Billshrink is a nice blog for finding useful tips to help reduce your monthly bills or make that next big purchase. After the announcement of the Nexus One, Billshrink updated the top smart phone models to include the Nexus One and the cost of ownership over 24 months. They calculate the cost for the Nexus One based on a contract, which they shouldn’t be if you are comparing 24 months, because if you buy the phone outright, and get the cheaper service rates, you save $130 over the 24 months than if you went contract. These numbers are for single plans too, and family plans are different, so double check if you are wanting a family plan.
For reference, I looked into cost of ownership for 2 Nexus One phones with Family plan service via T-Mobile:
- On Contract with 750 minutes + unlimited text + unlimited web (24 months): $3720
- Unlocked with 750 minutes + unlimited text + unlimited web (24 months): $3700
Bottom line: If you are wanting a Nexus One with T-Mobile service, purchase it at $530 and get the cheaper rates: save $130.
