Sell Used iPod and iPhone

Upgrading from an older iPod, iPhone, or iPad model to the latest, most wonderful, and cutting edge device can be an expensive proposition. Plus, you've got a perfectly good iPod or iPhone on your hands, so can you use that to your advantage to cut the cost of your new toy?

Sure you can!

While you can always try selling your old device on eBay, Craigslist, or other similar places, some retailers will buy used iPhones & iPods and either pay you cash or credit you for the purchase of a new iPod or other device when you trade them your old one.

These programs all have different terms, so be sure to read closely and ask questions before parting with your iPod or iPhone, but this is a great way to get that new gadget and pay a bit less for it.

Here are links to a few sites with programs that let buy used iPhones and iPods:

Amazon.com
Amazon's Electonics Trade-In service, a new addition to the giant online retailer, buys all kinds of used electronics at competitive prices. You can sell iPhones, iPods, iPads, and many other gadgets in exchange for an Amazon Gift Card.

Apple
In Aug. 2011, Apple threw its hat into the used iPad and iPhone resale business. Via a section of its online store, users can sell desktop and notebook computers, iPads and iPhones (but not, apparently, iPods) in exchange for an Apple Gift Card. Prices look to be competitive and free packaging and shipping are provided in the deal. Get quotes on your gadgets here.

Best Buy
Another retail giant with a trade in program. Trade in your iPods or iPhones (and tons of other consumer electronics) for either a Best Buy gift card--for which you'll get a lot more money--or a check. One nice benefit of this program is that you don't have to mail your product; you can also bring it to your local Best Buy store.

BuyMyTronics
BuyMyTronics buys both working and broken iPods and iPhones, as well as a range of other electronics and gadgets. They fix and resell broken products (though not apparently on their website).
BuyMyTronics Review | Users Share Their Experiences with BuyMyTronics

CashForiPhones
CashForiPhones lives up to its name: it offers to pay you cash--via PayPal or check--for your used iPhone or iPod touch. Shipping is free and CashForiPhone supplies you a mailer to send your devices to them in. Related sites in the company's network buy iPads, laptops, and BlackBerrys.
CashForiPhones Review

EcoSquid
EcoSquid offers an interesting twist to the online iPhone trade in business. Instead of offering to buy your used device directly, its search engine combs the offerings from a wide variety of used iPhone and iPod buyers to let you compare the prices you'll be able to get from each company. It also includes free recycling and charity donation programs.

GameStop
Leading video game retailer GameStop has added the purchase of used iPods, iPhones, and iPads to its services. The program isn't available online, but take your device to your local GameStop and they'll assess its value. Trade-ins are for GameStop credit only, not cash. GameStop store locator

Gazelle
Gazelle (formerly SecondRotation) buys all kinds of used electronics - from cell phones to iPods - based on their condition, the packaging and accessories they include, and more. Prices paid for iPods and iPhones are good - an iPhone 3G in good condition nets around US$100.
Gazelle Review | Users Share Their Experiences with Gazelle

The Mac Store
Another Apple reseller who will take your iPhone, iPod, or iPad and convert it to store credit. Unlike many companies, though, you have to send your device to The Mac Store before they give you an estimated purchase price (which may change after they test it).

NextWorth
This site offers a used iPod calculator tool that is both informative and interesting. Use it to gauge the value of your iPod and then decide if you want to sell. You can also buy used iPods from the site.
NextWorth Review| Users Share Their Experiences with NextWorth

PowerMax
Apple reseller PowerMax buy used iPads, iPhones, and iPods (as well as used Macs). Unlike other sites, though, you must email the details of the device you want to sell in order to get a quote, rather than getting a quote live on the website.
Users Share Their Experiences with PowerMax

Small Dog Electronics
This long-time Apple reseller offers $30-$200 credit for iPod models (no iPhones or iPads) starting with the iPod nano.
Small Dog Profile and Reviews | Visit the Small Dog website

Secure Tradein
This off-shoot of electronics recycler ReCellular Inc. buys iPhones, but not iPods. Prices are based on the model and specs, not condition (which leads to odd situations like the site offering to pay more than retail price for an iPhone 4). You can be paid for your phone by check, or donate the money to charity.
Visit the Secure Tradein website

Totem
Totem accepts a wide range of cellphones, including the iPhone, as well as the iPad. Use its online quoting tool to get an estimate of the price for your device, ship it to them using their free, postage-paid mailer, and get paid by check or PayPal within 48 hours after your device has been inspected.

