A:AnswerI believe it is because the phone carrier supplements the seller (charges the seller less wholesale) because the carrier does not get to load the bloatware that cannot be removed from the phone without rooting (hacking) the Android operating system. Also the carrier ensures that you will use their service only and that is where the money is at for them; the carrier makes their money from the contract and services, not the actual selling of the phone. I could be wrong, but this is the reason that I have found in my research.
A:AnswerGenerally on Android phones like Samsung the privacy stuff is handled by Google which with a little reading and tinkering with settings you can turn off pretty much most of the things you don't want them to have access to. Tracking and all that sort of thing.
A:AnswerThe att&t phone cannot be used on Verizon unless you unlock the phone. Unlocking makes it so the phone is no longer bound to a certain carrier. You can get the Verizon version from best buy.
A:AnswerWith the new Next plans, you can upgrade a lot sooner. I think that you are eligible to switch to a Next plan if you started you last contract before February. Also, if you go to a Next plan, you only pay sales tax upfront and save a boatload of money in the long run versus the standard 2 year contract.
A:Answerthe phone does not ship factory unlocked so you will have to request the unlock code from Samsung in order to use the phone on a different carrier however if you order the international model they do come unlocked so that will solve your problems and not have to get the carrier involved