I don't think there are any inexpensive smart phones if you are paying the full "no contract" price. Presuming you are now eligible for a subsidized upgrade (normally you are upgrade eligible several months before your contract ends), if you use it now it won't be available when the new iphone comes out meaning your only option then will be to pay full price. Your cheapest alternativde might be to take the 4s to Apple and get an out of warranty replacement.

Only Apple does warranty work on iPhones.

First - bravo for saving the cat!

Smartphones, by their nature aren't inexpensive. When a friend of mine dropped his cell phone in an unfortunate wet place, he borrowed a older phone from a friend and got a replacement SIM. Maybe that's an option for you?

If you get a new contract now, you'd need to wait until that contract expires or pay the ETF in order to get a new phone. 

---

jamileh wrote:

First - bravo for saving the cat!

 

Smartphones, by their nature aren't inexpensive. When a friend of mine dropped his cell phone in an unfortunate wet place, he borrowed a older phone from a friend and got a replacement SIM. Maybe that's an option for you?

 

If you get a new contract now, you'd need to wait until that contract expires or pay the ETF in order to get a new phone. 

 

 

---

I didn't know that AT&T allowed people to do that.  I thought that paying an ETF cancels the service on that line.  If the customer tried to come back within a certain amount of time (90 days?), the customer's old account would be reopened and he/she wouldn't be eligible for new contract pricing.  Was I wrong or did something change recently?

---

paul_scoles wrote:
thanks for the quick get back. I assume ATT doesn't do out of warranty replacements?

---

Apple has a Out of warrenty replacement plan, make an appopintment at a genius bar and talk to them - used to be 199 for a refurbed phone.

You can also try the uncooked white rice method to help dry it out.  Get a back of uncooked white right, pput the phone in it for about 7 days or so and then try it, sometimes it works

His/Her  best option is to take it to Apple.  They will charge 199.99 for a Refurb replacement.  Thats the cheapest way to go before the New iPhone comes out in October/November

---

21stNow wrote:

---

jamileh wrote:

First - bravo for saving the cat!

 

Smartphones, by their nature aren't inexpensive. When a friend of mine dropped his cell phone in an unfortunate wet place, he borrowed a older phone from a friend and got a replacement SIM. Maybe that's an option for you?

 

If you get a new contract now, you'd need to wait until that contract expires or pay the ETF in order to get a new phone. 

 

 

---

I didn't know that AT&T allowed people to do that.  I thought that paying an ETF cancels the service on that line.  If the customer tried to come back within a certain amount of time (90 days?), the customer's old account would be reopened and he/she wouldn't be eligible for new contract pricing.  Was I wrong or did something change recently?

---

I initially thought you were right but I did some digging and I can't find anything within the terms and conditions or the return policy that points to that. 

I've reviewed our internal procedures as well and there are some checks and balances to prevent naughtiness but in this situation, I don't see any reason why OP can't resume service with a new phone provided the ETF and account balance are paid in full. 

This is, however, a rather pricey option. If possible, I'd hit up friends/family for a loaner phone.

OK.  Thanks for the information!

You could get any no-contract AT&T phone off ebay and use it for a month. Might be a chance to kick the tires on a different OS ...