YouRenew
YouRenew offers the same basic service that many other companies on this list do: search for your device, describe its content, and get an estimated value. If you accept it, print out a pre-paid shipping label, send it in, and get paid. One neat difference is its sibling business CorporateRenew, which allows businesses to resell or recycle their devices in bulk.

Recycling iPods
For those who want to protect the environment more than their wallets, Apple offers an iPod recycling program. This is especially good if your iPod is too old to trade or broken. iPods recycled through this program net you a 10% discount on a new iPod purchase.

Last Updated: July 23, 2012

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3 Reasons to Switch to Verizon

With all the excitement surrounding the debut of the iPhone on Verizon, many AT&T customers may be planning to switch right away. But the decision to switch may not be as simple as it seems. While Verizon has some things in its favor, there may be more reasons to stick with AT&T than you'd expect. The choice you make will depend on many factors, of course, but here are three in favor of Verizon, and four in favor of AT&T, to consider.

One of the major complaints many people have with AT&T is that its network coverage is spotty, leading to dropped calls and poor call quality, as well as difficulty accessing its 3G network. How often you encounter these problems will depend on where you live (AT&T's coverage is better in some areas than others).

Verizon is known for having more-comprehensive network coverage and 3G access, so if you've been frustrated with AT&T's service where you live, Verizon may be the solution to your problems. To make sure, check Verizon's coverage map for your area.

When Verizon initially began offering the iPhone, it offered customers unlimited data for $30/month (just as AT&T had done, until it ended unlimited plans in summer 2010). As of July 2011, though, Verizon matched its competitor by switching to a capped data plan. Both companies offer users 2GB/month of data, but Verizon charges $30, while AT&T is a bit cheaper at $25.

AT&T also offers a low-end plan: $15 for 250MB. While Verizon has a low-end plan--$10 for 75MB--it's apparently only available for feature phones, not smartphones.

Either way you slice it, though, AT&T offers the better deal on data plans.

If you're still under contract with AT&T, you'll want to think twice about canceling your contract early to switch to Verizon. That's because of AT&T's Early Termination Fee (ETF), a penalty for canceling your contract before it's over. AT&T's ETF is US$325, reduced by $10 for each month you've been under contract. So, if you've been under contract for two months, your ETF is reduced by $20 to $305. If you've been under contract a year, your ETF is cut by $120, to $205.

Thanks to the ETF, switching to Verizon can be an expensive proposition--until your AT&T contract runs out, at least.

Because AT&T and Verizon built their wireless networks using different technologies (HSPA for AT&T, CDMA for Verizon), iPhones that work on AT&T's network don't work on Verizon's, and vice versa. This means that to switch to Verizon, you'll need to buy a new iPhone. As a new Verizon customer, you'll get the subsidized price of US$199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model. Those are the standard iPhone prices, but between needing to buy a new phone and AT&T's ETF, switching to Verizon can get be expensive.

AT&T users will notice the change immediately if they switch to Verizon: with Verizon you can't talk and browse the web on your iPhone at the same time. This has been possible on the iPhone with AT&T since its launch, but isn't possible with Verizon due to how its wireless network works. So, if you switch to the Verizon iPhone, forget talking on the phone and looking up an address in Google or getting directions via the Maps app.

We all know the expression about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. Sometimes, as with Verizon's reportedly superior customer service, the grass really may be greener. But it's worth remembering, too, that no company is perfect. Moving to Verizon may solve the problems you have with your iPhone service, but it may not. Switching is fine, but don't assume it's going to be a panacea. If you do, you could be disappointed.

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iPhone: Keep Your Number

Cell phone numbers are portable — you can move them from one provider to another when you switch carriers. This means that people switching to AT&T or Verion for the iPhone will be able to keep their old phone number when they buy a new iPhone.

The process of switching to AT&T or Verizon for the iPhone, but keeping your existing phone number, is relatively easy as long as you don't run into a few glitches that complicated or bar the process outright.

Assuming you don't run into these problems, switching your current number to AT&T or Verizon is easy - it's one step in the iPhone activation process in iTunes.

