Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

matrimony — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:16:49 -0000

thanks for the heads up.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

iPhone — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:50:36 -0000

prowse you are such a douche.. elchesco was merely making a point. So, here's an explanation for the slow (prowse).. Stop bitchin' about $350 because other places have it worse.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

free dating — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:14:18 -0000

this is really sad doubling up the early termination fee.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

TMM — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:01:55 -0000

Are you retarded??? What are you talking about? Carriers don't make any profit on the handset sale, they lose money. Heard of a subsidy? AT&T takes a $400 loss on the initial sale, Verizon probably takes a $300-$350 loss on the droid. Non-feature phones incur a loss of $100-$200. Since monthly bill higher with advanced device due to data plan, carrier will pay a bigger subsidy. Average bill at AT&T is $50 for regular devices and close to $100 month for iPhone. That's why VZ raised the ETF.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Tower Decker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:53:32 -0000

So long as the public "requires" that new phones be cheap as possible when buying one, then Verizon is well-within their rights. Good for them! Maybe people will stop and realize, "Oh, maybe all I DO need is this" and not get suckered into buying every shiny, new, pretty gadget that is released. Obviously legitimate gripes with service or billing are the other side of the story.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

alp — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:04:02 -0000

This increase is on Droid phones. Early termination fees has

increased

to $350. Even if you are in the last month of your contract you will have

to pay $120.

It make it harder to capture the Iphone market with this rate

increase.

Don't buy!!

http://www.verizonpathetic....

http://www.verizarape.com/s...

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

JimD — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:22:16 -0000

They're obviously trying to make a buck wherever they can... I can't blame them, but it's still cruddy of them.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Andreas Duess — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:46:36 -0000

From CNet:

"It allows us to make imperfect estimates on just how much Apple is receiving in subsidies on each iPhone 3G. $4.6 billion in revenue divided by 6.9 million units equals $666.67 per iPhone. That's a little high, since some portion of that revenue has to be attached to Apple TV sales, but even making the unlikely assumption that Apple sold $500 million worth of a product it calls a "hobby" during the fourth quarter puts the average cost of an iPhone 3G at $594.20."

Maybe a quick google search would be a good idea, before you're calling BS and lies.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Mark Jonson — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:20:56 -0000

Clearwire is dead. With everyone else going to LTE, Wimax with Sprint will never be viable. Wimax will die along with Clearwire when Sprint gets bought (or goes bankrupt) in the next 3 years.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:09:36 -0000

Agree with the SMS raping change - it should be blowjob-good, not rape-bad for SMS and MMS - we somply should not be charged for it (OK, maybe 1 dollar per month for full SMS/MMS, but that is it) We need to focus on it ALL. Not just SMS/MMS. This should be a WAR, not a series of battles one at a time (problem with Americans). Lobby congree every friggin day with this nonsense. ETF charged over 50 dollars for any carrier or any phone is insane.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:05:47 -0000

Fuck you, spammer

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:04:46 -0000

Complete lie and bullshit sir.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:03:12 -0000

You don't need to think, you need to go to fcc.gov and do a simple search - all will be answered.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:02:26 -0000

Verizon has enough users and enough employees laid off where they could charge 1/3 of their present charges, and still show a profit.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:01:33 -0000

In no way does this practice secure their future. Ever hear of Wimax/Clear?

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:00:11 -0000

IF you stay WITH Verizon, yes, but that isnt what the article is about.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:59:39 -0000

Huh?

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:59:18 -0000

Nobody was talking about an iPhone, we are talking about going TO an iPhone FROM a Verizon smartphone - can't you read?

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

prowse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:58:20 -0000

Looking at Obama's campaign promises - one of them clearly states he will look to get Cellular companies to C & D their pratcie of early cancellation fees of anything over 50,00 US. Where is this going, Mr. Pres?

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

A1 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:07:57 -0000

Lucky we all still have Cellswapper.com - gets you out of any contract or early termination fees.

http://www.cellswapper.com

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Andreas Duess — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:25:41 -0000

That's an urban myth, unfortunately. The true cost of an iPhone to AT&T is about double of what they sell them for to the public. Check Apple's profitability numbers for more details.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Brent — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:01:28 -0000

Not sure what's happening on the back end of things. But the cost of the device to the carrier is not a valid excuse for ETF. Not when they've already made a 75% profit on the device even with the consumer signing a two year contract (not to mention the huge profit from the consumers buying a device from them without signing).

I got no trouble with "for profit" companies wanting to make, well, a profit. But I DO have a problem with them using draconian methods to strong arm consumers into staying with them through outrageous ETFs. Especially when they mislead the consumer... No, blatantly LIE to the consumer saying that it's to subsidize the cost of the phone when they've already made 75+ points on the deal at the point of contract.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Luggage Straps — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:58:12 -0000

What consumers fail to realize is the wireless companies that continue to provide communication between them, their children, their employer etc....are for profit companies. Consumers continue to try and abuse the warranty, insurance and their own need to have the newest latest and greatest device. They expect the wireless company to absorb this cost.
Wireless companies employ thousands of people. These employees need their employer to stay profitable in order to stay employed.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Coach Rollie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:25:35 -0000

I have a feeling Droid isn't going be what they expect it to be and they want to lock people in.

Re: Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fees for Smartphones

Brent — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:03:46 -0000

This whole subsidizing versus contract thing carriers are shoving down our throats is complete bullcrap as it is. And being a Verizon customer this ETF change is a smack in the face.

Carriers buy phones in bulk from manufacturers at a HUGE discount far below what they even discount the phones to us for. And sometimes even better on exclusives. I have it on good authority that AT&T pays an average of about 65 bucks a pop for iPhones from Apple then sells em for $199 with a 2yr contract. Throw an $80/mo data plan on top of that and I'd say AT&T is making at least a $2000 profit per customer.

It's mostly US carriers that are raping us blind. Want an example, take a look at what the iPhone goes for on Orange in the UK.

ETF's are complete bull and subsidizing is a lame excuse to be charging it.