And here's our gigantic FAQ about the iPhone 3G.

March 1, 2008

Refurbished iPhones at COR Stores. For a limited time, select COR stores in the New England Market will offer refurbished iPhones (both 4GB and 8GB) for a special price. These devices are good as new and give customers the opportunity to experience the revolutionary iPhone with big savings. New activations only, upgrades with Manager approval. Refurbished iPhones will only be available to purchase in select COR stores across the Northeast Region and will be available while supplies last. Please reach out to customers that have recently purchased an iPhone to see if they are interested in activating an additional iPhone at a discounted equipment cost. Please note no in-store sales materials should be created. This is to be sold as a closing tool only. Product is available while supplies last from initial shipment. Failure to follow this communication will result in a Code of Business Conduct violation

After one reader went around and around with various Verizon supervisors, the company reps just ended up saying, in effect, "Cancel your contract without an early termination fee? Hahahahaha." Dang. Now we'll have to plunk down $200 more for that shiny new iPhone. Maybe it'll be worth it. Any other suggestions on how to quit Verizon without getting fleeced? – Charlie White

Verizon Makes Canceling Over Their Txt Msg Hike Impossible [The Consumerist]

Reader Alfonso has his own experience.

I've called cingular and questioned them about the matter and they said that no, that one cannot cancel and escape the early termination fee. They said that the only way one can is if you are within the first 30 days of service with them... other than that you must pay the fee. Also that they said that they are notifying customers on there december bill hence following what the customer code states :

Carriers will not modify the material terms of their subscribers' contracts in a manner that is materially adverse to subscribers WITHOUT PROVIDING A REASONABLE ADVANCE NOTICE OF A PROPOSED MODIFICATION allowing subscribers a time period of not less than 14 days to cancel their contracts with no early termination fee (ETF)

So they are escaping this by letting us know Well ahead of time. I've called 4 different times.. spoken to 4 different associates and I keep getting the same answer. I've also gone in person to 2 cingular stores and same deal.

Also one thing that was misread in Cingular's terms is:

"IF WE INCREASE THE PRICE OF ANY OF THE SERVICES TO WHICH YOU SUBSCRIBE... YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT PAYING AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE... PROVIDED YOUR NOTICE OF TERMINATION IS DELIVERED TO US WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST BILL REFLECTING THE CHANGE."

Meaning that if you have a text plan and they change the price of it, you can cancel that text plan without paying a fee... Also they told me that the reason as to why one cannot escape the termination fee is because with cingular texting is not part of the contract... you can have it completely removed from your account meaning no sending and no receiving text.

Looks like this isn't going to work out. Sorry for getting everyone's hopes up. Make sure to check out Consumerist's Cingular coverage as well. – Jason Chen

Starting Jan 21, 2007, you'll have 30 days to give them a call and break your contract, provided you're not currently subscribed to an SMS package. Why the generosity? You can thank Cingular's own policy that allows customers to terminate their service if there's a change in the contract terms. Upgrading fees from 10 to 15 cents per SMS counts as a change.

Be wary of the details, however, as readers who got out of their Sprint contracts had their contracts reinstated when they continued to use their Sprint phones after cancellation. Be sure to check out the terms first. – Jason Chen

Break Your Cingular Contract Without Fee, Thanks 2 Txt Msg $ Raise [Consumerist]

Good news for you, oh disloyal Sprint customer. – Jason Chen

Oct31 Deadline For Free Sprint Contract Killing [Consumerist]