Switch Using iTunes

IPhone users activate their iPhones, select rate plans, and switch their phone numbers from within in iTunes. This is generally a pretty simple way of setting up the phone and switching your number. This will require having an iTunes account (learn how to set up an iTunes account).

My step-by-step guide to activating the iPhone includes a step on porting your number from another carrier to AT&T or Verizon (step #3).

IMPORTANT: Do not cancel your current cell phone service until you have successfully transferred your old phone number to your AT&T or Verizon and iPhone account. If you cancel before this is done, you will lose your old phone number.

Roadblocks to Switching Your Number

It turns out that there are a few reasons that you might not be able to switch your current cell phone number to AT&T or Verizon, some of which are hard, if not impossible to get around - since they involve some arcane contractual stuff. For instance, if you're trying to switch a number from an area code where AT&T or Verizon does not have a contract to provide service, you won't be able to switch (as I found out, much to my frustration).

There's also a confusing situation that arises from your original billing address for the phone number being different than the current one and in another state.

Since neither of these issues can be fixed, before you buy an iPhone, it makes sense to use AT&T or Verizon's number portability tool to make sure that you'll be able to port your number.

Got a tech support question? Ask it in the discussion forums.

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Where to Buy an iPhone

The iPhone is among the biggest hit consumer electronics and cell phone products of recent years and, as a result, everyone wants one. Given that, the question is not whether to buy, but where?

Sure, you can directly to the source and buy an iPhone from Apple’s online or bricks-and-mortar stores, but you have lots of other choices about where to buy your iPhone.

Apple Stores
You can, of course, purchase an iPhone at any of Apple’s 180-plus retail stores across the United States, Canada, the UK, Japan, and Italy. Apple stores can activate your iPhone, though you can also do that either at an AT&T store or online through iTunes.

Visit the list of Apple Stores to find the one closest to you or buy it online.

The Apple Store will be equipped to sell you an iPhone and activate the AT&T service that is required to use the iPhone.

AT&T Stores
With over 1,800 AT&T stores in the U.S., AT&T stores are more widely spread than Apple stores. These stores sell iPhones and activate them on site.

Use AT&T’s store finder to locate the closest AT&T to you or visit AT&T’s online store.

Best Buy
In 2008, Best Buy became the first major retailer besides Apple and AT&T to be authorized to sell the iPhone. Though you won’t find big discounts or sales here, Best Buy does occasionally run promotions that increase value and sells used iPhones at a discount. It does not sell the iPhone online, though, so you’ll need to visit its retail stores to buy an iPhone.

C Spire Wireless
This regional wireless carrier became the 4th phone company in the U.S. to offer the iPhone in fall 2011 (and the first of the small, regional players). The iPhone 4S is available through C Spire's stores in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Radio Shack
Longtime electronics retailer Radio Shack has moved heavily into cell phones in recent years. As part of that, the company offers the iPhone. At the launch of the iPhone 4, the company is offering an iPhone 3GS trade-in program that can net upgraders up to US$200.

Sprint
Now that the U.S.'s third-largest mobile phone company is offering the iPhone 4S, you'll be able to buy that phone in its retail stores. Earlier iPhone models aren't sprint-compatible, though, so if you want the 3GS or 4 you'll need to go to one of the other stores on this list. Find your closest Sprint location.

Verizon
The U.S.'s biggest cell phone company began selling the iPhone 4 at its retail stores on Feb. 10, 2011. The Verizon iPhone 4 is not the same as the one used on AT&T's network, since the two companies use different network technologies.

Wal-Mart
The world's largest retailer began selling the iPhone in 2009. In early 2010, it offered a deal on the iPhone 3GS that no one else has matched: US$97 for a 16GB iPhone 3GS with a two-year AT&T contract. With the introduction of the iPhone 4, though, the standard price of the 3GS fell to $99, making this a less unusual offering.

Craiglist/eBay
As with almost anything else you’re looking to buy, Craigslist and eBay can generally help you out. Buyer beware, though. Make sure you know what you’re buying, are buying from a highly rated dealer (on eBay, at least. Craigslist offers no ratings) and make smart purchases. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, and make sure you’re buying a new unit (unless you’re looking for used), or you could end up out money and with a subpar phone.

