What to do? (Need a smartphone and I've got a year left before I can upgrade)

MGMorden

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2000
3,348
0
76
Ok, so I'm on Verizon and my new every 2 doesn't come up until 12/15/2010.

I've put off getting a smartphone for a long time basically because I wanted an iPhone but I live out in the sticks and Verizon is literally the only carrier that I get a signal for at home.

I took my new-every-2 10 months ago for a Motorola Krave ZN4 with no data plan (haven't needed it yet - and I'm only on the 450 minute plan because everyone else I know is on Verizon too. I use about 20-30 out of network minutes per month) - I hate this darned phone. I won't go into the reasons, but suffice to say I've got an iPod touch that I carry around with me for data needs, but it seems like 95% of the time when I want to use the mobile data features I'm not near a wifi node.

Anyways, the Android phones are the only thing that has really caught my eye lately - particularly Droid Eris.

Is there any hope of getting one of those without paying full price? I understand I'm not going to get it for the $30-100 that a new-every-2 option would, but it it seems like there would be something between that and the $450-ish that a contractless phone would cost.

Any ideas?

BTW - where the heck are the cheap Taiwanese CDMA Android phones? I'd have figured they would be shipping those things over here for $99 by the boatload by now . . .
 

Spoooon

Lifer
Mar 3, 2000
11,563
203
106
I think on howardforums some people have claimed to successful get someone to reset their new every two so that they could upgrade to a droid and start a new two year contract.

1 year might be a bit much, but you never know. The idea of making an extra 30 a month off of you may be enough incentive for them to let you do it.

A friend of who has a little more than you left on his is just calling every now and then hoping to catch someone willing to do it.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
If you can wait two months, to the point where you've had the phone over a year, you will be eligible for a 1-Year Contract, manager's discount, as part of the Lost/Damages/Stolen upgrade policy.
If you simply say my phone has been damaged, and you spend some time with someone and talk to a manager, it's cake. They'll basically straight up tell you they can give you a 1-year upgrade.
I did this for my Droid.

Actually, I think it's simply being 1 year into the contract, not necessarily 1 year of owning the phone. But in your case that ends up being the same.
I had my Omnia for 8 or so months, clearly within the 1 year warranty coverage. Though if it's damaged through your fault warranty wouldn't work anyhow, though they don't ask about how damage occurred when talking about the 1-year contract manager's discount. But I bought that phone out of contract, and at the release of the Droid I was about 6 or 7 months shy of the end of my previous 2 year contract.
Now my contract was extended a year from that point, and I got the 1-Year Contract price on the Droid. Win/Win imho, paid a little more but I'm eligible for discounted upgrade earlier than I would have been otherwise, and I am hoping LTE (4G) is starting to get coverage in some cities and phones are available when I am eligible for upgrade. Perfect upgrade route, as I love my Droid but will want 4G when it's available. I can wait otherwise. :)
 

Yzzim

Lifer
Feb 13, 2000
11,990
1
76
Buy the moto droid or eris off ebay and sell your krave to help with the purchase price. When your year upgrade comes around you can sell the droid/eris to cover the upgrade price.
 

Spoooon

Lifer
Mar 3, 2000
11,563
203
106
My friend was able to have his new every two restarted. He'll be able to purchase and activate his droid at the end of the month.

So, if you haven't tried, give it a go and see what happens.