nTelos Wireless to Launch iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 with $50 Discounts on April 20 [Updated: Other Carriers]

not really.

you can buy an 4S outright for 629€ and run it for 10€/mo for 24 mo. Actually the 16.99€/mo above it quite good.

or I can buy a S2 for 400€ and use the 16.99€/mo plan.

or I can buy a 50€ dumbphone outright and use the 10€/mo plan.

I don't see why people get excited about a 2.5% savings (front page news at MR?)

2.5% = 50/2000.

From what I understand, Verizon does this as well. I wonder if that is a term of their partnership.

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How much should an iPhone plan cost?

Okay, so we should all move to the UK to save a thousand bucks or so on our cell phone plans? This post is about a US carrier, the comparisoin is going to be other US carriers. For the most part the rates are constant. The only time you get any savings is if you're grandfathered into an old plan, or if you're willing to give up a lot of coverage (e.g T-mobile)

Pre-iPhone, the plans/rates were much better in the US than elsewhere. However, that has really changed. In addition, I don't understand why you guys accept it.

:(

I could be wrong– but I don't think they are quite comparing oranges to oranges. The other plans, which are more expensive, allow nationwide calling. A regional operator does not. However, it's becoming increasingly clear that people don't talk on their phones. They use data by messaging and performing lots of other app based tasks. I, for one, barely use the "phone" on my phone– so a regional carrier where you could save $20 a month ($240 a year) might actually make sense.

That is not the same service quality. You need to find out which company provides a good deal on data or voice. When you land at an airport at 11pm, all the cell phone stores are going to be closed and you are left with no choice but roaming if you need to use your phone. If the next day is a Sunday in Europe, many shops will not open for another day. If somebody needs to reach you while you are traveling, they need to know your new temporary number and pay for long distance rates. If you need to call home, long distance calling is likely to cost extra. I am not sure about Europe, but there are some countries requiring proof of residency before they sell SIM cards. Sometimes activating a line on a phone purchased abroad requires a waiting period of some hours to some days.

Compared to that, when I arrive in New York or Hawaii, I don't have to research rates or lose time finding a shop to buy a SIM card or notify my friends, family or boss of my new number or worry about long distance rates. It just works. There are quite a few regional and virtual carriers in the US offering much lower rates if you are willing to put up with much smaller "home" areas, long distance calling fees and roaming rates. Most people don't.

It's easy to get a local carrier sim card in other european countries so the call cost come back to normal.