This is the solution to the fact that you never used to be able to get an unlocked phone until months later.
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Apple Announces iPhone Upgrade Program for Annual iPhone Purchasers
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That makes it totally useless. I exclusively buy phone service from an MVNO or one of the prepaid divisions like MetroPCS, not directly from the carriers themselves. You get much better pricing on your phone service that way.
Looking at a 16GB iPhone 6 (as an example): $32.45 x 24 = $778.80 - $100 (for the AppleCare+) = $678.80. Base price of the phone is $649. Does that mean you're paying an extra $29.80 for the privilege of the installment plan?
Looks like Apple & the carrier are trying to get everyone in the USA on a lease model. It would be nice to see refurbished year old iphone sold directly by apple at a discount like we see with iPad models. Where are all of these 1-year old phones going?
It's not just an installment plan, it's an upgrade plan. Apple does have a separate installment plan, you pay 24 installments and you own the phone outright afterwards, for the same total price as the unlocked price of the phone.
This plan gives you the ability to trade in your current phone for the new iPhone after making 12 monthly payments. Yes, you'll have to continue making monthly payments on the new phone, but they waive the remaining payments on the old phone. The 24 month payment plan doesn't include this option, you pay for the phone you bought and then you own it at the end. Now, with this program you could also pay for 24 months and own it at the end, but then you would be getting a worse deal, as you've pointed out.
This is exactly what I want to ask, as I'm not familiar with the whole contract system, because in my country you buy the phone unlocked.
Boo! I'm also on a 2 year contract and was hoping I would be able to do this and just pop my current SIM into the new phone.
Today at its "Hey Siri" special event, Apple announced a brand new program at its retail stores called the iPhone Upgrade Program. The program is designed for users who want to have the newest iPhone every year.
Signing up for the program gets you a brand new iPhone every year and allows users the ability to choose their carrier with an unlocked phone. The program will initially begin at retail locations in the U.S. before rolling out internationally. Pricing for the program starts at $32 a month and includes AppleCare+.
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be available for preorder on September 12 and available for purchase on September 25.
Article Link: Apple Announces iPhone Upgrade Program for Annual iPhone Purchasers
This is meant to be a leasing program, how else would it work that you could upgrade every 12 months? You're not paying a 12-month price of the full retail value, so to be in the latest device you would need to hand in the current one. They're just waiving the remaining installments for you. You'll always be paying monthly installments.
I'm not sure what way to go, but thinking I'n opting out and going with the AT&T next plan. The Apple iPhone upgrade doesn't seem its the way I want to go, for now.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but with T-Mobile's plan, you will own your phone in two years. With Apple's you will never own your phone.
By its terms this financing plan is beyond useless. Since it requires an activation you can't use it to buy a phone on your existing line whether or not you're under a contract. Since that activation is stated to be on one of the 4 majors, you can't use this to buy a phone for use on an MVNO, prepaid division (Cricket, MetroPCS, Boost), or a reseller (Smartel).
With any financing plan, you can own the phone if you keep it and pay all the installments on it. However, the plans that waive your fees and let you upgrade after X amount of installments are designed as leases. But if you ever want to leave that plan, you'll have to pay the remaining balance on whatever your current phone is.
Unfortunately it costs more in gas money to drive to my nearest Apple Store than just pay a bit more to the carrier. One of the joys of living up in the woods is I have to plead with AppleCare on the phone that I can't just drop off the device at an Apple Store and now I'll have to hopefully convince them to do this over the phone. Apple Stores just aren't easy to get to for me.
Seems to be the same pricing as AT&T Next, except the iPhone is unlocked and you get Apple Care+.
I still prefer AT&T Next + Down Payment, which reduces the monthly payment amount. What sucks about that is you have to order via AT&T, which I've never done before.
I still prefer AT&T Next + Down Payment, which reduces the monthly payment amount. What sucks about that is you have to order via AT&T, which I've never done before.
Does anyone know how this works for existing AT&T Next customers? I'll be up for my 12 month upgrade this month.
Can I just swap to Apple's plan and return my existing phone to AT&T?
Can I just swap to Apple's plan and return my existing phone to AT&T?
This wouldn't be a lease. What you'd do is that you'd pay that amount per month until the entire phone is paid off. However, if you want to get the newest phone (should it come out next year; And let's face it, Apple just indicated that it would by even having this program), you'd trade in the 6S or 6S Plus for the remaining cost of the 6S or 6S Plus, to be applied to getting the iPhone 7 (or whatever they are going to call it).
Otherwise, you keep paying the $xx per month until the retail cost of the phone is paid off. After that, it's yours. You OWN it.
BL.
All “activation” is the $40 fee(in the case of Att) tries to charge you. The only reason for the two year contract was for them to recoup the price of the phone.
what about a credit check with the carrier you are going to go with say you got this phone from Apple under this new program but what if you want it to work with say ATT or Sprint?
Today at its "Hey Siri" special event, Apple announced a brand new program at its retail stores called the iPhone Upgrade Program. The program is designed for users who want to have the newest iPhone every year.
Signing up for the program gets you a brand new iPhone every year and allows users the ability to choose their carrier with an unlocked phone. The program will initially begin at retail locations in the U.S. before rolling out internationally. Pricing for the program starts at $32 a month and includes AppleCare+.
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be available for preorder on September 12 and available for purchase on September 25.
Article Link: Apple Announces iPhone Upgrade Program for Annual iPhone Purchasers