nothing but 3 year contracts. Some companies offer two year but you end up paying almost full price for the phone so there's pretty much no point. If a phone company offered one year or two year contracts with a fair price for the phone I wouldn't mind.

As it stands I'll end up sticking with Koodo or Virgin because their tab systems work almost exactly like a contract but you can see exactly how your paying for the phone and can just leave at any point and pay the difference.

[iPPi]

I think my hatred for contracts in Canada is because of the three year term.  It just lasts too long and your phone is obsolete.  Right now I am just on a pay as you go plan.  Since I am on campus most of the time and have wifi, I don't actually need a data plan.

[gpw11]

Welp I just called the Verizon people and apparently I can upgrade and buy another two year contract with this line. Not sure why - the automated system thing said I have another 8 months. Maybe I don't understand the system or maybe the lady wanted to not have me cancel. Regardless, contract woes aside, anyone have this phone? It looks great from the reviews..

I can only speak for companies here, but cell contract terms aren't nearly as strict as you'd think.  As you found out, they're entirely willing to rip a contract up and sign a new one long before the term is over (USUALLY up to 18 months).  Of course, they don't have to, and you're not going to be able to get a new, subsidized phone twice a year, but they will certainly do it. Cancellation and termination fees tend to be reserved for those who are moving or switching carriers. If, however, you plan to stay, it only makes sense for them to start the clock over and keep on getting that monthly revenue from you for another few years.

They know that there's really very little difference between competitors and the last thing they ever want to do is put you in a situtation where you're unrestricted and talking to other carriers.  They'll gladly eat the remaining hardware subsidization in order to keep your business.

[beo]

ok, i am actually pretty drunk right now, but when i'm not, i'll write something about this. i work with phones and know how you can fuck with the contracts. it's very simple.

also, you guys get so ripped off with phone companies. start arguing out your contracts and it will change. no one pays for phones here.

[scottws]

I have a Droid Incredible and really like it.  The only thing is that the battery life SUCKS!  If I don't use the phone very much, it will easily last. 16 hours or so, but if I'm actively browsing the web or (especially) playing games, it can last as little as 2-3 hours.  Yes, that bad.

So I made sure to get a car charger and an extra charger for work.  This helps quite a bit, but it is really unfortunate all the things you have to do to keep this thing on.  I'm hoping future Android updates focus on improving battery life because it is no where close to BlackBerry, iPhone, or even what I've heard about Windows Phone 7.

[shock]

Thanks guys.  I went ahead and ordered it.  My Blackberry has actually been swimming a couple of times and the battery is equally atrocious, if not worse, so I have one charger at work and one at the office.  It's just the system I use, so I don't anticipate it being too much of a problem.

I'll let you know once I get it and start getting it figured out.