Used Dealers
Most of the websites that buy and sell used iPods also buy and sell used iPhones. Shop around on these sites for the lowest prices. And even though quality is generally very good here, remember that these phones will be used and sometimes without warranty. As always, you’ll need to activate through Apple or AT&T.

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Selling/Trading an Old iPhone

Once you’ve upgraded to an iPhone 3G, you may be wondering what to do with your first-generation iPhone. Turns out there are a lot of options, from gifting it to someone else, turning it into a iPod touch, or selling it.

If you’re feeling so overwhelmed with joy and the milk of human kindness after your iPhone 3G upgrade – or just have a kid who’s been bugging you for a cell phone – you can pass your first-generation iPhone on to a friend or family member.

All you have to do is this:

Upgrade to an iPhone 3G and move your phone number to the new phone. This will require moving the SIM card from the old phone to the new one. AT&T or Apple will help you with this at activation.Give your old iPhone away that lucky person. They should go to an AT&T store to explain the situation and get a new SIM card. This should be free. They then take the iPhone home and activate it through iTunes using the standard first-generation iPhone activation process. They can even port an existing number to the new phone during this process or with AT&T’s help.

Reportedly, an iPhone can be turned into an iPod touch – that is, an iPhone with no phone service, after an upgrade to an iPhone 3G.

Your SIM card, which contains your phone number, will go into the iPhone 3G, sending all phone calls there. But if you want to continue to use your iPhone as a media player, contact/calendar device, and WiFi-connected Internet device, you can.

You shouldn’t need to do anything. Just turn on your iPhone after the SIM card has been removed and the iPhone 3G activated and you should have a like-new media player on your hands.

It’s suggested that you upgrade to the iPhone 2.0 software before upgrading to an iPhone 3G, as iPhones without SIM cards may not be upgradeable – this isn’t clear yet, but should become clear once the iPhone 3G is launched. Still, this is a neat way to get a second iPod out of your iPhone 3G upgrade, or to have another iPod to hand off to a friend or family member.

If you’ve just forked over $200 or $300 for a new iPhone 3G, you may want to recover some of that money by selling your old iPhone. You’re likely not going to be alone in that plan, so don’t expect to make a ton of money on the sale initially.

Still, if you set your price reasonably, it’s likely that you’ll be able to sell the phone without too much trouble. When looking for places to sell the iPhone, consider old standbys like eBay and Craigslist. For those stores, be sure to take advantage of other people’s knowledge and tips to get the best price and smoothest transaction.

Since eBay and Craigslist are so widely used, you may want to consider some smaller online stores where there may be less competition. In that case, seek out cell phone or Mac-specific online resale opportunities.

Just like with old iPods, there are a number of businesses that will buy you first-generation iPhone so they can sell it to other people. If you just want your money fast and don’t want the hassle of dealing with sellers on eBay, consider one of these sites.

All of these sites base their pricing on their demand and the condition and capacity of your iPhone. These prices are snapshots in time - check the sites for the most up-to-date pricing.

Expect more of these programs to show up as the migration to the iPhone 3G accelerates.

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Individual iPhone Rates

 iPhone 4S

image copyright Apple Inc.

When there was just a single iPhone carrier in the U.S. (it was AT&T, back in the day), it was pretty easy to figure out what the rate plans for the iPhone were and to choose the right one for you. Now that there are three carriers, each with their own special features, prices, and minor differences, the task is a bit harder.

The chart below is designed to make comparing the iPhone rates offered by AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon a bit easier. With a good idea of what an iPhone will cost you each month with each company, the decision of whether to choose AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon as your iPhone carrier will become a bit easier.

These rates apply to all current iPhone models, the 4S, 4, and 3GS (which is only available on AT&T).

If you live in some regions of the U.S., you may also have the choice of a small regional carrier for your iPhone. Find out which of those carriers offer the iPhone and what they charge.
2 GB/month (requires 3 GB data plan;
totals 5 GB monthly data)5 GB/month (requires $10 data plan)Unlimited Mobile-to-Mobile on Same NetworkUnlimited Mobile-to-Mobile on Any NetworkPrice for Unlimited + Unlimited Texts + 3 GB+ Data
(before taxes and fees)

Nights and Weekends are defined as:

AT&T: Nights and weekends are 9 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., Monday-Thursday, and Friday night at 9 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. Monday morning.Verizon: Nights are 9:01 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., Monday-Friday, and weekends as starting Saturday morning at 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Sunday night.

