With US carriers, does providing your own phone affect your monthly rate plan?
Ex. If I buy phone X from the carrier for $200 (2-year contract) along with a $70/month plan, is it only $60/month if I bring my own phone.
I don't believe this is true, which leads me to wonder what advantages there are to purchasing an unlocked phone (other than "no contract" and the ability to use a phone not sold by the carrier)? Aren't I really paying for a potion of the phone's hardware cost as part of my monthly fee? So, purchasing an unlocked phone (could) have higher total cost of ownership than purchasing a carrier's phone.
Ex. If I buy phone X from the carrier for $200 (2-year contract) along with a $70/month plan, is it only $60/month if I bring my own phone.
I don't believe this is true, which leads me to wonder what advantages there are to purchasing an unlocked phone (other than "no contract" and the ability to use a phone not sold by the carrier)? Aren't I really paying for a potion of the phone's hardware cost as part of my monthly fee? So, purchasing an unlocked phone (could) have higher total cost of ownership than purchasing a carrier's phone.