Verizon cancellation fee countered by free phones?

[vash429]

I am a current droid 1 user. Even though I love my phone I am slowly seeing it drift away. I am eligible for a upgrade early July with time, or now if verizon is still doing the main line can upgrade every year. The problem is others three members of my family are not eligible until Dec 28,also they want smart phones now and t-mobile seems to be the choice with the bundles for unlimited data.
If we all cancel are the cancellation fee lower since more than a year has passed or still $350 for me and 175 for the other 3 members?

I was thinking as a way around it, if it ever happens again Deal Alert Speed Challenge Edition: All 4G Phones FREE On T-Mobile Until 3AM PST Tonight | Android News, Reviews, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets, Tips, Mods, Videos, Tutorials - Android Police

This way I can use the money that would be spend on the phones for the cancellation.
Also has anyone seen this sort of deal pop up before.

 

[hookbill]

Sorry. If you cancel before your signed contract comes to term, then you will be charged accordingly.

No changes can be made outside of the walls of that contract. That's why they gave you the phone cheap in the first place.

 

[Lenagainster]

..
If we all cancel are the cancellation fee lower since more than a year has passed or still $350 for me and 175 for the other 3 members?
.

I believe the cancellation fee is pro-rated, it will not be the full $350/$175, but some lower amount. You can "offset" the cost any way you feel like, getting "free" phones, giving up Starbucks or driving less. But you will still have to pay a cancellation fee.
I suggest you look carefully at the COVERAGE map for T-Mo as well as the Terms of Service, and compare that to Verizon. If you don't travel much, you may be o.k. Then again, who knows what will happen when/if T-Mo gets sucked into ATT.