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6th Gen iPod nano Review

The Good
Smaller, lighter enclosure
Pedometer/fitness tracking app

The Bad
Touchscreen is a usability nightmare
Slightly too heavy to clip to sleeve
Video camera and playback removed

The Price
8GB – US$149
16Gb - $179

The tiny size and weight of the 6th generation iPod nano are impressive improvements. In almost every other way, though, the 6th generation nano is a step back.

Exercisers will probably want to stay away entirely due to its poor usability.

For average users, if you’re considering buying the new nano, I strongly recommend spending some time with it in a store to see if you can work with its quirks.

When it was introduced, Steve Jobs presented the 6th generation nano as an attempt to shrink the nano while retaining a useful screen size. Apple’s certainly shrunk it – it’s closer to the size of the iPod Shuffle than to its predecessors – but usability is a real concern.

This version of the nano weighs in at just 0.74 ounces and is only 1.48 inches wide. As a result, it’s ultra-portable and doesn’t add any noticeable weight to the average user.

Apple touted its small size and large clip on the back as removing the need for a case and making the nano perfect for clipping to clothes. This may be true for some users, but for exercisers it’s not the case.

Despite its small size and weight, the 6th generation nano is a little too big and a little too heavy to be clipped to most parts of a shirt when exercising. It simply bounces around too much to be comfortable when clipped to a sleeve or, in some uses, to the bottom of a shirt, though when clipped around the neck of a shirt, it’s acceptable.

This poses a particular problem: how to control the nano. Unlike previous models, which used a physical clickwheel, this model relies on a touchscreen with multitouch support for control. This means that to change songs, move from music to podcast, or tune the included FM radio, you need to look at the nano’s screen.

Being forced to look at the screen may be ok when using the nano in day-to-day life, but for exercisers it’s a major, and unnecessary, distraction.

This interface is simply not as effective or usable as the clickwheel that previous models offered.

In addition to removing the clickwheel, the 6th generation nano also removes the video features that have been available on the nano since the 3rd generation model.

The new nano lacks both the ability to play video (which probably makes sense, given that the new model sports just a 1.54-inch screen) as well as the video camera that the 5th generation nano offered.

While neither of these features were likely major attractions of the nano, it’s odd to see more features removed from the new model.

Like previous models, this version of the nano can be controlled via a remote control integrated on headphone cords. Apple offers a headphone with remote on the iPhone or as a separate purchase. Given that the headphone/remote combination removes the need to look at the screen to control the nano, Apple ought to include those headphones with the nano.

The 6th generation iPod nano is an odd beast. It’s smaller and lighter – usually benefits – but to get there, it removes useful features and makes the device harder to use.

In this way, it calls to mind the 3rd-generation iPod Shuffle, which removed buttons from the face of the device and forced users to control it via a remote on the headphones. We should applaud Apple’s attempts to innovate in the iPod’s user interface, but this is another failed interface change.

Take a hard look at the 6th generation iPod nano before you buy it – and consider buying another model.

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Using Do Not Disturb on iPhone

Thanks to our smartphones, we're connected to our friends, family, and the rest of the world practically anywhere we are. But this can pose some problems: what happens when you don't want to be connected? Sure, you can turn your phone off, but being totally disconnected means no one can reach you in an emergency or that you can't choose to only hear from a select group of people you're really interested in being in contact with.

Or at least it used to mean that. Thanks to the introduction of a feature called Do Not Disturb in iOS 6, you now have much greater control over who can contact you and when. Do Not Disturb lets you set periods of time in which you won't be notified of phone calls, text messages, and app alerts--except those coming from people on a list you create that lets them through. This way you can still hear from work, your partner, or family, but not be bothered by anything else.

Requirements
To use Do Not Disturb, you need:

Enabling Do Not Disturb
To turn Do Not Disturb on, do the following:

Tap the Settings appMove the Do Not Disturb slider to On

This technique simply lets you turn Do Not Disturb on at that moment. It doesn't allow the most useful feature: scheduling your Do Not Disturb time. To do that, you need to let how to use the feature.

