Spac3d said:FrugalFreak said:Neurotic1 said:FrugalFreak said:Because some consumers, like myself, do not allow cell or any other companies to "trap" with unnecessary contracts. We don't want ownage by anyone. If a cell company gives superior service, then a user would retain with company. They know service is often subpar and therefore must trap to keep users after the fact of wising up to lousy service and rate hikes.

I understand the logic behind getting an unlocked phone if you're in a contract. My reply was in response to OP's comment about "those who were on the verge of an expiring account..." . I find that this is one of the few instances that consumers have leverage against cell carriers. For example, I always sign up for 1yr at a time, then when I'm month to month, I wait for a good plan then call the sales dept.(retention dept) and negotiate that plan with the cell phone I want. Sometimes it takes more than a few calls but in the end, it always seems to work. My last 1 yr contract w/Cingular was for $59.99 included 1050 anytime min. w/rollover, 2 lines, free nights and weekends, free m 2 m, and 2 razors for $50 each. The razors would have been free w/2 yr contract which I declined.

Anyway, my point is this: <font color=white style="background-color: #3E3E3E;">when your contract is about to expire is the best time to negotiate a phone upgrade and/or rate plan. Weigh out the $218 price of the phone which works out to about $20 per month against a possible increase in montly rate. Of course the goal in this case would be to get the phone with a 1yr contract w/o incurring the $20 increase which IMHO is not impossible.

A contract is NOT necessary to obtain cell service! no NEED to negotiate. contrary to what Cell CSR try to goad you into. you can get great rates like you mentioned WITHOUT signing contract for any amount of time.Depends on the service. That is true of Cingular (when you brought your own phone, they waived contract IIRC), but if you want post paid with T-Mobile, it has to be a contract.

Thats the whole purpose of my post, if your contract is EXPIRING, don't get a NEW CONTRACT when you don't have too. You DON'T have to sign a new contract just to get cool phone or use service. buy a phone and have freedom to change service provider whenever you wish with no penalty.keep consumer power in YOUR hands instead of giving the CELL service the right to force hikes, termination fees, lousy service etc... with you having to PAY to them to escape.

you say to Negotiate, you shouldn't have TOO. because any negotiation by the cell provider will put you BACK into contract since they favor them,that is which i'm warning against. If you can negotiate for a rate plan with NO CONTRACT OF ANY TIME PERIOD, or cool phone with no contract NO CONTRACT OF ANY TIME PERIOD,then COOL, but to sign a contract for any amount of time is unnecessary.

Spac3d said:

A contract is NOT necessary to obtain cell service! no NEED to negotiate. contrary to what Cell CSR try to goad you into. you can get great rates like you mentioned WITHOUT signing contract for any amount of time.Depends on the service. That is true of Cingular (when you brought your own phone, they waived contract IIRC), but if you want post paid with T-Mobile, it has to be a contract.

I got hozed then. I bought an unbranded v3i and got locked into a 2 year contract >

Any word on if the v3i battery works with the v3xx?

I may consider grabbing one, particularly if I brick my v3i, trying to flash/flex upgrade it.