I got a new iPhone last week. I had gone to the ATT store locally about 6 weeks ago. The clerk told me that there were no deals any longer. She said that a 5 was $500, a 6 was $600 etc. She said that I could pay in installments monthly. I was texting my DD during this time and she advised me to wait.

So, last week I was visiting DD in her city. We went to the Apple store. They gave me $50 for my old phone, and I got a new 6 ....it was $99 minus the $50 for my old phone. So I paid $49. I was happy.

Wait, what--an iPhone 6 is now $99??????? Really?????

Would like to hear more about this.

I can't say about other things, but I bought an airport express at Best Buy (needed in a hurry and the nearest apple store is an hour and a half away). I could not get the darned thing set up, called applecare and they couldn't do it either and in the course of the conversation mentioned that BB often buys refurbs and sells as new (hence the great incentives). Just sayin'.

Best buy, why am I not surprised, ugh...hate that store.

Not too crazy about Best Buy, but I did everything on line, and received the phone pre-set up and ready to go. Am happy with MY purchase

I am puzzled about the bit where you are making calls over a wifi connection. My iPhone 6+ doesn't do that. If there's no tower coverage the call is dropped. Maybe I need a new phone and didn't realize it----are you getting a 6s?

To tell the truth I am getting tired of new phones......my iPhone does everything except provide reliable calls.

OK, I hopped on line--it's not really $99, as in you walk in, plunk down the money and they give you an unlocked phone....it's$99 up front and then paying the remainder of the $549 cost of the phone via the terms/length of the Verizon contract. I didn't think Apple or Verizon was suddenly giving phones away for a C note :).

kswl, is it your phone, or your carrier?

Well.....I hope that I am not paying more per month!! I specifically asked that! If that is the case I will have to deal with my salesman....I kept his card. They said that I was eligible for the upgrade.....this phone is in a business name...does that mean anything?

Verizon is very tricky in terms of their pricing. With them, you want to change phones only when you re-up your plan. Otherwise, they are charging a ridiculous price for the phone. I would never buy the phone outright. Only get the discounted phone with a plan.

Are you saying that your iPhone 5 cannot be used with wifi? Are you sure? Have you gone into Settings and enabled WiFi?

I have a 6+. Mainly I use it on wifi. If I'm out or we travel it operates on my data plan. If there are no Verizon towers in an area the phone should switch to another provider so you can still make calls. We do have some dead zones where I live but no many any longer.

If you have a smart phone you need data i.e. you need a monthly plan. The trick is getting the amount of data right and that takes a few months. They will usually upsell you at the store. You get the best deal when your plan expires and you renew.

Are you saying that your iPhone 5 cannot be used with wifi? Are you sure? Have you gone into Settings and enabled WiFi?

I don't understand this, either. I don't have a smart phone because we're on the Edge network or equivalent for any carrier here, but with my ipod and old ipad that's still running iOS 6 I can make calls via imessage or skype when traveling.

Tina, I think it is my rural location. We have Verizon.

.....still wondering if the PP is buying a phone that makes calls over wifi, as that is how the original post is worded.

As if phones were not a racquet before....now the new ones, to the tune of $700, are DISPOSABLE. The battery is NO LONGER replaceable. So much for working on being environmentally responsible.

The wifi on my iphone 5 "broke" after an IOS update. Unfortunately it is a fairly common problem and there is no recourse if your phone is older. Wireless stores are the car dealers of our time. Like car dealers pre internet, there is no transparency and it is very hard to compare apples to apples.

iPhone batteries have never been consumer-replaceable, but gosh, I got one of the very first ipads and the first generation ipod touch and both of those are still in use by the people I gave them to when I had to upgrade, so it's not like they don't have plenty of battery cycles in them.

I'd like to help but still confused.The OP wrote: "I want to be able to make & receive phone calls to & from my Dad
in areas where I drive locally that don't get tower service."

WiFi won't help where there is no tower service unless you have WiFi in your car.

Again, I would first consult the Verizon coverage map.

It also might be worth making a res with the genius bar at an Apple store to see if that phone will support an upgrade that will enable WiFi use. I've had android phones that worked on WiFi for years so it seems very peculiar that the 5 wouldn't have it though that may be the case.

Again, I'd call or go in to an Apple store first an find out what's what.

Iphone batteries recharge and the phones are resaleable. So those are the last ones going to electronics recycling.

With a newer phone, any available tower should be picked up and usable outside a Verizon coverage area.

I have an old iphone 4S, on a two-year contract which recently ended, so the phone is fully paid for. I called Verizon to and ask them why they were still charging me monthtly towards the price of the phone, when it was fully paid for, and they told me that it is my job to call them and ask that they end the monthly charges which I think were $20 per month. I wonder how many people continue paying Verizon each month after the phone is paid for because they don't realize this. Seems to me to be quite dishonest for Verizon to continue charging people unless they call and request the change.

Yikes, Gail! I am going to check out my AT&T bill! That does seem dishonest!