Using Do Not Disturb
To schedule Do Not Disturb and to control its settings:

Tap the Settings appTap NotificationsTap Do Not Disturb. This is the screen that lets you schedule and configure the feature.Move the slider to OnTap the From/To box and move the wheels to set the time during which you want the feature turned on and when you want it to turn offTo let some calls through during this time, tap Allow Calls From. On this screen, you can choose which groups of contacts you'll accept calls from. The simplest option is choosing Favorites, but you can also choose any other contacts group in your address book. Remember, contact groups can't be created on the iPhone, so if you want to create a custom contact group for Do Not Disturb, you'll need to create it on your desktop address book program (such as Address Book on Mac or Outlook on Windows) and then sync it to your iPhone. Tap the contact group you want to allow calls and texts from.In case of an emergency, you wouldn't want Do Not Disturb to block someone from reaching you just because they aren't on your allowed calls list. That's what the Repeated Calls feature ensures. Slide that to On and when the same number calls twice in three minutes, the call will come through, regardless of whether the person is on your allowed list.

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Verizon/AT&T/Sprint iPhone?

If you're not an AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon customer, but the iPhone is tempting you in that direction, you've got two decisions: which model do you buy (8 GB for the iPhone 4 or 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB for the iPhone 4S) and do you buy it from AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon (and, if you live in some rural areas, smaller regional carriers)?

While the three carriers sell the same iPhone, they don't offer the same plans, monthly prices, and experiences. So, to help you decide between the Sprint iPhone, Verizon iPhone, and AT&T iPhone, here's how the companies stack up on a number of key issues. The chart at the bottom of the article provides the same information in an easy-to-compare format.

Cost of Phone: Apple tightly controls the pricing of its products, especially flagship ones like the iPhone. As a result, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T charge the same amount for the iPhone, with a two-year contract: US$199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB, $399 for the 64 GB. The small regional carriers all charge about $50 less for the same models, with a two-year contract
Advantage: Even (or, if you live in an area served by a regional carrier, the advantage goes to them)

Cost of Monthly Plan: When you buy an iPhone, you'll need to buy both a calling plan and a data plan to use wireless Internet. You may also want to get a text messaging plan. AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon's calling plans are basically the same. Verizon and AT&T's text messaging plans are very close, while Sprint includes theirs in all calling plans. (C Spire, it should be noted, offers the cheapest plans, at $70/month for unlimited, but it's a much smaller company.) Where the companies diverge, though, is data plans. AT&T offers a $15/month plan that Verizon doesn't, Sprint charges just $10 for unlimited data, and AT&T's 2GB/month plan is $5 less than Verizon's identical option. As a result of AT&T's slightly lower cost for unlimited calling + data, it gets the edge.
Advantage: AT&T, but not by much (rural residents may want to check out their local regional carrier)

Length of Contract: To get the subsidized prices noted above, all companies require a two-year contract.
Advantage: Even

Coverage: AT&T is notorious for its poor service in major cities like San Francisco and New York, and Sprint is generally seen as having less coverage than either competitor. Besides that, Verizon is generally heralded for a network with fewer dead spots and problems.
Advantage: Verizon

Network Quality: Verizon takes the title here, too. A good indication of the company's network quality is that its dropped-call rate is 1.4%, while Sprint's is 2.7% and AT&T's is 4.6% (Source: ChangeWave Research). I was unable to find data on regional carriers' dropped calls.
Advantage: Verizon

3G Speed: Another area that is influenced by the robustness of a phone company's network is the speed at which its users can surf the Internet over 3G. In this area, AT&T generally tests out at a bit less than 10% faster than Verizon (Source: PC Mag). AT&T's lead will only grow with the iPhone 4S, since it's the only U.S. carrier that supports the faster 14.4 Mbps data speeds that the 4S offers.
Advantage: AT&T

Use Data/Voice Simultaneously: This is a major differentiator. Imagine needing to look something up online using a Maps app or email program while talking to someone on a phone call. Users of the AT&T iPhone can do this, but Verizon and Sprint users can't. With the Verizon or Sprint iPhone, it's voice or data, but not both at the same time.
Advantage: AT&T

Insurance: Since it's a somewhat pricey device, you may want to insure your iPhone against theft, loss, or damage. If so, AT&T is the clear the winner. Its iPhone insurance costs $6.99/month, while Verizon charges $10.99/month (though there are many other options for iPhone insurance, too). Sprint doesn't seem to offer its insurance plans on the iPhone at all, instead suggesting that customers buy Apple's $99 AppleCare Plus extended warranty. If you're a C Spire customer, though, you're in luck: its iPhone insurance is just $4.95.
Advantage: AT&T

Early Termination Fee: Every cell phone company charges customers an early termination fee, or ETF, if they leave the company before their two-year contract expires. Both companies charge pretty high prices (though both reduce their ETFs by $10 for every month you're under contract; i.e., if you're under contract for two months before you break it, your ETF is reduced by $20), but AT&T's ETF is $325, a small savings compared to Sprint and Verizon's $350. I was unable to find most regional carriers' ETF costs, but rest assured they one (like every cell phone company)
Advantage: AT&T, but barely

Learn about regional carriers' prices and plans

iPhone 4SCosts
(with contract)

16 GB - US$199
32 GB - $299
64 GB - $399

16 GB - US$199
32 GB - $299
64 GB - $39916 GB - US$199
32 GB - $299
64 GB - $399Voice: $39.99-$69.99/month
Data: $15-$25/month
Texts: $5-$20/monthVoice: $39.99-$99.99/month
Data: $10/month
Texts: IncludedVoice: $39.99-$69.99/month
Data: $30-$80/month
Texts: $5-$20/monthData & Voice Use Simultaneously$325, reduces by $10/month under contract$350, reduces by $10/month under contract$350, reduces by $10/month under contract

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NextWorth Review

Reselling your used iPhone or iPod can be tricky. There are many companies buying devices and all offer different prices. Prices are strongly influenced by the perceived condition of the item. If assess it in one condition, you’ll expect a certain price. If the company disagrees, they’ll offer another.

That’s certainly the case with NextWorth. While I’ve only had good experiences with the company—I’ve sold three devices to them over the years—complaints are easy to find online. The bottom line, I think, is to be scrupulous about the condition of your device and keep in contact with NextWorth throughout the process.

Like many similar sites, selling a used iPod or iPhone to NextWorth begins at its website, selecting the model you want to sell. Once that’s done, you answer questions about the condition, functionality, and included hardware. With those specs, NextWorth generates its offer.

As with other used iPod buyers, NextWorth supplies a pre-paid shipping label for your iPod/iPhone. This means, though, that you have to supply your own box, which is a minor inconvenience.

Once the item is shipped, NextWorth takes up to 10 days to inspect your item and assess its value. After that, it issues payment.

How you describe your device during the initial process is crucial; it most likely will determine whether your experience with NextWorth is satisfying or not.

In my experiences selling used devices to NextWorth and its competitors (I’ve sold 8 or 9 devices to various companies over the last 3-4 years), I’ve always been conservative in rating my device’s condition. Overrate your device to get a higher price and you’re likely to be disappointed when the company inspects it and values it at a lower price. Rate your device fairly (or even a little low) and you’ll get the price you expect (and, occasionally, a higher price).

NextWorth customers have posted across the web (including on this site) about negative experiences and price surprises. If this happens to you, you’re not necessarily stuck accepting the new, lower price.

If you get a lower price than expected after sending in your device, email or call NextWorth. You can get an explanation for their valuation and either challenge it or, often, reject it. While NextWorth doesn’t make clear that you can do this, there are plenty of cases in which people either gotten a higher price or their device back.

My most recent experience with NextWorth involved selling a 3rd generation iPod nano. For this model—about three years old, but in decent shape—brought me nearly $33, which seemed like a pretty good price for an old, used device.

I sent it to NextWorth on Oct. 17 and received a reply on Oct. 21 saying that they’d be paying the $32.84 they quoted. My check arrived on Nov. 2, 13 days later. NextWorth had quoted 14 days for payment so, while that’s sneaking in under the wire, it’s in keeping with what was promised.

All in all, it was another very good experience with NextWorth.

Two rules: be conservative and stay in touch with NextWorth if you’re not happy with the value the company places on your device. If you do those things, and compare prices paid here and at other sites before selling, you should be able to turn your used iPhone or iPod into money using NextWorth.

Last Updated: Nov. 3, 2010

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Cost of Verizon iPhone?

If you're a U.S. iPhone user with AT&T as your service provider, you may be interested in switching to Verizon, now that it offers the iPhone, too. If so, one of the crucial questions on your mind should be, how much does it cost to switch to the Verizon iPhone?Answer:

Switching your iPhone service from AT&T to Verizon isn't as simple as just porting your number and signing up for a new service plan. Instead, it can cost you as much as US$$664.

The price to switch is so high thanks to three costs:

1. You Need a New iPhone
Because AT&T and Verizon use different technologies, the iPhone you used on AT&T isn't compatible with Verizon's network. That means that, when you switch, you'll need to buy a new iPhone that works with Verizon. As a new Verizon customer, you'll be eligible for the subsidized price of $199 for the 16GB model or $299 for the 32GB Model.

2. Early Termination Fees
If you're still under two-year AT&T contract when you decide to switch, AT&T will charge you an Early Termination Fee (ETF), a penalty for canceling your contract early. AT&T's iPhone ETF is $325. That fee is reduced by $10 for each month you've been under contract (e.g., if you've been under contract for 6 months, the ETF is reduced by $60, to $265). If your contract has expired, you're not subject to an ETF, so you'll want to check your contract status with AT&T before beginning the switch.

3. You Need a New Case
Even if you had a case for the iPhone you used on AT&T, you'll need to buy a new case for your Verizon iPhone. That's because there are slight differences in the placement of the volume and ringer buttons on the left side of the Verizon iPhone as compared to the AT&T-compatible model. As a result of the changes, the buttons and openings on old cases don't line up correctly. Expect a new case to cost $20-$40.

In the worst-case scenario, you'll pay $299 for the phone, $325 for the ETF, and $40 for the case, leading to the $664 figure. In the best-case scenario, you'll pay $199 for the phone, no ETF, and $20 for a case, resulting in a switching cost of $219.

So, either way you do it, switching from AT&T to the Verizon iPhone will be expensive.

Got a tech support question? Ask it in the discussion forums.

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iPhone Upgrade Eligible?

If you're a current iPhone owner, or a current AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon customer, you may looking forward to the day when you can buy the new iPhone. But, if you don't check one important piece of information, that day could turn out to be much more expensive than you anticipated.

That's because the US$199, $299, and $399 prices advertised for the iPhone aren't the price available to everyone. That's the price for new customers and existing customers who qualify for upgrades.

Cell phone companies discount, or subsidize, the price of the phones they offer. If customers paid full price for their cell phones, they'd pay a lot more than the advertised prices--and probably a lot fewer phones would be sold. For instance, the full price of the iPhone is over $600. AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon pay Apple the difference between that price and what they charge customers--they subsidize the price--in order to boost sales of the phones and attract more customers to their services. Since the companies make the most money on their monthly calling and data plans, this is a good deal for them--and for customers.

But not every single customer or potential customer is eligible to get the lowest possible price when upgrading. If they were, then so many customers would upgrade each year that it would be hard for the phone companies to make money. Instead, they limit the biggest subsidies--the ones that make the iPhone cost $199-$399--to customers who:

Sign a new two-year contract and haven't had service with that company beforeSwitch from another phone company and sign a two-year contractHave been paying month-to-month and are willing to sign a two-year contractHave been a customer of that company for a pre-determined amount of time (usually 12-24 months, but it varies by phone company).

Customers who don't fall into one of these categories have to pay higher prices, sometimes $100-$200 more, sometimes the full price of the phone.

So, if you're an AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon customer and want to get the new iPhone--whether you already have one or this will be your first--you need to know how much you're going to pay. You might be happy to pay $199 for a new iPhone, but not so interested if it's $599.

To prevent any surprises in the checkout line, you can check your upgrade eligibility online. To do that, and to find out how much an upgrade to the new iPhone will cost you, use Apple's upgrade eligibility tool.

You can also check your eligibility with your phone company by doing the following:
AT&T: Dial *639#
Verizon: Dial #874

Sprint customers can check their in their accounts at Sprint's website.

You'll get a text message from your phone company informing you of your upgrade eligibility and pricing options.

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